Unit information: Research Skills for MSc in Migration and Mobility Studies in 2021/22

Unit name	Research Skills for MSc in Migration and Mobility Studies
Unit code	AFACM0016
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Krebs
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	none
Co-requisites	none
School/department	Arts Faculty Office
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will focus on research skills that are particularly relevant to students on the MSc in Migration and Mobility Studies. It aims to offer guidelines to research in arts, social sciences, and law subjects in general, with the addition of methodologies relating specifically to students on the MSc in Migration and Mobility Studies. Students will gain insight into:

• handling library sources, collections, and archives;
• compiling a bibliography effectively;
• giving effective oral presentations;

The unit will be taught in a mixture of classes convened by the unit director and skills training offered by ASSL and other appropriate resources available to postgraduate students in the Faculties of Arts and SSL.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit you will:

(1) be able to make strategic use of sources and resources, of the most up-to-date research tools and of established research methodologies;

(2) be in a position to select research topics advisedly and to present research findings in a clear and coherent form.

This module also measures general learning outcomes for the MSc in Migration and Mobility Studies as follows:

(3) Demonstrate familiarity with a range of methodologies from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds;

(4) Display a sincerity of belief in particular ideas and methodologies, yet retaining a sympathy for and tolerance towards alternatives

(5) Be able to identify subtly different shades of interpretation and display sensitivity towards the consequences of their application

(6) Demonstrate effective verbal presentation

(7) See a project through from conception to planning, blueprint realisation, and execution

Teaching Information

11x2 hour long group seminars, plus individual tutorials as appropriate

Assessment Information

Assessment is by coursework:

• one mock grant application based upon the British Academy's Small Research Grant application form – 50%

• oral presentations pf c. 15-20 minutes in Weeks 10-11 on any aspect of the student’s research – 50%

In the bibliography, students will demonstrate learning outcomes (1)-(2), (4), (5) and (7). In the presentation, students will demonstrate learning outcomes (1)-(7).

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. AFACM0016).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.