Teaching, assessment and course structure
Course Structure
Our MA programmes begin in late September. Modules are taught in the daytime over two semesters for both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students complete four core modules and a dissertation in one year, whereas part-time students spread these components over two years.
Depending on your scheme of study, you will create your own MA 'pathway' around compulsory and elective modules. Most taught modules have a credit weighting of thirty credits each, with sixty credits for the dissertation. Candidates will be required to complete 180 credits for the award of MA.
Teaching
Teaching is more intensive than on undergraduate degrees: modules are conducted largely through weekly workshops and small-group seminars. Tutors also provide you with individual advice on written work and you should begin to develop expertise in improving your work through drafts and redrafts.
Assessment
Although these are taught postgraduate programmes, you should be aware that academic work at MA level involves a good deal of independent, detailed and considered study.
There are no formal written exams for our postgraduate MA courses.
Instead, we assess each module through a long essay, project or
assignment, offering you the opportunity to work in your particular
field of interest within each topic area. The precise length of your
assessed pieces of work varies from module to module; we provide
figures in the module outlines. We usually structure assessment so that
you work to a regular rhythm throughout the year. Deadlines follow the
timetable below.
Assessed Essay Deadlines
Semester One modules: essay deadline late January.
Semester Two modules: essay deadline early June.
Dissertation: deadline early September.
Final awards
We provide provisional marks and feedback on assessed work submitted throughout the year. Final marks and awards will not be confirmed until the exam board meets in October or November. Confirmed results are available to students online in late November. The degree ceremonies are held in mid-December.
Academic feedback
Most of our modules allow for the production of 'formative' written work; this allows academic staff to provide direct feedback to you on how to structure and improve your final assessed work.
The Library
The Library website also provides easy access to electronic resources, which include databases, journals, books and archives.
The Library Catalogue is on the internet and you can reserve and renew your books on-line.