Dean Of Faculty:

Prof. Chikwuogo W. Paul

Contact Phone Number(s): 08035486046

 

 

 

The following Departments shall constitute the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences:

 

THE FACULTY BOARD

1. There shall be Faculty Board which shall control the Academic work of the Faculty and shall be responsible to and subject to the control of the Board of Studies of the College of Health Sciences, and ultimately to the Senate of the University of Port Harcourt in all academic matters. It shall also exercise such powers of the Senate as may be delegated to it by the Senate from time to time.

 

	The Faculty Board shall consist of:
a.	The Vice-Chancellor
b.	The Deputy Vice Chancellors
c.	The Provost College of Health Sciences
d.	The Dean of the Faculty –  Chairman
e.	The Associate Dean
f.	All Professors and Heads of Departments
g.	All members of Academic Staff
h.	The Medical Librarian.

The quorum of the Faculty Board shall be one-third (or the whole number nearest to one-third) of the total number of members for the time being of the Board, and subject to the provision of this statue and to any provision made by the regulations in that behalf, the Board may regulate its own procedure.

 

Subject to the provision of the Act, it shall be the function of the Faculty board to:

 

a. Advice and report to Senate through the College Board on all matters relating to the organization of Education, Teaching and research in the subjects of Faculty, including curricula and examination.

b. Consider the progress and conduct of Students in the Faculty and to report thereon.

c. Recommend to the Senate through the College Board persons for appointment as examiners; and

d. Deal with any Academic matters referred to it by Senate.

 

 

ACADEMIC POLICIES FOR FOUNDATION AND FACULTY COURSES

 

The University and the therefore the Faculty, operates the Course Credit Unit System of study in B.Sc programme, as well as courses used for the computation of continuous assessment for the pre- clinical subjects of the MBBS programme.

 

In the foundation year or first year of study, both the MBBS and B. Sc students receive lectures in courses in General Studies as prescribed by the University, and courses in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, which are based in the Faculty of Science.

 

At the end of the first academic year, which is designed to give students a basic understanding of scientific concepts of medicine, students admitted into the MBBS; B. Sc (Anatomy) and B. Sc (Physiology) programmes, begin the Basic Medical Sciences/pre- clinical courses, which are available in the faculty.

 

Up to the first semester of the third year, all the students are taught the same courses, but in the second semester, they begin to branch off into special and professional courses. At all levels, students must however register for the courses both at the teaching Faculty and at their Departments.

 

Pharmacolem which is based in the faculty, is not taught at the beginning of the second year, like the other subjects, but is started during the first semester of the third year and is continued to the end of the fourth year of the MBBS programme.

 

Pharmacology is examined with the subjects in Pathology, which are taught during the fourth year of studies for the MBBS programme.

 

COURSE OUTLINE FOR FOUNDATION AND FACULTY COURSES

The mode of instruction for the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree shall be by the Course System. The General University Regulations governing the award of Bachelors degree apply. The Faculty courses will be at the 200, 300 and 400 levels. Each course shall have a course number made up as follows

 

1. A three character abbreviation MDS, ANA and PHS, representing the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Departments of Anatomy and Physiology respectively. This is followed by
2. A sequence of three numbers, the first digit indicating the course year while the last two numbers describe specific courses.

Numbers 10 – 19 to designate courses in Anatomy Numbers 20 – 29 to designate courses in Physiology Numbers 30 – 39 to designate courses in Pharmacology

3. The number after the decimal point following the three digits is used to indicate the semester in which the course is taught.

 

 

Year 1:1st Semester

Course	Course Title	Credit Unit
GES 100.1	Communication Skills in English	4
GES 102.1	Logic and Philosophy of Science	2
CHM 130.1	General Chemistry I	4
PHY 101.1	Mech. and Properties of Matter	3
PHY 102.1	Laboratory Practice I	1
FSB 101.1	General Biology I	4
AEB 302.1	Protochordates and Chordates	3
Total		21

 

Year 1: 2nd Semester

Course	Course Title	Credit Unit
CHM 131.2	General Chemistry II	4
CHM 132.2	Introduction to the Principles of Organic Chemistry	3
PHY 112.2	Electricity and Magnetism	3
AEB 200.2	Lower Invertebrates	3
GES 103.2	Nigerian People and Culture	2
PHY 103.2	Laboratory Practice II	1
GES 101.2	Computer Appreciation and Applications	4
Total		20

 

CONTINUATION REQUIREMENT FOR YEAR II

Students must obtain a minimum average score of 50 percent in FSB, CHM, and PHY at the end of the first year of study to qualify for continuation in the MBBS/BDS programme. However, students who fail to satisfy these requirements in only one of the subjects at the end of the first year shall be required to repeat the year.

 

Those who fail to satisfy the continuation requirement in all the subjects, or after repeating the year, would be required to withdraw from the MBBS degree programme. Regulation permits such students to transfer to other degree programmes in the University.

 

Students for the B.Sc (Anatomy) and B Sc. (Physiology) programmes need an average score of 40 percent to proceed to the second year of studies. Students who fail to satisfy these requirements in only one or more subjects shall be required to carry over such failed courses to the next year of study.

 

Year 2: 1st Semester

Course	Course Title	Credit Unit
MDS 210.1	Histology and Cell Biology	3
MDS 211.1	Upper and Lower Extremities	3
MDS 220.1	General and Introductory Physiology	3
BCH 210.1	General Biochemistry I	3
BCH 214.1	General Biochemistry II	3
CUM 260.1	Organic Chemistry	3
Total		18

 

 

 

 

Year 2: 2nd Semester

Course	Course Title	Credit Unit
BCH 211.2	Medical Biochemistry I	3
MDS 212.2	Anatomy of Thorax, Abdomen, Pelvis and Perineum	3
MDS 213.2	Medical Embryology	3
MDS 221.2	Cardiovascular Physiology	3
MDS 222.2	Gastroenterology and Nutrition	3
MDS 2CS.2	Community Service	3
Total		18

 

Course	Course Title	Credit Unit
BCH 311.1	Medical Biochemistry II	3
MDS 311.1	Gross Anatomy of Head and Neck	3
MDS 301.1	Neuroscience	3
MDS 322.1	Endocrine and Reproductive Physiology	3
MDS 323.1	Respiratory and Renal Physiology	3
MDS 330.1	General and Autonomic Pharmacology	3
	Total	18

 

1st PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION (PART 1 MBBS/BDS)

A comprehensive examination (MBBS/BDS Part 1) shall be taken after the end of the first semester of the third year of studies for the MB BS students. The subjects taken in the examination are: Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology, divided into the following sections:

Paper I – Multiple Choice / Objective Questions

Paper II – Theory / Essay Questions

Paper III – Practical Examination / Interpretation and Application of Laboratory Exercises.

Oral Examination / Viva Voce

 

The average of the total marks in a particular subject contributes 70% to the final marks of the candidate. The average of the continuous assessment accounts for the remaining 30%. Students who fail all three subjects at the first attempt shall be advised to withdraw from the programme. Those who fail one or two subjects shall resit the subjects they failed in about three months later. Those who fail any of the subjects after repeating the year shall be advised to withdraw from the programme.

 

1st year clinicals

The clinical course in year IV begins with the Introductory Course, which covers a period of one month. Lectures begin in the various disciplines in Pathology, while Pharmacology continues. There is continuous assessment at the end of each posting.

 

The courses in Clinical Pathology and Pharmacology are examined at the end of this year at the 2nd Professional or Part II MBBS/BDS examination and successful students move over to the Faculty of Clinical Sciences in their 500 and 600 levels. The average of the total marks in either subject in this examination contributes 70% of the final marks of the candidate while the average of the continuous assessment accounts for the remaining 30%.

The Part II MBBS/BDS examination is divided into the following sections: –

Paper I – Multiple Choice / Objective Questions Paper II – Theory / Essay Questions

Paper Ill-Practical Examination / Interpretation and Application of Laboratory Exercises.

Oral Examination / Viva Voce

Students who fail any of the subjects in the resit at the first attempt would be required to repeat the class. Those who fail any of the subjects at the resit in the repeat year would be required to withdraw from the programmed.

 

2. BSc PROGRAMME

Students for the B. Sc programmes in Anatomy and Physiology will continue with courses in their various departments from the second semester of their third year as specified in the Academic Departments of the Faculty.

 

STATEMENT OF UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC POLICIES

GUIDELINES FOR COURSE SYSTEM AND INSTRUCTIONS

For the purpose of teaching and examinations the academic year is divided into two semesters, each of approximately sixteen weeks of teaching.

 

The unit of credit for a course is the credit unit, one credit unit being when a class meets for one hour every week for one semester in a lecture or tutorial, or for 3 hours every week for laboratory practical, workshop, or field work during vacations.

 

Prerequisite and concurrent requirement for courses may be prescribed, but may be waived at the discretion of the Faculty teaching the course for which they are prescribed upon there commendation of the department offering the course.

 

Every course shall be continuously assessed, and examined at the end of the semester in which it is given.

 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREE PROGRAMME OF STUDY

To obtain a degree in the University of Port Harcourt, a student must complete the approved programme of study in his/her department, and all courses, which the programme specifies, must be passed.

 

All students are urged to familiarize themselves with the specific requirements for a Bachelor’s degree in their departments, as specified in the current brochure for the Faculty or Department.

 

Students will graduate on the programme and the regulations in force at the time of admission. The pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. Students enrolled for the MB.BS programme must score a minimum of 50% per course. All registered courses other than audited courses must be passed. When registering failed courses, students must not exceed the maximum number of 24 credit units for one semester, any course that would cause the maximum to be exceeded must be deferred to the following academic year. Grade points earned at all attempts in a particular course count towards the CGPA. Students are not allowed to repeat a course that they have passed.

 

ACADEMIC ADVISERS

Every student is attached to an Academic Adviser who is a member of the academic staff and who will advise him/her on academic affairs as well as on personal matters. Academic Advisers are expected to follow their student’s academic progress and provide counseling to them.

 

REGISTRATION OF COURSES

The period for normal registration is the first week of each academic year, excluding the orientation week. The period for late registration is the second week of the first semester of the academic year. Late registration will attract a surcharge as penalty.

Course registration is the responsibility of the student’s parent department. The Head of Department signs for all the courses registered. In registering, the parent department should ensure that student’s re- register all previously failed courses in which the programme requires a pass, and meet the prescribed requirements for each course registered. The total credit units registered shall not be less than 15 and not more than 24 per semester. Any registration completed after the time specified will be null and void and will not be credited to the student even when he/she has taken and passed an examination in the course previously registered.

 

Students are not allowed to sit for examinations in courses for which they have not previously registered. Such actions are fraudulent and culprits will be appropriately penalized.

 

Any genuine request for late registration must be made in writing to the Head of Department, and a late registration fee, reviewable each year in line with the cost of living, must be paid to the Bursary. Forms for late registration will be given out only when the appropriate receipt is documented on the form.

 

Students may join their professional associations, but the dues for such associations shall not be made conditional for student registration.

 

Application for adding or dropping a course must be made on the prescribed ADD/DROP form and certified by the Registrar after obtaining the approval of the Heads of Department concerned, not later than four weeks before the examination in each semester. Any change of course made by altering the registration form will be null and void.

 

AUDITING OF COURSES

Students may attend a course outside the prescribed programme. The course shall be recorded in their transcript only if they have registered for it with the approval of the Head of their Department and the Dean of their Faculty and taken the prescribed examination. An audited course shall not be used in calculating the CGPA.

 

CHANGE OF PROGRAMME OF STUDY

A student who has been admitted to a degree programme on satisfying the minimum requirements for entry into the University as well as course requirements for the faculty and department shall not normally be allowed to change until he/she has completed the first academic year in the degree programme.

 

A student awarded a scholarship in a discipline different from that for which he/she is admitted shall be allowed to change faculty or department to that in which the programme specified by the

 

Scholarship Award if available, provided that he/she meets the requirements of the Faculty or Department to which a change is desired.

 

Application to change faculty shall normally be made by the students concerned through the Head of the present Department and the Dean of Faculty, who shall recommend to the Faculty Board on a prescribed form (quintuplicate) obtainable from the Faculty.

 

Duly completed copies of Change of Programme Form shall be forwarded to the Committee of Provost and Deans for approval and to the Registrar for certification. Therefore, the Registrar shall retain a copy and forward a copy each to the two Heads, the respective Deans and the students concerned. The Faculty Board should do intra-faculty transfer.

 

To qualify for consideration for transfer to the professional programmes in Medicine, Engineering and Management Sciences, a student shall be required to obtained a CGPA of 3.50 points or above at the time of application.

 

INTER-UNIVERSITY TRANSFER

A student from another University may seek a transfer to any of the programmes of the University of Port Harcourt. Such applicants must enclose relevant credentials and transcripts of academic record, to the Registrar, who shall normally refer the request to the appropriate Head of Department with the applicant’s official transcript. The Head of the Department, after considering the application, shall make an appropriate recommendation through the Dean to the Committee of Provosts and Deans.

 

The decision of the Committee of Provosts and Deans shall be final. All such applications must be processed before the beginning of the academic year.

 

All applicants for Inter-University transfer shall be required to be in good standing in their previous University. A student who has been expelled or suspended from any university for acts of misconduct shall not be eligible for transfer to the University of Port Harcourt.

 

COMPUTATION OF GRADE POINT AVERAGES

Every course carries a fixed number of credit Units (CU), one credit Unit being when a class meets for one hour every week for one semester, or three hours every week in the laboratory, workshop or fieldwork.

 

Quality point (QP) are derived by multiplying the Credit Units for the course by the Grade points earned by the student: e.g. in a course with 3 credit units in which a student earned a B with 4 Grade points, the Quality points are 3 x 4 = 12.

 

Grade Points Average (GPA) is derived by dividing the total Quality points for the semester by the credit units for the semester. Example in a semester where the student earned 56 quality points for 18 credit units, the GPA is (56/18) = 3.11

 

Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA) is derived by the total credit units (TCU) to date: e.g. if the TQP are 228 and the TCU are 68, CGPA = (228/68) = 3.35

 

Grades obtained in all approved course of a student’s prescribed program, excluding audited courses, shall be used to compute the GPA. Where a student has registered more than the allowed number of free elective courses, only the grade obtained in the registration will be used in computing the CGPA. Other elective courses will be treated as audited courses and will not be used in calculating the GPA

 

When a student transfers from the faculty to another, the grades obtained in the courses in the new prescribed programme of study will be used to compute the CGPA. Course that were complete before the change of programme and which are not part of the new prescribed programme will be treated as audited courses.

 

CONTINUATION, PROBATION AND WITHDRAWAL CONTINUATION REQUIREMENT:

The continuation requirement in the University is a CGPA of 1.00 at the end of every academic year.

 

Probation

Probation is a status granted to a student whose academic performance falls below an acceptable standard. A student whose Cumulative Grade Points Average is below 1.00 at the end of a particular year of study earns a period of probation for one academic session.

 

Limitation of Registration

Students on probation may not register for more than 18 units per semester. The purpose of the restriction is to give the student a chance to concentrate on improving their performance and thus raising their CGPA.

 

Warning of Danger of Probation

Students should be warned by their Department if at the end of any semester their GPA falls below l.00

 

Repeating Failed Courses Unit(s)

Subject to the conditions for withdrawal and probation, a student must repeat the failed course unit(s) at the next available opportunity, provided that the total number of credit units carried during that semester does not exceed 24, and the Grade Points earned at all attempts shall count towards the CGPA.

 

Withdrawal

A student whose Cumulative Grade point Average is below 1.00 at the end of one year’s probation shall be required to withdraw from the programme of study.

 

Temporary Withdrawal from Study

A student may apply for temporary withdrawal from study for a period of one year, which may be renewable for up to a maximum of twoyears.

 

Duration of Degree Programme

A student, who, after the maximum length of time allowed for a degree programme has not obtained a degree, shall be asked to withdraw from the programme. The maximum length for a 4-year programme shall be 6 years. This regulation applies to the B.Sc. programmes in the Faculty, but not to the MBBS programme, which has its own requirements. In part-time programmes, the appropriate ratio should apply.

 

 

CRITERIA FOR GRADUATING STUDENTS IN THE FACULTY OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES:

Senate at its 357th Meeting (Adjourned) held on Thursday, 8th April 2010, 365th Meeting held on Wednesday 28th July 2010, 366th Meeting held on Wednesday, 25th August 2010, 369th Meeting (Extra-Ordinary) held on Wednesday, 1st December 2010 and 372nd Meeting held on Wednesday, 23rd February 2011, decided as follows:

 

1. That students shall be allowed to graduate with a maximum of two failed courses provided these are not Research Project, Design Project, Teaching Practice, Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), GES Courses, Year Abroad Programme and Community Service Courses. The effective date for the waiver of two failed courses is the U99/2000 session.
2. That each Faculty and Department will specify its own minimum requirements for the award of its degree as submitted to the National Universities Commission (NUC), subject to a minimum of 120 credit units and a maximum of 148 credit units for a 4 -year programme, to be taken as stipulated in section 6.3 of the Academic Policies of the University of Port Harcourt of September 2012.
3. That pass grades(s) should replace fail grade(s) and the pass grade(s) should be used to compute the CGPA, both for undergraduate and postgraduate students. The maximum grade to be given in respect of replacement of fail grade with pass grade should be a ‘C’. The effective date of implementation of (2) and (3) above is 2009/2010 session.

 

CLASSIFICATION OF DEGREES

Senate at its 398th meeting held on Wednesday, 28th May, 2014 responded to the directive from the National Universities Commission (Ref: NUC/AS/391/Vol. II dated 16th March, 2013) on the review of Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS). In the light of the recommendations from the NUC, the new classification of Degrees with effect from the 2013/2014 academic session is as follows:

 

S/No.	Class of Degree	Marks Obtainable	Cumulative Grade Point Average
1.	First Class Division	70-100	4.50-5.00
2.	Second Class Upper Division	60-69	3.50-4.49
3.	Second Class Lower Division	50-59	2.40 – 3.49
4.	Third Class Division	45-49	1.50-2.39

 

 

PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW OF SCRIPTS OF AGGRIEVED STUDENTS

Students shall be entitled to see their marked examination scripts if they so desire, provided appropriate steps are taken to safe guard the scripts. Any student who is aggrieved about the grading of a course examination may petition his/her Head of Department in the first instance. The Head of Department shall refer the petition to the Dean of the Faculty, who shall cause the scripts to be re-assessed and the scores presented to the Faculty Board for determination. A student applying for a review of answer scripts shall be required to pay the approved fee to the Bursary Department before commencement of the review. If the appeal results in a significant improvement (i.e. a change in letter grade) on the student’s original grade, the fee so paid shall be refunded to the student within 30days from the release of the result. Students whose letter grade is not marked higher lose their money.

 

Application for review of answer scripts must be made not later than one month from the date of publication of results by the faculty. The application must be personal; i.e. an appeal by someone for the review of someone else’s script shall not be entertained. No group appeal by candidates involved in the examination in question (or any other group of persons) shall be entertained.

 

FACULTY EXAMINATION REGULATIONS

Examiners should ensure that the question papers are prepared under conditions of maximum security and are ready in time. For all examinations, well-packaged question papers must be accompanied by a list of Supervisors/Invigilators and the relevant forms (Examination Control Forms). The Examiners should ensure that the question papers are adequately packaged and sealed and are submitted to the Supervisor at least one hour before the start of the examination.

 

Subject only to administrative supervision by the Office of the Provost/Dean/Director, the conduct of course examinations shall be the responsibility of the Head of Department. The Head of Department should ensure that examination questions are moderated.

 

For each examination there should be a Supervisor and Invigilators in a ratio of at least one invigilator to 50 students, including both male and female invigilators.

 

It is the responsibility of the Parent Department to appoint supervisors and invigilators. The list should be forwarded to the Head of the Teaching Department not later than one week before the commencement of semester examinations. Students should be seated according to their Departments and they should be invigilated by academic staff from their Departments.

 

Supervisors should be appointed from the rank of Senior Lecturer and above and invigilators should be other members of academic staff. Part – Time teachers, where necessary are also regarded as Internal Examiners.

 

Supervisors must identify and check students into the examination using the authenticated register of students for that course. The student must show the invigilator his/her registration/identity card on entry to every examination. He/She must leave these on the desk throughout the examination for easy inspection by the invigilator.

 

All examination scripts used by the students must be endorsed by the supervisor at least 30 minutes after the commencement of the examination.

 

The invigilator must ensure that no student removes from the examination venue any paper or other examination material except the printed question paper where it is allowed. Answer booklets are the property of the University and must not be in the possession of students.

 

During examinations the security must be stepped up, especially around examination centre, to ensure that no persons not involved in the examinations are allowed to loiter around the hall.

 

None registered student is allowed to take any examination.

A student should be in the examination room at least 30 minutes before the start of the examination. A student who is up to 30 minutes late shall be admitted, but shall not be given any extra time.

 

A student who arrives more than 30 minutes after the start of the examination shall not be admitted. A student may be allowed to leave the examination room temporarily before the end of the examination, but must NOT:

1. Do so during the first hour of the examination except in case of emergency like illness.
2. Do so unaccompanied OR with his scripts

 

All students must write their name and matriculation number and sign the attendance register within the first hour of the examination.

 

All students must write their number (not name) at the appropriate places on the cover and pages of the answer booklet.

 

No student shall keep any handbag, briefcase, books, notebooks, or paper near him/her during the examination.

 

No student shall directly or indirectly give or accept any assistance during the examination, including lending borrowing any materials.

 

No student shall continue writing when at the end of the allotted time; the invigilator orders all students to stop writing.

 

A student shall avoid noise making and /or communicating with any other student or with any other person except with the invigilator if necessary.

Students who disrupt an examination at any venue will have their examination cancelled, and they will be required to re-register for the course.

At the end of the examination the Supervisor/Invigilator should ensure that the scripts are checked properly packaged and returned along with relevant forms to the Chief Examiner.

 

Any member of staff who fails to turn up for invigilation shall lose a monthly examination allowance for each offence and be queried for his act the first time. If this is repeated during any other period of examination the member of staff will lose the monthly examination allowance for each offence, and will in addition lose the next promotion and be warned in writing by the Vice-Chancellor.

 

The Provost/Dean is responsible for reporting to the Vice-Chancellor any defaulting invigilator.

 

These examination regulations apply to all students studying for the award of University of Port Harcourt degrees, diplomas and certificates and where appropriate to all staff.

 

RESULTS

Results should be returned in quadruplicate and distributed as follows: a copy to the course lecturer, a copy to the Head of Department, and two copies to the Dean, who signs and returns one copy of the marked sheet to the Department.

Summary of result for all courses taken in the Department with the date of departmental meeting reflected on them shall be presented to the Extra-Ordinary meeting of Senate five weeks following the conclusion of the semester and degree examinations. Lecturers who fail to meet the deadline would face strict sanctions of salary suspension. The Dean shall report such lecturers to the Vice- Chancellor for the necessary sanctions to be applied.

A moderator for an examination must have access to the scripts and the course mark sheet must show an itemized distribution of the score. All results must be published provisionally not later than 24 hours after the Faculty Board had considered them.

 

Computation of results should be restricted to academic staff.

Examiners should ensure the security of scripts, and the scripts should normally be returned to the Head of Department after one year. Scripts are not to be disposed off until after five years.

 

Faculty Officers, Heads of Departments, and Provost/Deans/Directors should ensure that mark sheets and results are treated as high security documents. A copy of the mark sheets of all the courses should be sent to the Registrar for preparation of students’ transcript.

 

PROCEDURE FOR CHANGE OF RESULTS

Results may be changed as a result of a review or as the result of the discovery of an error or fraudulent change in the recording of either semester or degree results.

 

No result/grade approved by the Faculty Board shall be changed without reference to the Faculty Board.

No result/grade approved by Senate shall be changed without reference to Senate.

 

Any application for a change of grade must be made in writing, appropriately routed, giving clearly defined reasons for the change. Where the change is suspected to be the result of fraud, it should be investigated at the appropriate level and a recommendation made to Senate.

 

PROCEDURE FOR INVESTIGATION OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE

Examination malpractice shall be defined as all forms of cheating which directly or indirectly falsifies the ability of the student.

 

These shall include cheating within an examination hall, cheating outside an examination hall, and any involvement in all illegal examination – related offences. Forms of cheating are categorized as follows:

1. Cheating within an examination hall / room

1. Copying from one another / exchanging Question / answer sheets.
2. Bringing in prepared answer, coping from textbooks, notebooks, laboratory specimens or any other instructional aids smuggled into the examination hall.
3. Collaboration with an invigilator/lecturer where it involves the lecturer providing written/oral answers to a student in the examination hall.
4. Oral/written communication between / among students.
5. Bringing in prepared answers written on any part of the body.
6. Receiving information, whether written or oral, from any person (s) outside an examination hall.
7. Refusal to stop writing at the end, within half a minute, of the examination.
8. Impersonation.
9. Non-submission of answer scripts at the end of an examination.
10. Illegal removal of answer scripts at the end of examination.
2. Cheating outside the examination hall/room

1. Plagiarism is a form of examination malpractice and should be investigated and punished in the same way as cheating in the examination hall. Plagiarism is the use of another person’s work without appropriate acknowledgment both in the text and in the reference at the end.
2. Copying laboratory and fieldwork reports and/or term papers of others.
3. Colluding with a member of staff to obtain, or on his own initiative, obtaining set questions or answers beforehand.
4. Colluding with a member of staff in order to submit a new prepared answer script as a substitute for the original script after an examination.
5. Writing of projects, laboratory and/or field reports on behalf of a student by a member of staff.
6. Soliciting for help after an examination.
7. Secretly breaking into a staff office or departmental office in order to obtain question papers, answer scripts, or mark sheets or substituting a fresh answer script for the original script.
8. Refusing to c-operate with the Faculty Investigating Panel or the Senate Committee on Examination Malpractice.

3. Related of fences

1. Manipulation of registration forms in order to sit for an examination for which the student is not qualified.
2. Sitting for an examination for which the student is not qualified as a result of manipulation of registration forms.
3. Colluding with a medical doctor in order to obtain an excused duty/medical certificate on grounds of feigned illness.
4. Producing a fake medical certificate.
5. Assault and intimidation of the invigilator within or outside the examination hall.
6. Attempting to destroy and/or destroying evidence of examination malpractice.
7. Intimidation or threats to extort sex/money or other favours from students by a member of staff in exchange for grades.

 

Investigation of Examination Malpractice

The invigilator shall seize any unauthorized material found in the possession of a student after the student has signed, acknowledging that it was retrieved from him/her. Refusal to sign is tantamount to acceptance of guilt.

Where the student refuses to sign, the invigilator should make a clear statement on the answer sheet and sign. The student shall, however, not be prevented from finishing the examination. The invigilator shall, immediately after the examination, submit a written report to the Head of the Department conducting the examination.

 

The Department conducting the examination shall setup a committee/panel to examine the merit of the case.

 

If the Departmental Board feels that a prima facie case has been established, the case shall be presented to the Faculty Board, which shall appoint a panel to investigate the case and report back to the faculty.

 

If the faculty is satisfied that a case has been established, then the case shall be reported to the Senate Committee on Examination Malpractice (SCEM).

 

The Senate Committee on Examination Malpractice (SCEM) shall investigate the case and report to Senate for decision.

 

The investigation of examination malpractice shall take, as much time a sit takes to dispose off the matter, but it must not go beyond the end of the semester following the one in which the offence was allegedly committed. Meanwhile, the student allegedly involved in an examination malpractice shall be allowed to register for courses and take examinations in them. But the parent or any other department shall not release the results of the courses, until investigation has been completed and his/her innocence established by Senate.

 

Punishment for Examination Malpractice

Any student found guilty of examination malpractice after due process shall be expelled from the University.

 

This decision shall be communicated to all students and their sponsors before the commencement of each session.

 

The information shall be posted on all notice boards throughout the University and shall also be contained in each faculty prospectus so as to give it the widest possible publicity. The decision shall take effect immediately after the publication.

 

Members of staff involved in aiding and abetting students in Examination malpractice shall be made to appear before an investigation panel. If the member of staff is found guilty, the report shall be sent to the appropriate Disciplinary Committee.

 

For students involved in an examination malpractice and proven guilty, Senate shall take the ultimate decision, while for staff; the appropriate Disciplinary Committee (as specified in the conditions of services) shall forward its recommendation to Council.

 

Secret Societies/Cults

Secret societies/cults are anti-social and are banned by the University. Any student proved to belong to a secret society would be expelled.

 

Regulations Governing the Presentation of Projects/ Dissertations

The regulations stated below which have been approved are to be strictly followed.

 

I)         Size of Paper

The approved size of paper for writing up is A4 and in case of scarcity, approval could be sought for use of foolscap size.

 

ii)         Signatories

The under-listed members of a candidate’s Board of Examiners shall sign the certificate of dissertation.

 

Supervisor(s)

Head of Department

External Examiner/Chairman Board of Examiners

 

iii)        FORMAT AND LAYOUT

A Project/Thesis/Dissertation should be made up as follows:

Title page

Certification page

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract 200 to 300 words

Table of contents

List of Tables and Graphs

Body of Thesis/Dissertation

Bibliography/Appendices

 

N.B. Students are advised to contact their Heads of Department or Faculty Officer to confirm the form of the Title and Certification pages. Details on styles of presentation are expected to be provided by the respective disciplines.

 

BINDING

Colours for Binding

Each thesis/dissertation shall be bounding the colour of the awarding Faculty and the colour approved for the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences is Red while that of the College of Health Sciences is Purple (Mauve).

 

It is expected that all thesis/dissertations shall be bound or cased in boards. These should be well bound and should open easily. Prospective compilers of thesis/dissertations should consult the University Librarian for uniformity.

 

 

Binding Specifications

The technical and other requirements are listed below:

Item	Description
Style	Librarian binding or full bound
Size of book	A4210x297mm
Weight of Board	1400gms
End of papers	Cartridges 100/120gms. Azure laid marble paper (Cloth lined joints of made- end paper
Blocking	Gold or Aluminum foil. Title and Author cover and spine.
Strengthening Material	Mull, Calico, Tape
Cover materials	Art canvas, leather clothe, Water- proof, library clothe, Buckram (a good quality material that will take hard ware for a considerable time and will have much better tensile strength and resistant to abrasion)
Linings	Crepe Kraft with split board
Decoration	Head bound (Optional)

Write your Name, Degree, Department and Year on the spine of the bound thesis/dissertations.

 

SUBMISSION OF THESIS/DISSERTATION

A candidate shall, submit four copies of the thesis/dissertation in paper binding to the faculty committee, not later than the beginning of the last semester of the prescribed period of study and not later than two months to the date of the examination. All thesis/dissertations must conform to the specifications laid down by the University.

Before the degree is conferred, three copies of every thesis/dissertation accepted, shall be bound in a manner approved by the University Library and these shall become the property of the University.

 

CERTIFICATION PAGE

UNIVERSITY OF PORTHARCOURT

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

FACULTY OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES

 

DEPARTMENT OF AUTHOR

 

TITLE OF THESIS/DISSERTATION

BY

NAME OF AUTHOR (SURNAME FIRST)

 

DECLARATION

 

THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS DECLARES AS FOLLOWS:

THAT THIS IS THE ORIGINAL WORK OF THECANDIDATE ____________________________________________________ THAT THE THESIS/DISSERTATIONIS ACCEPTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF: _________________________

 

NAME SIGNATURE DATE

Supervisor(s)                            ………………………………..

Head of Department                 ………………………………..

External Examiner                    ………………………………..

Chairman Board of Examiners  ………………………………..

 

RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS IN THE FACULTY OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES

 

1. QUALIFICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION

The attention of all Medical students should be drawn to the examination regulations and the fact that the pass mark for all examination is 50%.

1. That he/she is a bonafide student of the Faculty (Identification card).
2. That he/she has paid all prescribed school fees.
3. That he/she has paid the fees for the particular examination.
4. That he/she has attained 75% attendance to be eligible for the examination.
5. That he/she attended all continuous assessment tests leading to that examination or provided an approved medical certification to be eligible for the examination.

 

2. CONDUCT OF THE EXAMINATION

1. The Dean through the Examination coordinator shall arrange the examination time-table and venue(s) for the examination.
2.  The time-table and venue(s) must be communicated to all examiners and candidates at least two weeks before the beginning of the professional examination.
3. The desk of each candidate will be marked with the matriculation number before the Examination is due to start. Without prejudice, the invigilator can re-locate the sitting of a candidate during the examination.
4. Candidates must be seated apart far enough to prevent cheating and all candidates must be visible to the chief invigilator at his seat. The desks shall be arranged as to make it possible for the invigilator to reach the candidates with ease.
5. Candidates once admitted into the hall after identity has been checked may not leave the hall.
6. A functioning wall clock from which the time of the examination shall be determined shall be prominently displayed in front of the hall in full view of all candidates.
7. Question and answer papers shall be brought into the hall and be distributed to the candidates at the appropriate time.

 

EXEMPTION FROM EXAMINATION

A candidate eligible for a professional examination can only be exempted from the examination if:

1. He/she applies for exemption to the Faculty Board through the Dean of Faculty and approval is given.
   1.      (a) A candidate who falls ill just before the examination or in the examination hall should inform the examiners immediately.

The examiner/invigilator should inform the Coordinator of the examination who will write a formal report to the Dean about the absence of the candidate from the examination.

(b) The candidate thereafter will produce a medical certificate from an approved source (e.g. the University Health Centre or University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital) to cover the duration of illness.

3. A candidate exempted from such a Professional Examination should write the next available equivalent examination i.e. Main examination or Resit examination.
4. A candidate that is not present for the Main and Resit Professional Examination of an Academic year without permission should be deemed to have withdrawn from the MBBS/BDS Programme.
4. CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT RESULTS

1. Candidates are required to take part in all Continuous Assessment tests. Any candidate that misses a test must provide a Medical Certificate from an approved source. Result of Continuous Assessment should be published at least 1 week before the commencement of the examination.
2. After the Part II MBBS/BDS (Main) Professional Examination, candidates for the Resit Examination must take the Continuous Assessment test before the Resit Examination. The remedial continuous assessment marks must be averaged with the continuous assessment marks of the Main Examination.
4. INVIGILATION
5. The Chief invigilator shall be the Coordinator of the professional examination. Other Invigilators shall be Heads of Departments and the academic staff in the departments conducting the Professional Examinations.
6. The non-academic staffs in the department and the postgraduate students who help their Head of Departments in administering the examination are not invigilators but attendants. They are not to loiter or hang around the candidates. They should carry out the assignment given them at the venue of the examination and wait outside or stay at the back of the examination hall.
7. It should be the duty of the invigilators to exercise constant and vigilant supervision over the candidates taking the examination.
8. While the examination is in progress no person other than invigilators, examiners and staff of affected departments shall be allowed to enter the hall. All invigilators must be in the hall in the first and last 30 minutes of each paper.
9. The time appointed for the examination in each paper as indicated in the Time-Table must be strictly adhered to and can only be altered in unavoidable circumstances with the permission of the Dean.
10. No candidate may leave the examination hall once the examination begins except to the toilet or to receive first aid and then, only provided an invigilator or attendant accompanies him or her. Normally, no candidate shall be admitted after the first half-hour of the examination has elapsed.
11. If any candidate finishes his/her paper before the time required, the invigilator may at his discretion allow the candidate to submit his/her papers and retire. Candidates are not allowed to leave the hall during the first and last 30 minutes of the examination.
12. Candidates are not allowed to remove answer scripts used or unused from the examination hall.
13. Silence must be maintained throughout the examination period by the invigilators, attendants and candidates.
14. Smoking, eating and drinking are not allowed during the examination. Drinking of water may be allowed under some conditions.
15. Invigilators must warn candidates of the time elapsed, thirty minutes and ten minutes before the close of the examination.
16. Candidates must stop writing immediately at the end of the examination. Any candidate seen writing must be noted and be warned. The incident should be reported to the coordinator or most senior invigilator for appropriate penalty.
17. At the close of examination, candidates shall be asked to hand over their scripts to the appropriate invigilator as they leave the hall. The invigilators are to check these scripts and count them for correctness.
18. The invigilators shall collect the scripts and hand them over to the coordinator who will pass them on to the appropriate Head of Department.
19. Multiple choice questions remain confidential even after examination. It is of utmost importance that all copies of questions including the invigilators copies be returned to the coordinator of the examination.
21. INSTRUCTION TO CANDIDATES
22. Candidates must attend punctually at the times assigned to their papers and must be admitted into the examination hall fifteen minutes before the time the examination is due to start.
23. Candidates shall not be permitted to enter the hall more than 15 minutes before the commencement of the examination. Candidates arriving more than half an hour after the examination has started shall be admitted only at the invigilator’s discretion and the time of arrival shall be noted on the scripts. The lateness shall in no way be compensated.
24. It is the responsibility of candidates to ensure that they sign the attendance register for the examination. They should also ensure that they receive questions and answer booklets from invigilators.
25. Save with special permission of the invigilator, candidates may not leave the examination except to go to the toilet or take first aid. They must be accompanied by an invigilator or attendant.
26. Candidates must bring their writing materials such as pens, pencils, rulers to the examination hall. Bags and other personal materials should be left outside the hall.
27. While the examination is in progress communication between candidates is strictly forbidden, and any candidate found to be giving or receiving irregular assistance of making unauthorized communication, may be required to withdraw from the examination and may be further penalized afterwards.
28. Silence must be observed in the examination hall. The only permissible way of attracting the attention of the invigilator is by the candidate raising his/her hand.
29. Candidates are informed that medical attention can be obtained, if necessary.
30. Before handing in their scripts at the end of the examination, candidates must satisfy themselves that they have written their matriculation number.
31. It is the responsibility of each candidate to hand in his/her answer booklet to the appropriate invigilator and ensure that this is recorded before they leave the examination hall.
33. FURTHER GUIDELINES FOR CANDIDATES
34. All candidates must write their examination number on their answer sheets. Failure to do so may result in the sheet not being marked.
35. Candidates writing a different number in their answer sheets and answering a different question will suffer a penalty.
36. Assisting another candidates and receiving assistance from another candidate will result in the two candidates being disqualified and their actions referred to the Examinations Committee of the Faculty.
37. Candidates are not allowed to bring their phones and other electronic devices into the examination hall.
38. Candidates are forbidden to bring any dangerous implements into the examination hall.
39. Disorderly behavior and physical or verbal action on Examiners and Invigilators will lead to disqualification and report of such a case to the Examinations Committee of the Faculty.
40. Candidate attempting to influence or actually influencing any part of the examination in their favour will be disqualified and their case referred to the Examinations Committee of the Faculty.
41. Candidates must not intimidate, cajole, lobby, persuade, threaten or force any Examiner or Invigilator in the course of the Examination. Such action will lead to disqualification and report of the action to the Examinations Committee of the Faculty.
43. Examination Malpractice
44. Where a candidate is suspected to have been engaged in examination malpractice, this should immediately be brought to the attention of the Co-ordinator of the Professional Examination or the most senior invigilator present, who will immediately conduct an investigation.
45. The investigation shall include the following:
46.  Stop the examination of the candidate involved.
47.  Collect documents involved which the invigilator and the candidate should sign.
48.  Obtained a written statement signed by the candidate, who shall be informed of the case against him or her. Where the candidate refuses to sign, the invigilator should write it as a clear statement on the answer sheet and sign.
49.  Obtain written and signed statements from all witnesses, including another invigilator (if present).

3. The candidate may, thereafter be allowed to complete the examination.
4. The Coordinator of the examination or the most senior invigilator shall report the matter to the Dean in writing.
5. The Dean will report the matter to the Faculty Board.
6. Any student found guilty of examination malpractice after due process should be punished according to University regulation.

 

1st PROFESSIONAL / PART I MBBS/BDS EXAMINATION

Candidates must have attended up to 75% of the lectures and practical sessions leading to this examination. The candidates must have taken the prescribed continuous assessment tests.

The Part I MBBS/BDS (Main) Examination (2nd MBBS/BDS) shall take place 18 months after the commencement of the MBBS/BDS programme. The examination shall be in Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology in the following format:-

 

Paper I	Multiple Choice Questions
Paper II	Short Answer Essay Questions
Paper III	Practical Examination
Viva Voce	Oral Examination

 

The average of the total marks in any particular subject contributes 70% to the final marks of the candidates. The average of the continuous assessment accounts for the remaining 30%. When the results of the examination are published, candidates will be graded as follows:-

1. Those who fail all the subjects at the first attempt will be advised to withdraw from the MBBS programme. These candidates may opt to transfer to any science – related course in the University.
2. Those who fail one or two subject(s) will Resit the subject(s) in the next three months. If they still fail those subject(s), they will have to repeat the coming Academic year.
3. Those who repeat the year are expected to write the examinations in the 3 subjects in the repeat year except those who have been exempted from writing a subject as a result of attaining a Second Class Upper Degree in that subject.
4. Those who still fail the subject(s) at the end of the repeat Academic year will be advised to withdraw from the MBBS/BDS programme. These candidates may opt to transfer to any science – related course in the University.

 

2nd PROFESSIONAL / PART II MBBS/BDS EXAMINATION

Candidates must have passed the Part I MBBS/BDS Examination and have more that 75% attendance in the lectures and practical sessions leading to the Part II MBBS/BDS Examination. Candidates must have taken the prescribed continuous assessment tests.

 

The Part II MBBS/BDS examination (2nd MBBS/BDS) takes place at the end of year 3 of the MBBS/BDS programme. The Examination is in the subjects of Pathology and Pharmacology. The Pathologic Sciences courses are Anatomic Pathology, Chemical Pathology, Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology and Medical Microbiology and Parasitology.

 

The Examination takes the following format:-

Paper I	Multiple Choice Questions
Paper II	Short Answer Essay Question
Paper III	Practical Examination
Viva Voce	Oral Examination

The average of the total marks in a particular subject contributes 70% to the final marks of the candidate. The average of the continuous assessment accounts for the remaining 30%.

 

When the results are published, candidates will be graded as follows:-

1. Those who fail the combined Pathology or Pharmacology examination or both will resit the subject(s) in about 3 months.
2. Those who fail any of the resit subjects will have to repeat the next Academic year and not proceed to the next clinical posting.
3. Those who are repeating shall be required to re-write both subjects of Pathology and Pharmacology in the Part II Examination in the repeat year
4. Those who fail any of the subjects at the end of the repeat academic year will be required to withdraw from the MBBS/BDS programme.

 

Distinction Candidates

1.  A candidate must have scored 50% or above in all the other subjects in the Professional Examination and in addition scored above 70% (A score) in the subject to be awarded a distinction.

 

The distinction grade is confirmed by the performance of the candidate at an oral examination chaired by the external examiner in that subject.