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Programme structure: Black Humanities (MA) - what's running in 2024/25

Please note: Programme and unit information may change as the relevant academic field develops. We may also make changes to the structure of programmes and assessments to improve the student experience.

The unit pass mark for the MA in Black Humanities is 50.

The programme pass mark is 50.

Students require 60 credits at the end of TB1 to progress to the next stage of the programme.

Students require 120 credits at the end of TB2 to progress to the dissertation stage.

A merit may be awarded to a student who obtains an average of 60% for stages 1 and 2, and 60% for the dissertation.

A distinction may be awarded to a student who obtains an average of 65% for stages 1 and 2, and 70% for the dissertation.

Unit name Unit code Credit points Status Teaching Block
Dissertation Black Humanities HUMSM0014 60 Mandatory AYEAR
Black Humanities I HUMSM0013 20 Mandatory TB-1
Black Humanities II HUMSM0015 20 Mandatory TB-2
Students must select 1 from the list below:
Research Skills MODLM0021 20 Optional TB-2
Researching and Writing History HISTM0055 20 Optional TB-2
Philosophical Writing and Research Seminar PHILM0025 20 Optional TB-1
Histories, Theories and Critical Interpretations of Art: 1 HARTM0025 20 Optional TB-1
Approaches to History HISTM2009 20 Optional TB-1
Students must select a maximum of 3 units from lists below: Students must select a maximum of 3 optional units from the list below: Students taking HUMSM0003 (Personal Option 1) or HUMSM0004 (Personal Option 2) can select a maximum of 2 units from List A
List A (final year undergraduate units with MA assessment type)
Personal Option Unit 1 HUMSM0003 20 Optional TB-1,TB-2
Personal Option Unit 2 HUMSM0004 20 Optional TB-1,TB-2
Human Challenges ARCH30034 20 Optional TB-1
Literature - Enslavement - Liberation ENGL30142 20 Optional TB-2
Literatures of Decolonisation ENGL30147 20 Optional TB-1
Francophone Women Directors: Documentary Filmmaking FREN30111 20 Optional TB-2
Bristol and Slavery (Level H Special Subject) HIST30078 20 Optional TB-1
Race and Health in America HIST30099 20 Optional TB-1
Race and Resistance in South Africa (Level H Special Subject) HIST37010 20 Optional TB-1
Homing Desires/Imaginary Homelands: Representing South Asia and its Diasporas ENGL30145 20 Optional TB-1
Britain's Long Nineteenth Century, 1789-1914 HIST30120 20 Optional TB-1
Capitalism HIST30115 20 Optional TB-2
Global Empires HIST30122 20 Optional TB-2
Race HIST30117 20 Optional TB-2
Red Power and Beyond: American Indian activism since 1944 HIST30128 20 Optional TB-1
List B (MA units)
Theorising Violence: Colonialism and Anticolonial Cultural Politics MODLM0074 20 Optional TB-1
The Public Role of the Humanities HUMSM0002 20 Optional TB-2
Anthropology of Disability and Difference ARCHM0083 20 Optional TB-2
Cultural Heritage of the Built Environment ARCHM0084 20 Optional TB-1
Television Drama FATVM0001 20 Optional TB-1
Documentary Film and Television FATVM0003 20 Optional TB-1
Screening Nations FATVM0017 20 Optional TB-1
Literatures of the Global South and its Diasporas ENGLM0088 20 Optional TB-2
Modernism and the 'Black Atlantic' HARTM0040 20 Optional TB-1
Themes in the History of Colonialism HISTM0017 20 Optional TB-1
Race in America HISTM0084 20 Optional TB-2
Historians and the Boundaries of the Body HISTM0104 20 Optional TB-1
  120    

Progression/award requirements

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.

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 7.

To be awarded a postgraduate certificate, students must have successfully completed 60 credit points, of which 40 must be at level 7.

Additional progress information

For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.

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