Postgraduate Certificate in Ecological Survey Techniques

• 1. The course will consist of instruction in the theory and practice of Ecological Survey Techniques. The course will be taken on a part time basis.

• 2. The policy of the Continuing Education Board on variable intensity part-time postgraduate study applies to this award.

• 3. The minimum period of registration for the award of the Postgraduate Certificate shall be three terms and the maximum period shall be six terms.

• 4. Candidates may be permitted by the Continuing Education Board in certain circumstances to suspend status for a maximum of six terms. Any such period shall not count to the maximum or minimum permitted period of registration and no fee liability will be incurred during such periods.

• 5. Where a candidate undertakes a module under 108 below, the date of registration for the award shall retrospectively be deemed to be the first day of the term in which the module was taken.

• 65. Every candidate will be required to satisfy the examiners in the following:

  • (a) attendance at the one-week module in Schedule A in the candidate’s first term of registration;

  • (b) engagement with and contribution to both online modules in Schedule B;

  • (c) engagement with and contribution to two online modules chosen from those listed in Schedule C;

  • (d) participation in and completion of a Field Project module;

  • (e) participation to the satisfaction of the Programme Director in all other parts of the course;

  • (f) one written assignment of not more than 2,500 words based on the module in Schedule A. This is formative only and the marks do not contribute to the final award;

  • (g) four written assignments of not more than 2,000 words, one from each of the two modules fromin 6(b)Schedule A and one from each of thetwo modules chosenselected from 6(c)the abovelist in Schedule B. Depending on the modules chosen, up to two of the written assignments on the modules from 6(c)Schedule B may be replaced by presentations in a media specified by the examiners;

  • (hb) One field project of not more than 5,000 words and an associated journal of not more than 1,000 words.

  • The assessed work under Clauses 65 (f), (ga) and (hb) will be submitted to examiners, invia normalthe circumstancesapproved through an electroniconline submission system, for consideration by such date as the examiners shall determine and of which they shall notify candidates. Presentations shall be submitted as media files reflecting content covered in an oral or poster presentation by a date specified by the examiners.

• 76. Candidates may be required to attend a viva voce examination at the end of the course at the discretion of the examiners.

• 8. The examiners may award a Distinction to candidates for the Certificate.

• 97. Candidates who fail to satisfy the examiners in any part of the assessment listed under 65(ga) orand 6(hb) maywill be permitted to resubmit work in respect of the part or parts of the examination which they have failed on not more than one occasion which shall normally be within one year of the original failure.

• 108. The Course Committee shall have the discretion to deem satisfactory completion of a module including the associated assessment prior to registration for the award as having met the attendance and examination requirements in respect of that module. Such discretion will normally only be exercised if the time elapsed between commencement of the module concerned and registration for the award is not more than two years. The maximum number of modules taken prior to registration for the award that can contribute to the achievement of the award of the Postgraduate Certificate in this way shall be two.

Core Module Schedule A

Introduction to ecological survey techniques

Core Modules Schedule B

Data analysis

FieldPlant techniquesbiodiversity forand surveyinghabitat vegetationassessment methods

Optional Modules Schedule C

Field techniques for surveying mammalsMammal and reptilesreptile survey methods

FieldBird techniquesbiodiversity forand surveyingpopulation birdsmonitoring methods

FieldFish techniquesand foramphibian surveyingsurvey invertebratesmethods

FieldInvertebrate techniques for surveying fishbiodiversity and amphibianspopulation monitoring methods