Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• to provide an intellectually stimulating environment and academic context in which critical analysis of written texts is valued;

• to enable students to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of  language and literature through specialist study and research, culminating in their design of a substantial, automonous research project addressing a significant aspect of literary study;

• to extend students’ command and understanding of relevant concepts, theories, cultural contexts, and critical terminology appropriate to specialist areas of English studies;

• to enhance students’ ability to question, appraise, and analyse literature, theory, and research findings;

• to develop students’ skills and competences in a range of research methods and techniques relevant to the investigation of language and literature;

• to nurture students’ enthusiasm and passion for their special subject area and enhance their career and employability skills.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The English Benchmark Statement
• Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
• SEEC Level Descriptors
• University Learning and Teaching Strategy

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

 On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

K1  how different social, historical, and cultural contexts affect the nature of literary forms,  genres, and meaning, textual production and reception;

K2  how key concepts, ideas and concerns in the production and analysis of literary texts alter over time;

K3   contemporary debates on appropriate frameworks, theories, and modes of analysis in literary studies;

K4  the different approaches to texts taken by specialists in different historical periods, literary or linguistic fields;

K5  several specific research areas under academic guidance, including one of their devising;

K6  the different modes of research possible in literary and linguistic study, including digital developments.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to…

C1  critically analyse and evaluate literary texts;

C2  critically analyse and evaluate research findings;

C3  apply and adapt conceptual frameworks to literary texts;

C4  recognise and analyse new and emerging trends in the study of  English;

C5  engage with and evaluate major philosophies and doctrines and the impact these have   on texts.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to…

P1  identify appropriate areas for research;

P2  develop appropriate strategies and research methodologies to address ideas or themes in self-chosen projects;

P3  construct a written argument, using close-reading skills;

P4  assess the relevance of current critical thinking to the interpretation of texts;

P5  employ bibliographic skills appropriate to the discipline, including accurate citation of texts and scholarly conventions of presentation. 

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to 

T1  demonstrate well-developed writing skills; 

T2  conduct effective research and evaluate research findings; 

T3  manage and direct their own research project, including effective time management, self-study, drafting and editing; 

T4  participate effectively in group and one-to-one discussions; 

T5  present complex ideas in concise ways; 

T6  reflect upon and analyse their own learning, research and writing.

4. Programme structure

4.1     To be eligible for consideration for these awards, students must obtain appropriate credit from the following compulsory and optional modules.

Compulsory modules account for a total of 60 credits in Semester 1 and 120 credits in Semester 2 which includes the Dissertation, making a total of the required weighting of 180 credits overall.

4.2       The subjects for the Dissertation module (EAP018) must be approved in advance by the Programme Leader or nominee, and dissertations must be submitted by a specified date in the first half of September. The dissertation should be a maximum of 15,000 words in length.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1      In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.

5.2      Students will normally be permitted to proceed to the Dissertation module (EAP018) after studying taught modules with a total modular weight of 120.

5.3      In accordance with Regulation XXI, candidates who have the right of reassessment in a module will be offered an opportunity to be reassessed in the University’s special assessment period.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification