Programme Specification
A statement of the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin a
taught programme of study leading to an award from
The University of Sheffield
1
Programme Title
European Governance and Politics
2
Programme Code
POLT56 (Full-time), POLT57 (Part-time)
3
JACS Code
L241
4
Level of Study
Postgraduate
5a
Final Qualification
Master of Arts (MA)
5b
Position in the QAA Framework for
Higher Education Qualifications
M
6a
Intermediate Qualification(s)
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and Postgraduate Certificate
(PGCert)
6b
Position in the QAA Framework for
Higher Education Qualifications
Masters (M)
7
Teaching Institution (if not Sheffield)
Not applicable
8
Faculty
Social Sciences
9
Department
Politics
10
Other Department(s) involved in
teaching the programme
None
11
Mode(s) of Attendance
Full-time or Part-time
12
Duration of the Programme
1 year Full-time; 2 Part-time
13
Accrediting Professional or
Statutory Body
Not applicable
14
Date of production/revision
October 2008 (revised April 2014)
15. Background to the programme and subject area
The MA programme is designed for graduates who already have some knowledge of politics and governance and
wish to deepen their understanding of selected issues, or who wish to transfer in this area from related disciplines
(for example History, Economics, Philosophy). Students will be encouraged to explore their own particular concerns
through the options offered and in particular during the dissertation.
The programme is based on the strengths of the Department of Politics. The Department has one of the largest
goupings of specialists in such a department in the UK. There are already well-developed research activities on the
subject of the programme (seminars on multi-level governance between Politics and Law as well as a reading group)
and a major research council-funded project on multi-level governance involving four colleagues in Politics. These
activities are embedded in the Politics Department’s research culture and encompass postgraduate students as well
as staff. Six Politics academics work in the Centre for International Policy Research (CIPol), a major focal point in the
research strategy of Politics. The Department of Politics was rated 5* in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise
(RAE) and had the equal top profile in politics and international studies in the 2008 RAE.
Knowledge of the European Union is important to careers in the public sector and in non-governmental
organisations, whether at European, national, regional or local level. The degree is therefore designed to offer an
advanced education in the governance and politics of the EU in order to enhance graduates’ employability.
16. Programme aims
The MA in European Governance and Politics aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of political
and institutional developments in Europe, both within and beyond the European Union. The degree further aims to
equip students with the skills required for further academic and professional careers. Specifically the programme
aims to:
1. develop and enhance a student's understanding of the theory and practice of politics and governance, in
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particular offering students the opportunity of further studies in a wider range of subject areas and in greater
depth;
2. develop and enhance a student's understanding of the theory and practice of European politics and
governance;
3. develop an understanding of the processes of European integration, Europeanisation and European
expansion;
4. inculcate the highest standards in matters of precision, clarity, integrity, and imagination;
5. develop a range of generic abilities, particularly: the acquisition, use, and evaluation of primary and
secondary source material; communication and presentation skills; problem-solving; and teamwork;
6. encourage the enhanced skills associated with political research and writing, argument and reasoning, and
analysis and critique. In particular, enable students to pursue a course of directed independent research;
7. enable students to maximise their potential in all aspects of their course;
8. assess students over a range of knowledge, understanding and skills, and to identify and support academic
excellence.
17. Programme learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
K1
Sound knowledge of the basic substantive institutional procedures and practices applicable to different areas
of European governance and politics.
K2
Sound knowledge of advanced substantive European governance and politics.
K3
Sound knowledge and critical understanding of the structures and usage of political materials.
K4
Sound knowledge and critical understanding of the mechanics of political reasoning.
K5
Sound knowledge of different decision-making processes.
K6
Sound knowledge and practical and critical understanding of the methodologies used to analyse European
politics and governance.
K7
Sound knowledge and critical understanding of the relationship between domestic politics, international politics
and European governance and politics.
Skills and other attributes:
S1
A high level of competence in the productive skills of essay writing and problem solving and the ability to
critically analyse the European Union within its wider political context.
S2
Skills in acquiring, using, and critically evaluating information about politics.
S3
Enhanced skills in essential primary and secondary source material appropriate to the programme of study,
alongside a regard for the impartial analysis of values expressed therein.
S4
Enhanced skills appropriate to the programme of study in carrying out individual study and research, and to
participate in group activities such as seminars.
S5
Enhanced bibliographic and research skills appropriate to the programme of study.
S6
Further transferable skills, valuable for employment, including information gathering, the development of
individual resourcefulness, analytical thinking, the ability to identify problems and ways of resolving them, the
critical appreciation of source material, the ability to construct and sustain logical argument on the basis of
such material, and the ability to present such argument clearly in both oral and written forms.
In addition, those successfully completing the dissertation and receiving the Masters will have:
S7
An ability to plan, conduct and write-up an independent piece of research.
Students achieving the award of PG Certificate or PG Diploma will have developed to a high degree the ‘knowledge
and understanding’ and ‘skills and attributes’ defined by that combination of K1 – K7 and S1 – S6 above matching
their selection of modules to the value of 60 or 120 credits respectively.
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18. Teaching, learning and assessment
Development of the learning outcomes is promoted through the following teaching and learning methods:

Lectures are used infrequently but are considered useful in Semester 1 in order to impart essential
knowledge relating to K1 and K2 above. Special sessions are held on generic skills such as essay writing.

Seminars, which may be either staff-led or student-led, are used throughout the programme. They are an
important means of developing students’ critical understanding of core issues in European governance and
politics. They are designed to provide an effective environment for students to work through, analyse,
understand and respond to information and discuss issues. In all cases the aim is to expose students to as
much original political material as possible. Seminars thus contribute both to the achievement of knowledge
and understanding (K1 – K7) and to the development of key skills (S1 – S6).

Independent study is essential to the successful completion of the programme. New students are
introduced to study skills through information in the Student Handbook. The amount of independent study
broadly expected for each module is clearly set out in the course information, although it is recognised that
this will vary from student to student depending on their previous knowledge of politics. Independent study is
generally geared towards the assimilation and further clarification of material gleaned from lectures,
preparation for seminars, preparation for written assessments, and the broader development of knowledge of
the field of study. The students are required to complete a dissertation of between 12,000, which, although
supervised by a member of staff specialising in that area, requires a great deal of independent study and
research from the students. Individual meetings will be held with supervisors, and these will be important for
the students’ ability to identify a research topic, to develop appropriate research questions and a strategy for
completing the dissertation. Independent study thus contributes to the development of all the programme
learning outcomes, but is especially important in refining skills S1, S2, S4 and S5 and is essential to S7.

Individual feedback is offered to students on essays so as to assist with the development of writing skills as
the programme proceeds (S1).
Opportunities to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes are provided through the following
assessment methods:

Regular formative assessment, particularly during Semester 1, to monitor carefully the student’s progression
through the programme and to pick up and rectify areas of potential weakness. Oral presentations designed
to test organisational and communicative skills (S1 - S6);

Summative assessment via essay writing and problem solving designed to test subject knowledge,
increasing autonomy in student learning, and the development of transferable skills (K1 - K7; S1 - S6);

Summative assessment requiring the completion of a dissertation designed to test both research and writing
skills and the students’ ability to critically analyse and challenge political orthodoxies (K1 - K7; S1 - S7).
19. Reference points
The learning outcomes have been developed to reflect the following points of reference:

the research interests of departmental staff and the research strategy of the Department of Politics;

Mission statements and strategic plans of the University of Sheffield;

the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy of the Department of Politics and the University of
Sheffield;

the appropriate qualification descriptors contained in the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
in England Wales and Northern Ireland – January 2001; and,

the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement – Politics and international relations (2007).
The learning outcomes have also taken into account the advice of the external examiner at MA level for the
Department of Politics. The programme builds upon the Department’s strong research profile in European politics.
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20. Programme structure and regulations
The MA in European Governance and Politics provides a coherent programme with an increasing emphasis on
individual learning. The use of a compulsory module in each semester provides a strong spinal core to the
programme. Optional modules in Semesters 1 and 2 along with the dissertation allow the students to focus on
specific areas of interest.
Semester 1: The compulsory module The Governance and Politics of the European Union plus one optional module
from a closed list.
Semester 2: The compulsory module Europeanisation, plus one optional module and a 12,000 words dissertation.
Coherence is achieved primarily through the two core modules. Students are then given choices from a closed list.
The optional subjects and the dissertation element of the degree will allow the student to build upon their substantive
knowledge and improve their research and writing skills.
Student choice is served both through the selection of a range of optional modules in politics. Selection in both
semesters is made by the student acting on advice from an experienced academic. Students also undertake a
dissertation in an area of individual interest. The entire degree is designed to encourage students to construct a
degree programme in accordance with their developing interests and skills.
Students are not routinely admitted except onto the MA. Students can choose to exit after completion of 60 credits,
at which point they would be awarded a PG Certificate or on completion of 120 credits, at which point they would be
awarded a PG Diploma.
Detailed information about the structure of programmes, regulations concerning assessment and progression and
descriptions of individual modules are published in the University Calendar available on-line at
www.shef.ac.uk/calendar
21. Student development over the course of study
The first semester will provide a foundation of knowledge and understanding through the core module and a
restricted list of optional modules. The second semester will provide a foundation of knowledge and understanding
through the core module, plus a choice from a variety of optional modules. Further precision and depth of research
will be achieved in the dissertation, which also permits the students a greater degree of independent research and
writing. A core course is offered in each Semester (The Governance and Politics of the European Union, S1, and
Europeanisation, S2). Intellectually, this sequence corresponds to the way in which the study of the EU has
developed and thus offers a good framework for student development. Overall the teaching and learning provision is
developmental. Learning outcomes K!-7 and S1-6 are acquired incrementally over Semesters 1 and 2. Skill S7 is
acquired as part of the dissertation component, which commences in depth after submission of the final batch of
coursework in May of each session.
22. Criteria for admission to the programme
A good second class honours degree in Politics, or in a related social sciences or humanities subject with a
significant political component. A high level of spoken and written English – (IELTS level 6.5).
Detailed information regarding admission is available at http://www.shef.ac.uk/politics
23. Additional information
For further information students are directed to the Department of Politics’ web pages at
http://www.shef.ac.uk/politics.
These contain full information on courses.
This specification represents a concise statement about the main features of the programme and should be
considered alongside other sources of information provided by the teaching department(s) and the University. In
addition to programme specific information, further information about studying at The University of Sheffield can be
accessed via our Student Services web site at www.shef.ac.uk/ssid.
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