University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2017/18 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > University of Bristol Law School > Sustainable Futures (MRes) > Specification
Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
Programme code | 9LAWD003T |
---|---|
Programme type | Postgraduate Taught Degree |
Programme director(s) |
Margherita Pieraccini
|
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 1 years (full time) |
This programme provides the research training component of the Sustainable Futures interdisciplinary pathway of the SWDTC. This pathway offers ESRC 1+3 and +3 postgraduate research training that explores the interface between security, energy and environment by engaging the latest critical thinking on risk management, critical infrastructure, public regulation, policy studies and the environmental sciences.
The pathway draws on expertise from the following Schools, Institutes and Research Centres: Bristol’s School of Geographical Sciences, School of Law, School for Policy Studies, the Global Insecurities Centre (Politics), the Bristol Environmental Risk Research Centre (BRISK), and the new Cabot Institute which draws together environmental research from across the university; Exeter’s School of Geography, School of Law, Centre for Energy and the Environment, and the ESRC/EPSRC funded Energy Security in a Multipolar World Research cluster; Bath’s Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment (I-SEE), Centre for Research in Education and the Environment, and the Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy. From 17/18 we will also start to involve the University of the West of England.
Research training in the Sustainable Futures pathway will follow the standard SWDTC interdisciplinary format; ie. core research training modules will be selected from the consortia’s offerings in research design, methods, and analysis; there will be one pathway specific module; and other modules will be selected from an open unit list (see Annex). There is also a research project dissertation. The core research training modules include Advanced Interdisciplinary Research Design, which will address the characteristics and challenges of ‘doing’ interdisciplinary research. The pathway specific module will be a custom-designed and co-convened core course for the pathway entitled Contemporary Debates in Sustainability. This core module will be team taught by a cross-institutional team co-ordinated by a designated Pathway co-ordinator. It will introduce students to key concepts and debates in this field including global (in) security and the environment, environmental risk management and impact assessment, critical infrastructure design, and public policy towards and regulation of energy and transport. We shall also draw on expertise in physical geography, earth sciences, energy studies and beyond through participation in the university themes identified above. The Sustainable Futures pathway will train social science researchers who understand the impacts of living with environmental change, the uncertainties of environmental change for energy and food security and the diverse responses needed to foster behaviours, practices and policies that promote sustainability and resilience. Students from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds will be accepted into this pathway.
The aims of the programme are to:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
|
Methods of Assessment | |
|
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
|
Methods of Assessment | |
|
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
|
Methods of Assessment | |
|
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Certificate |
The student will be expected to acquire a Masters-level knowledge of the field of sustainability. They will demonstrate critical self-awareness and evidence of reflective practice. |
---|---|
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Diploma |
Students will have an expanded range and depth of subject specific knowledge, through the study of the mandatory units and their optional choices. |
Level M/7 - Postgraduate Masters |
Most of the work undertaken at this level will be at, or informed by, the latest research findings and concepts, and will provide an opportunity to work closely with the international research community within the SWDTC Research College (comprising of over 700 academic staff at Bristol, Bath and Exeter). This programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes as summarised in A, B and C. On successful completion of this programme, students should:
|
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the postgraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
UoB Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes: Rules for Assessment, Progression and the Award of a Qualification will apply at programme level and to UoB units. Bath and Exeter’s assessment procedures will apply to the units that they provide and marks and credits recognised by Bristol as set out in Schedule 7 of the Collaborative Partnership Agreement. This will be made clear at the outset of the programme and explained in detail in the Student Handbook.
To pass the MRes, students will pass units worth a minimum of 120 credits and will also pass the research project by completing a dissertation of appropriate standard. Detailed marking criteria will be made available for all units, including the dissertation. Having passed units worth a minimum of 60 / 120 credits, students who for any reason cannot continue on the programme may leave with a PG Certificate (60) / PG Diploma (120), provided that two-thirds of their total credits have been acquired at Bristol.
Bristol and Exeter use the Credit Transfer Scheme (CATS) system. Bath uses the European Community Course Credit Transfer Scheme (ECTS). 1 CATS credit point at Bristol and Exeter is equivalent to 10 hours of study including teaching, private study, revision and assessments; at Bath 1 ECTS credit point will equate to 20 hours of study time and 2 CATS credits for the purposes of this programme.
The SWDTC will be offering students the possibility of carrying out a short-term placement to acquire hands-on experiences within their research areas in appropriate organizations. It is anticipated the students taking up this opportunity will carry out their placements and collect data to be used as pilot material for their MRes dissertations. Placements will be organized through the SWDTC Placement Officer in close negotiation with the student and supervisors.
Prof Sally Barnes, Graduate Education Director for Social Sciences and Law and Director of the SWDTC
Dr Margherita Pieraccini, Lecturer of Environmental Law, Law School.
Sonja Ho, SWDTC Manager and the SWDTC website: http://www.swdtc.ac.uk
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Advanced Interdisciplinary Research Design | GEOGM0015 | 15 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Contemporary Debates in Sustainability | LAWDM0128 | 15 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
Dissertation (SWDTC) | LAWDM0113 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
The research training units "Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences" & "Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences" run a number of times across the Faculty. Students may request to take whichever unit best fits their timetable, but requests are subject to space constraints. | ||||
Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences (SPS) | SPOLM0014 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences (SPS) | SPOLM0015 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
In addition to the mandatory units and the dissertation, students choose additional units from the list below or other optional units at Bristol, Bath, Exeter or UWE by agreement with the programme director. Depending on the institution offering them, units may be of different credit values; the minimum volume of credit required for this programme is 180. | ||||
Environmental Law | LAWDM0013 | 30 | Optional | TB-4 |
Supervised Individual Study | LAWDM0122 | 10 | Optional | TB-2 |
Conflict, Security and Development | POLIM1007 | 20 | Optional | TB-1,TB-2 |
Environmental Politics | POLIM2041 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Theories of Development | POLIM3018 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
The International Analysis of Poverty and Social Exclusion | SPOLM1068 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Researching Poverty, Inequality and Social Exclusion | SPOLM5011 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Environmental Policy and Politics | GEOGM1409 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
180 |
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7(M) unit is 50 out of 100.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to exit from the programme with a postgraduate diploma or certificate.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds. An exit award with Merit or Distinction may be permitted where students are prevented by exceptional circumstances from completing the intended award.
The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:
Award with Distinction*: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. **Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
Award with Merit*: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 60 out of 100 for the dissertation. Faculties retain discretion to increase these thresholds.
* The MA in Law has separate regulations for awarding distinction and merit.
** For the award of Distinction, the Faculty of Engineering requires at least 70 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation.
All taught masters programmes, unless exempted by Senate, must allow the opportunity for students to choose, or be required, to leave at the postgraduate diploma or certificate stage.
To be awarded a postgraduate diploma, students must have successfully completed 120 credit points, of which 90 must be at level M/7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level M/7.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
University of Bristol,
Senate House,
Tyndall Avenue,
Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK
Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9000