Teaching Style and Course Structure

Each of our Masters courses can be studied full-time over 12 months, and offers you specified core modules which will be studied alongside a range of optional modules.

You'll follow a programme of 120 credits of taught modules (4-5 modules), followed by a 10,000 word dissertation - your exact pathway will depend on your choice of programme and your selection of optional modules. In this way, you will tailor your course to your interests and aspirations through your choice of core and optional modules, and your work outside of lectures and seminars. Take a look at the structure below as well as the relevant programme pages for further details.

Your dissertation topic will then be shaped by you, with the support of your supervisor or co-supervisors where your work requires support across departments.

If you choose a pathway that includes economics (including the tripartite programme), you will also attend a short pre-sessional mathematics and statistics course before the term starts.

Programme Structure

Taught Modules

In Terms one and two you'll follow five taught modules (totalling around 120 CATS):

• You'll take a year-long PPE core module (40 CATS)
• You'll take selected optional core modules from each discipline on your pathway from an approved selection (40-50 CATS dependent on pathway requirements)
• Your remaining module(s) can be options from any of the departments in your pathway (and for which you meet any pre-requisites)

• This is a commitment of three modules per term, and allows you to spread your study evenly between your first and second terms.

You must pass your taught modules in order to proceed to Dissertation.

Dissertation

You'll research and write a 10,000 word dissertation (60 CATS) in term three and over the summer holidays:

• You'll be assigned an academic advisor/supervisor to help guide your research
• Your topic and title will be decided by you, in discussion with your supervisor.
• You'll also have the opportunity to participate in a Dissertation Conference to present your research and get to know your colleagues’ research in more depth

This is a chance to undertake original independent research; focusing in-depth on an area selected by you, developing a coherent and sustained argument, and discussion, over an extended word count. You'll receive support in your dissertation through meetings with your supervisor. You will also be prepared through research skills sessions and specific sessions on: essay writing, dissertation planning and writing.

From the start of your course, you will begin considering possible dissertation topics and will look to confirm a supervisor for your dissertation by the end of spring term. You'll be assigned your dissertation supervisor who has the appropriate expertise in the area and, in the case of interdisciplinary topics, you may have co-supervisors in two of our departments.

How Will I Be Taught?

Teaching is mainly carried out through lectures and seminars, with the average number of lectures to seminars varying according to pathway. Economics provide lectures and seminars for most modules, whereas Politics and International Studies, Philosophy and PPE teach predominantly through seminars.

Your dissertation work will normally be individually supervised on a one-to-one basis and we have an effective personal tutor system providing individual support. We encourage one-to-one interaction with our world-leading academics and offer great flexibility in the optional modules that allow you to specialise or diversify your studies.