Teaching, Assessment and Course Structure
Course Structure
Our MA and Postgraduate Diploma programmes begin in late September. All are completed on a part-time basis. Students studying for the MA in Disability Studies complete three modules in the first year, and a further module and a dissertation in the second year. Those studying for the Postgraduate Diploma complete three modules in a year, along with a Disability Project.
All modules and the Disability Project have a credit weighting of thirty credits. The dissertation has a credit weighting of 60 credits. Candidates will be required to complete 180 credits for the award of MA, or 120 credits for the award of Postgraduate Diploma.
Teaching
Course materials for all modules are provided electronically via CD and the internet. 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.
Tutorial support is provided on a weekly basis via email and/or the telephone. In addition, there is one residential weekend in year one and another in year two, at which there will be a series of lectures and seminars.
Students studying for the Postgraduate Diploma in Disability Studies are required to attend the first study weekend. Students studying for the MA in Disability Studies are required to attend both study weekends.
Assessment
You should be aware that academic work at postgraduate diploma and MA level involves a good deal of independent, detailed and considered study.
There are no formal written exams for our postgraduate diploma and MA courses. Instead, we assess each module through a 6000 word essay (or equivalent), offering you the opportunity to work in your particular field of interest within each topic area. More detail is provided 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
Year 1
- Module One: essay deadline mid December.
- Module Two: essay deadline mid March.
- Module Three: essay deadline early June
- Disability Project (Postgraduate Diploma only): deadline early September
Year 2 (MA only)
- Module 4: essay deadline mid January
- Dissertation: deadline early September.
All 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.
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.
Key Information
Start Date: 24 September
Duration:
24 months part-time
Entry requirements:
a good honours degree in a social science discipline, or relevant experience.
Scholarships
Funding information
Admissions Contact
School of Sociology and Social Policy
Tel: +44 (0) 113 343 8056