MSc in Musculoskeletal Sciences Taught 2016-2018
65
MSc in Musculoskeletal Sciences Taught 2016-2018
Transcript of MSc in Musculoskeletal Sciences Taught 2016-2018
MSc in Musculoskeletal Sciences Taught 2016-2018
i
StatementofCoverage
ThisStudentHandbookappliestostudentsstartingtheMScinMusculoskeletalSciencesinMichaelmas term2016. Please note that the information in this handbookmaybedifferentforstudentsstartinginotheryears.
Disclaimer
TheExaminationRegulationsrelatingtothiscourseareavailableathttps://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/examregs/andhttps://weblearn.ox.ac.uk/portal/hierarchy/medsci/department/ndorms/msc_muscskelIf there is a conflict between information in this handbook and the ExaminationRegulations, then you should follow the Examination Regulations. If you have anyconcerns,[email protected] information in this handbook is accurate as atOctober 2016, however itmay benecessary for changes to be made in certain circumstances, as explained athttps://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/changes-to-courses?wssl=1.Ifsuchchangesaremadethedepartmentwillpublishanewversionofthishandbooktogetherwithalistofchangesandstudentswillbeinformed.
ii
Version
Version Published
1.0 ForMT2016
iii
Contents
Foreword
Statement of Coverage i Disclaimer i Version ii Introduction 1 Welcome from the Course Director 3 Key Information Sources 4 Course Contacts 5 Useful Website 8 Building Map Access 9 Important Dates 10 Communication 11
Course Overview Course Aims and Outcomes 15 Course Structure 16
Teaching, Learning and Assessments Organisation of Teaching and Learning 21 Literature Review and Research Proposal 22 Assessment Structure 24 Feedback on Learning and Assessment 26 Examination Conventions 28 Good Academic Practice and Avoiding Plagiarism 28 Entering University Examinations 29 Examination Dates 29 Sitting your Examinations 30 External Examiner and Examiners Reports 31
iv
Skills and Learning development
Academic Progress 35 Induction 35 Opportunities for skills Training and Development 36 Opportunities to Engage in the Department Research Community 36 Careers Information and Advice 37 Department Representation
38
Student Life and Support Who to Contact for Help 41 Complaints and Appeals 43 Student Societies 45 Policies and Regulations
45
Facilities Libraries 49 IT 50
Annex Course Dates 53 Complaints and Appeals 55
1
INTRODUCTIONNuffieldDepartmentofOrthopaedics,RheumatologyandMusculoskeletalSciences
The MSc in Musculoskeletal Sciences course is run by the Nuffield Department ofOrthopaedics,Rheumatology&MusculoskeletalSciences(NDORMS),whichisoneoftheacademicdepartmentswithintheMedicalSciencesDivisionoftheUniversityofOxford.
NDORMSisthelargestEuropeanacademicdepartmentinthefieldandrunsagloballycompetitiveprogrammeofresearchandteaching.
The research armof the department is largely housed in the Botnar Research CentrewhichissituatednexttotheNuffieldOrthopaedicCentre(NOC).ThecollaborationwiththeNOCputsthedepartmentinanexcellentandrareposition,whereresearchersworkalongsideclinicians.Thissubstantiallyimprovesresearchcapability,improvingaccessforresearcherstopatients,andfacilitatestheinteractionbetweencliniciansandscientists,whichisessentialforsuccessfultranslationalresearch.
NDORMSisheadedbyProfessorAndrewCarr,witharound400staffincluding80post-graduatestudents,andmorethan30professors,severaluniversitylecturers,andseniorresearcherspersonallysupportedbyprestigiousawards.
Theresearchcoversabroadrangeofareas,includingorthopaedicsurgery,inflammation,immunology,rheumatology,medicalstatistics,epidemiology,andclinicaltrials.
NDORMShastwointernationallyrenownedinstitutes:
▪ theBotnarResearchCentre▪ theKennedyInstituteofRheumatology
NDORMShostandcollaboratewithanumberofleadingresearchunits,including:
▪ theCentreforStatisticsinMedicine(CSM)▪ theOxfordClinicalTrialsResearchUnit(OCTRU)▪ theSurgicalInterventionsTrialsUnit(SITU)▪ theCentreforOsteoarthritisPathogenesis(OACentre)▪ theKadoorieCentreforCriticalCareResearchandEducation
2
3
WelcomefromtheCourseDirector
DearStudents,
IwouldliketowelcomeyoutoOxfordatthestartofanexcitingandinterestingtwo-yearcourse.
The key to success with this MSc is good organisation,communication,effectivecollaborationandtimemanagement.
Acrossthedepartment,thedivisionandtheuniversityasawhole,thereisanabundanceofskillstrainingcoursesavailable,mostofwhicharefreeofcharge,forallpost-graduatestudentstoattend.Pleasedomakesureyoutakeadvantageoftheseopportunities.
Thishandbookprovidesessentialinformationaboutyourassignments,exams,academicandpastoralsupport.
Wewishyoumuchsuccessasyoufulfilyouracademicgoalsandlearnmoreaboutthesciencesunderlyingmusculoskeletaldiseases.
Withallthebest
AndrewJudge
DirectorMScinMusculoskeletalSciences
4
KeyInformationSources
Departmentwebsite https://www.ndorms.ox.ac.uk/
MScWeblearnSite https://weblearn.ox.ac.uk/portal/hierarchy/medsci/department/ndorms/msc_muscskel
ExaminationRegulations
https://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/examregs/
ExaminationConventions
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams?wssl=1
OxfordStudentsWebsite
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students?wssl=1
StudentHandbook https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/student-handbook?wssl=1
5
CourseContacts
AndrewJudge
ChairofCourseDirectors
AssociateProfessorandSeniorStatistician
PaulBowness
CourseDirector
ProfessorofExperimentalRheumatology
AndrewWainwright
CourseDirector
ConsultantOrthopaedicSurgeon
CatherineSwales
ConsultantRheumatologistandDirectorUndergraduateStudies
BenjaminKendrick
OrthopaedicSurgeon
LydiaUnderdown
CourseAdministrator
(01865)223412
6
7
NDORMSContacts
AfsieSabokbar
DirectorofGraduateStudies
SamuelBurnell
GraduateStudiesOfficer
MariaGranellMoreno
EqualityandDiversityOfficer
PeteSalmond
BotnarResearchCentreITManager
IsuaraThomas
BotnarReceptionist
Studentrepresentative
Astudentrepresentativefromthe2016studentcohortwillbenominatedinMichaelmasTerm.
8
UsefulWebsites
StudentHealthandWelfarewebsite
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare?wssl=1
OxfordUniversityITServices
http://www.it.ox.ac.uk/
OxfordUniversityLibraries
https://www.ox.ac.uk/research/libraries?wssl=1
OxfordGlossary https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/history/oxford-glossary?wssl=1
MedicalSciencesDivision
http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/
AcademicDress http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic_dress
TheSpringboardProgramme
http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/springboard/
TheCareersService http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/
9
BuildingMapandAccess
10
ImportantDates
Matriculation
Matriculation is the formal registrationbywhichyouareacceptedasamemberofOxfordUniversity.Itonlyoccursonce,attheoutsetofyourOxfordstudies,regardlessofthenumberofcoursesyoumayeventuallyundertake.Inordertomatriculate,youareaskedtoattendaMatriculation Ceremony. Your College will contact you to arrange your attendance at aMatriculationCeremony.
ExamandAssignmentDates
Assessment Date Percentageoffinalaward
Literaturereview-formative Wednesday22ndMarch2017
Formative
LiteratureReview-summative Wednesday28thJune2017
20%
Examinations1i. MCQ/EMQ1hourii. Writtenpaper2hours
Tuesday5thSeptember2017
10%10%
Researchproposal-formativeoutline
Monday8thJanuary2018
Formative
Researchproposal-presentation Wednesday21stMarch2018
10%
Researchproposal-full Tuesday10thJuly2018
30%
Examinations2i. MCQ/EMQ1hourii. Writtenpaper2hours
Thursday13thSeptember2018
10%10%
Total 100%
11
ExaminationRe-SitDates
Studentswill be allowedoneopportunity to re-sit each examination, normallywithin twomonthsoftheoriginalfailure,shouldyoufailtoreachthenecessarystandard.Studentsfailingtopassanyelementatthesecondattemptwillnormallybejudgedtohavefailedtoreachthenecessarystandardfortheawardandwillnotbepermittedtocontinue.
Graduation
OnceyouhavepassedyourMSc,youcanbookaplaceatadegreeceremonythroughyourcollege.Placesusuallybookupwellinadvance,particularlyinthesummer,sotheyareallocatedonafirstcome,firstservedbasis.Ifyoucannotcometoadegreeceremonyfor any reason, you canalso take yourdegree in absentia, i.e.withoutbeing there inperson.
Communication
Please use your University and college email addresses for communicationwith yoursupervisors,administratorsandyourcolleges.Youshouldcheckyouremailregularlyasthey are used frequently to sendmessages to students. You are also responsible forkeepingyourpersonalandcontactdetailsup-to-dateusingStudentSelf-Service.
Incaseyourequireanyfurtherinformationaboutthis,youmaycontacttheDepartmentalCommunicationOfficer,MissJoSilva([email protected]).
Weblearn
Shortlyaftereachteachingsession,thepresentationsandanyotherrelevantnoteswillbeuploadedtotheMScWeblearnpage.TheMScWeblearnpageincludesallinformationabout thecourse,aswellasannouncements,useful linksandcalendar.All summativeassignmentsaresubmittedviaWebLearn.
NDORMSCommunication
TheweeklyNDORMse-BulletinwhichiscirculatedeveryThursdaytoyourdepartmentalemail account has details of all upcoming events, important news, training and otheropportunitieswithinthedepartment.
12
13
CourseOverview
14
15
CourseAimsandOutcomes
Theprogrammeprovidespracticingclinicianswithanacademictraininginthesciencesunderlyingmusculoskeletaldiseases,andisdesignedtocomplementanypost-graduateclinicalteachingthatstudentsmightbereceivingintheirspecialisttrainingprogramme.Thecoursepromotesanunderstandingof theways inwhich researchcanbeused toimprovehealthcareinmusculoskeletaldiseases.
Themainobjectivesoftheprogrammeare:
• toprovideafocusedopportunitytogainscientificmusculoskeletalknowledgetocomplementclinicalskills.
• to support evidence-based orthopaedic and rheumatology practice byidentifying,criticallyappraisingandincorporatingtheresultsofmedicalresearchintotheday-to-daydecisionmakingofclinicalpractice.
• to enable students to contribute to the development of rheumatology andorthopaedicpracticeregionallyandnationally.
• toenablestudentstodeveloparesearchproposalonarelevanttopic.StudentLearningOutcomesBytheendofthiscoursestudentswillhavedevelopedaknowledgeandunderstandingof:
• the fundamental principles and scientific basis of musculoskeletal diseasesincluding such areas as functional anatomy, physiology, immunology, genetics,bonebiology,basic tumourbiology,epidemiology, imaging, statisticalmethods,biomechanics,pharmacologyandassessmentofoutcomes.
• clinical aspects of musculoskeletal diseases which will include differentialdiagnosis, clinical presentations and disease course, medical and surgicalmanagement,abilitytoappraiseclinicalstudiesandtrials.
• the principles of study design and types of approaches that could be used forstatisticalanalysisofevidence-basedreports.
• appropriatedatacollectiontoolsandmethodsthatareneededtoensurerobustresearchoutcomes.
• up-to-date,specialistknowledgeandresearchinmusculoskeletaldiseases.
16
CourseStructure
Thecourse runs for twoyears, fromOctober2016 toOctober2018. It is apart-timeprogramme,withformalteachingtakingplaceduringresidentialsessionsof3-5days11timesoverthetwoyears.
Duringthefirstfourterms,studentsstudythefollowingthreemodules:
A. PrinciplesofMusculoskeletalDiseases
Thismoduleexposesstudentstotheprinciplesofmusculoskeletalbiologyinhealthand disease including the cellular, molecular, genetic, immunological andbiomechanical aspects of musculoskeletal science and medicine. Teaching ispredominantly lecture-based but will also include interactive sessions and self-directedlearningandpresentation.Theprincipleobjectiveofthisbasicmoduleistoprovideadetailedandup-to-dateunderstandingofbone,joint,cartilage,muscleandtendon biology with respect to cell biology, immunology, genetics andbiomechanics.Thiswillpavethewayformorespecialiststudyinthelatterpartoftheprogramme.
B. ScientificAspectsofCommonMusculoskeletalDiseases
This module covers the breadth of clinical challenges facing rheumatologists andorthopaedic surgeons - from the most common conditions to unusual skeletaldysplasias,frompaediatricstotropicalmusculoskeletaldiseaseandfrommalignancytosportsmedicine.Thefocusthroughoutwillbeforstudentstodevelopacriticalandevidence-based approach to musculoskeletal conditions, their diagnosis andmanagement. In addition, it will provide excellent preparation for the specialisedmodulesundertakenlaterintheprogramme.
C. Research,StatisticsandEpidemiology
This module provides a contemporary overview of common methods used inmusculoskeletalresearchtoevaluatediseaseandtreatment.Itwillenablestudentstodevelop strong and answerable research questions, understand different researchdesigns, apply appropriate outcomemeasures, and the ability to use appropriatestatisticalmethodsintheanalysisofsimpledatasets.Themoduleisinteractiveandwilldevelopskills inpresentinganddisplayingquantitativedata.By theendof themodulestudentswillbeableto:1)reviewandappraisemethodologyandstatistical
17
analysesreportedinmedicaljournals,2)turnaresearchideaintoapublicationand,3)constructascientificallycoherentresearchproposal.
Inthefinaltwoterms,studentsstudythefollowingmodules:
i. Rheumatology
Thismodulecoversthescientificbasisofgeneticsusceptibilitytoinflammatoryanddegenerative forms of bone and joint disease. Pathophysiological mechanismsrelevanttovariousinflammatoryarthropathiesandinflammatoryconnectivetissuedisorderswillbepresented,includingtheirrelevancetoidentifyingnovelformsoftreatment.Studentsareintroducedtomethodsbywhichgeneticindicators,animalmodels and biomarkers can be used to explore relevant disease pathways,culminatingintheidentificationofpotentialdrugtargets.Finally,thedesignofdrugtrialsanduseofbiomarkersforstudyingthenaturalhistoryofthesediseaseswillbepresented,usingexamplesofcurrentongoinglargescalestudies.
ii. Trauma&Orthopaedics
Thismoduleprovidesanoverviewofthecurrentclinicalpracticeinvariousfieldsofelectiveorthopaedicsurgeryandthechallengesaheadforthe21stcentury.Itcoversdiverseareaswhichincludetranslationaltechnology,suchasimplantablebiologicsandjointpreservationsurgery,aswellastheiterativeimprovementofestablishedtreatmentssuchas joint replacementandoutcomeassessment.Thismodulewillhelpstudentstogainaninsightintocuttingedgetechnologyandbasicscience,aswellastranslationalresearchinthefieldofclinicalorthopaedics.
CourseSyllabus
Comprehensive syllabus information includingdetails on teaching staff, learning aims,dates and timesof lecturers, synopses and reading listswill beprovidedon theMScWebLearnpage.
18
19
Teaching,LearningandAssessments
20
21
OrganisationofTeachingandLearning
The course comprises a series of lectures and tutorials, the attendance at which iscompulsory.AfulllistofcoursedatesisshowninAnnexA.
Subject to the agreement of individual lecturers, copies of presentations, plus anyassociatedreadinglists,willbeuploadedontoWebLearn(seebelow),whichyouwillbeabletoaccessremotely.Theaimofthelecturesistoprovidecoreknowledge,conceptualunderstandingandtoencouragequestionsanddiscussion.
LeadplenarysessionsFormallecturesaredesignedtointroducethenecessarybackgroundandconcepts,andtohighlightrecentdevelopmentsandcurrentissuesineacharea.LecturersareexpertsintheirareasbothfromwithinandoutsidetheUniversityofOxford.Smallgroupsessions
Thesesessionsaredesignedtopromotesharingofknowledgeandpoolingofresources,andtofacilitatethedevelopmentofcriticalreasoningskills,suchascriticalappraisalofresearch literature. The small group sessions are facilitated by clinical experts in therelevantfieldfromwithinandoutsidetheUniversityofOxfordandNuffieldOrthopaedicCentre.
Studentpresentations
Studentswillworktogetherinsmallgroupsontopicsrelatingtoformallecturesandwillbe asked to present to the group at a future session. This approach encouragescollaborativeworkingandlearning.
Evaluationofacademicpaperswillbe incorporated into theprogramme from time totime. Papersmay be sent to students in advance, for discussion and critique at theteachingsessions,whichwillenhancecriticalreasoningskills.
Self-directedlearning
Allstudentsareexpectedtoengagein individualreadingandself-directedlearning,tobroadenanddeepentheirknowledgeoftheirchosenfield,andshowinitiativeandeffortinexploringliteratureandideas.
22
LiteratureReviewandGrantProposal
LiteratureReview
InMarch2017,studentsmustsubmitaLiteratureReviewofupto4,000words(excludingreferences). Studentswill choose froma limitednumberofdesignated topicsandwillreceivefeedbackontheirsubmissioninpreparationforthesummativeassessment,tobesubmitted in June 2017. This will be on a different topic of the student’s choice. TheLiteratureReviewassessmentsoffertheopportunitytogainskills inacademicresearchandwriting. The assessment is designed to demonstrate the ability of the student tocollectandinterprettherelevantliteratureappropriately,ordertheargumentinalogicalmanner, integrate relevant scientific and clinical principles, and draw appropriateconclusions.TheLiteratureReviewismarkedbytwoAssessors,inaccordancewithpresetcriteria,whichareprovidedtostudents.
Examinations
Studentssittwosetsofformalexaminations,attheendofeachyear,whicharedesignedtotesttheknowledgeacquiredfromthecoursesyllabusmaterial.Theexaminationshavetwoparts:thefirstcomprisesaseriesofcomputer-basedmultiplechoicequestionstobecompletedin1hour.Thesecondisa2-hourwrittenexaminationcomprisingshortanswerquestions. All examinations must be passed in order for the student to continue thecourse.Eachexaminationconstitutes10%oftheoverallMScmark.
ResearchProposal
InthefinalterminYear2,studentssubmitaResearchproposal,intheformofa‘GrantApplication’. Students will develop a hypothesis with support from their AcademicAdviser,andprepareagrantapplicationwhichteststhathypothesis.Theassessmentisdesignedtomirrortheprocessofsubmittingarealgrantapplication,andgivestudentstheskillsandexperiencetodoso.Thereisapreliminary,formativestage,whenstudentssubmitanoutlineofthegrantapplication,onwhichtheywillreceivefeedbackfromtheirAcademicAdviserand/oran internalAssessor. The finalResearchproposalconstitutes30%oftheoverallMScaward.ItismarkedbytwointernalAssessors,inaccordancewithpresetcriteria(whichareprovidedtothestudents).Studentsmaybeexaminedvivavoceaspartoftheassessment.
23
OralPresentations
In the first academic year, students will make presentations on the subject of theirLiteratureReview. This isa formativeexercisedesigned toenhance transferable skills,withstudentsreceivingfeedbackfromboththeirpeersandinternalassessors.
In Year 2, studentsmust give a formalpresentationof their outlineResearchProposal(followingfeedback)whichconstitutes10%oftheoverallMScaward.
24
AssessmentStructure
Students complete a number of assessments throughout the course, and the marksawardedcontributetothefinalMScaward.ApassisessentialinallelementstoachievetheMScdegree.Specificmarkingcriteriaforeachassessmentareprovidedtostudents.
AfullaccountoftheMScregulationscanbefoundintheUniversity’sExamRegulationspublication,whichcanbeaccessedat:https://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/examregs/
AssessmentStrategy
Students are assessed through a variety of methods during the course, allowing bothformativeandsummativeassessmentofstudentprogress.
Duringthefirstyear,studentswillsubmittwoliteraturereviewsofupto4000words.Thefirst is a formative assessment onwhich feedback is given. The second is a summativeassessment,onadifferenttopic.Inaddition,studentssittwoexaminationsattheendofthefirstyear–amultiplechoicepaperandawrittenpaper.
Duringthesecondyear,studentssittwofurtherexaminations,submitanoutlineResearchProposalonwhichtheyreceivefeedback,giveanoralpresentationoftheoutlineResearchProposal,andfinally,submitafullResearchProposal.Thecontributionofeachassessmenttowardsthefinalaward,andsubmissiondateisshownonthenextpage:
25
Assessment Date Percentageoffinalaward
Literaturereview-formative Wednesday22ndMarch2017 Formative
LiteratureReview-summative Wednesday28thJune2017 20%
Examinations1iii. MCQ/EMQ1houriv. Writtenpaper2hours
Tuesday5thSeptember2017 10%10%
Researchproposal-formativeoutline
Monday8thJanuary2018 Formative
Researchproposal-presentation Wednesday21stMarch2018 10%
Researchproposal-full Tuesday10thJuly2018 30%
Examinations2iii. MCQ/EMQ1houriv. Writtenpaper2hours
Thursday13thSeptember2018 10%10%
Total 100%
26
FeedbackonLearningandAssessment
Studentsupport
The Programme Directors oversee all aspects of the course, including facilitating andmonitoring theacademicprogressofstudents. All studentsareallocatedtwoAcademicAdvisers,whowillprovideindividualsupportandguidancethroughoutthecourse,andwillendeavourtoadviseanystudentswhoencounterpersonaloracademicdifficulties.
AcademicandCollegeAdvisers
Peer review:AcademicAdvisers areencouraged toattend lecturesdeliveredbyotheracademicsduringthecourse.ThiscreatesmanyopportunitiesforpeerreviewofteachingmaterialandpresentationandfacilitatingQ&Abetweenstudentsandadvisers.
DirectorofGraduateStudies(DGS)willprovidefurtherindividual,confidentialsupportforeverystudentwhenevernecessary. Shewillalsoconveyanyfeedback fromthestudentrelating to the course or the Academic Advisers, to the Programme Directors, wherenecessary.
CollegeAdviser:EachstudentisassociatedwithacollegeoftheUniversityofOxford,whichcouldprovidea focus for studyandparticipation in student life, if required,beyond thetaughtcoursework.EachstudentisassignedaCollegeadviser,whomayactasalisteningear,aswellashelpingstudentstoresolveanyissueswiththeCourse.InpracticethismaynotbepossibleduetotimeandtravelconstraintsforstudentswhoarenotbasedprimarilyinOxford.StudentsareencouragedtovoiceanyconcernstheymayhaveaboutthecoursewiththeDGSinthefirstinstance.
RoleofAcademicAdvisers
Supervisionmayconsistofmeetingswiththeadviser(s)whenthestudentisinOxford,orcontactviae-mailortelephone.
AcademicAdvisersareexpectedtoprovideregularindividualsupportinorderto:
• provideguidanceonindividualassignments
• provide opportunities to identify study skill needs and check on the extent of thestudent’sunderstandingofthetopic.
• offer verbal and written feedback on assignments before and after submission,
27
whenevernecessary.
• provide a sounding board for the student’s intended approach to the researchproposal,includingdiscussionoftheproposal’sfeasibilityandpossiblepitfalls.
Students’responsibilities
Attendance: full attendance at all teaching sessions is expected. A register is kept andstudentswillberequiredtosignitateachsession.Permissionfornon-attendancemustberequestedinwritingfromtheDGSwithafullexplanationofthereasons.
Self-directedlearning:asformalteachingsessionsarelimited,itisexpectedthatyouwillundertakeasignificantamountofreadingandresearchinyourowntime.Thiscommitmentisconsiderableandshouldnotbeunderestimated.
Supervision:itisyourresponsibilitytokeepintouchwithyourAcademicAdvisersandtomeetanydeadlinesthatyouagreeforreviewofyourwork.
Plagiarism-youshouldbeawareoftheUniversityofOxfordguidanceonplagiarism.
Studentsshouldtakeultimateresponsibilityfortheirowndevelopmentonthecourse.
StudentSelf-Service
YouwillbeprovidedwithausernameandpasswordfromITServices,whichisknownasyourOxford‘singlesign-on’account. Thiswillenableyoutoaccesscentral ITservicesatOxfordincludingyourfreeUniversityemail,supervisionsystems,examinationresultsandWebLearn.Youwillalsobeabletosetupremoteaccessthroughavirtualprivatenetwork(VPN)whichwillallowyoutoaccessrestrictedOxfordUniversityservicesandresources.
WebLearn
WebLearn provides you with easy remote access to course information and teachingmaterials.TheWeblearnMedicalSciencesGraduateSchoolpageprovidesguidanceonallmatterstoyourgraduatestudies.
Evaluation/Feedback
At each teaching day, students are asked to complete a questionnaire to provideevaluationofeachsession.Itisimportantthatstudentscompletethesequestionnairesasthey forman importantpartof theongoingcourse reviewandevaluationprocess. Allfeedbackisanonymous.Feedbackwillbeconsideredbythecourseorganisingcommittee,reported to the Education Policy and Standards Committee (EPSC) and acted uponwhenevernecessary.
28
ExaminationConventions
TheexaminationconventionsfortheMScinMusculoskeletalSciencescanbefoundontheMScinMusculoskeletalSciencesWeblearnpage.
Studentswillbeinformedviaemailifanyrevisionsaremadetotheseconventions.
GoodAcademicPracticeandAvoidingPlagiarism
Plagiarism
TheUniversity takes the issueofplagiarismveryseriously. Plagiarismmeansusing thethoughts,writingsorresultsofanotherperson,andpresentingtheseasyourown.Whilestudentswork in groups in various activities suchas tutorials andmay,quiteproperly,discusstheirworkoutsideclasses,allworksubmittedforassessmentmustbetheirownindividualwork,andacknowledgeboththeassistanceprovidedandthesources.
Ifyouincludeanymaterialfromtheworkofothersinyourwrittenassignments,youmustacknowledge the source appropriately. Rather thanquoting someoneelse’s publishedwords,youareexpectedtointerprettheoriginaldataandexpressyourconclusioninyourownwords.
Wherethedataistakenfromapublication,youshouldreferencethearticleorbook.Iftheyweresuppliedpersonally, forexamplebyemailor froman Internetsite, thenyouneedtomakethisclearinthetextofyourassignment.Ifyouhaveanydoubtsabouthowtodealwiththeinclusionoftheworkofothersinyourownwrittenwork,pleaseconsultwithyourAcademicAdviser.
On-lineplagiarismcourse
Onceyouhavebeengrantedaccess to theUniversity Intranet,youwillbeexpectedtoundertakeanon-linecourseonplagiarism,providedbytheUniversity.YoucanaccessthisviaWebLearnandyoursinglesign-onusingtheweblinkisbelow:
29
https://weblearn.ox.ac.uk/portal/hierarchy/skills/generic/avoidplag
For more specific guidance on academic good practice and topics such as timemanagement, note-taking, referencing, research and library skills, go to:http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/guidance/skills
EnteringUniversityExaminations
InformationontheexaminationprocessattheUniversity;fromenteringforexaminationsthroughtoaccessingyourresultscanbefoundhere:
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams?wssl=1
Pleasenote:Asyourexaminationexistspurelyof coreassessments (nochoices), yourassessmentswillbecomevisibleinStudentSelfServiceautomaticallyinduecourse.
ExaminationDates
Assessment Date Percentageoffinalaward
Examinations1v. MCQ/EMQ1hourvi. Writtenpaper2hours
Tuesday5thSeptember2017
10%10%
Examinations2v. MCQ/EMQ1hourvi. Writtenpaper2hours
Thursday13thSeptember2018
10%10%
ExaminationRe-sitDates
Assessment PercentageoffinalawardExaminations1
i. MCQ/EMQ1hourii. Writtenpaper2hours
10%10%
30
Examinations2iii. MCQ/EMQ1houriv. Writtenpaper2hours
10%10%
Studentswill be allowedoneopportunity to re-sit each examination, normallywithin twomonthsoftheoriginalfailure,shouldyoufailtoreachthenecessarystandard.Studentsfailingtopassanyelementatthesecondattemptwillnormallybejudgedtohavefailedtoreachthenecessarystandardfortheawardandwillnotbepermittedtocontinue.
SittingYourExamination
It is your responsibility to read and adhere to examination regulations. The informationprovided on this page https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/guidance?wssl=1providesasummaryofkeyregulationsapplicabletoallexaminations.
Academicdress
TheUniversityregulationsaresuchthatstudents(andExaminerswhoaremembersoftheUniversityofOxford)mustattendtheseexaminationswearinggownsandsubfusc. Gownsand caps can be purchased or hired from Shepherd & Woodward in Oxford:http://www.shepherdandwoodward.co.uk/
31
ExternalExaminersandExaminerReports
ExternalExaminer
Students are strictly prohibited from contacting external examiners directly. If you areunhappywithanaspectofyourassessmentyoumaymakeacomplaintorappeal(seepage43).
ExaminersandAssessors
Examiners and assessors are nominated by the Programme Directors and courseorganisingcommitteeandapprovedbythePro-ViceChancellor(Education)andProctorsonbehalfoftheUniversity.
The Board of Examiners meets after each summative assignment or examination toconsidertheperformanceofcandidatesandapprovemarks.
Inaddition,anExternalExaminerisappointedto:
• verifythatstandardsareappropriatetotheaward, inpartbycomparisonwiththestandardsofcomparableinstitutions,andtoensurethattheassessmentproceduresandtheregulationsgoverningthemarefairandotherwiseappropriate;
• commentonassignmenttopicsandexaminationpapers;
• reviewasampleofassignmentsandexaminationscripts;
• attendexaminers’meetingsandprepareanannual reporton thestandardsof thecourse,itscontent,structureandassessmentarrangements;
• sign the pass list as an endorsement that the processes of examination andclassificationhavebeenfairlyconducted.
32
33
SkillsandLearningDevelopment
34
35
AcademicProgress
GraduateSupervisionSystem(GSS)
GSS is used byAcademic Advisers each term (December,March and June) to review,monitor and comment on their students' academic progress and performance and toassessskillsandtrainingneeds.Studentsarealsogiventheopportunitytocontributetotheir termlysupervisionreportsbyreviewingandcommentingontheirownacademicprogress. The completion of supervision reports is an essentialmeans ofmonitoringstudentprogress,andstudentsareencouragedtoprovidetheircommentsonGSS.EachstudentissentanautomatedemailtoinformthemthatGSSisopenforsubmissionofreports. The completion of supervision reports is an essential means of monitoringstudent progress and its completion is compulsory for NDORMS students. After thestudentshavecompletedtheirreports,theirrespectivesupervisorswillcommentonthestudentsprogressforthatterm.
LearningDevelopmentandSkills
Skillsandotherattributes
Studentswillhavetheopportunitytodevelopthefollowingskillsduringthecourse:
1. IntellectualSkills
Studentsareexpectedtodevelopadvancedskillsinself-directedlearninginthesubjectscoveredinthecourse.IntheirconductoftheLiteratureReviewandMockResearchGrantProposal, theywillacquireskills in literaturesearch,dataanalysisandevidence-basedmethodsofevaluatingwrittendata.Theywillalsoenhancetheirskillsofcriticalthinkingandreasoning.
36
Teaching/learning methods and strategies: Self-directed learning, evaluation ofacademicpapersanduseofliteraturesearchenginessuchasPubMed.
Assessment: Skills of evaluation and critical thinking are assessed by production ofLiteratureReviewandMockResearchGrantProposal.
2. PracticalSkills
The coursedoesnot represent a clinical qualification inMusculoskeletal Sciences andpracticalclinicalskillsarenotafeature.
3. TransferrableSkills
Studentswillbeencouragedtodevelopa rangeof transferrableskills includinguseofresearchsoftwareapplicationssuchasEndNote,communicationskills(bothwrittenandoral), team working, use of literature databases (such as PubMed), data analysis,evaluationofscientificpapers,researchgrantwritingandcriticalreasoning.SkillscoursesrunbytheDepartment,MedicalSciencesDivisionandtheUniversitywillbehighlightedandstudentsencouragedtoattend,whereappropriate.
Teaching/learningmethodsandstrategies:GroupsessionsandindividualguidanceandfeedbackfromAcademicAdvisers.
Assessment:Summativeassessments(LiteratureReview,writtenexaminationsandfinalMockResearchGrantProposal), formalpresentationofoutlineResearchProposalandinformalpresentationsbasedoncoursematerial.
Induction
YourdepartmentalinductionisscheduledtotakeplaceonMonday3rdOctober2016.Furtherdetailswillbeemailedtoyoubeforethisdate.
37
OpportunitiesforSkills,TrainingandDevelopment
TheMedicalSciencesDivisionrunsregularskillstrainingcourses,whicharefreeandopentoall graduate students. Information on courses and how to apply can be found athttp://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/skillstraining/coursecatalogue/allcoursesAdditionalcoursesareprovidedbytheOxfordLearningInstitutewww.learning.ox.ac.ukandthe Department of Continuing Education (fees are payable)http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/index.phpITServicesprovideabroadrangeofITcourses,bothclassroomandonline.AnA-Zlistcanbefoundhere:http://courses.it.ox.ac.uk/atoz
OpportunitiestoEngagewithDepartmentalResearchCommunity
There are many different types of opportunities to engage with the departmentalresearchcommunity.AspartoftheMSccourseyouareappointedtwosupervisorsfromwithin thedepartmentwhowill support your literature reviewand researchproposalassignments.
Thedepartmentalsoarrangetermlycoffeemorningstodiscussacademicopportunitieswithallpost graduate studentswithinNDORMs.Detailsofwhich canbe found in theweeklyNDORMse-Bulletin(circulatedeveryThursday).
Information on upcoming opportunities, courses and other activities are circulatedfrequently viaNDORMS studentmailing list.Amongst the schemesadvertisedare theuniversitiesinternshipsandOxFestMentoringsystem.
38
CareersInformationandAdvice
Oxford'sCareersServicehelpsstudentstodefineandthenachievefutureplans,offeringworkshopsandtrainingtohelpputtogetherastrongCV,developaneffectivejobsearchstrategy,make competitive job applications and develop interview skills. Hundreds ofevents are run each term, includingmany sessions tailored tomaster's and doctoralstudents.
TheCareersServiceoffersanumberofprogrammesandmanycareersfairstohelpyoulearnmoreaboutyouroptions,inadditiontoprovidingvaluablefirst-handprofessionalexperienceandskillsdevelopment.
http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk
Employability
The Careers Service runs a number of other programmes, including: Springboard, thewomen’s leadership development programme; The Student Consultancy, term-timeadvisory work with local organisations; and Business Mentoring, providing businessadviceandconsultancyaswellasareviewofskills,knowledge,experienceandpersonalqualitiesstudentswillneedtosucceed.
39
DepartmentRepresentation
DivisionalGraduateStudiesCommittee(GSC)
TheDivisional Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) is a subcommittee of the divisionalBoard’sEducationalPolicyandStandardsCommittee.TheGSCmeetsinthe1stand5thweeksofMichaelmas&HilaryTermsandthe5thand9thweeksofTrinityTerms.
DivisionalGraduateJointConsultativeCommittee(GJCC)
The GJCC is a committee of graduate students, which considers business relating tograduatestudiesintheMedicalSciencesGraduateSchoolandcanraiseissues/itemswithofficial committees. The committee usuallymeets in the 4thweek of each term. TheNDORMSrepresentativeatGJCC&departmentalGSCwillbeelectedbeforeMT-2016.
EducationalPolicyandStandardCommittee(EPSC)
The Educational Policy and Standards Committee is responsible under the Board foroversightofthecurriculaofitsdegreeprogrammes,definitionandimplementationofitsteaching policies, maintenance and enhancement of standards and the conduct ofdepartment educational reviews. The Committee usually meets once a term, to beconvened by the EPS Committee Chair, and at such other times as requested by theNDORMSboardorbyoneormoremembersoftheCommittee.TheChairoftheEPSCisProfessorToniaVincent
GraduateStudiesCommittee(GSC)
TheNDORMSGSCmeetsatleastonceperterm,andprovidesguidanceandsupportforstudents and supervisors with Professor Philippa Hulley as the Chairperson of thecommittee.Thestudentsareable toraiseany issuesorconcerns throughthestudentrepresentative(newcommitteememberswillbeelectedinMT-2016).
StudentCommittee
NDORMShasastudentcommittee,whichpromotesstudentaffairsandprovidesaformalmechanism for students to contribute to the development of the department. It alsoorganisessocialeventsandopportunitiesforstudentstomeeteachother.TheChairwillbeelectedbeforeMT-2016.
40
DivisionandUniversityRepresentation
StudentrepresentativessittingontheDivisionalBoardareselectedthroughaprocessorganisedbytheOxfordUniversityStudentUnion(OUSU).DetailscanbefoundontheOUSUwebsitealongwithinformationaboutstudentrepresentationattheUniversitylevel.
Opportunitiestoprovideevaluationandfeedback
Studentsonfull-timeandpart-timematriculatedcoursesaresurveyedonceperyearonallaspectsoftheircourse(learning,living,pastoralsupport,college)throughtheStudentBarometer.Previousresultscanbeviewedbystudents,staffandthegeneralpublicat:www.ox.ac.uk/students/life/feedback
41
StudentLifeandSupport
42
43
WhotoContactforHelp
Your first point of contact should be the MSc Administrator, Lydia Underdown([email protected])
IncaseofillnessoranyotherreasonthatyouareunabletoattenddepartmentalteachingsessionspleasecontacttheMScAdministrator.
CollegeSupport
Everycollegehastheirownsystemsofsupportforstudents,pleaserefertoyourCollegehandbook or website for more information on who to contact and what support isavailablethroughyourcollege.
DetailsofthewiderangeofsourcesofsupportareavailablemorewidelyintheUniversityareavailable from theOxford Studentswebsite (www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare), including inrelationtomentalandphysicalhealthanddisability.
DepartmentalHarassmentOfficers
DisabilityOfficer
44
Listofhelp&advisersoutsideyourdepartment&college:
Harassmentadvisorshttp://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/harassmentadvice/
Equality&DiversityUnit–
CarolineKennedyhttps://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/counselling?wssl=1
OxfordUniversityStudentUnion
http://ousu.org/01865288452
Nightlinehttp://oxfordnightline.org/
01865270270
OxfordSexualAbuseandRapeCrisisCentrehttp://www.oxfordrapecrisis.net/
TheSamaritans
http://www.samaritans.org/08457909090
TheVictimSupportSchemehttps://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
08081689111
DisabilityAdvisoryServicehttp://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/disability
45
ComplaintsandAppeals
Graduateswho have personal, academic or administrative issues andwish to resolvethemmustcontactthefollowingpeople&organisationinturn:
LydiaUnderdown
CourseAdministrator
(01865)223412
AndrewJudge
ChairofMScCourseDirectors
AfsieSabokbar
DirectorofGraduateStudies
ErinWheeler&SarahTaylor
GraduateStudiesAssistantsintheMedicalSciencesOffice
[email protected];[email protected]
PhilippaHulley
Chair of Departmental Graduate StudiesCommittee
46
ToniaVincent
ChairofDepartmentalEducationalPolicy&[email protected]
Your College Tutor, Senior Tutor or Tutor of Graduates- please note that FinancialproblemsareoftenbestreferredtoyourCollege.
GraduateswhowishtomakeanofficialcomplaintmustfollowtheprocedureavailableontheUniversity’swebsite:http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/proctors/complaints/proceduresforhandlingcomplaints/
Furtherinformationcanalsobeaccessedon:https://weblearn.ox.ac.uk/portal/hierarchy/medsci/department/grad_school
PleaseseeAnnexBfordescriptionofcomplaintsandappealsprocesses.
47
StudentSocieties
Thereareover200clubsandsocietiescoveringawidevarietyofinterestsavailableforyoutojoinorattend.
AsastudentatOxford,youautomaticallybecomeamemberof theOxfordUniversityStudentUnion(OUSU).OUSUisademocratic,studentledandindependentorganisationhere to represent, support and enhance the lives ofOxford students.Get involved innumerouscampaignsruneachyear,contributetoOUSUrunmediachannels–OxideandtheOxfordStudent–orfindouthowOUSUisrepresentingyourinterests.
MoreinformationabouttheOUSU,Sport,Societies,Unionandcommonroomscanbefoundhere:https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/life/clubs?wssl=1
PoliciesandRegulations
TheUniversityhasawiderangeofpoliciesandregulationsthatapplytostudents.Theseare easily accessible through the A-Z of University regulations, codes of conduct andpoliciesavailableontheOxfordStudentswebsite:
http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/regulations/a-z.
48
49
Facilities
50
51
Libraries
AsaregisteredUniversityofOxfordstudent,youwillbeabletoaccessvariousUniversitylibraryfacilities(seebelow).Moreinformationonlibrariesande-resourcescanbefoundathttp://www.ox.ac.uk/research/libraries/index.html
CairnsLibraryJohnRadcliffeHospital
HeadleyWayHeadingtonOxfordOX37HE
GirdlestoneMemorialLibraryNuffieldOrthopaedicCentre
WindmillRoadHeadingtonOxfordOX37LD
TheRadcliffeScienceLibrary
ParksRoadOxfordOX13QP
TheKnowledgeCentreOldRoadCampus
OldRoadHeadingtonOxfordOX37LJ
52
IT
ITServicesprovideabroadrangeofITcourses,bothclassroomandonline.AnA-Zlistcanbefoundhere:http://courses.it.ox.ac.uk/atoz
The IT Services also provide support, advice and resources.More information can befoundhere:www.it.ox.ac.uk
DivisionalMSDITServicescanprovidehelpandsupportwithdatastorage,networkandOxfordSSOaccountproblems.www.imsu.ox.ac.uk
53
Annex
54
55
AnnexACourseDates
Date
3rdOctober2016(Inductionday)
10th-14thOctober2016
6th-9thDecember2016
22nd-24thMarch2017
28th-29thJune2017
5th-8thSeptember2017
11th-12thDecember2017
8th-10thJanuary2018
21st-23rdMarch2018
10th-13thJuly2018
13thSeptember2018
56
57
AnnexBComplaintsandAppeals
Complaintsandacademicappealswithinthefaculty/department
The University, the Medical Sciences Division and the Nuffield Department ofOrthopaedics,RheumatologyandMusculoskeletalSciencesallhopethatprovisionmadeforstudentsatallstagesoftheircourseofstudywillmaketheneedforcomplaintsorappealsinfrequent.
NothingintheUniversity’scomplaintsprocedureprecludesaninformaldiscussionwiththepersonimmediatelyresponsiblefortheissuethatyouwishtocomplainabout(andwhomaynotbeoneoftheindividualsidentifiedbelow).Thisisoftenthesimplestwaytoachieveasatisfactoryresolution.
Manysourcesofadviceareavailablewithincolleges,withinfaculties/departmentsandfrombodies likeStudentAdviceServiceprovidedbyOUSUor theCounsellingService,whichhaveextensiveexperienceinadvisingstudents.Youmaywishtotakeadvicefromoneofthesesourcesbeforepursuingyourcomplaint.
Generalareasofconcernaboutprovisionaffectingstudentsasawholeshouldberaisedthrough Joint Consultative Committees or via student representation on thedepartment’scommittees.
Complaints
If your concern or complaint relates to teaching or other provision made by thedepartment, then you should raise it with the chairman of the Graduate StudiesCommitteeCommitteeorwiththeDirectorofGraduateStudiesAssociateProfessorAfsieSabokbarasappropriate.Withinthedepartmenttheofficerconcernedwillattempttoresolveyourconcern/complaintinformally.
If you are dissatisfiedwith the outcome, then youmay take your concern further bymakinga formalcomplaint to theUniversityProctors.Theproceduresadoptedby theProctorsfortheconsiderationofcomplaintsandappealsaredescribedontheProctors’webpage(www.admin.ox.ac.uk/proctors/complaints/proceduresforhandlingcomplaints), the
58
Student Handbook (www.admin.ox.ac.uk/proctors/info/pam) and the relevant Councilregulations(www.admin.ox.ac.uk/statutes/regulations/247-062.shtml)
Ifyourconcernorcomplaintrelatestoteachingorotherprovisionmadebyyourcollege,youshouldraiseiteitherwithyourtutororwithoneofthecollegeofficers,SeniorTutor,TutorforGraduates(asappropriate).Yourcollegewillalsobeabletoexplainhowtotakeyourcomplaintfurtherifyouaredissatisfiedwiththeoutcomeofitsconsideration.
Academicappeals
An academic appeal is defined as a formal questioning of a decision on an academicmattermadebytheresponsibleacademicbody.
Fortaughtgraduatecourses,aconcernwhichmightleadtoanappealshouldberaisedwithyourcollegeauthoritiesandtheindividualresponsibleforoverseeingyourwork.Itmustnotberaiseddirectlywithexaminersorassessors.Ifitisnotpossibletoclearupyour concern in this way, youmay put your concern in writing and submit it to theProctorsviatheSeniorTutorofyourcollege.
Asnotedabove,theproceduresadoptedbytheProctorsinrelationtocomplaintsandappeals are are described on the Proctors’ webpage(www.admin.ox.ac.uk/proctors/complaints/proceduresforhandlingcomplaints), theStudent Handbook (www.admin.ox.ac.uk/proctors/info/pam) and the relevant Councilregulations(www.admin.ox.ac.uk/statutes/regulations/247-062.shtml).
Pleaserememberinconnectionwithalltheacademicappealsthat:
• TheProctorsarenotempoweredtochallengetheacademicjudgementofexaminersoracademicbodies.
• TheProctorscanconsiderwhethertheproceduresforreachinganacademicdecisionwereproperlyfollowed;i.e.whethertherewasasignificantproceduraladministrativeerror; whether there is evidence of bias or inadequate assessment; whether theexaminers failed to take into account special factors affecting a candidate’sperformance.
• Onnoaccountshouldyoucontactyourexaminersorassessorsdirectly.
