Programme structure: Policy Research (PG Dip) - what's running in 2018/19

The programme can also be studied on a part-time basis over 2-5 years.

Unit name	Unit code	Credit points	Status	Teaching Block
Philosophy and Research Design in the Social Sciences (SPS)	SPOLM0013	20	Mandatory	TB-1
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
Students take one from the following:
Further Quantitative Methods	SPOLM0016	20	Optional	TB-2
Further Qualitative Methods	SPOLM0017	20	Optional	TB-2
Students take two from the following:
SPOLM0016/SPOLM0017 can only be taken as an optional unit if not already taken as a mandatory unit.
Further Quantitative Methods	SPOLM0016	20	Optional	TB-2
Further Qualitative Methods	SPOLM0017	20	Optional	TB-2
Researching Health and Social Care	SPOLM5004	20	Optional	TB-2
Researching Child and Family Welfare	SPOLM0011	20	Optional	TB-2
Inclusive Research with Disabled People	ACHSM0001	20	Optional	TB-2
Global Contexts of Rights and Disability	SPOLM0049	20	Optional	TB-2
The Economics of Public Policy	SPOLM1062	20	Optional	TB-2
Supervised Independent Study	SPOLM4300	20	Optional	AYEAR
Disabled Childhoods	SPOLM0050	20	Optional	TB-2
An International Analysis of Crime, Harm and Justice	SPOLM1065	20	Optional	TB-2
Health and Health Care in a Global Context	SPOLM1066	20	Optional	TB-2
Gender and Violence: International and Global Perspectives	SPOLM1067	20	Optional	TB-2
The International Analysis of Poverty and Social Exclusion	SPOLM1068	20	Optional	TB-2
Public and Social Policy in East Asia	SPOLM0056	20	Optional	TB-2
The State of Labour	SPOLM5110	20	Optional	TB-2
Critical Policy Studies and the Internationalisation of Public Policy	SPOLM0031	20	Optional	TB-2
Environmental policy and social justice	SPOLM0041	20	Optional	TB-2
Migration, asylum and human rights: EU and global policy perspectives.	SPOLM0042	20	Optional	TB-2
Public policy for a complex and uncertain world	SPOLM0043	20	Optional	TB-2
Postgraduate Diploma in Policy Research		120

Progression/award requirements

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.

Exit awards

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.

Degree classifications:

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.

Diploma/certificate stages:

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.