UNIVERSITY OF KENT
Programme Specification
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the
programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to
achieve and demonstrate if he/she passes the programme. More detailed information on the
learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each module
can be found in the programme handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this
specification is reviewed by the University and may be checked by the Quality Assurance
Agency for Higher Education.
Degree and Programme Title MA in The Contemporary (with a Term in Paris, with PCert/PDip
fallback awards)
1. Awarding Institution/Body
University of Kent
2. Teaching Institution
University of Kent in collaboration with Institute
of Contemporary Arts
3. School responsible for management of
the programme
School of English
4. Teaching Site
Canterbury, Institute of Contemporary Arts,
Paris
5. Mode of Delivery
Full-time and Part-time
6. Programme accredited by
N/A
7. Final Award
MA (with PCert/PDip fallback awards)
8. Programme
MA in The Contemporary (Paris)
9. UCAS Code (or other code)
10. Credits/ECTS value
180 Credits – 90 ECTS for the MA degree
11. Study Level
M level
12. Relevant QAA subject benchmarking
group(s)
13. Date of creation/revision (note that
dates are necessary for version control)
Autumn term 2014
14. Intended Start Date of Delivery of this
Programme
September 2015
15. Educational Aims of the Programme
The programme aims to:
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provide an excellent quality of postgraduate level education in the field of Contemporary
Culture
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Postgraduate programme specification
UNIVERSITY OF KENT
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provide a cross-disciplinary, inspiring learning environment informed by high-level
research and practice
provide a pioneering educational opportunity within the UK context through which MA
students will progress into careers in the fields of arts management and policy, or on to
related postgraduate opportunities
develop the following range of aptitudes and skills: high-level written communication;
the capacity to present information and argument in public; information literacy;
research methods; work-based team-work skills; project planning
promote engagement with a range of disciplines and thereby enable students to pursue
careers in a range of complex organisational settings within the field of the arts
promote an understanding of the relations between disciplines and an appreciation of
the ways in which cross-disciplinary thinking within the arts makes it possible to grasp
and respond to salient issues in contemporary culture
provide a vocational training within an academic framework through internships
provided by the Institute of Contemporary Arts
provide flexibility and a multidisciplinary approach
meet the lifelong needs of students from a diverse range of backgrounds
support national and regional economic success
build on close ties within Europe and elsewhere, reflecting Kent’s position as the UK
European University
produce graduates of value to the region and nationally, in possession of key
knowledge and skills, with the capacity to learn
prepare students for employment or further study
provide learning opportunities that are enjoyable experiences, involve realistic
workloads, based within a research-led framework and offer appropriate support for
students from a diverse range of backgrounds
provide high quality teaching in supportive environments with appropriately qualified
and trained staff.
16 Programme Outcomes
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge
and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the relevant areas. There are no
relevant benchmarking statements
A. Knowledge and Understanding of:
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2.
3.
4.
Principles and application of underlying modes of inquiry within different academic
disciplines and contexts across the field of the arts
Issues shaping contemporary theory and philosophy
The relation between artistic practice and theoretical inquiry in the contemporary period
The varying ways in which different disciplines and practices across the arts
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UNIVERSITY OF KENT
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
conceptualise the contemporary
How to use the resources of contemporary art practice to think through current issues
and future challenges in modern culture
The ways in which contemporary art practice addresses its publics, and the institutions
through which it influences thought and opinion
How to discuss, conceptualise and mediate current work in the fields of fine art, film and
literature
A selected topic within a given discipline and the application of appropriate research
methods
The cultural history of modern Paris, as reflected in art and literature.
Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to
be achieved and demonstrated
Teaching and learning on this programme will take a variety of traditional and
innovative forms, reflecting the collaborative nature of the provision. Teaching on the
optional modules (see programme structure) will be in the form of seminars
supported by essay tutorials. Teaching on the core module will also be in the form of
seminars; half of these will be based at the ICA and will be led by practitioners
(curators, directors, visiting artists and writers). The fact that these seminars will take
place within the ICA will alter their dynamic. The final dissertation project will be cosupervised by colleagues from English and Arts (depending on the subject area) and
the ICA, reflecting a balance of theoretical and practical interests. Additionally,
students will present work at a public symposium hosted by the ICA and will receive
feedback on their performance.
Assessment
End-of-module essays and dissertation; all work to be assessed by the University of Kent.
Skills and Other Attributes
B. Intellectual Skills:
1. Research skills: how to formulate research questions and hypotheses to address
problems across a range of disciplines within the Arts
2. Analytical skills: interpretation of arguments, marshalling information from published
sources; interpreting materials from archives; critical evaluation of own research and that
of others
3. Information technology literacy: use of appropriate technology to retrieve, analyse and
present information
4. Presentation skills: use of public forum to develop ability to present arguments
persuasively
5. Adaptation skills: Learn to work in different environments by adapting to the educational,
cultural and professional environments of a British University Centre in France, while
adopting an interdisciplinary approach to literary and creative studies
Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to
be achieved and demonstrated
Teaching and learning
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Postgraduate programme specification
UNIVERSITY OF KENT
Teaching on the optional modules (see programme structure) will be in the form of
seminars supported by essay tutorials. Teaching on the core module will also be in
the form of seminars; half of these will be based at the ICA and will be led by
practitioners (curators, directors, visiting artists and writers). The fact that these
seminars will take place within the ICA will alter their dynamic. Classes at ICA will
respond to their rolling programme of events and exhibitions which encourages
students to consider contemporary culture as an ever-changing environment The
final dissertation project will be co-supervised by colleagues from English and Arts
(depending on the subject area) and the ICA, reflecting a balance of theoretical and
practical interests. Additionally, students will present work at a public symposium
hosted by the ICA and will receive feedback on their performance.
Assessment
End-of-module essays and dissertation; all work to be assessed by the University of Kent.
Assessment is by a 5-6,000-word essay for each module and a 12-15,000-word
dissertation based in part on the Study Residency at the ICA.
C. Subject-specific Skills:
1. Reasoning: how to construct arguments within different intellectual contexts and disciplines
across the Arts; how to formulate and address research questions and problems
2. Communication: how to communicate within and across Arts disciplines; how to mediate
key ideas between disciplines and towards the non-academic public; how to speak and
write persuasively in discursive contexts
3. Presentation of research: how to write essays and a dissertation in an appropriate style in
keeping with the conventions of different subject areas
4. Project organisation: how to conceive and execute a dissertation-length project under the
guidance of academic and practice-based supervision
5. Employment-oriented practice: how to integrate with a gallery-based team; how to shape
arts programming; how to mediate contemporary arts practices to the general publics
6. Careers: a recognition of career opportunities for postgraduates in the fields of
contemporary arts
7. Knowledge of French and European culture and literature
8. Knowledge of the cultural development of modern Paris, as expressed in literature, art and
creative writing practice.
Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to
be achieved and demonstrated
Teaching and learning
Teaching on the optional modules (see programmes structure) will be in the form of
seminars supported by essay tutorials. Teaching on the core module will also be in
the form of seminars; half of these will be based at the ICA and will be led by
practitioners (curators, directors, visiting artists and writers). The fact that these
seminars will take place within the ICA will alter their dynamic. Classes at ICA will
respond to their rolling programme of events and exhibitions which encourages
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Postgraduate programme specification
UNIVERSITY OF KENT
students to consider contemporary culture as an ever-changing environment. The
final dissertation project will be co-supervised by colleagues from the English and
Arts (depending on the subject area) and the ICA, reflecting a balance of theoretical
and practical interests. Additionally, students will present work at a public symposium
hosted by the ICA and will receive feedback on their performance. Professional,
employment-oriented skills will be developed during the internship at the ICA. This
aspect of the programme will also contribute to students’ understanding of career
opportunities in the fields of contemporary arts.
Assessment
End-of-module essays and dissertation; all work to be assessed by the University of Kent.
D. Transferable Skills:
1.
Advanced skills in communication, in speech and writing
2.
The ability to offer and receive constructive criticism
3.
The capacity to argue a point of view, orally and in written form, with clarity,
organisation and cogency
4.
Enhanced confidence in the efficient presentation of ideas
5.
The ability to assimilate, organise and work with substantial quantities of complex
information
6.
Competence in the planning and execution of coursework
7.
The capacity for independent thought, reasoned judgement, and self-criticism
8.
Enhanced skills in collaborative intellectual and creative work
9.
The ability to understand, interrogate and apply a variety of theoretical and/or creative
positions and weigh the importance of alternative approaches
10.
Research skills, including scholarly information retrieval skills
11.
IT: word-processing, ability to access electronic data and the ability to work efficiently
and effectively in an online learning environment
12.
Living and working in diverse cultural environments: Students will participate and work
in academic communities in Paris. They will thus develop cultural knowledge and
understanding, flexibility, imagination, resourcefulness and tolerance
Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to
be achieved and demonstrated
Seminars will develop many transferable skills, including 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 12.
Coursework will enable students to work on skills 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12.
Coursework; seminar performance, which will include presentation of work-inprogress and research, as well as other seminar activities including workshops and
Moodle-based weekly tasks; dissertation (as in 10A).
For more information on the skills developed by individual modules and on the specific learning
outcomes associated with any fallback award relating to this programme of study, see the
module mapping.
17 Programme Structures and Requirements, Levels, Modules, Credits and Awards
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Postgraduate programme specification
UNIVERSITY OF KENT
This programme is studied over one year full-time or two years part-time.
The programme is divided into two stages. Stage 1 comprises modules to a total of 120 credits
and Stage 2 comprises a 60 credit dissertation module. Students must successfully complete
each module in order to be awarded the specified number of credits for that module. One credit
corresponds to approximately ten hours of 'learning time' (including all classes and all private
study and research). Thus obtaining 180 credits in an academic year requires 1,800 hours of
overall learning time. For further information on modules and credits refer to the Credit
Framework at http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/credit-framework/creditinfo.html
Each module and programme is designed to be at a specific level. For the descriptors of each
of
these
levels,
refer
to
Annex
2
of
the
Credit
Framework
at
http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/credit-framework/creditinfoannex2.html. To be eligible for the
award of a masters degree students must obtain 180 credits, at least 150 of which must be
Level M.
Compulsory modules are core to the programme and must be taken by all students studying
the programme. Optional modules provide a choice of subject areas, from which students will
select a stated number of modules. Students on the MA in The Contemporary (Paris) are
required to take 2 core elements: the autumn term core module EN842: Reading the
Contemporary, plus the dissertation. In addition, students choose 90 credits from MA modules
across the School of English, the School of Arts and the School of Music and Fine Arts. The
following modules are recommended (subject to availability):
Autumn
EN857: Body and Place in the Postcolonial Text
EN852: Colonial and Postcolonial Discourse
EN858: Contemporary Postcolonial Writing
EN889: Literary Theory
EN897: Advanced Critical Reading
FI812: Advanced Film Theory
FI813: Film History
HA826: History and Theory of Curating
ART800: Arts Criticism
FA803: Collaborative Project
Spring
EN904 Modernism and Paris
EN899 Paris: The Residency
FI815 Film and Modernity
FR809 Identity, Trauma and Sexuality in Modern French Literature
FR820 Paris: Reality and Representation
HA829 Paris, London, New York: Modern Art in Translation
Students may also request to take other modules within the School of English, the School of
Arts and the School of Music and Fine Arts, subject to discussion with the Course Convenor.
Students may also request to take Creative Writing modules in the School of English, though
acceptance on to these will be subject to submission of a sample of writing.
Where a student fails a module(s) due to illness or other mitigating circumstances, such failure
may be condoned, subject to the requirements of the Credit Framework and provided that the
student has achieved the programme learning outcomes. For further information refer to the
Credit Framework at http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/credit-framework/creditinfo.html.
Where a student fails a module(s), but has marks for such modules within 10 percentage points
of the pass mark, the Board of Examiners may nevertheless award the credits for the
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Postgraduate programme specification
UNIVERSITY OF KENT
module(s), subject to the requirements of the Credit Framework and provided that the student
has achieved the programme learning outcomes. For further information refer to the Credit
Framework.
The academic year is structured on a modular pattern and students are required to take two
modules per term, four modules in all over the year from September to April. A preliminary
examiners’ meeting is held in late April/early May and is a progression point for the programme
for students to progress to Stage 2 and 3, the dissertation. The dissertation is written over the
summer months and is submitted at the beginning of September. Students choose their
dissertation topics in consultation with the Director of the MA programme and with individual
supervisors, and their progress is monitored by the supervisor. The dissertation should be
between 12,000 and 15,000 words in length.
Code
Title
Level
Credits
Term(s)
Stage 1
Compulsory module
EN842
Reading the Contemporary (non
compensatable)
M
30
1
Optional Modules Students must select 120 credits offered at stage 1, one module in the
Autumn term and two modules in the Spring term
Autumn term
(Canterbury
modules)
EN897
Advanced Critical Reading
M
30
1
EN857
Body and Place in the Postcolonial Text
M
30
1
FI813
Film History
M
30
1
HA826
History and Theory of Curating
M
30
1
ART800
Arts Criticism
M
30
1
FA803
M
30
1
EN852
Collaborative Project
Colonial and Postcolonial Discourse
M
30
1
EN858
Contemporary Postcolonial Writing
M
30
1
EN889
Literary Theory
M
30
1
EN904
Modernism and Paris
M
30
2
FI 815
Film and Modernity
M
30
2
Paris
modules
(spring term
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Postgraduate programme specification
UNIVERSITY OF KENT
HA829
Paris, London, New York: Modern Art in
Translation
FR820
Paris: Reality and Representation
M
30
2
FR809
Identity, Trauma and Sexuality in
Modern French Literature
M
30
2
EN899
Paris: The Residency
M
30
2
M
60
3+
Summer
Stage 2
Compulsory Module
EN998
Dissertation
18 Work-Based Learning
Disability Statement: Where disabled students are due to undertake a work placement as part
of this programme of study, a representative of the University will meet with the work placement
provider in advance to ensure the provision of anticipatory and reasonable adjustments in line
with legal requirements.
19 Support for Students and their Learning
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School and University induction programme
Programme/module handbooks
Student Support http://www.kent.ac.uk/studentsupport/
Student Wellbeing www.kent.ac.uk/studentwellbeing/
Student Learning Advisory Service http://www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/about/slas.html
Counselling Service www.kent.ac.uk/counselling/
Kent Union www.kentunion.co.uk/
Graduate Student Association (GSA)
www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/community/woolf.html
Graduate School (Provision of (i) skills training (workshops and online courses) (ii)
institutional level induction and (iii) student-led initiatives such as social events,
conferences and workshops) www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/index.html
Information Services (computing and library services) www.kent.ac.uk/is/
Postgraduate student representation at School, Faculty and Institutional levels
Centre for English and World Languages www.kent.ac.uk/cewl/index.html
Careers and Employability Services www.kent.ac.uk/ces/
International Development Office www.kent.ac.uk/international/
Medical Centre www.kent.ac.uk/counselling/menu/Medical-Centre.html
Library services, see http://www.kent.ac.uk/library/
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Postgraduate programme specification
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PASS system, see https://www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/quality/code2001/annexg.html
20 Entry Profile
The minimum age to study a degree programme at the university is normally at least 17 years
old by 20 September in the year the programme begins. There is no upper age limit.
20.1 Entry Route
For fuller information, please refer to the University prospectus
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Candidates must have a First-Class or Upper-Second Class degree in English Literature or
other appropriate area
 Provision of two academic references
 Submission of a piece of written work
 In order to enter directly onto a postgraduate programme students whose first language is
not English must also demonstrate their ability to work in this language by means of an
average 7.0 in IELTS test, minimum 6.0 in reading and writing. Students with a minimum of
6.0 in reading and writing will receive sufficient support in order to ensure that they can
achieve the intended outcomes.
20.2 What does this programme have to offer?
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Teaching by internationally recognised scholars and writers working in the field
Intellectual breadth and depth in practice
Experience of living and writing in a stimulating location associated with cultural innovations
Attachment to an internationally recognised research centre (ICA)
It uniquely enhances learning by enabling students to study in a centre of excellence, and
to work on a syllabus that has been designed to allow students to integrate into their
studies the cultural facilities and opportunities afforded by the city of Paris. The visits to
exhibitions and museums in Paris, guided by academic staff form an integral and unique
aspect of the programme.
20.3 Personal Profile
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An interest in undertaking a higher research degree and the capacity for a good intellectual
and skills basis for such work
An ability to undertake independent study in the library and the wider world
A commitment to the challenges of a degree programme delivered in a major capital city
such as Paris
A readiness to rise to the challenge of living and studying in France.
21 Methods for Evaluating and Enhancing the Quality and Standards of Teaching and
Learning
21.1 Mechanisms for review and evaluation of teaching, learning, assessment, the
curriculum and outcome standards
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Quality Assurance Framework http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/codes/index.html
Periodic Programme Review http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/codes/taught/annexf.html
External Examiners system http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/codes/taught/annexk.html
Annual programme and module monitoring reports
http://www.kent.ac.uk/teaching/qa/codes/taught/annexe.html
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Postgraduate programme specification
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QAA Higher Education Review, see http://www.qaa.ac.uk/InstitutionReports/types-ofreview/higher-education-review/Pages/default.aspx
Student module evaluations
Annual staff appraisal
Peer observation
21.2 Committees with responsibility for monitoring and evaluating quality and standards
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Board of Examiners
School Graduate Studies Committee
Faculty Graduate Studies Committee
Faculty Board
Graduate School Board
Staff/Student Liaison Committee
21.3 Mechanisms for gaining student feedback on the quality of teaching and their
learning experience
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Staff-Student Liaison Committee
Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES)
Student module evaluations
Postgraduate Student Representation System (School, Faculty and Institutional level)
Informal meeting and social contact with students
21.4 Staff Development priorities include:
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Annual Appraisals
Institutional Level Staff Development Programme
Study Leave
Academic Practice Provision (PGCHE, ATAP and other development opportunities)
PGCHE requirements
HEA (associate) fellowship membership
Professional body membership and requirements
Programme team meetings
Research seminars
Conferences
22 Indicators of Quality and Standards
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Annual External Examiner reports
Results of periodic programme review (May 2009)
Annual programme and module monitoring reports
Graduate Destinations Survey
Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) results
QAA Institutional Audit 2008
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Postgraduate programme specification
UNIVERSITY OF KENT
22.1 The following reference points were used in creating these specifications:
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QAA UK Quality Code for Higher Education
School and Faculty plan
University Plan/Learning and Teaching Strategy
Staff research activities
Template last updated October 2014
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Postgraduate programme specification