The Postgraduate Studies Programme (Programma Metaptychiakon Spoudon – P.M.S.) “Social Policy” of the Department of Social and Education Policy of the School of Social and Political Sciences of the University of the Peloponnese is in operation since the 2018-2019 academic year.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Legislative framework
The Postgraduate Studies Programme was established in accordance with the provisions of Law 4485/2017, Official Gazette (114 t. A/4-8-17) and the Official Gazette of the Establishment of the P.M.S. (3920, vol. B, Decision Number 7 (10-9-2018).
Postgraduate degrees awarded
After completion of the relevant programme of study, the P.M.S. awards a Diploma of Postgraduate Studies in the following specialisations:
– Policies on Migration, Social Discrimination and Citizenship
– Health Economics, Management and Policy
– European Social Policy
Duration
The duration of study for the award of the Diploma of Postgraduate Studies is defined as three (3) academic semesters, including the time for the preparation of the Diploma thesis.
The maximum time allowed for the completion of studies is set at four (4) academic semesters, with the exception of students who have applied for and received the prescribed deferral. The extension of studies by one semester applies only to the writing of the Diploma thesis.
Dismissal from the P.M.S.
The Department Assembly, following a recommendation of the Postgradute Programme Coordinating Committee, may decide to dismiss postgraduate students if they:
– exceed the maximum permitted number of absences
– have failed in the examination of a course or courses, in accordance with Article 12, and have not successfully completed the programme
– exceed the maximum duration of study, as stipulated in this Regulation, unless there are demonstrably serious and exceptional reasons that have been communicated during the course of study
– violate the rules of academic ethics, for instance by committing plagiarism
– fail to pay due tuition fees on time.
– request withdrawal; in this case dismissal is automatic.
Student obligations for the award of the Diploma
a) attendance and successful completion of the relevant obligations in the individual courses of the study programme (assignments, research projects, examinations, etc.) within two semesters b) completion of the postgraduate thesis, within the prescribed period and c) fulfilment of the financial obligations of the Programme (payment of outstanding tuition fees, as stated in the annual call for interest for the Programme).
Examination periods are identical to the examination periods of the undergraduate programmes of study, as defined in the academic calendar of the University of the Peloponnese.
Course resit
If a postgraduate student fails a course, he or she may be re-examined in that course in the (re-)examination period in September.
If a postgraduate student fails the examination of a course or courses, so that according to the provisions of the Regulations for Postgraduate Studies he/she is deemed not to have successfully completed the programme, then the procedure provided for in Article 34, para. 6 of Law 4485/17 applies. More specifically, the student may be examined, at his/her request, by a three-member committee of faculty members of the School, who have the same or related subject matter as the course being examined and who are appointed by the Department Assembly. The lecturer responsible for the examination of the course is excluded from the committee.
If the student fails to apply within 15 days from the date of the announcement of the examination score, or if he/she fails the examination by the three-member committee, then the student’s irrevocable dismissal from the P.M.S. is suggested to the Department Assembly.
Procedure for the preparation of the Postgraduate Diploma Thesis
The third (3rd) semester of the Programme provides for the preparation of the Postgraduate Diploma Thesis.
The postgraduate student is entitled to submit a thesis if he/she has successfully completed all the courses of the first two (2) semesters. He/she submits to the Secretariat of the P.M.S an application form indicating the proposed title of the thesis, the proposed supervisor and an abstract of the proposed thesis. The P.M.S. Secretariat forwards the application to the Coordinating Committee of the student’s specialisation.
The thesis, according to the founding Decree, must be completed within one semester.
The postgraduate student supports his/her thesis in public. The date of the support is announced by the Secretariat of the P.M.S. The Diploma thesis is examined by a three-member Examination Committee, in which the supervisor and two other P.M.S. lecturers participate. The tripartite Examination Committee is appointed by the Coordinating Committee upon a proposal made by the supervisor. The approval of the thesis requires the agreement of at least two members of the committee. After its examination and approval, the revised, final version of the thesis is submitted by the candidate in electronic form, in four copies and two CDs, to the Postgraduate Programme Secretariat.
A change in the topic of the thesis may be made in exceptional cases with documented justification by the student and after approval of the supervisor. A change of supervisor may be made in exceptional cases (e.g. due to a change of topic) by decision of the Department Assembly.
In case of serious difficulties in the cooperation between supervisor and student, the matter is referred to the Coordinating Committee of the P.M.S.
Any other issue related to the preparation of a Postgraduate Diploma thesis which is not provided for herein, is regulated by the respective Writing Guide, which is approved by the Department Assembly.
Grading of the Diploma
The grade of the Diploma is determined by the grades obtained in the courses of the Programme and the Diploma thesis. More specifically, the grade of the Diploma is calculated by multiplying the grade of each course and of the thesis by the corresponding ECTS. Then, all the products are added and the sum is divided by 90 (which is the total ECTS of the Programme).
