Page 1: 第1页 Welcome. Our purpose is to deconstruct the regulatory framework governing the Master of Social Sciences degree. Think of these regulations not as mere rules, but as the architectural blueprint for your academic pursuit. We will begin by establishing a foundational understanding of the degree itself, its scope, and the various fields of study it encompasses. This initial orientation is crucial for contextualizing the more detailed articles that will follow. Page 2: 第2页 Before we delve into the specifics of admission and curriculum, we must first grasp the foundational principles. Consider these the constitutional laws of the degree. First, the regulations have a specific cohort to which they apply—those admitted from 2025-26 onwards. Second, there is a non-negotiable principle of attribution: the intellectual property developed owes its origin to the university and must be acknowledged as such. Finally, the degree is not a monolith; it is a family of specializations. Understanding that these fields are distinct and not always available is key to navigating your options. Page 3: 第3页 Admission to the programme can be conceptualized as passing through a series of gates. The first gate is compliance with the university's overarching regulations. The second is possessing a foundational academic key: a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent. The third gate, for some, is demonstrating proficiency in English, the lingua franca of this academic community. Finally, one must pass through gates specific to their chosen field and, if required, a qualifying examination designed to test their readiness. Each gate must be passed to proceed. Page 4: 第4页 If the general requirements are the common foundation of a building, these field-specific criteria are the unique structural supports required for different wings. For fields like Counselling or Gerontology, the structure is reinforced by practical experience—two years are preferred. For a highly specialized field like Clinical Psychology, the supports are rigorously defined: a psychology degree, proven research ability, and professional society eligibility. Criminology allows for two types of support: a strong academic background in a related discipline or practical experience from within the justice system itself. Page 5: 第5页 Here we see more examples of specialized prerequisites. Educational Psychology, much like Clinical Psychology, demands a specific academic lineage—a Psychology major—and professional recognition. However, it also values experience in its specific domain: education. The Nonprofit Management path places a higher premium on sustained professional engagement, preferring three years of experience. The general Psychology field, in contrast, uses a finer filter: it prefers some work experience but also reserves the right to deploy a qualifying exam and interview to assess a candidate's suitability directly. Page 6: 第6页 These final examples demonstrate the need for either disciplinary depth or a hybrid of skills. The path to Social Data Analytics is a confluence of two streams: one can arrive from a social science background or from a technical one, provided there is a bridge of coursework connecting to the other side. Furthermore, it values prior technical facility. The Sociology path is more traditional, preferring a clear lineage from the social sciences or humanities, ensuring a shared theoretical and conceptual vocabulary. Page 7: 第7页 Think of the qualifying examination as a stress test for a bridge before it's opened to traffic. Its purpose is not to be punitive, but to ensure the candidate's academic structure can bear the weight of the curriculum. The test itself can take various forms—from written papers to project reports—much like a bridge can be tested for load, torsion, and resonance. Crucially, passing this test is a condition precedent; one cannot begin the journey across the bridge until it has been certified as sound. Page 8: 第8页 Every academic journey has a designated duration, much like a voyage. The standard voyage is one year full-time or two years part-time. However, the regulations provide a buffer, a maximum period, to account for unforeseen delays. Certain specialized voyages, due to their complexity or practical components, have different schedules. Clinical Psychology, for instance, is a longer, more intensive full-time expedition. Counselling offers flexible part-time itineraries. It is imperative to know not just the expected arrival time, but also the absolute final deadline for your specific journey. Page 9: 第9页 Imagine constructing your degree as building a structure with a set number of blocks. These regulations govern how you might use blocks you've already crafted elsewhere. 'Advanced Standing' is like bringing pre-fabricated walls from a previous project; they are accepted, but you can't bring more than 20% of the total structure. 'Credit Transfer' is like building a section off-site while the main construction is ongoing; these blocks are added, but their quality doesn't affect your overall 'grade point average'. 'Exemption' means you are excused from laying a specific block, but you must lay another of equal value in its place. Critically, the total number of pre-fabricated and off-site blocks cannot exceed half of the entire structure. Page 10: 第10页 The award of the degree is the logical conclusion of a successfully executed contract. This contract has several key clauses. First, you must abide by the overarching legal framework of the university. Second, you must diligently perform all the required tasks—the coursework, the fieldwork, the assignments. Third, you must produce the final deliverable, the capstone of your work: a dissertation or project. Finally, your entire body of work must pass inspection by the examiners. Only when all these conditions are met is the contract fulfilled and the degree awarded. Page 11: 第11页 The dissertation or capstone project is the summative expression of your learning. Its creation follows a formal, structured process. First, you must declare your intellectual territory by submitting a title for approval by a fixed date—think of this as filing a flight plan. Then, you must complete the journey and land by the prescribed deadline. Finally, upon presentation, you must make a formal declaration of authorship. This is akin to signing your name to a work of art, attesting that it is your own creation, or, in the case of a joint work, clearly delineating your contribution to the final piece. Page 12: 第12页 The assessment system is not a single, final judgment, but rather a comprehensive portfolio of evidence gathered throughout your studies. It is a mosaic of different pieces: examinations, written assignments, and practical work. Each piece contributes to the final picture of your academic achievement. The specific weight of each piece—how much the coursework matters versus the final exam—is predetermined in the course syllabus. A crucial principle of this system is finality: once a course is passed, that chapter is closed. You cannot go back to 'improve' the record, ensuring forward academic progression. Page 13: 第13页 Academic progress is not always linear. The regulations anticipate the possibility of setbacks and provide a structured mechanism for recovery, akin to a series of remedial measures. If the extent of failure is limited—affecting no more than half the coursework—a candidate has several options: they can be re-examined on the same material, resubmit their work, repeat the learning process, or, for elective subjects, choose an alternative path. Furthermore, for absences due to legitimate illness, the system allows for a supplementary examination, ensuring that unforeseen circumstances do not automatically lead to failure. Page 14: 第14页 While the system provides opportunities for recovery, it is not without limits. There are clearly defined circumstances under which the academic journey must be terminated. Think of these as safety mechanisms that prevent indefinite struggle or a decline in academic standards. These include failing a course for a second time, failing to produce a satisfactory dissertation even after revision, or simply running out of time by exceeding the maximum registration period. Certain fields also have their own critical failure points, such as failing essential practical placements. These are the points of no return. Page 15: 第15页 Academic performance is communicated through a precise language of grades. This system provides a granular scale from 'Excellent' to 'Fail', with each letter grade corresponding to a numerical grade point. This allows for the calculation of a Grade Point Average, or GPA, a standardized measure of overall performance. Some courses, however, use a simpler binary: 'Pass' or 'Fail'. Beyond this, for those whose overall body of work is truly outstanding, the university bestows a 'mark of distinction'. This is the system's highest praise, a formal acknowledgment of exceptional merit recorded for posterity on the diploma itself. Page 16: 第16页 Let us now examine the Sociology program as a case study. Its architecture is logical and sequential. Before the main construction begins, students without a sociology background must lay a foundation via a pre-sessional course. The main structure consists of three parts. First, the compulsory courses act as the core pillars: theory, research design, and research methods. Second, the elective courses are the customizable rooms, allowing students to pursue specific interests. Finally, the entire structure is crowned with a 12-credit capstone project. Only upon the successful completion of all components, totaling 60 credits, is the building considered complete and the degree awarded. Page 17: 第17页 The elective system in Sociology can be likened to navigating a library. The requirement is to read five books. To help you, the library has organized its collection into four main sections, or 'themes,' such as 'Criminology' or 'Media and culture.' You are not, however, restricted to one section. You have the freedom to browse and select books from any of the four themes to build a collection that reflects your own intellectual interests. The system even allows you, with permission, to borrow up to two select books from the undergraduate section of the library, further broadening your intellectual range. Page 18: 第18页 The Sociology capstone project is the final act of the academic performance. It is not a solo performance but a collaborative one, conducted in small ensembles. The objective is to take all the theory and skills learned and apply them to a single, significant research question addressing a real-world problem. The faculty act as directors, guiding the student groups through the entire production process—from scripting the research design to the final presentation. The ultimate goal is not merely to replicate old studies, but to produce an innovative piece of research that contributes a fresh, critical perspective to the field of sociology. Page 19: 第19页 In summary, we have dissected the architectural blueprint of the Master of Social Sciences degree. We can synthesize this complex document into five key pillars: Admission, Curriculum, Assessment, Progression, and Completion. Each pillar is composed of clear, interlocking regulations. Admission sets the entry standards. The curriculum defines the path of study. Assessment measures performance along that path. Progression dictates how to navigate both success and setbacks. And finally, Completion and Award mark the successful culmination of the entire endeavor. Understanding this five-part structure is the key to successfully navigating your academic journey.