Pass Mark
The pass mark for all graduate courses is 65%. All courses must be passed in order to obtain the M.Sc. degree. The final mark in a course is usually derived from a combination of term work (e.g., problem assignments, preparation of a paper or seminar, lab reports, mid-term exam) and an end-of-term examination. Final examinations are usually written; however, they often consist of written and oral components to prepare the student for future certification examinations. The final mark will not be issued until all components of the course have been satisfactorily completed. If this is not achieved by the end of the term when marks must be submitted to the Graduate Faculty, a Fail mark is submitted and the student is not allowed to continue in the program.
Failure to complete the requirements for a course and to obtain the necessary pass mark within 16 months after commencing the course leads to submission of a "Fail" grade to the Graduate Faculty and the student is asked to withdraw from the program. This rule is applied rigidly in the case of the four "core" courses and with discretion in relation to other courses. The rule applies even if the student is already undertaking a research project.
Incomplete Mark
Under special circumstances (i.e., sickness, family emergency,etc), failure to complete a course will result in a "K" (incomplete) mark. The K mark remains on the student's record but is supplemented by the final mark once this is available, normally within 4 months.
Dropping a Course
Except for the four "core" courses, a student may opt out of any course in the first year, provided that an "add/drop" form is completed during the first month of the relevant term. The student is of course expected to register for the dropped course the following year. However, students are discouraged from dropping courses and they must understand that the effect of dropping a course is:
- To extend the duration of the program beyond the nominal two years;
- Possibly to alter his/her status as a full-time student if the number of credits in a given term falls below 12; and
- To prejudice his/her chances of obtaining a research project of choice if the "dropped" course is particularly relevant to the project in question.
Prerequisites
Many courses have prerequisites and/or co-requisites, as set out in the 2023-2024 e-Calendar of the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences for the MSc Medical Radiation Physics program and the Graduate Diploma in Medical Radiation Physics. For example, Radiation Physics (MDPH601) is a prerequisite for the laboratory course MDPH603 and the courses Physics of Nuclear Medicine (MDPH615) and Physics of Diagnostic Radiology (MDPH614) are prerequisites for the laboratory course MDPH608. Instructors have the authority to waive a prerequisite or co-requisite requirement, but such waivers cannot be assumed and must be discussed individually by the instructor and student concerned.
June, 2024