The programme can also be studied on a part-time basis over 2-5 years.
The programme leads to one of two awards and is organised so that a student entering with the intention of studying for the PG diploma has the opportunity to progress to the MSc, provided they have achieved a pass mark of 50% in all coursework and have the requisite credit points.
The programme is delivered through a combination of intensive block teaching and weekly delivery so as to be most accessible to postgraduate students, busy policy professionals and practitioners. The delivery of units on the programme is designed to allow students to accumulate credits flexibly and organise the patterns of attendance to suit their own needs and circumstances.
| 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 |
| Social Work Research Dissertation | SPOLM0039 | 60 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
| Students take 20 credit points from the following: | ||||
| Further Quantitative Methods | SPOLM0016 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
| Further Qualitative Methods | SPOLM0017 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
| Students take 40 credit points 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 Poverty, Inequality and Social Exclusion | SPOLM5011 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
| Domestic Violence: Research, Policy and Activism | SPOLM5010 | 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 |
| Supervised Independent Study | SPOLM4300 | 20 | Optional | AYEAR |
| The Economics of Public Policy | SPOLM1062 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
| Disabled Childhoods | SPOLM0050 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
| The International Analysis of Poverty and Social Exclusion | SPOLM1068 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
| Migration, asylum and human rights: EU and global policy perspectives. | SPOLM0042 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
| MSc Social Work Research | 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.
Level M/7 Postgraduate Masters - While it is not essential (or indeed practical in some cases) for students to have successfully completed all the taught units before commencing the dissertation research, it is expected that the majority of taught units will have been taken by this stage. Please note that students are still subject to the progression rules in the code of practice.
