PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
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AWARD and COURSE TITLE
INTERMEDIATE AWARDS
Name of the Teaching Institution
Faculty and Department
Mode(s) of Attendance
Master by Research English
none
Sheffield Hallam University
Development and Society
Humanities
Full Time
Part Time
QAA Subject Benchmark Statement or other
relevant external reference point
Date of Validation
May 2012
1 PROGRAMME AIMS
The main aims of this programme are:
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to introduce students to postgraduate literary study through intensive and detailed study
of the English language and literature written in English
to develop a range of skills relating to the theory and practice of advanced literary
research
to build upon and develop understanding and knowledge of English Studies acquired
during undergraduate study and to situate such knowledge and understanding within a
range of theoretical, historical, cultural and political contexts
to enable students to study a chosen English literature and/or language topic in
considerable depth
to provide students with the scholarly skills and academic knowledge necessary for
advanced independent research at M Phil and PhD level.
2 PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES
2.1 Knowledge and understanding covered within the Programme. By the end of the
programme you will be able to
1. produce a substantial, extended piece of scholarly work
2. demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the critical and scholarly contexts
relevant to the advanced study of English as an academic discipline
3. demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the ways in which a range of different
literary cultures interrelate with one or more of their linguistic, social, cultural and political
contexts
4. plan and carry out at M level advanced independent research of the kind pursued in
greater depth at M Phil and PhD level.
2.2 Intellectual/Subject/Professional/Key skills covered within the Programme: by the end
of the programme you will be able to
1. demonstrate the ability to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse
2. demonstrate the ability to acquire substantial quantities of complex information of diverse
kinds in a structured and systematic way
3. demonstrate a capacity for independent thought and judgement
4. demonstrate skills in critical reasoning
5. demonstrate the ability to understand, interrogate and apply a variety of theoretical
positions and weigh the importance of alternative perspective
These skills are in line with the QAA English Benchmarking statement, section 3.3 (2007), in
relation to English 'generic and graduate skills' (as previously stated, there is no benchmark
statement specific to the MA by Research).
3 LEARNING, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT
3.1 The approach to Learning and Teaching within the Programme
The MA by Research (English) is designed to support students who wish to independently
research in depth a particular topic of interest. Students acquire the necessary study and
research skills from elements (or all) of the appropriate Research Methods module while
determining the scope and focus of the main project in supervisory sessions. The hours
allowance for this is 15 hours in total (against 462 for worksetting purposes), and may be face-toface or telephone, depending upon mutual agreement between the student and supervisor, and
with email support where appropriate and/or necessary. Assessment is via the method most
appropriate to a Humanities MA by Research – a dissertation and viva. Supervision follows the
QAA Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Programmes and the SHU Code of Practice
(2011-12). The QAA Code details best practice at national level. The SHU Code of Practice,
mindful of the QAA code, '...is a mixture of policy, regulatory, procedural and good practice
information. It outlines the quality framework for managing research degrees and how the
systems and procedures for research student progression facilitate timely completion and a high
quality student experience.' (Introduction)
In accordance with the LTA strategy of integrating research into teaching, the student will benefit
from the expertise of staff who will have significant knowledge and experience in the topic field.
We make extensive use of digital humanities technologies, not merely because they are part of
the University’s LTA strategy, but because they are part of how a modern professional scholar
goes about his or her job. This is especially important for students on the degree where access
to necessary books and journals may be done at a distance.
Staff delivering the award are highly experienced teachers from the English Studies subject
group in the Faculty of Development and Society, most of whom are active and publishing
researchers expected to contribute fully to the next research exercise (REF).
Students will have the opportunity to participate in the full scholarly and intellectual environments
available at SHU. This is likely to include attendance at:
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fortnightly meetings of the staff-postgraduate reading groups
regular talks by visiting speakers from other institutions and by staff and research
students at SHU
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research seminars and guest talks arranged by departments associated with related
disciplines (in particular, History, Film Studies, and Communications Studies).
The supervisory sessions will be on a one-to-one basis with individually-arranged meetings
(face-to-face; telephone). This arrangement encourages independent work within a supportive
framework and replicates the typical working pattern of MPhil and PhD study.
The supervisor is responsible for advising the candidate on the overall direction of the work, is
expected to provide guidance and timely feedback on written material, and ensure that good
progress is being made up to successful completion.
3.2 The approach to Assessment and Feedback within the Programme
The initial tutorial meeting(s) will serve to outline the scope of the project which will form the
basis of the final dissertation submission. Subsequent meetings and other forms of
communication (e.g. email) will be able to offer feedback on work-in-progress, as would happen
at PhD level. Throughout this, students will be encouraged to pursue their own original thoughts
and ideas and are encouraged to engage critically with received opinion. In assessing work-inprogress and offering feedback, tutor and student will be focussed on:
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critical and analytical skills in interpreting texts
critical vocabulary and subject specific terminology in the articulation of their
interpretation and argument
knowledge and interrogation of relevant critical and theoretical approaches in support of
their argument
research and scholarly activity within the subject area
The formal assessment is via the submission of a 30,000 word thesis, with a subsequent viva
which will have an Internal Examiner and an External Examiner. There is no exit award (no
intermediate award). Outcomes for the submission are pass, fail, or pass with minor
modifications.
If the student wishes to raise any issues these should be done through the Supervisor or with the
Postgraduate Research Tutor. Such comments will be fed into the English Programme’s annual
AQR and the Action Plans that accompany them, where appropriate. The Supervisor shall be
responsible for the completion of the DOS Annual Feedback Questionnaire for the annual quality
review of the research degrees activity.
3.3 How Student Employability is supported within the programme
The MA by Research, as described above, is designed very much for the student who wishes to
study independently. The skills and knowledge acquired through research and production of a
dissertation ensures that such students have necessary skills to proceed to doctoral work. It also
ensures that students become skilled in self-motivated planning and meeting of deadlines. The
intellectual environment provides further opportunities to gain experience in offering papers (eg.
at conferences), engaging with other scholars, and networking. Many of the skills are
transferrable: e.g. the ability to handle large amounts of complex information; the ability to bring
critical and analytical approaches to texts and contexts; advanced skills of writing and
composition.
3.4 Main type of work-based or work-related learning featured in this programme n/a
4 PROGRAMME DESIGN AND STRUCTURE
MA by Research students work towards the submission of a 30,000 word thesis, working in a
largely independent mode, and supported by tutorials with a Supervisor. An initial meeting will
help with the establishment of the exact nature of the project, using the initial proposal as the
basis. The meeting will serve to define the focus and scope of the degree topic, advise on
conducting a literature survey, and included discussion of the methodological, critical and
theoretical issues specific to the chosen topic. The initial meeting will also involve a Research
Develop Needs Analysis (see Section 2 of Proposal Supporting Information). F/t duration is one
year, p/t is two years.
5 PROGRESSION/CAREER ROUTES
Possible progression or career routes after you have completed this programme include
Because of its close relation to PhD study, the clearest career progression route after this course
is into academia via PhD. Other popular career routes are education and publishing. Students
will be able to access training in the Graduate School, including employability workshops.
6 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND ENTRY PROFILE
6.1 Specific Entry Requirements for entry to the initial stage of this programme are
Academic Qualifications
A good honours degree, typically 2:1, or equivalent in the
(including A / AS level grades Humanities, preferably with a significant element of English
and subjects, where applicable) Literature (or of English Language where appropriate), is
normally expected.
Level of English language
Overseas students whose first language is not English will be
capability
required to provide certified competence in English language
in one of the following forms:
a) British Council IELTS test band 7 or above;
b) UCLES (Cambridge Exams Board) pass at
CPE(Proficiency) or CAE(Certificate in Advanced English) or
an A or B grade pass at FCE (First Certificate in English) plus
a further year's English study;
c) TOEFL score of 620, plus some independent assessment
of speaking (there is no direct test of speaking ability in
TOEFL).
d) Distinction on SHU Pre-Sessional English (equivalent to
IELTS 7)
Alternatively student competency may be determined upon
the submission of a writing sample.
N/A
Any other specific, formally
certified qualifications
Previous relevant work or work- Not essential but will be considered where appropriate
related experience
Any specific articulation
N/A
arrangements recognised for
this programme
Professional qualifications
Any other specific entry
requirements
N/A
Students will be asked to submit a proposal for the research
topic as part of the application process.
6.2 APPLICANT ENTRY PROFILE: the knowledge, skills and qualities etc. required to
enable you to benefit from, and succeed on the programme of study are
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a keen and demonstrable interest in English studies
an ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently in both written and oral form
an ability to work independently on self-managed projects
an ability to undertake research
an ability to work with others and show respect of others' reasoned views
an ability to participate in and contribute to group discussion and group projects where
appropriate
an ability to meet deadlines and manage pressure
6.3 The University will select non-standard entrants to the programme in the following
ways
Applications from candidates who have none of the formal educational qualifications listed above
may be admitted to the programme if they are able to demonstrate that they have the potential to
develop the analytical skills, knowledge and understanding appropriate for a degree at this level,
as well as the oral and written communications skills that such degrees demand. If this cannot be
evidenced in any work or activity they have done to date, this may be evidenced, at the discretion
of the Course Leader, by the satisfactory completion of an appropriate task or set of tasks.
6.4 Use of Prior Credit (APCL/APEL): prior certificated credit or prior experiential credit
may be used within the Programme in the following ways
Not relevant.