ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES

Instructional Method

• ♦ The medium of instruction is English.
• ♦ Each subject contains relevance to Cambodian context, analytical skills, writing skills, and library and internet research.
• ♦ The program adopts co-teaching by RUPP lecturers and national and international academics and practitioners in the arena of development.
• ♦ Course outline and teaching notes of each subject are jointly developed by RUPP and partner lecturers.
• ♦ The program also includes fieldwork and guest lectures/seminars/workshops/ conferences by relevant development stakeholders.

Grading System

1. Subject Grading

Each subject is assessed based on the following components:

Item	Percentage
a. Participation, Homework and Class Exercises	10%-20%
b. Individual Assignment or Viva  Test or Oral Presentation or Mid-Term Exam	30%-40%
c. Paper Writing or Final Exam	40%-50%

Notes:
   - Students write 5,000 words in one subject.
   - In viva test, students pick a topic and answer about it.

Subject Grade Classification:

Percentage	Letter Grade	Grade Point	Description
85-100	A	4.00	Excellent
80-84	B+	3.50	Very Good
70-79	B	3.00	Good
65-69	C+	2.50	Fairly Good
50-64	C	2.00	Fair
< 50		0.00	Fail

Repetition of Subjects:

Students who fail any subject(s) must take make-up exam(s) within one month. Those who fail the make-up exam(s) must retake the subject(s) by cost (i.e., 1 subject = USD 150.00) in the next academic year. Students are eligible to take the proceeding subjects in the next semester if they fail one or two subjects in the preceding semester(s). Those who fail three or more subjects will be dropped from the program and their earned credits can be valid within two years only.

2. Thesis/Research Report Grading
Theses and research reports are assessed by an Evaluation Committee composed of MDS lecturers and outside experts/practitioners. The following grade classification is applied to both the substance of the thesis/research report and its defense/presentation.

Score	Description
≥ 85	Very Good
70-84	Good
50-69	Fair
< 50	Fail

Theses and research reports that score 50 and beyond are considered “Pass”. Students who fail the defense cannot be given the credits for their thesis or research report and they have to wait until the next academic year to redefend it. Those who fail the defense for a second time will be dropped from the program and their earned credits can be valid within two years only. Students who fail to defend their thesis/research report by the deadline and/or defend their thesis/research report in the next academic year are required to pay a semester’s tuition fee for one-year suspension. Students are entitled to suspend their thesis/research report defense for two years only, with suspension once a year.

Graduation Policy
♦ Studentswho successfully complete all the coursework and pass the thesis/research report defense will be awarded a Master of Arts in Development Studies.
♦ Students who successfully complete all the coursework but do not write a thesis/research report or fail the thesis/research report defense will be awarded a Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Studies.
♦ Students who successfully complete the subjects in Year One will be issued with a Certificate showing the credits they have earned.

Extensions of Coursework and Suspensions of Thesis/Research Report Defense

Extensions of Coursework

1. Students must complete coursework and thesis/research report defense within four years upon enrollment.
2. Students may extend their coursework by subject or by semester with incurrence of subject or semester fee.
3. Extension of coursework must be applied before the inception of the subject or semester. Late submission of extension means failure and students re-take the subject(s) with the next cohort.
4. Students may resume coursework before the extension’s due date by informing the Program Director in writing.
5. Tuition fees paid for enrolled subjects or semesters cannot be re-deemed for next subjects or semesters within the cohort and with the next cohort.

Suspensions of Thesis/Research Report Defense

1. . Students are allowed to suspend their thesis/research report defense for two times (one year for one time) if they cannot do the defense by the due date set in their cohort.
2. The suspension may be applied when the students cannot complete their coursework within two years set in their cohort or when they cannot complete their thesis/research report by the due date set in their cohort.
3. In the latter case, students apply for the suspension three months before the defense date. Late submission of suspension means failure and students will do the defense with the next cohort.
4. Failed students still need to apply for a one-year suspension in order to do the defense with the next cohort. In this case, students will pay a supervision fee.
5. The first suspension (for one year) is free of charge, except in 2.4. The second suspension (for another year) incurs a semester’s tuition fee to be paid upon submission of suspension.