Programme structures
All applicants are required to satisfactorily complete the VLE induction session prior to beginning their studies.
The MA consists of either:
- four modules chosen from a list of options plus
- a dissertation
or
- five modules chosen from a list of options plus
- a report
The Postgraduate Diploma consists of four modules chosen from a list of options.
The Postgraduate Certificate consists of two modules chosen from a list of options.
The modules do not have any pre-requisites and may be attempted in any order.
See full details in section 1 of the Detailed Regulations.
This programme offers some automatic accreditation of prior learning for students registered for the PG Diploma and MA degree in Citizenship/History/Religious Education at the Institute of Education.
See Section 2 of the Detailed Regulations and Annex C for further information on Accreditation of prior learning
Students who have obtained a postgraduate level award from any other university in a related subject may apply for accreditation of prior learning from one unspecified option module.
Students are not permitted to apply for automatic or discretionary accreditation of prior learning from more than one module.
All applications for accreditation will be considered on an individual basis and at the discretion of the Programme Director and the University.
No applications for accreditation of prior learning will be accepted for the dissertation.
No applications for accreditation of prior learning will be accepted for modules of the Postgraduate Certificate.
All applications for credit will be considered on a discretionary basis.
Students may take any number of individual modules on a stand-alone basis but only two modules may be counted as credit towards a further related award. Students progressing from an individual module(s) will be required to satisfy rules of progression.
The maximum and minimum periods of registration, from a student's effective date of registration, are:
| Minimum | Maximum | |
| MA | Two years | Five years |
| Postgraduate Diploma | Two years | Five years |
| Postgraduate Certificate | Six months | Five years |
Full details are in section 3 of the Detailed Regulations.
Awards are given on the following basis:
- MA, students must have attempted, and passed in either four option modules and a dissertation or five optional modules and a report.
- Postgraduate Diploma, students must have attempted and passed in four option modules.
- Postgraduate Certificate, students must have attempted and passed in two option modules.
The MA, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate may be given with the following class of award: Pass or Fail. A grade of 'C' or above is a pass. The MA may be awarded with a mark of distinction. To achieve distinction students will be required to achieve an 'A' grade in the dissertation and will normally be required to achieve an 'A' grade in the majority of modules. Examiners have discretion to take into account a student's overall performance.
See also section 8 of the Detailed Regulations.
In order to be able to progress from the Postgraduate Certificate to the Postgraduate Diploma, students must pass two option modules. In order to be able to progress from the Postgraduate Diploma to the MA, students must pass the four option modules.
At the discretion of the Board of Examiners, a student registered for the MA who does not fulfil the requirements for the MA may be awarded either
- the Postgraduate Diploma provided he or she has passed all four option modules or
- the Postgraduate Certificate if he or she has passed the two option modules.
The title of the final award depends on which modules are chosen and completed.
See also section 7 of the Detailed Regulations.
