Academic regulations governing official masters

Resolution of the Board of Governors dated 10 May 2006, amended by the resolutions of the Board of Governors dated 14 March and 14 November 2007)

(This translation into English is of an informative nature. The official version is originally in Catalan.)

The European Higher Education Area entails making major changes to the university structure. The implementation of official postgraduate programmes, regulated by Royal Decree 56/2005, dated 21 January, requires various regulations to be prepared in order to complete the system and its content.

On 29 March 2006 the Board of Governors approved the initial regulations concerning the syllabuses and the bodies in charge of the master. The task to address now is to regulate those norms which lay out the action to be unfolded in terms of teaching and academic management for these study programmes in our University.

In this respect, a new statutory postgraduate model is created on the basis of a review of current regulations for first and second cycle, which is the first step to bringing it in line with regulations governing graduate studies.

1. Scope of application

This regulation applies to second cycle university study programmes leading to a master's degree.

2. Admission

2.1. Admission requirements

All students who meet the general access requirements set out in current regulations and, if applicable, the specific requirements for the respective master are eligible for admission to study programmes leading to UPF master's degrees.

It is incumbent on the Board of Governors to approve the specific requirements for admission to each master at the proposal of the department in charge, following a report from the committee responsible for official postgraduate affairs.

2.2. Number of places on masters

Admission to each master is subject to the number of available places to be determined by the Board of Governors.

2.3. Competent bodies

It is incumbent on the departmental director in charge of the master to issue a resolution regarding admission of applicants, except under the circumstance set out in the following paragraph.

It will be incumbent on the rector to make a decision on admission of applicants who do not possess a graduate degree or other expressly stated equivalent, but who are able to certify having successfully completed at least 180 credits corresponding to first cycle studies comprising all the standard educational content envisaged in a university degree. The decision will be made with a binding report from the committee in charge of official postgraduate affairs.

2.4. Submission of applications

The University will allow two periods to apply for admission in each academic year, which will be open to applicants who meet the general and specific access requirements, in addition to those applicants who, despite not meeting the requirements at the time of applying, expect to do so when the course begins.

The Postgraduate and Doctoral Committee will establish the proportion of places that will be assigned to each application period. Moreover, for each period, the Committee may decide to distribute places among both nationals of EU Member States and non-EU nationals.

If a fee is established in order to take part in the admission procedure, a receipt for payment thereof will need to be submitted to be eligible for application.

2.5. Documentation

When submitting applications, applicants should attach documentation attesting to specific circumstances that are subject to assessment.

Final acceptance of admission is subject to it being certified that the applicant meets the general and specific requirements upon the start of the course.

2.6. Admission of students in possession of an unaccredited higher education qualification

Students applying for admission to a master in accordance with article 3.2 of Royal Decree 56/2005, dated 21 January, and who certify that they are in possession of a foreign higher education degree that has not been accredited, must draw up an application for acknowledgment as to the equivalence of the level of education, certified by means of the foreign degree, along with an application for any acknowledgment needed to obtain the respective Spanish graduate degree.

The application for acknowledgment of the level of education must be accompanied by the following documents when applying for admission:

a) A foreign degree certificate or a certificate attesting that the former has been issued.

b) An academic certification for the study programme followed by the applicant in order to obtain the degree, which must include the official duration of the study programme followed in academic years, the subjects taken, the study time for each subject and the marks obtained.

Other documents, which may be necessary to certify that the education undertaken to obtain the foreign degree is equivalent to the education required to obtain the respective Spanish graduate degree, may be required including, if applicable, subject programmes stating the content and extent to which subjects were followed, or academic documentation showing that the study programme in the country issuing the degree enables students to be admitted on postgraduate courses.

Documents issued abroad must meet the following requirements:

a) They should be official and be issued by the respective authorities, pursuant to the legal system applicable in the respective country.

b) They should be submitted in a format duly authenticated by diplomatic means or, if applicable, using the apostille of the Hague Convention. This requirement will not be necessary in the case of documents issued by authorities in EU Member States or signatories to the agreement creating the European Economic Area.

c) The examining body may require a sworn translation of the enclosed documents to be prepared in Spanish or Catalan.

If there is any doubt as to the authenticity, validity or content of the documents provided, all necessary steps may be taken to verify those documents and the respective issuing authority may be addressed in order to certify any uncertain circumstances.
The departmental director in charge of the master will issue a resolution on admission of these students following a report from the committee in charge of official postgraduate affairs. These students may be admitted conditionally until a resolution is adopted.

A resolution concerning an application for acknowledgment of the level of education does not entail the granting of a university place. For a place at the university to be granted, a resolution must be adopted regarding admission.

If applicable, resolutions concerning an application for acknowledgment of the level of education will be submitted to the selection committee for a final resolution to be adopted regarding admission.

2.7. Assessment of admission applications

2.7.1. Criteria

When demand for places on a master is greater than availability, in order to establish priority for students applying for admission, the assessment criteria approved by the Board of Governors at the proposal of the department in charge of the master shall be applied, following a report from the committee in charge of postgraduate affairs. These criteria shall always abide by the principles of publicity, equality, merit and ability.

Priority may be given to students who meet the admission requirements in June prior to the start of the academic year for which they are applying.

If the procedure includes an exam, applicants must pay the fee for sitting that exam. Proof of payment will be needed in order to sit the exam.

2.7.2. Procedure

The selection procedure will be determined by a screening committee appointed by resolution of the committee in charge of the official postgraduate programme to which the master pertains. This committee will be appointed by the rector, or the vice-rector to whom the task is delegated, and will comprise at least three lecturers from the scientific field to which the master belongs, one of whom will be elected as the president and another as the secretary.

It will be incumbent on this committee to select applicants and to deal with all issues arising in relation to this activity which are not allocated to another body.

The committee must publish the selection procedure schedule over the university's institutional website at least fifteen days prior to its commencement, stating the date on which results will be published. The committee must ensure that the procedure is complete prior to the start of the registration period set by the university.

The committee will publish the list of accepted applicants over the UPF website. An appeal may be lodged to the rector against this resolution.

2.8. Direct admission

2.8.1. Applicants with validations for 60% of credits that need to be completed successfully to obtain the qualification may be admitted directly on 60-credit master's courses.

Applicants must have validations for 60% of credits for the first academic year validated or adapted to be admitted directly on 60-credit master's courses.

2.8.2. A number of students accounting for a further 10% of all places on the master may be admitted according to this method. If this figure is below five, as many as five students may be admitted by this method.

2.8.3. When applying for admission, students falling into this category should prepare an application for validation or adaptation at the same time. These students may be admitted conditionally until a final resolution is issued in relation to their application for validation or adaptation.

When demand for places on a master via direct admission is greater than availability, the master's selection committee will assess applications using the assessment criteria approved by the Board of Governors for the general admission procedure. An appeal may be lodged to the rector against a resolution issued by the master's selection committee.

3. Simultaneous studies

3.1. Students who have embarked on a university master's study programme and who wish to begin or rejoin another master's course or a graduate course at UPF in order to study both at the same time must apply for simultaneous studies to be granted.

Simultaneous studies may not be granted when demand for the second course is greater than availability.

Applications for simultaneous studies must be submitted before the deadline set by the vice-rector in charge of official postgraduate affairs.

The application should set out the reasons why the student is applying for admission to simultaneous studies and a personal academic certificate for the original study programme.

3.2. It is incumbent on the rector, or the vice-rector to whom the task is delegated, to issue a resolution regarding applications for simultaneous studies. Beforehand, the departmental director in charge of the master should submit a motion containing an assessment of the academic transcript for the original study programme followed by the applicant and the reasons set out in the application. Availability and demand on the target study programme should also be taken into consideration.

In order for simultaneous studies to be granted, the applicant must have been granted a place on the respective master's programme.

4. Resuming studies

4.1. Students who dropped out of their study programme at Pompeu Fabra University because they had not registered for two consecutive years and who wish to resume their course must apply for readmission.

The deadline for submitting applications will be set by the vice-rector in charge of official postgraduate affairs.

Applications for readmission must be accompanied by documents certifying the reasons why the student is applying to resume studies. It is a vital requirement not to have breached the UPF continuance rules.

4.2. It is incumbent on the director of the department in charge of the programme to issue a resolution regarding applications for resuming studies following an assessment of the academic study programme pertaining to UPF studies from which the student dropped out. The reasons set out in the application must also be assessed and it is important to bear in mind availability and demand for places on the study programme applied for.

Readmission for outdated syllabuses is not allowed.

5. Registration

5.1. Procedure

Students should prepare their application to register for a master within the deadlines set by the university.

Acceptance of the application by the University is subject to the veracity of the data set out in the application, to student compliance with the requirements established in current legislation for admission to the master and to full payment being made in due time and proper form.

Once registration is complete the student will be issued with a card showing that he is a UPF student.

5.2. Items and prices

The sum to be paid by students will be established by applying the public prices approved by the Generalitat Government of Catalonia in accordance with the authority bestowed on it by current regulations.

The University may determine other prices for items approved by the Board of Directors in line with current regulations.

Students should pay the sum for education insurance whenever they fall within its scope of application as per current regulations.

5.3. Payment in instalments

Students admitted to official master's courses will need to make payment for the sum established as an advance payment for a proportion of registration and for reservation of their place well within the deadline set. Under no circumstances may this sum be returned to students even if they ultimately do not register.

The remaining amount can be paid in one lump sum at the start of the academic year or in two equal instalments, one to be paid when finalising registration and one to be paid during the second half of December. The University has the right to cancel registration for a place owing to non-payment.

Students paying in instalments must make payment by direct debit.

5.4. Grants and exemptions

Students who benefit from any kind of grant or are in any way exempt from paying for registration as laid down in current regulations should certify this circumstance when registering.

The terms and conditions entitling students to exemption from payments must be met at the start of the course.

5.5. Compulsory nature of registration

5.5.1. Students are required to register for all credits on the master if it is structured into one academic year or, if it is structured into more than one academic year they should register for the first academic year in full, depending on whether the master is being followed on a full- or part-time basis.

When registering, students must include all credits they have not passed or which have been validated, in addition to credits for which they are registering for the first time.

5.5.2. The range of subjects and optional training activities on offer shall be binding for the University throughout the academic year.

5.5.3. The minimum number of students per subject may not be less than 10. This limit does not apply to training activities. Under exceptional circumstances the rector or the vice-rector to whom it is delegated may allow a subject to be taught with a lower number of students.

5.6. Validations and adaptations

Any students with validated credits at the time of registering shall pay the public price approved by the Government of Catalonia.

If a student has both validated and non-validated credits for an academic year, the financial payment will be made once the sum of the validated credits has been calculated and added to the sum due for non-validated credits.

If a student registers without a favourable resolution being issued with respect to the application for validation, under no circumstances may he benefit from the reduced public price approved by the Government of Catalonia, if applicable.

5.7. Registration waiver

The deadline for students who wish to waive registration is 30 November. The waiver must be accepted by the University, although it shall take effect as of the time it is submitted.

Acceptance of the waiver will in terms of its effect be tantamount to the student not having registered.

5.8. Cancelling registration

The University may cancel registration of a student in the event of non-payment.

Cancellation of registration shall have the effects envisaged in current regulations.

5.9. Reimbursements

Cancellation of registration by the University or waiver of registration by the student will not entitle him to a refund for the fee.

The deadline for claiming a refund for registration fees, by means of a grant or payments for students, is 31 May of the respective academic year.

6. Staying rules

The staying rules for master's study programmes shall be as approved by the Board of Trustees at the proposal of the Board of Governors.

7. Validations and adaptations

7.1. Definitions

Validation entails a parallel in terms of knowledge, content and study time between subjects within syllabuses leading to the possession of different official master's degrees.

Adaptation entails a parallel in terms of knowledge, content and study time between subjects within syllabuses leading to the possession of the same official master's degree.

7.2. Bodies

It is incumbent on the committee in charge of postgraduate affairs to determine the general validation and adaptation criteria.

The departmental director in charge of the master shall issue a resolution regarding applications for validations and adaptations following a report from the validation member.

The departmental director in charge of the official postgraduate programme to which the master pertains shall appoint a validation member from amongst the doctor lecturers for each master or for a host of masters within the programme.

An appeal may be lodged to the rector, or the vice-rector to whom the task has been delegated, against the resolutions issued by the departmental director.

7.3. Requirements

Students may apply for validation or adaptation of previous studies if they can certify that they have obtained a place or have applied for direct admission.

7.4. Accreditation of validated, acknowledged or adapted credits

If an application for validations includes validated, acknowledged or adapted credits, the departmental director shall issue a resolution based on the documents that allowed the original subjects to be validated; accordingly, all documents relating to subject content must be provided.

7.5. Procedure

7.5.1. Applications for validations or adaptations for Spanish university study programmes must detail the original subjects for which validation or adaptation is applied, stating their relationship with the target subjects to validate or adapt. If applicable, it will be necessary to state whether the request concerns an application for direct admission and the following documents should be attached:

- An academic certificate detailing the subjects, the number of credits and the marks obtained.

- A photocopy of the syllabus followed, duly stamped by the respective centre.

- A photocopy of the teaching plans or syllabuses for the subjects followed, duly stamped by the respective centre.

- A receipt certifying payment of the fee for application of validations, as set out in current legislation.

7.5.2. Applications for validations or adaptations of foreign university studies shall be prepared in line with UPF postgraduate regulations governing accreditation and validation of foreign higher education study programmes and degrees, which shall be applied for all aspects not dealt with herein.

7.5.3. Applications for validations or adaptations may be submitted within the periods set by the vice-rector in charge of official postgraduate affairs.

7.5.4. A resolution regarding validation does not entail the granting of a place at the University. For the latter to be granted, a resolution must be adopted with respect to direct admission.

Resolutions for validations or adaptations in relation to a transcript for direct admission shall be forwarded to the respective body for the final resolution on admission to be adopted.

7.5.5. Subjects will appear as validated on academic transcripts once registration is complete. If a student has already registered for a subject, validation or adaptation shall be effective during the same academic year.

8. Assessment

8.1. Methods and criteria

Evaluation of student knowledge can be conducted by means of a final exam or a continuous assessment process.

The lecturers in charge of each training activity and subject should announce the assessment criteria and methods they will be applying at the start of the respective teaching period.

8.2. Subject teaching plan

The teaching plan of the subject constitutes an instrument that sets out the organisational teaching model for the subject. The teaching plan shall be made public and can be viewed at all locations envisaged by the University for publishing academic information.

8.3. Continuous assessment system

8.3.1. Definition

Continuous assessment shall refer to a series of teaching strategies, processes and instruments defined in the teaching plan of the subject, which are gradually and increasingly applied as a whole throughout the teaching and learning process for the subject. The results gleaned from this process should provide students and teachers alike with major, regular indicators as to development and progress when it comes to achieving the skills that have been established as the intended learning outcomes for the subject.

8.3.2. Scope

Continuous assessment shall apply to all subjects envisaging this method of evaluation in the teaching plan of the subject.

8.3.3. Content

Subjects that involve continuous assessment systems shall specify at least three forms of assessment, in addition to mechanisms and indicators showing that progress has been made and the learning achievements have been reached, the timing envisaged, the criteria for assessing each activity and its significance within the overall calculation for obtaining the subject grade.

8.3.4. Assessment

The mechanisms for continuous assessment used during the teaching period can account for between 50 and 100% of the full assessment for the purposes of determining the final mark.

Students will receive regular information regarding the results achieved in activities that are part of continuous assessment. To this end, the means envisaged in the teaching plan of the subject will be used to publish this information.

In all cases, subjects that envisage a continuous assessment system shall still allow students to opt for taking a final exam, within the exam period stated in the University's academic calendar.

8.3.5. Grade

Subjects with continuous assessment shall follow the general grading system established by the University.

8.4. System for final exams

8.4.1. Period

Both oral and written exams shall be taken at the end of the teaching period, within the dates set by the University in the academic calendar for this purpose.

8.4.2. Sitting

One exam sitting shall be conducted for each subject or training activity during each academic year.

In the case of training activities lasting longer than one term, assessment will be carried out during the period established for this purpose within the academic calendar during the last term in which the activity is taught.

Activities may under exceptional circumstances be assessed up to but no later than 10 September when the training activity so requires.

8.4.3. Oral exams

Oral exams will be organised and assessed by a panel comprising three lecturers. To provide proof of the content of the exam and ensure it will remain in the pertinent lecturer's possession, it will be recorded using a suitable means.

8.4.4. Review

Students may call for a review of their grades according to the following procedures:

a) When the departmental director in charge of the master publishes the provisional grades, he will establish a period for students to lodge any claims to the assessor.

b) Within 10 working days following publication of the final grades, students may file a petition to the departmental director in charge of the master for a second correction to be conducted.

This second correction will be carried out by a panel consisting of three lecturers, appointed by the departmental director in charge of the master. Prior to issuing a mark, the panel will hold a hearing with the lecturer in charge of the subject.

The panel will issue a resolution regarding the application for a second correction within 15 working days counting from the deadline for submitting petitions.

c) Students may lodge an appeal to the rector against final grades, whether or not they have requested a second correction, in order to raise issues concerning a breach of procedure and other matters aside from an assessment of the technical knowledge required. If a second correction has been applied for, no appeal may be lodged until a resolution regarding that correction has been adopted.

8.4.5. Preservation

In order to enable grades to be reviewed, lecturers are required to keep exams or documents on which grades are based (including recordings) for at least one year following the end of the grading period (see Instruction 01/2004, on the University Archive, establishing the procedure for disposing of exams and documents on which grades are based).

9. Grades

The results achieved by students will be stated as numerical marks in accordance with the scale established in Royal Decree 1125/2003, dated 5 September, establishing the European credit system and the system for grading in official university degrees with validity throughout Spain.

As far as validated and adapted subjects are concerned, the provisions set forth in the grading regulations approved by the Board of Governors shall apply to the assessment of academic transcripts and certification of qualifications on those transcripts.

10. Training placements in companies

In order to set up agreements with other institutions for undertaking training placements as envisaged in syllabuses, the regulations governing agreements for undertaking training placements as envisaged in syllabuses, which were approved by the Board of Governors, shall apply. In the case of masters, any references in the regulation to study programmes or centres, or indeed the heads of those centres, shall be deemed as referring to the departmental directors in charge of the masters or the heads of department (see Regulation governing agreements for undertaking training placements as envisaged in UPF syllabuses (Resolution of the Management Committee dated 26 May 1993).

11. Academic transcripts

Once the minimum requirements for obtaining the master's degree have been met, any subjects or training activities that were not successfully completed by the student will not be included in the academic transcript.

12. Tutorials

12.1. Definition

All masters will incorporate a model of supervision, in accordance with the University Tutorial Action Plan, in order to provide students with assistance with respect to their professional and academic education on the context of the educational pathway specific to each master.

12.2. Duties of the supervising lecturer

Students registered for a master will be assigned a supervising lecturer whose duties will be as follows:

- Informative: to provide general and specific information on issues and means to guide students to sources of data that may be useful for their studies.
- Academic monitoring and educational intervention: to introduce mechanisms to monitor students' academic progress and performance, to provide guidance as to the learning models that are most suited to each need and likewise to assist in planning each student's syllabus pathway according to his professional and educational interests.
- Guidance on professionalism and the educational pathway: to conduct tutoring activities that guide students when structuring their professional course and on aspects relating to the ongoing training needed to successfully complete it.

12.3. Allocation of the supervising lecturer

The supervising lecturer will be appointed by the departmental director in charge of the master and each supervisor shall have no more than 20 students assigned.

12.4. Dedication

Dedication on the part of the supervising lecturer is envisaged as part of his teaching activity, in accordance with the valuation made in the University's general regulations.

Planning of teaching for the master will include activities envisaged as part of tutorial duties.

12.5. Coordination and assessment

It will be incumbent on the coordinator of each master to coordinate supervising lecturers and to ensure that supervisory activities develop and improve.

The institutional mechanisms in place for assessing teaching include tutorial activities in those areas for which it is decided to conduct teaching assessment.

The department in charge of the master shall assess the operation of tutorial activities at least twice a year in order to compile indicators and mechanisms for improvement with respect to the effectiveness, the efficiency and the bearing of those activities.

12.6. Assistance with tutorial activities

University services will assist coordinators and supervising lecturers to conduct the various stages of tutorial activities, and will also provide support for the planning, development and assessment of such activities.

Additional provision

In the case of inter-university masters, the respective agreement shall stipulate the academic regulations that will apply.