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
Global Politics and Law (Doshisha Pathway)
2
Programme Code
POLT78
3
JACS Code
L240
4
Level of Study
Postgraduate
5a
Final Qualification
MA
5b
Position in the QAA Framework for
Higher Education Qualifications
Masters
6a
Intermediate Qualification(s)
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)
6b
Position in the QAA Framework for
Higher Education Qualifications
Masters
7
Teaching Institution (if not Sheffield)
Not applicable
8
Faculty
Social Sciences
9
Department
Politics
10
Other Department(s) involved in
teaching the programme
Law
11
Mode(s) of Attendance
Full-time
12
Duration of the Programme
12 months at University of Sheffield
21 months for dual awards programme (i.e. incorporating attendance
at both Doshisha University and University of Sheffield)
13
Accrediting Professional or
Statutory Body
Not applicable
14
Date of production/revision
February 2011 (revised April 2014)
15. Background to the programme and subject area
The MA Global Politics and Law (Doshisha Pathway) is offered as part of a two-year collaborative dual awards
programme with Doshisha University, Japan. Students enrol on the dual awards programme register both at the
University of Sheffield on the MA Global Politics and Law and at Doshisha University on the MA in Asia-Pacific Law
and Politics. Students are required to meet the requirements of each of the Awarding Bodies’ programmes in order
to receive both of the awards. The dual awards programme involves extended periods of study in Japan and the UK
and focuses upon political and legal issues within a regional and global context. The advantage of this dual awards
programme is that it allows students to benefit from differing learning environments and a diversity of academic
expertise (ie, Sheffield’s Anglo-orientation and Doshisha’s Asia-Pacific focus). It also provides the opportunity for
study in two contrasting academic environments.
It will be of particular interest to students who wish to work in the areas of international diplomacy, international law
and within international organisations (including non-governmental organisations). Moreover, a sound knowledge of
these differing environs, will be of interest to those interested in international business, who wish to ensure that they
are culturally and politically equipped to better understand future commercial/trading partners and competitors.
The University of Sheffield MA in Global Politics and Law is designed for graduates who already have some
knowledge of law, international law or politics 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). The degree is
self-consciously designed to critically investigate an exciting interdisciplinary area between law and politics, centring
on the theme of internationalism. Students are encouraged to take intellectual risks and utilise the academic
resources of both disciplines. Students are encouraged to explore their own particular concerns through the options
offered by both disciplines.
Structure of Two-Year Collaborative Dual Awards Programme
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Year
University
owning
credits
and
location of
study
Duration
Semesters
Doshisha
University
Programme of
Study leading to
Doshisha Award
University of
Sheffield
Programme of
Study leading
to Sheffield
Award
Year 1
Doshisha
April – July
(15 contact
weeks not
including
holidays &
exam period)
Semester 1
5 Doshisha
modules
-
Sheffield
September January
Semester 2
Sheffield
February –
June
Semester 3
Year 2
(10 Doshisha
credits)
120 University of
Sheffield credits
counted towards
the Doshisha
Award (10
Doshisha credits)
Sheffield
modules (120
University of
Sheffield
credits)
Thesis
preparatory
work (not
credit rated)
Doshisha
September –
January (15
contact
weeks not
including
holidays &
exam period)
Semester 4
3 Doshisha
modules
-
(6 Doshisha
credits)
Thesis advisory
sessions (4 credits)
Thesis (not credit
rated)
Requirements for
Award
30 credits and Pass
in Thesis
Counted
towards
University of
Sheffield
Award as
equivalent to
60 credit
dissertation
120 credits for
PG Diploma or
180 credits for
MA
16. Programme aims
The principal aim of the dual awards programme is to equip students with an understanding of international law and
international relations, as both perceived and understood from a European and Asian-Pacific perspective. Time
spent studying at both institutions (and countries) will deepen and enrich this experience and place the students in
an enviable position of demonstrating skills, knowledge and abilities that would not be obtainable through the study
of one of the awards alone.
Otherwise, the aims of the Sheffield MA in Global Politics and Law (Doshisha Pathway) match onto the aims of the
standard pathway, most notably providing students with an in-depth understanding of both Politics and International
Law, organised around the theme of internationalisation. The degree aims to equip students with the skills required
for further academic and professional careers. Specifically the programme aims to:

build upon and to further develop a student's understanding of the theory and practice of international law, in
particular offering students the opportunity of further studies in a wider range of subject areas and in greater
depth;
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
build upon and to further develop a student's understanding of the theory and practice of global politics

provide an environment where students from different political and legal cultures can interact, and, by
studying together, learn from each other;

inculcate the highest standards in matters of precision, clarity, integrity, and imagination;

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;

develop and enhance skills sets associated with legal and political research and writing, argument and
reasoning, and analysis and critique. In particular, enable students to pursue a course of independent
inquiry-based research;

enable students to maximise their potential in all aspects of their course;

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 legal principles applicable to different areas of politics.
K2
Sound knowledge of advanced substantive International law and international politics.
K3
Sound knowledge and critical understanding of the structures and usage of political and legal materials.
K4
Sound knowledge and critical understanding of the mechanics of legal and political reasoning.
K5
Sound knowledge of different political institutions and of the methods of law-making.
K6
Sound knowledge and practical and critical understanding of the methodologies used to analyse global politics
and law.
K7
Sound knowledge and critical understanding of the relationship between international relations and the law.
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 law within its wider political context.
S2
Skills in acquiring, using, and critically evaluating information about politics and the law.
S3
Familiarity with the essential primary and secondary source material appropriate to the programme of study,
alongside a regard for the impartial analysis of values expressed therein.
S4
The ability to carry out independent inquiry-based study and research, and to participate in group activities
such as seminars.
S5
Familiarity with bibliographic and research skills.
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, intercultural communication and the ability to present such argument clearly in both oral and
written forms.
Candidates who are awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Global Politics and Law will have gained knowledge and
skills commensurate with the successful completion of 120 credits worth of study.
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18. Teaching, learning and assessment
Development of the learning outcomes is promoted through the following teaching and learning methods:

Seminars are the dominant mode of teaching on the taught element of the programme. They can be both
staff-led and student led and are an important means of developing students’ critical understanding of core
issues in international politics and law. 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 and legal 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).

Lectures are used infrequently but are considered useful in Semester 1 (Semester 2 of two-year dual
awards programme) in order to impart essential knowledge relating to K1 and K2 above.

Independent inquiry-based 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
international law and 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 12,000 words, which, although supervised by a member of staff specialising in that area,
requires a great deal of independent inquiry-based study and research from the students. 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.
Opportunities to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes are provided through the following
assessment methods:

Regular formative assessment, particularly during Semester 1 (Semester 2 of two-year dual awards
programme), 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;

Summative assessment via essay writing and problem solving designed to test subject knowledge,
increasing autonomy in student learning, and the development of transferable skills;

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 legal and political orthodoxies. The
Dissertation, which is normally written in English, is principally ‘owned’ by and assessed by Doshisha,
though successful completion of the Dissertation is taken into account for the award of the MA by Sheffield.
Sheffield academics are closely involved in supporting students through the Dissertation process, both at
the early stages of identifying a topic and conducting the first few supervisory sessions (all to take place in
Sheffield) and more remotely through various forms of electronic communication - email, Skype etc. once
the student returns to Doshisha for the final semester. There is also provision that a Sheffield academic will
form part of the oral examination assessment of the Dissertation (again via Skype).
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 and the
School of Law;

the mission statement of the University of Sheffield, as presented in its Corporate Plan;

the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategies of the Department of Politics, the School of Law, the
Faculty of Social Sciences and the University of Sheffield; and

the appropriate qualification descriptors contained in the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
in England Wales and Northern Ireland – January 2001.
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20. Programme structure and regulations
The MA in Global Politics and Law provides a coherent programme with an increasing emphasis on individual
learning. The use of a compulsory module in Semester 1 provides a coherent introduction to the subject area.
Optional modules in Semesters 1 and 2 (Semesters 2 and 3 of two-year dual awards programme) along with the
dissertation allow the students to focus on specific areas of interest.
Semester 1 (Semester 2 of two-year dual awards programme): Optional modules, plus the compulsory module
Politics of International Law.
Semester 2 (Semester 3 of two-year dual awards programme): Optional modules from a closed list. Students will
also start work on their dissertation, which they then complete whilst in attendance at Doshisha University.
Coherence is achieved through an introductory Politics of International Law module. 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 international law and politics.
Selection in both semesters is made by the student acting on advice from an experienced academic. The entire
degree is designed to offer maximum flexibility to encourage students to pursue a learning pathway that accords with
their developing interests and skills.
For the award of the MA in Global Politics and Law candidates are classified on the basis of 120 taught credits of
Sheffield modules and passing the Dissertation. Matters of merit and distinction are also based on the grades
awarded on the 120 credits, as permitted by University rules.
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
rwww.shef.ac.uk/calendar
21. Student development over the course of study
The first semester will provide a foundation of knowledge and understanding though the core module and a restricted
list of optional modules. The second semester will enable students to apply the general principles to specialist area
of international politics and law in a wide 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.
22. Criteria for admission to the programme
A good second class honours degree in Politics, Law or in social sciences or humanities, with a significant political or
legal component. A high level of spoken and written English – (IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.5 in Writing)
Detailed information regarding admission is available at http://www.shef.ac.uk/politics/
23. Additional information
For further information students
http://www.shef.ac.uk/politics/
are
directed
to
the
Department
of
Politics’
web
pages
at
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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