This section describes which Units you will take in which year of study. It indicates which units are mandatory and where you will be able to choose. The overall pass marks you will need to achieve in order to progress or achieve an award are shown. The full regulations concerning progression and completion are held in the University's Regulations and Code of Practice. Any particular aspects of your programme that are unusual will be highlighted. If any Units are must pass this will be shown below. The linked unit specifications detail any additional requirements.
What do the teaching blocks (TB) mean?
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 |
| Qualitative Methods: Design and Analysis | SPOLM0076 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
| Quantitative Methods: Design and Analysis | SPOLM0077 | 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 |
| The Economics of Public Policy | SPOLM1062 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
| Supervised Independent Study | SPOLM4300 | 20 | Optional | AYEAR |
| Researching Health and Social Care: Process, Challenges and Impact | SPOLM0078 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
| Health and Health Care in a Global Context | SPOLM1066 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
| Gender and Violence: Intersectional and Global Perspectives | SPOLM0075 | 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 |
| Public policy for a complex and uncertain world | SPOLM0043 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
| Environmental policy and social justice | SPOLM0041 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Policy Research | 120 | |||
The pass mark set by the University for any level 7 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.
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 7.
To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level 7.
