Procedures

Information on how to hand in coursework, advice for working in groups, and coursework deadlines and penalties.

Coursework, coversheets and group assignments 

The coursework requirements such as case studies, essays, and other projects vary between courses and the coursework weighting is given in the information for each course. All coursework must be submitted with a completed cover sheet, stapled in the top left corner, and deposited in the appropriate section of the cabinet outside the MSc Hub. Completed work must not be handed directly to staff or submitted by any other means. Cover sheets are available in the MSc Hub and online and have a number of functions.

• They provide fields for a clear statement of the student's name and matriculation number.
• They contain an "own work declaration" that may be used in cases of suspected plagiarism.
• They allow comments on the coursework to be communicated to the lecturer.
• They enable the coursework mark and written feedback to be returned to the student.

Until a completed cover sheet has been provided, the work will not be considered to have been submitted. Note that in completing the cover sheet, you are also considered to have signed the University of Edinburgh “Own work declaration” cover sheet which is posted in the MSc lecture room.

Deadlines and penalties

All students must adhere to deadlines for the submission of work. Work handed in late will incur a penalty in that the mark will be reduced by 5% of the maximum mark per day up to five days, after which a mark of zero will be given. Note that the reference to "days" includes weekends and public holidays. Students may not, for example, submit work on a Monday morning for a Friday deadline in the expectation that no late penalty will be applied. If there is likely to be a delay due to illness or other crisis, the Programme Director must be informed in writing before an extension can be granted.

Individual group member contribution

A major aspect of some of the course assignments is group work and how well the group works together. While it is possible for individual students to sit back and let more energetic team members to do all the work, these individuals will lose an important opportunity to practise their managerial skills in a context in which there are no losers.

It is our belief that as decision-making in organisations becomes both more technical and complex, the interpersonal skills required of effective OR analysts also increase. Members of groups who do not, in the view of their colleagues, make a contribution to group work may be omitted from the list of members of the group producing the work. The omitted group member may appeal to the Programme Director, but will otherwise forfeit marks for that piece of work. Students who are omitted by their group from an excessive number of assignments may be subject to disciplinary proceedings, potentially leading to termination of their studies.