Foreword

This Handbook of Academic Regulations and Procedures sets out the regulations and procedures governing student enrolment, registration, assessment, grading, progression and graduation at Mary Immaculate College (sometimes referred to as ‘the College’ throughout the handbook). It is divided into five chapters: Academic Regulations, Marks and Standards, Programme-Specific Regulations, Supporting Procedures and Research Postgraduate Academic Regulations. Appendices relating to the supporting procedures (chapter 4) and the research postgraduate academic regulations (chapter 5) are included at the end of the respective chapters.

The Student Handbook is a separate document and is available on the College’s website. The Student Handbook outlines all the academic requirements that must be met by students at Mary Immaculate College.

The Academic Regulations, Marks and Standards, Programme-Specific Regulations, Supporting Procedures and Research Postgraduate Academic Regulations are intended to provide effective mechanisms and structures to ensure that students are fairly and objectively assessed while at the same time maintaining Mary Immaculate College’s high academic standards. Academic members of staff are required to comply with the provisions of these documents.

Where relevant, items are cross-referenced with other items and other chapters through the use of hyperlinks. Some hyperlinks may include the following abbreviations: AR (Academic Regulations), MS (Marks and Standards), PSR (Programme-Specific Regulations), SP (Supporting Procedures) and PG (Research Postgraduate Academic Regulations). For example, a reference to section 4 of the Academic Regulations will appear as AR 1.4, while a reference to paragraph 1.4.1 of that section will appear as AR 1.4.1.

This handbook was compiled in the context of Mary Immaculate College’s mission statement (see below) and is intended to be used for reference and action, as appropriate, by all members of staff.

Mission Statement

Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, founded in 1898, is a third-level Catholic College of Education and the Liberal Arts.

The College community promotes excellence in teaching, learning and research at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It seeks to foster the intellectual, spiritual, personal and professional development of students within a supportive and challenging environment that guarantees the intellectual freedom of staff and students. In particular, the College seeks to foster in its students a spirit of justice and compassion in the service of others, together with an openness to the religious tradition and values of each individual. The College promotes a sense of identity enriched by an awareness of its Catholic tradition, the cultures, languages and traditions of Ireland, and its special commitment to the Irish language. Mary Immaculate College respects cultural diversity. It strives to promote equity in society and to provide an environment where all have freedom and opportunity to achieve their full potential.

The official version of this handbook can be found on the College’s website at https://www.mic.ul.ie/current-students/academic-regulations. Users are encouraged to reference the online version at all times. Given that the content of the handbook may be updated from time to time, a printed version will not be provided by the College to users.