An understanding of key principles in Chemistry that are relevant to undergraduate studies in biological disciplines.
Students should achieve a good understanding of (i) organic chemistry as applicable to biological systems, (ii) physical methods used in structure determination for biological molecules, (iii) the fundamentals of physical chemistry important to understanding cell function.
The module focuses on molecular mechanisms by which the immune system protects the host from infectious agents. Apart from presenting key components of the immune system, insight is provided into the strategies invading pathogens use to counteract the host defence. Frequently, these result in failure of pathogen elimination and in diseases due to loss of immunological control.
This module allows third year students, who have a substantial background in molecular and cell biology from previous modules, to apply this knowledge to a research area (protein targeting) which is a field of fundamental importance in cell biology.
The Y3 research project is a capstone module, in which you will bring together all the research and practical skills you have been taught in Y1-3 teaching laboratories and the tutorial programme. With guidance from your supervisor you will undertake a research project chosen from a broad range of fields. You will be assessed by taking part in a seminar and completing a written report in the style of a research paper.
This module aims to give students both an overview of cancer and also a more detailed understanding of specific aspects of its underlying causes and its clinical management.
It is becoming ever more apparent that to completely understand a protein’s biological mechanism, three-dimensional structural information is essential. On this module, you will have the opportunity to explore and apply modern approaches and practical techniques to the study of biological macromolecules, building on your previous study of biophysical techniques and protein structures. You will pay particular attention to the structural techniques used to elucidate fundamental aspects and problems in biology-specific fields of interest in structural biology, including protein-nucleic acid interactions, protein–ligand interactions, protein folding and structure, macromolecular structures and biophysics.
You will complete the third year of our laboratory and tutorial-based skills programme. The key aims of this module are to embed final year level literature and practical research skills. This will be achieved through a combination of set tutorial tasks and laboratory classes.
You will complete the third year of our laboratory and tutorial-based skills programme. The key aims of this module are to embed final year level literature and practical research skills. This will be achieved through a combination of set tutorial tasks and laboratory classes.
This module allows students to bring their extensive background in molecular biology to bear on a complex and wide ranging topic which crosses phylum boundaries, is largely new to them, and which is one of the department’s areas of research expertise.
By considering the important cellular components of the central nervous system this modules illustrates current knowledge of how these determine and contribute to the integrative function of the nervous system.
Developmental biology is the study of molecular processes underlying the development of organisms from the fertilised egg to a fully-grown individual. Most of the molecular pathways involved are shared across all animals due to our common evolutionary history. The module is aimed at opening the student's understanding of how these pathways work at the genetic level, and how this translates into organismal phenotypes that can be understood in biomedical, evolutionary, and ecological/environmental contexts.
On this module, you will engage with two major themes in modern medicine: evidence-based medicine and medical ethnics. You will achieve this through in-depth study of the medical specialities of reproductive medicine, renal medicine and central nervous system (CNS) medicine.
This module focuses on learning and development from birth to eight. This is to acknowledge the importance of the very earliest experiences and the impact these have on people’s lives.
Children’s development from birth to eight years of age is an exciting journey of exploration and discovery of the world around them. In this module we will explore theories of developmental psychology and sociology, and along with other disciplines such as health, wellbeing and nutrition, illustrate the interdisciplinarity of early childhood studies.
In this module we will be exploring the relationship between what we want for children as practitioners, parents and as a nation.
We will make connections between national policy and legislation and the pedagogy and policies we offer for children and families.
You will be invited to reflect on your own practice and experiences, undertake some independent research and consider approaches that keep children at the centre of our vision for the future.
What is social work? This module will provide a historical and contemporary view of Social Working including key concepts values and ethics. It will also include an introduction to some key aspects of Psychology and Sociology related to the role of the Social Worker.
By the end of the module the apprentice should be able to:
This module has been designed to support apprentices in returning to, or beginning, an academic journey at the level of an undergraduate degree in qualifying social work. It will explore ways in which people are able to demonstrate competence and achievement across the course, develop their applied understanding and promote reflective models of learning.
This module provides an opportunity to hear from the direct experiences of Experts by Experience – people who have used social work services in different forms. The module will be co-led by these colleagues and, along with the direct articulation of experiences, methods and theories of partnership working will be explored.
This module provides an overview of the key skills required of a professional social worker, in order to adhere to professional and organisational requirements in the workplace. It will be built upon in Year 2 with a further module exploring the interpersonal skills needed in social work practice.
By the end of the module the apprentice should be able to:
This module provides an overview of the intersection of social work and diverse social identity. It examines how, at different points, people’s identities are shaped by their social, political, economic and cultural locations. There will be a focus on how inequality, adversity and oppression can significantly affect people’s experiences. Thompson’s PCS model and the concept of ‘intersectionality’ will frame the learning.
This module provides an overview of the central, legal frameworks for contemporary social work in England. Apprentices will be supported in understanding the central pieces of legislation and encouraged to apply them to their everyday practice.
By the end of the module the apprentice should be able to:
In this module, you will be introduced to the underpinning theories of relational counselling and psychotherapy.
You'll gain a secure understanding of the key principles of the person-centred approach and will explore and appraise the importance of the relationship between counsellor and client in therapeutic work.
You'll also learn about how person-centred counselling fits into the wider framework of counselling approaches and begin to explore how you might use an understanding of your personal context, values and beliefs to develop your own integrative approach to counselling.
You will have the opportunity to begin to critically appraise the theories we introduce, exploring them in relation to their cultural, historical and socio-political context. This module also aims to begin to develop your self-awareness around themes of cultural identity and diversity.
You'll explore these concepts through formal lectures, experiential exercises, and exercises and experiences in a variety of group contexts, including beginning to apply relevant counselling skills to practice work with peers in the classroom.
In this module you will develop a variety of counselling skills in the context of a counselling relationship, practising these skills with peers in the classroom. You will begin to explore your capacity for empathic understanding, unconditional positive regard, and to learn to use skills that demonstrate and convey these qualities to a client.
You will also be supported to examine your own identity and background, and your beliefs, attitudes, values and assumptions about human nature and human interaction and how these might influence your capacity to offer a climate of acceptance, empathy and congruence.
We also explore the importance of contracting and examining boundaries in establishing a counselling relationship, and learn about the specific requirements for contracting in different settings, including face to face and online.
This module aims to situate counselling in a professional, ethical and legal context. You will learn the importance of clearly contracting with clients and of working within a clearly defined ethical and legal framework.
You will become familiar with the BACP Ethical Framework and use it to explore the process of making difficult ethical decisions as a professional practitioner, understanding the potential implications for clients and yourself.
Fundamental practice issues such as confidentiality and its limits, informed consent, dual relationships, professional assessment and case formulation, anti-discriminatory practice and safeguarding will be covered.
You will prepare for your professional practice placement by learning about and the variety of settings in which counselling takes place, and consider issues around working in a multi-disciplinary team. We will also consider the specific ethical, procedural and professional requirements involved in working online and on the telephone with clients.
During this module, you will work together with peers in a variety of small group settings to explore contextual and ethical situations, and will apply your learning about safe and ethical practice to your work with others on the course.
This module aims to offer an introduction to research in counselling and psychotherapy, giving you the opportunity to begin to be more familiar with the types of research that exist and to explore how professionals have researched issues in counselling and psychotherapy.
You'll think about what research is and why it is important, examine ethics in relation to research, and learn academic skills such as conducting a literature search and selecting sources that are reliable and relevant.
You'll have the opportunity to think about your own research and begin to explore topics that might be of interest to you in conducting your research project, thinking about how your own life and experiences might be relevant to your topic.
You'll explore how your personal cultural and social context could lead to bias in your research and think about how we might acknowledge and work with this. You'll also be asked to review your own academic progress.
This module recognises the significance of wellbeing - both our own and that of the families we work with. We will begin by focusing on individual, academic and professional wellbeing and then we will expand outward to consider wellbeing in families, communities, as well as workplaces.
A key feature of this module is the opportunity to utilise a rights-based approach to consider child and family policy initiatives. This module focuses on topics such as the voices of children and families in policy-making and the broader national and global policy context and influences surrounding local policies. This module directly connects to workplace practice by supporting students to consider their own place and that of families, within the policy eco-system.
This module focuses on topics such as intervention, holistic family support, parental and infant mental health, as well as crime and violence. This module directly connects to workplace practice by supporting students appreciate the value of a holistic, ecologically-minded approach to working with children and families, as well as the confidence and skills necessary to engage with them to determine the effectiveness of the services they receive.
This module supports students to explore the lifespan development of individuals and families within a community context. Topics include pre-natal development and parental wellbeing. This module supports students to become adaptable and flexible in their response to persistent inequalities that impact upon human development across the lifespan.
This module equips students with essential clinical skills to assess, support, and promote healthy development in young children. Students will gain experience in conducting basic assessments, developmental screenings, and cognitive evaluations.
They will also learn effective communication techniques for engaging with children and their caregivers. By integrating evidence-based practices, students will be prepared to recognise early signs of developmental concerns and be confident to implement appropriate interventions.
By exploring the meaning, history and context of the term ‘inclusion’, this module considers the dilemmas and tensions associated with inclusive practice in early childhood.
Critically reviewing government policy, frameworks and guidance in relation to inclusion and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) enables you to reflect upon the roles and responsibilities of the practitioner in identifying and supporting children with a variety of needs.
The focus of this module is that through a developed understanding of how young children learn, you as a practitioner will critically explore methods of facilitating learning and the use of assessment to inform and guide stakeholders, such as parents, carers and other professionals, to ultimately empower children.
You will be encouraged to become a reflexive practitioner through observation of, and reflection on, your experience and evaluation of your own progress.
Together we will consider a range of psychological, sociological, educational, health, historical and philosophical perspectives, to assess their impact on approaches to working with babies and children.
This module provides an overview of different modes of understanding human development. It examines theories of human growth and development throughout the life cycle, and how, at different points people’s identities are shaped by their social, political, economic and cultural locations. There will be a particular focus on how inequality, adversity and oppression can significantly affect people’s experiences.
This module provides an overview of different modes of understanding human development. It examines theories of human growth and development throughout the life cycle, and how, at different points people’s identities are shaped by their social, political, economic and cultural locations. There will be a particular focus on how inequality, adversity and oppression can significantly affect people’s experiences.
This module provides an overview of the key issues pertaining to the safeguarding of both vulnerable adults and children. It will serve to revise key legal frameworks, and explore some of the central risk factors, as well as learning which has been provided from Serious Case Reviews and Safeguarding Adults Reviews. The module will culminate at the end of the year in the opportunity to practice taking part in conferences for safeguarding children and adults.
This module provides an overview of the key skills required of a professional social worker, in order to engage flexibly and appropriately with different people. It will build upon the first skills module in year 1, to collectively provide a toolkit for a professional, interpersonally skilled practitioner. A central focus will be upon practicing the skills, as well as learning the methodology behind them.
This module provides an overview of more complex legal frameworks for contemporary social work in England. Apprentices will be supported in understanding the central pieces of legislation, and encouraged to apply them to their everyday practice, building on the knowledge gained in Year 1 of the course.
This module builds on your learning in CE1F2 to offer you the opportunity to further develop the skills needed to critically engage with research in the field of counselling and psychotherapy.
You will gain an understanding of what research currently exists and where to find it. We aim to prepare you to conduct your own original research at level 6, through facilitating your understanding of research methods, their benefits and drawbacks, and your ability to read and understand current research papers. You will also study the theme of ethics in research and learn how to ensure that your research will be conducted ethically and appropriately. The module also aims to furnish you with the academic skills of preparing for and writing a research proposal and a literature review.
This module includes an element of online learning and an invitation to take part in online discussion groups with your peers.
In this module you will gain a wider understanding of the conscious and unconscious relational processes that may be occurring in the therapeutic space, adding an understanding of fundamental psychodynamic concepts of relationships to your existing knowledge of person-centred theory of self and practice.
You will be encouraged to explore in depth the processes that may be occurring in your relationships with clients, with peers in groups on the course, and in your own interpersonal relationships. As we study a wider range of approaches, you will be encouraged to consider their application to practice, to critically compare them to other theoretical approaches, and to explore further your understanding of your own integrative practice.
This module also aims to consider theories and experience of difference, diversity and identity in relationships, encouraging you to explore the external and societal issues that impact upon relational dynamics, including themes of power, oppression and shame, and the impact of historical and institutional structures of power and discrimination. You will be asked to consider in depth your own identities, prejudices and assumptions and to explore how these are relevant to your practice and to the dynamics within the learning group setting.
This module will include a critical approach to all theories covered and you will be expected to critically explore the origins and cultural relevance of traditional psychotherapeutic theory through an anti-oppressive lens.
This module builds on material covered at level 4 to deepen your understanding of the various legal and ethical implications of working professionally in counselling practice.
You will be asked to consider ethical issues in depth, exploring the decision making process and critically exploring how ethical decisions are embedded in cultural and social contexts.
You will be encouraged to understand how your own values and beliefs and cultural, social and political contexts contribute to the ethical decisions you might make and to consider the implications for clients from a variety of different backgrounds and contexts.
You will consider and justify how you have applied your professional awareness of ethical principles to practice and explore how your ethical decisions may also be linked to your personal integrative theoretical approach.
This module aims to offer the opportunity to continue to develop your integrative counselling practice, with the opportunity to further practice your counselling skills in the classroom with developmental feedback from peers and tutors, and to reflect further on your own development as a counsellor.
We will study a range of contemporary humanistic and existential counselling approaches, including creative and somatic approaches to working with clients, exploring how theorists have critiqued and updated traditional approaches to counselling, and looking through a critical, decolonial and anti-oppressive lens to critically analyse the theories we study.
As you widen your awareness of different theoretical ways of conceptualising client issues and the therapeutic process, you will be able to explore your own sense of how you conceptualise your own integrative practice.
This module supports students to explore multi-dimensional approaches to mental health and wellbeing and contemporary debates towards integrated positive practices. Within this module we explore the promotion of positive approaches towards a life well lived, and students will be able to appreciate the multidimensional nature of mental health and well-being across the lifespan.
This module supports students to develop an understanding of trauma and how it manifests across the lifespan, as well as the potential impact of trauma on engagement between the child or family and the practitioner. Students will explore the principles of trauma-informed approaches to working with children and families across the life course. The module will encourage students to analyse the prevalence of trauma and its influence on emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing of children and families.
Within this module, we champion the achievement of best practice by taking an evidence-based approach. This includes emphasising the value of practitioner expertise and knowledge of the best external research, and evaluation-based evidence in order to support decision-making in effective, whole-family support. A key feature of this module is the opportunity to examine the role of community partnerships and collaborative working in the development of high-quality practice, as well as to design your own research proposal.
In this module, you will design and carry out a small-scale research project in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. You will gain an understanding of various research methods and of how to evaluate and choose methods appropriate to your research topic, gain ethical approval and understand the ethical implications of your research practice, and conduct a literature search to contextualise and situate your own findings. You will learn how to structure and write a research project and will present your dissertation as summative assessment.
In this module, you will design and carry out a small-scale research project in the field of counselling and psychotherapy.
You will gain an understanding of various research methods and of how to evaluate and choose methods appropriate to your research topic, gain ethical approval and understand the ethical implications of your research practice, and conduct a literature search to contextualise and situate your own findings.
You will learn how to structure and write a research project and will present your dissertation as summative assessment.
This module aims to examine traditional and contemporary views of childhood across cultures and societies by exploring how factors, such as socio-culture, gender and actions towards social, environmental and economic sustainability, influence early childhood care, curricula and pedagogy.
We will be analysing similarities and differences in Early Childhood policy and practice between England and other nation states, considering concepts such as play, inclusion, staffing and the environment, and how these are viewed and prioritised within different international contexts.
This module aims to enhance research mindedness in social work students, to encourage and enable independent study at an advanced level. It will: explore the relevance of well-conducted research for social workers; examines different research methodologies and methods; develop skills required to critically analyse research; and consider ethical and practical issues associated with social work research, particularly with regard to vulnerable and oppressed groups. Throughout, it explores the relevance of research for social work policy and practice and enables students to evaluate research relevant to social work policy and practice. It also provides students with the research knowledge and analytical skills required for their dissertation.
This module aims to introduce apprentices to a contrasting element of social work practice, and ensure that they are fully aware of the range of locations for social work practice. Apprentices will be divided within this teaching, with those located and experienced in broadly ‘Adults’ social work learning about ‘Children and Families’ social work, and vice versa. Apprentices will spend 30 days within a placement within their authority, which is a contrasting experience to their core apprenticeship setting, to enhance this learning.
In this module you will be asked to explore how counselling practitioners synthesise and apply their theoretical knowledge and backgrounds to work with clients presenting with a wide variety of issues and from a wide variety of contexts.
You will be introduced to the work of a number of practitioners and explore practical themes in their work such as working with trauma, addiction, and working affirmatively with gender, sex and relationship diversity and with neurodivergent clients.
You will be asked to explore how your own background, beliefs and values contribute to and impact on your integrative practice, and to explain how you might integrate theoretical learning from the course into a personal integrative approach.
In this module you will be asked to explore how counselling practitioners synthesise and apply their theoretical knowledge and backgrounds to work with clients presenting with a wide variety of issues and from a wide variety of contexts.
You will be introduced to the work of a number of practitioners and explore practical themes in their work such as working with trauma, addiction, and working affirmatively with gender, sex and relationship diversity and with neurodivergent clients.
You will be asked to explore how your own background, beliefs and values contribute to and impact on your integrative practice, and to explain how you might integrate theoretical learning from the course into a personal integrative approach.
In this module you will be facilitated to reflect deeply on your counselling practice in placement and to move towards qualification with a strong understanding of your strengths and development needs as a professional counsellor.
You'll be asked to apply your learning from the whole course to an evaluation of your own practice work. We'll consolidate our learning about relational integrative practice by looking at a range of ways that this is conceptualised theoretically and exploring how we might reflect these in our work with clients.
New learning this year about working with various specific client groups and presenting issues will add to your understanding of how to devise an accurate working formulation of a client and respond appropriately to their needs.
You will attend peer supervision groups in the classroom in order to reflect on your practice with your colleagues. We will discuss ways of deepening our relational processes with clients and explore understandings of what relational depth might look like in practice.
The learning on this module will also consolidate your learning in previous years about working online and on the telephone with clients, ensuring that you have the required competencies and that you can work safely in a variety of contexts.
In this module you will be facilitated to reflect deeply on your counselling practice in placement and to move towards qualification with a strong understanding of your strengths and development needs as a professional counsellor.
You'll be asked to apply your learning from the whole course to an evaluation of your own practice work. We'll consolidate our learning about relational integrative practice by looking at a range of ways that this is conceptualised theoretically and exploring how we might reflect these in our work with clients.
New learning this year about working with various specific client groups and presenting issues will add to your understanding of how to devise an accurate working formulation of a client and respond appropriately to their needs. You will attend peer supervision groups in the classroom in order to reflect on your practice with your colleagues. We will discuss ways of deepening our relational processes with clients and explore understandings of what relational depth might look like in practice.
The learning on this module will also consolidate your learning in previous years about working online and on the telephone with clients, ensuring that you have the required competencies and that you can work safely in a variety of contexts.
This module aims to provide apprentices with the opportunity to critically reflect on their learning across the course, recognising the underlying ethical imperatives and application of key concepts and theories. The module enables apprentices to demonstrate their capabilities against the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) as set out in the Apprenticeship Occupation Duties, and forthcoming Social Work England readiness for professional practice guidance / standards.
This module is associated with placement days
The module seeks to appraise apprentices strengths and future learning needs as they prepare to enter qualified social work practice. Key information regarding regulatory requirements and fitness to practice will be presented, with summaries of learning applied. This will include meeting the requirements of Institute for Apprenticeships Standard for 'social worker'.
This module is associated with a 70-day on the job placement.
This module aims to provide apprentices with the opportunity to critically reflect on their learning across the course, recognising the underlying ethical imperatives and application of key concepts and theories. The module enables apprentices to demonstrate their capabilities against the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) as set out in the Apprenticeship Occupation Duties, and forthcoming Social Work England readiness for professional practice guidance / standards.
This module is associated with placement days
The module seeks to appraise apprentices strengths and future learning needs as they prepare to enter qualified social work practice. Key information regarding regulatory requirements and fitness to practice will be presented, with summaries of learning applied. This will include meeting the requirements of Institute for Apprenticeships Standard for 'social worker'.
This module is associated with a 70-day on the job placement.
This module will build on your understanding of the context of the professional practice of counselling and psychotherapy, continuing to explore ethical, legal and procedural issues in practice, and focusing particularly on mental health, the ways we conceptualise, categorise and treat mental health and how the practice of counselling intersects with other services and provision regionally and nationally.
You will explore different ways mental health has been conceptualised historically, culturally and with reference to different theories of counselling, and to evaluate the impact that these conceptualisations have had on people from different groups and backgrounds.
You will critically appraise the impact that your own understanding of and assumptions about mental health and ill health could have on your clients and your practice. You will reflect on your own mental health and how you have conceptualised it , how it has been responded to, and how it has impacted on your life and practice.
This module supports students to undertake an extensive investigation of one clearly defined topic of relevance to Child and Family Health and Wellbeing. A key feature of this module is the opportunity to refine lifelong skills (such as capability and employability) and to understand the process to solve real world problems.
By using your insight, you will create a study that provides a vision for the future. This module links to the QAA Benchmark statements of Early Childhood (encompassing aspects of health, education, economics and neuroscience), Sociology (encompassing aspects of wider social sciences, philosophy and political theory), Health Studies (encompassing aspects of health and well-being of individuals and families, through communities, to the health of populations at national and international level) and Youth and Community (encompassing aspects of the development of democratic and associational approaches which promote learning and development in communities to resolve issues of social justice for adolescents and adults as well as groups and individuals).
Within this module, we will examine strengths-based approaches to leadership, in which the signature strengths of the families and colleagues we work with are embraced in order to ensure conditions that enable them to flourish. This module also promotes the critical role of equality, diversity and inclusion within leadership teams from a global and local level in community-based projects. Upon completion of this module, students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the importance of advocating for children, families and adults through effective and sustainable leadership.
This module encourages students to identify their role as a researcher - which forms an integral part of their professional identity. In addition, this module supports students to examine ethical principles for research and the centrality of the voice of children and families in matters concerning them.
You can study the theory of chemistry, but the laboratory is where science comes alive. You will put your chemistry knowledge to work with experiments that build your expertise in using scientific instrumentation, data collection, and data analysis. You will use new techniques and lab skills to synthesise chemical compounds, investigate key concepts and experimentally verify some of the chemical theories introduced in lectures. You will also have opportunities to combine established techniques, equipping you with the understanding and practical competence needed to develop your own research methods and problem-solving techniques.
You will start this module by developing a keen understanding of the structures, properties and reactions of organic molecules. You will expand your knowledge of different types of organic compounds, discover methods for creating new molecules, and be able to describe bonding in organic compounds to predict the reactivity of molecules. You will apply your understanding to the synthesis and chemistry of key functional groups and to the structure, properties and reactivities of biologically important molecules and organic macromolecules.
Content applies to 2023/24 year of study
This module is a self-contained and integrated introduction to models of chemical bonding. Beginning with the origins and history of chemistry, moving forwards through time to discuss contemporary chemical bonding models based on atomic and molecular orbital theory, this module will give students the fundamental tools to discuss structure and bonding across a wide variety of molecules.
The rate (kinetics) and energetics (thermodynamics) of chemical reactions are of central importance in all aspects of chemistry. By considering the energetics of a system it tells us if a process can happen, whilst the kinetics tell us how quickly. Many industrial processes rely on a thorough understanding of chemical change. This module will introduce the student to the fundamentals of chemical change at a level suitable for a Year 1 student.
This module applies fundamental concepts on structure and bonding to molecules and more complex structures in the form of real-world materials. Spanning solid-state materials, transition-metal complexes, macromolecules and soft materials, this module gives students the necessary tools to understand the structure and properties of molecules as a function of atomic properties, bonding and geometry.
This module will provide you with foundation knowledge of organic chemistry. It focuses on the fundamentals of the chemistry of carbon and how it applies to chemical biology as part of the chemistry of life.
This module will provide you with foundation knowledge of organic chemistry. It focuses on the fundamentals of the chemistry of carbon and how it applies to chemical biology as part of the chemistry of life.
This module equips students with essential skills and guidance to select and collaboratively tackle real-world research challenges. Developed in partnership with current students, A-level students, and secondary school teachers, and informed by data from the Royal Society of Chemistry, students will delve into research principles and tools while fostering a growth mindset with mentors from across the University. Throughout the course, they will actively engage in creating, completing, presenting, and reflecting upon their group project, enhancing their teamwork, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
In the 20th century polymer science gave us materials with remarkable and durable properties to the great benefit of humanity. Plastics were fantastic. Now, a green polymer (r)evolution is urgently needed so that plastics will be the material that rebalances the needs and prosperity of humanity with the environmental and sustainable needs of our planet. This module will discuss how different types of plastics are made, what they are used for and why they are the current material of choice. It will discuss the environmental sustainability challenges that we face and how we can find an environmentally-sustainable way forward to live in harmony with a healthier planet.
This module is focused on the fundamentals of the chemistry of carbon and how it applies to chemical biology as part of the chemistry of life.
This module is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the interdisciplinary field that merges the principles of chemistry and biology. Chemical biology explores the intricate relationship between chemical processes and biological systems, elucidating how chemical compounds interact with and affect living organisms at the molecular level. Throughout this module, students will be introduced to fundamental concepts and techniques in chemical biology, enabling them to appreciate the critical role chemistry plays in unravelling complex biological phenomena and advancing the fields of medicine, drug discovery, and biotechnology.
In this module, you will experience more hands-on laboratory investigations as the skills you have developed allow you to conduct more complicated multistep syntheses, learn advanced lab and instrumentation techniques, and take more control and ownership of your work. By the end of this module, you will be able to plan new experiments, set up and monitor instrumentation to record your results, and characterise and assess reactions using spectroscopy alongside other sophisticated techniques. You will also learn to process and present your results in statistical, graphical and written form.
This module will introduce the students to the physical origins of many of the analytical spectroscopic tools in use in a modern chemistry laboratory. The module will discuss several spectroscopic methods which utilize a range of electromagnetic wavelengths, from radio waves to UV/visible light, highlighting the different types of molecular processes probed. The module will introduce some of the quantum-mechanical models which underpin much of our understanding of spectroscopy (including harmonic oscillator and the rigid rotor), and their application to real-life spectroscopy. Student’s knowledge of molecular symmetry and group theory will be developed by discussing its role in molecular structure and bonding, and the interpretation of electronic and vibrational spectra. The module will also provide students with a working knowledge of the various relaxation pathways available to electronically-excited molecules. In addition, the module will link conceptually Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to other discussed types of spectroscopy. The fundamentals of one-dimensional NMR spectroscopy will be introduced in the context of proton and carbon and then expanded to other nuclei in the periodic table. Finally, two-dimensional NMR will be qualitatively introduced.
This module builds on core concepts covered in Year 1 to understand more advanced organic reactions, expanding the synthetic and mechanistic chemistry toolbox and enabling basic design principles, based on retrosynthetic analysis, for the synthesis of simple organic molecules to be understood. The module is split into a number of topics: Aromatic and heterocyclic chemistry, palladium-catalysed cross coupling, alkene chemistry, oxidation and reduction reactions, conformational analysis, carbonyl and enolate chemistry, elimination reactions and physical organic chemistry. Included will also be simple retrosynthesis and synthetic strategies, and industrial applications.
This module will consider chemical bonding in compounds of elements from various parts of the Periodic Table to illustrate how properties arise from their bonding and electronic structure. Complexes of transition-metals will be explored, examining their stability, description of the binding of ligands, mechanism of ligand substitution, and organometallic complexes will be introduced. Solid-state materials will be illustrated using oxides of transition-metals and concepts of crystallography and diffraction used to show how the structure of solids is determined. This will lead to consideration of the electronic structure of solids, including band structure and conductivity.
Macromolecules are central to life. Nature has created natural macromolecules such as cellulose to enable trees and plants to form and DNA and RNA for the evolution and coding of life. Scientists have developed synthetic macromolecules to be used in wide range of materials owing to the physical properties of macromolecules. This module will cover the synthetic concepts and structures of both synthetic and natural macromolecules as well as discussing their use in our daily lives.
The aims of the module are to introduce students to the principles of drug discovery, explaining the stages involved in the drug discovery process, and introducing the major types of biological targets for drug action, and case studies. The module includes an introduction to computational approaches to drug development, and an introduction to antibody-based drugs and the application of antibody technology for medical diagnostics.
This module will introduce students to the critically important role chemists are playing in humanity’s transition to a sustainable way of life and the primary motivations for this transition. The challenges posed by anthropogenic climate change, environmental pollution and the limited supply of natural resources critical to our current way of life will be considered. Sustainable solutions to these challenges for which chemistry is particularly relevant will be considered, including in the areas of sustainable agriculture, tackling water pollution (whilst also meeting growing demand for drinking water), affordable clean energy for all, tackling atmospheric pollution and sustainable chemical feedstocks for our material needs. The topics covered are aligned with the United Nations 17 sustainable development goals, and so this module will serve to highlight the important role chemists are playing in enabling a sustainable future for all, opening their eyes to the broad range of opportunities their chemical education presents for them to contribute to these exciting topics at a critical early stage in their degree.
This module will familiarise students with the science and engineering concepts needed to transfer chemistry reactions from a university lab to an industrial setting. The module focuses on two integrated parts: reactor scale-up (an introduction to chemical reaction engineering) and data processing and analysis (NLLS parametric regression to a specific model with a set of parameters, and Fourier transformations and analysis). Beside the specific scientific concepts, the module will introduce and build the mathematical skills required to be able to comprehend the material. At the same time, we will teach students using Python as a mathematical and coding tool.
The core material will be supported with worked-out example problem sets. The interactive lecture sessions will enhance more profound learning and develop a thorough understanding of the material. Students will be divided into teams for each session to discuss tasks and contribute to the delivered material using interactive methods, such as Vevox.
This module will support your academic progress when you undertake a three-month research placement. You will gain valuable experience, carrying out independent work and developing your transferable skills. As well as undertaking laboratory work, you will improve your academic skills by writing a scientific report on your placement project.
This module will support your academic progress when you undertake a 12-month placement in industry or research. You will gain valuable experience of chemistry in an industrial setting, carrying out independent work and developing your transferable skills. You will improve your academic skills by writing a report on a topic related to the work you carry out in industry.
Here, you will gain the advanced knowledge to allow you to understand and apply empirical rules and models related to the reactions of organic molecules, complex pericyclic reactions, intramolecular cyclisation processes, rearrangement reactions of reactive intermediates, and reactions creating new stereogenic centres by either substrate, reagent or catalyst control.
This advanced module will help you to understand the issues affecting industrial catalytic reactions. You will study the application of organometallic chemistry and physical chemistry (particularly kinetics), drawing together aspects of this work developed in year two, and extending your understanding to the types of reactions and catalysis used widely in chemical industries, such as those concerned with petrochemicals, polymers, fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Here, you will meet two advanced topics in physical chemistry: interfacial chemistry and molecular modelling. You will study a range of surface and interfacial processes, including both solid and liquid interfaces, and learn about advanced experimental methods for characterising them. You will learn the key concepts in molecular dynamics simulations, including periodic boundaries, integration algorithms and thermodynamic ensembles. A significant aspect of this module is to demonstrate the importance of surface processes in chemistry and the borders of chemical engineering, biomedical science, materials science and physics. As well as standard lectures, these aims will be supported by experimental laboratory sessions which have an emphasis on designing and implementing experiments.
You will focus on the theoretical and practical aspects of instrumental analytical techniques, including data generation, acquisition, interpretation, instrumentation and state-of-the-art applications. You will consider the techniques of chromatography, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in both lecture and workshops. As part of your studies, you will learn to test hypotheses, use databases and software independently, analyse your findings and improve your ability to communicate these in written form.
Here, you will study the core modules in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry, supported by our virtual learning environment. Representative topics in Organic Chemistry include pericyclic reactions, cyclisation processes, reactive intermediates, and stereogenic centres. In Inorganic Chemistry, you will study organometallic chemistry, catalysis and kinetics, and in Physical Chemistry you will study interfacial chemistry and molecular modelling.
A transformation in the way that we produce and use energy has just begun that is going to unfold over the next 2-3 decades, motivated primarily by the urgent need to address the threat posed by climate change. Following an introduction to the wider context, the chemistry of a series of technologies, spanning energy generation, energy storage and energy use will be discussed.
Through the presentation of case studies by major pharmaceutical companies, you will learn to understand and articulate current advances in drug design, development and discovery, including the techniques used to support each of these. You will gain important transferable skills, including effective teamwork and the presentation of a topic related to drug discovery in oral and written form.
You will build on your previous practical chemistry work by choosing two further optional practical modules. Your studies will see you using a range of resources to design synthetic and measurement experiments, and performing advanced synthetic techniques such as column chromatography, manipulation of air-sensitive compounds and emulsion polymerisation. You will complete this module with a poster presentation on a piece of published research work.
Innovation 101 is an introductory level module that equips students with the foundational principles, tools, and the mindset needed to drive innovation in any field or organisation. This module supports the development of Chemistry students as adaptable, innovative, and impact-focused professionals for the evolving workplace of the 21st century.
This module builds on core concepts covered in Year 1 and Year 2 to understand range of advance inorganic, organic and hybrid materials. The content will be divided based on parts of the mobile phone. e.g touch screen, data storage, capacitors, transistors, microphone/speakers, receivers/transmitters but with some functional materials having multiple applications. The final section will be focussed on going beyond Moore’s Law and emerging materials and technologies.
This module builds on core concepts covered in Year 1 and Year 2 modules and laboratories and expands knowledge and understanding of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. The module is divided into 3 core topics, which are interspersed with short revision/introduction sessions. The lectures will be supported by problem based workshops.
Following on from the corresponding Year 1 and 2 laboratory modules, students will undertake a series of multi-day experiments designed to consolidate and advance chemistry-relevant practical skills in, and related-to, laboratory work. By undertaking this module, students will gain confidence and greater experience in many of the following:
This module builds on core concepts covered in Year 1 and Year 2 modules and laboratories and expands knowledge and understanding of modern analytical methods and techniques as applied to real-world challenges. Each lecture will be driven by a “challenge” ranging from collection and preparation of a representative sample (e.g. in an environmental setting where sample concentration might depend on the rain levels, or in space or on another planet), through data acquisition (how to choose appropriate technique and method for the sample) to data analysis and interpretation. The challenge-driven lectures will be supported by practical workshops on data interpretation and analysis.
This module will describe the state-of-the-art in interfacial chemistry and electrochemistry; both are key to advances in nanotechnology, energy conversion, electrosynthesis, pollutant removal from water systems etc. Many of the concepts covered in this course are used practically in industrial and technology companies cutting across energy, environmental, pharma and healthcare.
The module will introduce the student to the importance of the interface in (electro)chemical processes of importance. This module as well as providing the fundamentals, will highlight wide ranging key applications of societal importance.
This module builds on concepts covered in Year 1 and Year 2 modules and expands knowledge and understanding of molecular simulations, electronic structure calculations and machine learning. The module includes numerous “case studies” to both diversify the content and highlight the usefulness of computational chemistry in research contexts and industrial scenarios.
This module builds on concepts covered in Year 1 and Year 2 modules and laboratories, and expands knowledge and understanding of synthetic methods for designing and creating functional polymers, their macromolecular architectures and functionalities and real world applications. The lectures will be supported by practical workshops and case studies.
This module builds on core concepts covered in Year 1 and Year 2 to understand more advanced organic reactions, expanding the synthetic chemistry toolbox and enabling complex design principles, with reference to retrosynthetic analysis, for the synthesis of functional organic molecules to be understood.
This module builds on concepts covered in Year 2 modules and laboratories and expands knowledge and understanding of Bio-Organic and Bio-Inorganic Chemistry. The module is split into 2 coherent topics that draw upon each other. The lectures will be supported by practical workshops and case studies.
This module builds on core concepts covered in Year 1 and Year 2 modules and laboratories and expands knowledge and understanding of broad aspects of chemistry, while relating them to a real-world challenge and contexts.
The module content will be delivered remotely and will contain taught lecture elements of selected Year 3 Chemistry options, covering a breadth of topics.
For 2025-26 these will be CH3H1 Analytical Science for Global Challenges, CH3G9 Catalysis, and CH3H5 Designing and Making Functional Organic Molecules.
Gaining practical experience in an academic research laboratory is an excellent way for a trainee scientist to further their skills and gain valuable information enabling them to make informed career choices. Students undertaking this module are expected to carry out a significant piece of research work or project which is written up as a report.
You will carry out an extended research project under the supervision of an academic in an area reflecting your interests. You will become competent in original research practice, including evaluating literature, designing practical or computational experiments, analysing and assessing your results and drawing conclusions to set against the current field. You will learn to present your findings in discussion and debate, and to complete report-writing to a high standard.
You will deepen your understanding of current research in medicinal chemistry, and develop your ability to evaluate published literature, using your knowledge of organic, mechanistic and medicinal chemistry. You will be encouraged to be original in applying your knowledge to the solution of research problems. You will learn to communicate your findings in discussion, presentation and writing, and have substantial opportunities to work independently on a specific research topic, such as molecular mechanisms of action, of drugs targeting ribosomal machinery, cholesterol biosynthesis, or the principles and methods of drug discovery.
This module aims to help you develop your programming skills, regardless of your starting skill level. You will develop problem solving skills through the lens of procedural and object-oriented programming. Using the Java programming language, you will engage with practical work that shall enable you to learn concepts such as classes, encapsulations, arrays, inheritance and advanced topics such as multi-threading and reflection. By engaging with the Warwick Robot Maze environment, you can expect to gain skills in errors analysis and debugging that will help you produce well-designed and well-tested code.
Following on from Programming for Computer Scientists, on the fundamentals of programming, this module will teach you all about data structures and how to program them. We will look at how we can represent data structures efficiently and how we can apply formal reasoning to them. You will also study algorithms that use data structures. Successful completion will see you able to understand the structures and concepts underpinning object-oriented programming, and able to write programs that operate on large data sets.
A sound knowledge of mathematical reasoning is an essential skill for computer scientists. Bridging the gap in style and content between school and university mathematics, this module will enable you to understand the basic terminology, as well as the role of formal definitions, statements, and proofs in problem solving. You will become familiar with common mathematical operations, elementary set theory and graph theory, relations, and functions. You will also practice common proof techniques, laying the foundation for your ability to reason rigorously about computational and algorithmic techniques.
A sound knowledge of mathematical reasoning is an essential skill for computer scientists. Bridging the gap in style and content between A Level and university mathematics, this module will enable you to understand the basic terminology, and the role of formal definitions and mathematical functions in problem-solving. You will become familiar with common mathematical operations, elementary set theory and graph theory, relations, and the axiomatic method. You will also practice common proof techniques, laying the foundation for your ability to reason rigorously about the correctness of computational and algorithmic techniques.
Read more about the Sets and Proofs moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
You will gain a fundamental understanding of the functional components of a computer system, and how they are organised. You will focus on hardware and how it performs during the execution of software operations. You will also develop practical skills in the use and construction of computer components, and their interface with microprocessors. By the end of the module, you will be expected to understand the operation and organisation of electronic logic elements, the architecture of simple microprocessors, input/output mechanisms, memory systems and hierarchies, and digital circuits and their interface with microprocessors.
You will gain a basic understanding of operating systems, together with a working knowledge of the computing systems and their associated tools and applications that will be used within the Department of Computer Science. With these foundations in place, you will then develop your communication skills, both in writing and orally, with due attention paid to appropriate academic and technical language. You will complete the course studying ethics and behaviour, looking at the place of computers in society and the legal aspects of computing.
Computer Science is founded on logic and abstract machines (automata) to solve computational problems. Whether a computational problem is tractable in the first place or not, requires, for example, understanding of what Turing machines are, and of concepts such as decidability, reducibility and the halting problem. In this module, you will be introduced to formal methods for specifying and analysing the behaviour of computational systems, through studying algorithms and proof calculi for verification, as well as associated techniques, such as propositional and predicate logic and comparing the semantics of a variety of logics. In addition to learning about the basic connections between mathematical logic, formal languages, automata theory and verification by model checking, you will also learn and practise proof techniques for reasoning about the limits of various computational models.
Computer Science is founded on logic and abstract machines (automata) to solve computational problems. Whether a computational problem is tractable in the first place or not, requires, for example, understanding of what Turing machines are, and of concepts such as decidability, reducibility and the halting problem. In this module, you will be introduced to formal methods for specifying and analysing the behaviour of computational systems, through studying algorithms and proof calculi for verification, as well as associated techniques, such as propositional and predicate logic and comparing the semantics of a variety of logics. In addition to learning about the basic connections between mathematical logic, formal languages, automata theory and verification by model checking, you will also learn and practise proof techniques for reasoning about the limits of various computational models.
Discrete mathematics includes the study of logic, algorithmic thinking, sets and finite calculus. The focus of this module is on the application of these concepts in relation to algorithms and data structures in modern computer science. The tools taught in this module provide a core foundation that will allow you to grow your understanding of mathematical and algorithmic processes and be able to apply them in problem-solving. You’ll acquire knowledge on a broad range or core principles, such as logic, sets, relations and functions. As well as this, more advanced topics such as summation techniques (manipulations and finite calculus), asymptotics and big-O notation are covered.
In this module, you will spend equal time studying the fundamental concepts of modern-day operating systems and computer networks respectively. With a practical bent, this will mean analysing the generic requirements, structure, operation and administration of a modern operating system. Whilst analysing, designing and writing programs in the light of network requirements and protocols; such as system interfaces, concurrency, deadlock detection and recovery, and security threats. Turning to networks, you will learn the relevant factors relating to LANs and WANs and wireless networks, client-server systems, routing algorithms, socket programming, and network management relating to performance, security and monitoring.
This module is concerned with studying properties of graphs and digraphs from an algorithmic perspective. The focus is on understanding basic properties of graphs that can be used to design efficient algorithms. The problems considered will be typically motivated by algorithmic/computer science/IT applications.
Focusing on growing your knowledge of hardware, with an emphasis on system design and performance, you will be studying the principles underpinning system organisations, issues in design, and the contrasting implementations of modern systems. Successful completion will see you equipped to discuss the organisation of computer-based systems, different processor architectures and system-level design processes. You’ll gain a grounding in the components and operations of memory hierarchies, and the operation of parallel computer systems, including multiprocessor and multicore systems. There are opportunities to increase your systems programming skills, and study advanced topics in memory, processor architecture and parallel computer organisation.
During this module, you will learn how relational database theory can be used to efficiently organise and retrieve large amounts of data. This includes a study of different relational query languages and practical experience of the SQL language that is widely used in industry. Successful completion will see you equipped to create appropriate, efficient database designs for a range of applications and to translate informal queries into formal notation. You will have learned to identify appropriate data constraints to ensure the integrity of the database and to mitigate various common security threats.
Data structures and algorithms are fundamental to programming and to understanding computation. In this module, you will use sophisticated theoretical and practical tools to apply algorithmic techniques to computational problems. By the close of the module, you'll have used a variety of data structures to underpin the design and implementation of algorithms, including analysis of their performance and proving their correctness. You can expect to learn about elementary graph, greedy, and divide-and-conquer algorithms, as well as dynamic programming and network flows. You will also learn what constitutes efficient and effective computation - a foundational concept for the development of solutions to real-world problems and for understanding the wider field of theoretical computer science.
Centred on teamwork, you will concentrate on applying software engineering principles to develop a significant software system with your peers from feasibility studies through modelling, design, implementation, evaluation, maintenance and evolution. You’ll focus on design quality, human–computer interaction, technical evaluation, teamwork and project management. With a deeper appreciation of the stages of the software life-cycle, you’ll gain skills to design object-oriented software using formal modelling and notation. You will be taught the principles of graphical user interface and user-centred design, and be able to evaluate projects in the light of factors ranging from technical accomplishment and project management, to communication and successful teamwork.
This module follows on from CS130 Discrete Mathematics for Computer Scientists. Linear and matrix algebra, sequences and series, and calculus are the cornerstones of mathematics that are required to solve a wide range of computational problems. In this module, you will learn how to carry out mathematical proofs, use effective techniques for the analysis and transformation of vector spaces, solve sets of linear equations, and perform operations of differential and integral calculus with confidence.
This module introduces core probability and statistics concepts which are needed in many key aspects of computer science. You will learn about the basic probability concepts, such as discrete and continuous random variables, conditional probabilities, and density and distribution functions. These will help you to understand stochastic processes (Poisson processes and Markov chains) and basic concepts in statistics, such as Frequentist and Bayesian approaches, estimation, and hypothesis testing. Upon completion you will be able to demonstrate how you can formalise selected computational problems in terms of probabilistic and statistical models.
Are you ready for a challenge? In this module, you’ll learn to analyse the intrinsic difficulty of various computational challenges, and to specify variations that may be more tractable. This will require you to learn notions of the complexity of algorithms, and what makes some computational problems harder than others. You’ll undertake a close study of what makes an algorithm efficient, and study various models of computation, in particular, models of classical deterministic and non-deterministic computations.
In this project-based module, you will gain experience in designing, developing and implementing a significant project, under supervision. From submission of the outline and detailed specification, you will produce regular deliverables throughout, before presenting your final results. This is an excellent opportunity to develop important employability skills, including independent learning, self-discipline, organisation and time management.
Through this practical module, you’ll gain experience in undertaking a significant individual design and development exercise in discrete mathematics, from conception through to design, implementation and delivery. Starting with the selection of a topic and location of a suitable supervisor, you will produce regular deliverables throughout, before presenting your final results. In addition to enhancing your technical knowledge, this process will help you develop important skills such as self-discipline, time management, organisation and professional communications.
In this project-based module, you will gain experience in designing, developing and implementing a significant project, under supervision. From submission of the outline and detailed specification, you will produce regular deliverables throughout, before presenting your final results. This is an excellent opportunity to develop important employability skills, including independent learning, self-discipline, organisation and time management.
In this module, you will gain the knowledge required to manage technical projects, using well-established project management techniques. You will have practical opportunities to apply methods such as defining measurable objectives, identifying and engaging stakeholders, scheduling, budgeting, resource allocation, risk assessment and mitigation, and post-project evaluation and monitoring. By the end of the module, you can expect to appreciate the benefits of effective project management, understand the risks and budgetary and resource constraints. Also, you will have the ability to evaluate a project against the measurable success criteria you have devised yourself.
In this module, you will gain an introductory understanding of approximation and randomised algorithms, which often provide a simple, viable alternative to standard algorithms. You’ll learn the mathematical foundations underpinning the design and analysis of such algorithms. Whilst gaining experience of using suitable mathematical tools to design approximation algorithms and analyse their performance. You’ll also learn techniques for designing faster but weaker algorithms for particular situations, such as large running times. You can expect to cover important concepts, including linearity of expectation, Chernoff bounds, and deterministic and randomised rounding of linear programs.
This module offers you involvement in a team project, such as might be expected of you in a working environment, with experience in managing teamwork, problem-solving skills and individual initiative. You will devise a project in response to the needs of a ‘customer’, normally an industrial partner, and will be closely involved in the specification and running of the project. The project themes offer you scope for interdisciplinary and collaborative activities and require a mature knowledge of computer science and its applications. On successful completion of your group project, you will have had valuable experience of teamwork, improved interpersonal and communication skills, awareness of the various issues arising from the work required to complete a significant project, and improved skills of written communication through the co-authoring of a substantial report.
This is a core module for first-year undergraduates reading for the degree QW38 English Literature and Creative Writing. The module is 100% fully assessed. The module complements The Written World and prepares you for the more specialist writing modules in years two and three such as Composition and Creative Writing, The Practice of Poetry, The Practice of Fiction and The Personal Writing Project. The module also complements other academic optional modules in which writing, imitation, rhetoric or translation may be practised or studied.
This module will introduce students on the BA in English Literature and Creative Writing to ideas and theories from literary studies, linguistics, critical theory, translation studies and cultural studies that will underpin more specialised scholarly and creative study in the second and third years.
You will develop your fiction and non-fiction writing through practice of the processes involved, from inception, through drafting and revision, to considerations of audience. You will gain insights into narrative form, including traditional and experimental methods.
The Personal Writing Project will see you working closely with a practitioner to advance your technical and critical skills in the development of a portfolio of work focused on a specific genre. You will gain an appreciation of the research and methodology needed for large-scale creative works and in so doing, gain the maturity and confidence to advance your career as a professional writer.
Students entering with Latin A Level will take the module Latin Literary Texts. This allows you to develop your understanding of Latin by further reading of significant works by authors and in genres which, for the most part, you will not have previously studied. As well as developing your ability to read Latin more fluently and to translate from Latin, the module also teaches you advanced grammar, and offers an ambitious introduction to literary criticism and philological analysis at degree level.
You will be introduced to the central themes of Greek and Roman history, from Greek prehistory to the beginning of the Roman Empire. You will gain a broad chronological understanding of the ancient world, and good knowledge of the range of evidence and methodologies used to analyse its historical events and cultural practices. You will also develop advanced skills in analysing evidence, crafting an argument and presenting your ideas coherently and fluently.
The purpose of this module is to build upon A Level Ancient Greek and allow you to both broaden and deepen your understanding of Greek by further reading of significant works in genres that, for the most part, you will have not previously studied. As well as developing your ability to translate from Greek, the module includes discussion of literary and grammatical points.
This module introduces students of all backgrounds to the vast panorama of Greek culture, from Homeric times to the coming of Rome. It explores some of the most distinctive features of Greek culture and its social institutions, from the polis, festivals and religion, to mythology, sport and the performance of poetry, while encouraging students to consider the degrees of continuity and difference between ancient Greek culture and their own beliefs and practices. The module is designed to provide a framework within which you can develop your own individual interests in the second and third years.
This module explores what was distinctively ‘Roman’ about Roman culture and society, both in Rome itself and throughout its empire, from Britain to Bulgaria, and from the Nile to the Euphrates. The module introduces students of all backgrounds to topics from the late first century BC to the early third century AD, investigating the impact on Roman society of the emergence of sole rulers and dynastic powers, and the gradual opening up of society to provincials. It considers a range of evidence, from poetry to graffiti, monuments to religious artefacts, and is designed to provide a framework within which you can develop your own individual interests in the second and third years.
This module provides you with the tools you need to approach and interpret the material culture of the ancient world, including buildings, artworks, inscriptions and everyday objects. We look at objects and buildings from their creation to their use and rediscovery, considering issues such as the materials used, production and consumption; style, form and iconography, and contexts of discovery and use. We explore the many questions we can ask of material culture, and the insights it provides into the history and society of the ancient Mediterranean.
This module introduces students to the breadth and variety of ancient thought – investigating the ways in which the ancient Greeks and Romans articulated their thinking and their beliefs, about themselves and the worlds around them. We survey the cultural and intellectual contours of the ancient Graeco-Roman world from the presocratics through to late antiquity, and investigate not just the origins and development of philosophical thinking, but also developments in scientific investigation.
This module, taught in translation, introduces students to many different kinds of ancient Greek texts across a wide variety of genres and forms, including epic, drama, lyric, historiography, rhetoric. The module will also allow students to explore critically the range of methodologies and approaches used in the interpretation of ancient texts both within and beyond original cultural and political contexts.
This module, taught in translation, introduces students to many different kinds of Latin texts written in a variety of genres and forms, including historiographical, epigraphic and rhetorical texts, and literary texts in poetry and prose, from the canonical to the marginal and ‘sub-literary’. As well as expanding awareness of the Latin texts classicists study across different sub-fields (for instance, philology, archaeology, ancient history), the module will explore critically the range of methodologies and approaches used in the interpretation of ancient texts in their cultural and political contexts, and allow students to test out these skills in their own responses to texts.
Students entering with Latin A Level will take the module Latin Literary Texts. This allows you to develop your understanding of Latin by further reading of significant works by authors and in genres which, for the most part, you will not have previously studied. As well as developing your ability to read Latin more fluently and to translate from Latin, the module also teaches you advanced grammar, and offers an ambitious introduction to literary criticism and philological analysis at degree level. Students without A-level Latin will take the accelerated modules Latin Language I and II.
Students without a qualification in Greek will take Greek Language I and II:
These accelerated modules will teach you the fundamental elements of Ancient Greek in a clear and accessible way. By the end of the year you will be able you to read and translate passages of original Greek with accuracy and confidence, will have a firm knowledge of Greek vocabulary and syntax, and will be able to begin to appreciate pieces of Classical Greek prose in their original unadapted form.
Students with A-level Greek will take Greek Literary Texts:
The purpose of this module is to build upon your prior study, to allow you both to broaden and deepen your understanding of Greek by further reading of significant works in major genres of archaic and Classical Greek literature, and to hone skills of critical interpretation. Additionally, the module will consolidate knowledge of grammar and syntax through work in class on classical Greek prose-writing.
This module builds upon A Level Latin, and allows you to develop your understanding of Latin by further reading of significant works by authors and in genres which, for the most part, you will not have previously studied. As well as developing your ability to read Latin more fluently and to translate from Latin, the module also teaches you advanced grammar, and offers an ambitious introduction to literary criticism and philological analysis at degree level.
This module offers the opportunity to learn the basics of the Latin language and is designed for students who have little or no previous experience of the language.
The campaigns of Alexander the Great transformed the Greek world, creating an empire that stretched from the Adriatic to the Himalayas. Through this module, you will explore the political histories, power structures, cultural developments and ideologies of the period, and gain critical insight into the evidence from which our understanding of Hellenistic culture and history is constructed. This will lead to an increased appreciation of how the Hellenistic world helped shape the Roman world and beyond.
This is the core module is designed to offer you the opportunity to produce research on a topic of your choice. You will receive one-to-one research supervision with an expert academic who will help you to craft your ideas into a significant research paper. This module enables you to examine and explore any aspect of the Classical world that you find particularly fascinating.
What is at stake in the fluidity of the metamorphic body? What does it tell us about conceptions of origins, science, politics, gender, the human and the animal, the animate and the inanimate? This module explores some instances of metamorphosis in Latin literature, and especially in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, with a focus on how Latin authors attempt to define and at the same time stretch the boundaries of what it means to be human. Special attention will also be paid to the political power of metamorphosis to disrupt hierarchical relations, dismantling old boundaries and creating new ones. Please note that the module will include discussion of sensitive topics such as sexual violence and gender identity.
Explores the diverse theories and practices of designing, the designed world, the impact of design on people, and the challenges and ambitions that motivate designing. You will examine the contextual backdrop to the formation of design as discourse, practice and profession, question the globalisation of design, the similarities and differences between different forms of designing, design professions, and everyday designing. You will develop critical and creative capabilities for responding to the designed world. You will learn from experience and practice, from visiting diverse locations, and encountering innovative designs and designers who have worked on national and international projects.
Explores design practice from holistic and reductionist perspectives, their relationship and critiques, and discovers diverse forms of thinking and making in design. You will explore design as a multi-disciplinary endeavour through considerations of impact on personal practice and methodologies, social and life-centred design as well as systemic design. This module challenges you to consider design practices from the artefact to the system level and gain an understanding of positionality of design and innovation on a micro, meso and macro level.
You will explore how design has impacted the world, solved and created problems and how design processes evolve to respond to the world's ever more complex challenges. This is done through collaborative and individual design challenges which will allow you to explore and test diverse and inventive methods to design and system thinking. You will undertake a journey of unlearning, experimenting, play and curiosity. This is a studio module which manoeuvres you into designerly ways of thinking, making and knowing.
Introduces you to the distinct yet overlapping disciplines of Service and UX Design from a digital development angle. You will learn about common and emerging research and processes from the industry through live briefs, which will guide you from research concept to realisation. The module will challenge you to use design methods to conceptually and visually capture the social paradigm of designing and you'll learn how to navigate the needs of diverse groups who might have been at mismatch in current systems. You will develop and propose a UX digital or hybrid solution to a service problem.
Introduces you to the visual research and making methods to support you towards building a professional and academic design skillset and mindset. This module aims to develop your capabilities in visual reasoning, compositing, curating and rendering to support your further practice and prepare you for a specialisation process starting on L5.
There is an enormous responsibility on designers to gain a better understanding and relationship with the eco-systems around us in order to engage with new design ecologies and regenerative practices which foster a culture of repair and replenishment. This module will take you on a journey of regeneration by exploring methods and approaches in sustainable architecture, life-centred product and UX design, visual communication for change, alongside other disciplines through intricate practice-led design briefs.
Explores approaches to materials through a transdisciplinary lens and an international perspective. It combines theoretical and practical approaches that call on both the sciences and the humanities to consider and interact with materials. You can pursue a diverse series of routes assessing the lives of materials through their qualities and transformations and will learn from a range of people who work professionally with materials in their academic and professional careers.
Aims to provide you with a transdisciplinary approach to spatial design and management that encourages you to think about geographical 'space' as a more dynamic and populated environment than it might traditionally have been considered. You will work with the understanding of agency from your own perspective but also those of others in the human and more-than-human environment.
Learn more about our Spatial Agency module on our Design Studies website.Link opens in a new window
Fosters your development in becoming a 'designerly' agent for change through engagement with your local and regional communities. You will learn a range of approaches to participatory design, social action and entrepreneurship through investigating philosophies, methodologies, and case studies. The aims of this module are to give you the opportunity to explore and test methods shaping your emerging specialist design practice and helping you build your own designerly methodology.
A deep dive into world building and a holistic practice-led enquiry into how society and its systems are designed. You will research, analyse and design your own future city. This module aims to develop your sense-making capabilities through design methods and practices by fostering your design mindset and skillset in contexts of designing for a sustainable and regenerative future.
This module introduces you to systemic practice towards understanding how to research a system and its models, how to read and scope a system, how to map and synthesise it and scope design interventions in multiple areas of leverage towards systems change. The module is linked to real life contexts of local and regional communities.
A deep dive into world building and a holistic practice-led enquiry into how society and its systems are designed. You will research, analyse and design your own future city. This module aims to develop your sense-making capabilities through design methods and practices by fostering your design mindset and skillset in contexts of designing for a sustainable and regenerative future.
You will inhabit a range of methodological approaches throughout this module and will be encouraged to experiment with traditional and novel methods of design research to understand the importance of serious play.
This will allow you to more fully understand and hone your own research methods, relevant to your own interests and project aspirations. Ethical issues will be embedded throughout the module, encouraging you to consider, address and critique your own standpoints and perspectives. This module will also work with you to explore and understand structures for research funding.
This module explores how designers, in a variety of contexts, act entrepreneurially to negotiate a range of economic, social, and environmental factors that impact their practice. You will explore, and compare how different design businesses operate, the skills, mindset, and capabilities of those that lead them, the challenges that both leaders and businesses face, and how they address them. You will reflect on this knowledge, and how it can inform your own future career, to formulate a plan for your own personal and professional development.
This end of course project challenges you to bring all your learning together, and to apply it to a significant design challenge requiring descriptive, analytical, critical and creative responses. This project faces global challenges, focussing on systemic challenges relating to sustainable innovation goals, whilst using established and inventive methods. This will give you the opportunity to apply and reflect on your acquired knowledge and methods.
This module aims to encourage you to build a comprehensive understanding of fundamental concepts, skills, and methodologies crucial for the design of effective policies and governance structures. You will be challenged to develop proficiency in policy analysis, explore various governance models, and master the stages of the policy design process. This module addresses the role of public administration, regulatory policy and compliance issues, and explores innovative governance approaches. Emphasis is placed on ethical considerations, social justice, social design and equity in policy design.
Through practical applications, including case studies, exercises, and practice-led learning, you will be challenged to apply theoretical and practical knowledge to real-world scenarios concerning the three pillars of sustainability: economy, society and environment. This module also focuses on developing policy evaluation skills and provides a global perspective on policy and governance challenges, preparing you to tackle emerging trends and future complexities in the field.
The aims of this module are for you to gain a deep understanding of how to identify strategic problems in an organisation, how to frame these as design questions and apply a multi-solving, networked and systems thinking underpinned approach to ideation and solution implementation. The design process will take you through diverse critical lenses of the pillars of sustainability, encompassing aspects of the social, economic and environmental.
Have you ever considered how the global economy got to be where it is today? In this module, you will acquire a broad understanding of the development of the world economy over the last millennium to the present day. You will take the long view of changes in global income and population and critically examine the forces that explain economic success of some regions and the obstacles that have hindered economic advancement in others. You will scrutinise the interaction between rich countries and the rest of the world and consider the role of domestic issues and foreign policy on economic outcomes. You will complete this module with a strong understanding of the evolution of the world economy as well as the use of theory and empirical analysis in economics research. There are also opportunities to pursue areas of individual interest.
The focus of this module is mainly on economic theory but "real world" applications of relevant theories will also be examined, subject to time limitations. The module covers aspects of microeconomics and macroeconomics. Microeconomics is concerned with the economic behaviour of individual consumers and producing firms, and their interaction in markets for goods, services and factors of production. Macroeconomics, on the other hand, is concerned with aggregate economic variables or the workings of the national economy as a whole such as Gross Domestic Product, unemployment, inflation and interest rates, and with government economic policies to influence these variables.
This module allows students to develop an understanding of fundamental and intermediate concepts in micro and macroeconomics. Students will consider topics using descriptive, graphical and mathematical methods and will learn how to apply topics to real-world problems. Students will learn how to build economic models that help us to better understand the world around us. You will study both consumer and firm behaviour, as well as the role of government in affecting markets and the impact this has on welfare. The role of government in using fiscal and monetary policy to steer the macroeconomy will be analysed. You will also learn about a range of models that consider social preferences over inflation and unemployment, economic growth in both a historical and global perspective and the interaction between macroeconomic objectives, such as inflation and unemployment.
You will consider the fundamental determinants of national income, employment, the price level and the foreign balance in the short and long run within a framework of active learning of economic theory and modelling. By the module’s end, you should have become familiar with a range of macroeconomic issues, including topics on theories of consumption and investment, government finances, the Phillips curve, and monetary rules. You will use both graphical and mathematical techniques to analyse a range of macroeconomic issues and will learn how to apply your knowledge to construct models that aim to explain macroeconomic phenomenon both nationally and internationally.
In this module, you will gain a thorough grounding in the principles of microeconomics, using graphical, mathematical and intuitive approaches. You will study consumer theory, thinking about how individuals make choices and how government policy can influence those choices, through the study of behavioural economics. You will analyse the theory of production, developing an understanding of cost minimisation techniques and profit maximisation. These topics will enable you to build models of the market and consider the different ways in which consumers and firms behave and how governments can influence that behaviour. You will develop an understanding of game theory and strategic behaviour and will consider many applications of how this and other topics are used in practice in both the private and public sector.
This module combines two modules: Mathematical Techniques and Statistical Techniques. Students have the choice between an A and B stream of these modules, depending on their mathematical background and training. In both streams you will cover topics ranging from algebra and calculus to distributions and hypothesis testing, which will provide you with the key skills and knowledge that will then be applied in further modules. In addition, you will be introduced to some advanced statistical software packages, which will help you to learn about a range of techniques to analyse data and the different ways in which you can present data.
Read more about these modules, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study):
This module combines two modules: Mathematical Techniques B and Statistical Techniques B. The topics you will cover range from algebra and calculus to distributions and hypothesis testing, which will provide you with the key skills and knowledge that will then be applied in further modules. In addition, you will be introduced to some advanced statistical software packages, which will help you to learn about a range of techniques to analyse data and the different ways in which you can present data.
Read more about these modules, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study):
This module will provide you with an introduction to statistical ideas in economic and social studies, probability theory and techniques of statistical inference. By the end of the module you'll be able to demonstrate an awareness of statistical ideas and a foundation in statistics.
This module provides students with a thorough understanding in basic principles of statistics. You will gain an understanding of probability theory, calculating moments of univariate and multivariate distributions (including some commonly used special distributions), hypothesis testing and confidence intervals. You will learn how to use statistical packages to present statistical data in a meaningful way (tables, graphs) and how to develop hypothesis tests from the data.
You will be given the opportunity to study the essential fundamental concepts in micro and macroeconomics relevant to the study of business. You will develop analytical skills and apply analytical techniques to real world business problems.
The module provides an introduction to mathematical techniques appropriate for joint honour degrees with Economics. You will gain understanding of key concepts in univariate and multivariate calculus, optimization, and linear algebra, and how they are applied within economics. You will also develop appropriate maths-related technical computing skills.
Students will be given the opportunity to develop the requisite quantitative skills for a rigorous study of contemporary economics, including univariate and multivariate calculus, constrained optimization and matrix algebra. The module incorporates both the essential mathematical methods as well as illustrative economic applications. You will also develop appropriate maths-related technical computing skills.
This module builds on the first-year Macroeconomics module, EC108, and develops your understanding of how modern economies function and how macroeconomic policy is designed and implemented. You will study both closed and open economies and examine how the decisions of households, firms, and governments shape economic outcomes over time and across countries. The module focuses on the key forces that drive economic growth, inflation, unemployment, and international trade in today’s global economy. It introduces the core models that economists use to analyse these issues, and that form the foundation of modern macroeconomic research and policy analysis. Throughout the module, economic theory is closely linked to current debates and real policy challenges. This will help you develop strong analytical skills and a clear understanding of how macroeconomics is used to interpret the world and guide economic policy.
In this module, you will develop your knowledge from the first year Microeconomics module, EC109, continuing to use both mathematical and graphical techniques and applying your knowledge in different policy areas. You will gain a solid understanding of intermediate and The analysis of markets that was covered in the first year will be developed to consider interactions between markets via general equilibrium analysis. You will consider key principles of welfare economics and will look at how governments can intervene in the economy to address a range of market failures. We will develop models of consumer behaviour to consider issues of risk and uncertainty and how this affects consumer choice and the role of insurance in addressing these problems. A range of advanced topics in game theory will be analysed, including both static and dynamic games, and games with incomplete information.
You'll learn important skills of both academic and vocational value, an essential part of the intellectual training of an economist and social scientist, and also useful for your future career. These skills include awareness of the empirical approach to economics and social science; reviewing and extending fundamental statistical concepts; methods of data collection and analysis; regression analysis, its extensions and applications; and use of statistical packages such as STATA. You will then be able to apply this knowledge to a research project of your own.
In this module, you'll develop a deeper understanding of some of the key economic concepts introduced in EC107 (Economics 1) but will also be introduced to new concepts in both micro- and macroeconomic analysis. Many choices that we make as consumers are uncertain and you will develop models that allow us to consider risk and uncertainty and how this affects consumer behaviour. Analysis of markets from the first year will be developed to consider how markets interact with each other via general equilibrium models and the implications this has for social welfare. Your understanding of game theory will be developed to analyse the strategic behaviour of firms. You will learn about the three-equation macro model, as well as developing your knowledge of open economies, labour markets and counter-inflation policy. Countries are affected by the macro policies implemented around the world and this module enables you to take a global perspective on a range of issues.
Mathematical Economics 1A, "Game Theory," is an introduction to the rigorous mathematical study of strategic interactions. Students will learn how game theorists model such interactions, and how those models can be analyzed. By the end of the module, they will have developed a formidable toolbox of game-theoretic techniques, and will be familiar with a variety of applications of these techniques to real-world situations, both economic and otherwise.
In this module, you will develop your knowledge from the first year Statistical Techniques module, EC124. This module will equip you with the skills that are of both academic and vocational value, and are essential parts of the training of an economist and key employability skills. These will include an awareness of the empirical approach to economics; understanding the nature of uncertainty and methods of dealing with it; and using econometric software packages (Stata and R) as tools of quantitative and statistical analysis. With these skills you will be able to critically appraise work in applied economics, and you’ll have a good grasp of the challenges encountered in applied modelling. You will then be able to apply this knowledge to a research project.
Microeconomics enables students to develop a deeper understanding of microeconomic concepts introduced in first-year analysis. It introduces students to new concepts and develops their understanding of more complex micro concepts, such as general equilibrium analysis and game theory. Topics covered may include consumer theory, choice under uncertainty, market failures, and competition and firm behaviour.
This module enables students to develop a deeper understanding of macroeconomic concepts introduced in first-year analysis. New concepts in intermediate macroeconomic analysis will be introduced including more complex macro concepts, such as the open economy. The students will also gain understanding of the application of macroeconomics to policy and be equipped with a range of appropriate analytical skills, including descriptive, graphical and mathematical methods. The students will develop the capacity to apply analytical techniques to real world problems.
You will explore the relationship between economics and politics, including through critiquing theory and examining real-life phenomena from the post-war period to the present. You will gain an informed understanding of the differences and complementarities in economic and political analysis and their impact on economic performance, including through close study of the effects of globalisation on the autonomy of national economic policy, and the impacts of inflation, unemployment, market failure, migration, the welfare state, income distribution, corruption and public finance. We aim for you to acquire the knowledge and analytical skills needed for a career in government, the media, the financial services sector, business associations or industry.
This module provides students with an overview of current economic and political affairs in the UK and in the Eurozone. You will be exposed to a range of applications and monetary theories. You will gain an understanding of how the European institutions work, in particular, the European Central Bank, and the conduct of monetary policy in the Eurozone. The module also covers labour markets and their implications for monetary policy. You will gain skills and techniques to analyse problems relating to monetary policy using mainly a diagrammatic and intuitive approach.
The module aims to enable you to obtain an understanding of a range of problems in economic development in low income countries, and to demonstrate how the tools of economic analysis can throw light on economic behaviour (and especially household behaviour) and help formulate appropriate policies to remedy acute problems linked to poverty in low income countries.
This module allows students to develop a good understanding of international macroeconomic issues, and in particular to understand and manipulate simple economic models and to read critically the empirical literature in the area of international macroeconomics.
EC313-15 The International Economy in the Twentieth Century
This module aims to develop your understanding of the theory and applications of public policy. It will equip you with various tools of analysis and skills that can be applied to selected theoretical and applied problems in the economics of public goods, public expenditure, externalities and taxation, as well as in aspects of political economy.
You will have the opportunity to deepen and consolidate your knowledge by applying your understanding of economic theory to a research question that arouses your curiosity. You will use a combination of economic analysis and statistical and econometric techniques to formulate and pursue your research interest, supported by lectures on research methodology and supervision by a member of academic staff, who will support your research towards an independent project. The work will increase your confidence in formulating economic questions, and the scientific method of developing a suitable approach, conducting a literature review and data searches, identifying and testing hypotheses and using your findings to construct coherent, persuasive scholarly arguments, presented in both written and oral form.
This module provides students with a thorough understanding of the theory and the empirics of international trade. You will study theoretical models of international trade including the famous Ricardian model of comparative advantage as well as the effects of tariffs, free trade agreements and custom unions. You will also study empirical applications such as the long-term evolution of globalisation since the 19th century and global supply chains in manufacturing. You will gain skills and techniques to analyse problems from a mathematical, graphical and intuitive perspective applying your knowledge to real-world scenarios.
This module aims to develop students' knowledge and understanding of economic decision making by emphasising how psychological and experimental findings (from the field and laboratory) have shaped contemporary economic models. In particular, you will learn about recent theoretical developments modelling consumer behaviour, especially in relation to preferences and judgements in situations involving risk, uncertainty and time. The module will also broaden your knowledge of the way models and theories are empirically or experimentally tested.
This module provides students with an opportunity to deepen and consolidate their previous knowledge by applying many concepts within economics to a research topic of the student’s own choice. Through this module students are offered an opportunity to learn how economists do research, by carrying out either a critical evaluation of the literature in a chosen area, or by a replication of an empirical study. In undertaking this work, students will be expected to use a combination of economic analysis and statistical techniques that they have learnt during their first and second years. Students will learn about techniques of research methodology, how to formulate an initial proposal and will work on their chosen topic under the supervision of a member of academic staff.
This capstone module provides students the opportunity to examine current issues impacting businesses from various e-perspectives, while also consolidating their prior knowledge by applying concepts covered throughout the degree to research topics of their choosing. The module provides an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in applying theoretical concepts to practical situations, thereby enhancing students’ understanding of economic and management principles. Overall, this module equips students with a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic relationship between economics and management, preparing them for various roles in their future career.
This introductory data science module will introduce core economics students to a wide array of data sources and types and how to work with them. It is intended to provide students with foundation data science skills, working in R.
Tracking the transition from the epics of the ancient world to their incarnation as texts of modernity, this module introduces you to some of the most influential and formative works of world literature. You will study foundational writing from the classical world, which might include the Mesopotamian epic Gilgamesh, Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid, or the poetry of Catullus. You will see these stories evolve through texts such as Milton’s Paradise Lost, and discover their modern reinventions by Tennyson, Margaret Atwood, Seamus Heaney, and Maria Dahvana Headley. Reading across history and cultures, between languages and genres, you will develop the skills to analyse narrative, character, and style.
You will be engaged in an in-depth appreciation of significant and controversial British plays of the post-war period, examining the theatre’s response to social and historical trends and becoming familiar with the landmark institutions of new writing. Topics include theatrical architecture and design, performance styles, and the political and philosophical ideas of leading playwrights. You will develop analytical skills, knowledge of specific productions, and the ability to present coherent arguments.
Taking you from the mythical court of King Arthur to the real world of ambition, intrigue, and danger in the courts of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, this module introduces you to early literature in a global context. You might study texts like Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Thomas More’s Utopia, Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene, and Shakespeare’s sonnets to explore some of the period’s highest ideals—‘trawthe’ or integrity—as well as some of humanity’s darkest impulses: greed, deception, revenge, and desire.
What is a reader? How is our understanding and perception of a text formed? What does it mean to think critically when we read? This module allows you to explore these questions by putting a spotlight on the question of critical thinking in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. By studying a series of texts in relation to some of the most influential literary and cultural theorists of the last hundred years, you will take your own position on everything from Marxism, feminism, and queer theory, to ecocriticism and postcolonial critique.
This module introduces you to the defining concerns, styles, and contexts of modern world literature from 1789 to the present. You will encounter concepts like Romanticism, modernity, gothic, and postcolonialism, through novels, short stories, poetry, and drama from revolutionary France to Meiji era Japan, industrial Britain to the decolonizing Caribbean. Your reading might include Mary Shelley’s gothic novel Frankenstein, Lu Xun’s story of China in transition 'Diary of a Madman', or Clarice Lispector’s haunting meditation on life in Rio de Janeiro The Hour of the Star.
For historians and literary scholars alike the past is irretrievable, yet inescapable. On History and Textuality you will explore how the two disciplines address this dilemma, focusing particularly on issues that have been marginalised in traditional historical inquiry—such as the emotions, the ‘primitive’, and the non-human—and on the ways in which history has been shaped by operations of power. As the first-year core module for the English and History degree, this module also has a programme of assessments designed to help you make the transition from school to university-level study.
You will study major plays written since the beginning of the twentieth century in Ireland, South Africa and the USA to investigate how writers have dramatised political, racial, class, and gender issues. You will study developments in theatrical form and the work of designers, directors, and actors to demonstrate your understanding of the shifting relationship between theatre and its impact on political and social change.
‘Writing History’ explores how knowledge of the past is constructed, and contested, in texts. It examines a sequence of four historical episodes and considers how they have been portrayed as cohesive and meaningful events in history, to widely varying intellectual and political ends. You will develop your ability to historicise and critically evaluate historical and literary texts and enhance your understanding of how narrative and artistic representation shape historical knowledge and ‘truth’.
In your second year, you will study our core module, ‘Literature in Theory’, in which you develop the ideas you explored in ‘Modes of Reading’. This interdisciplinary module asks why and how we study literature. Readings, lectures, and seminars focus on specific themes such as authorship, the literary marketplace, literature in relation to politics, power, data, and the environment, and the relationship of race, gender, sexuality, and class to our study of texts and knowledge. Teaching juxtaposes short theoretical texts with literary and cultural readings, including visual and media texts, such as Maggie Nelson’s The Argonauts, Booker T. Washington’s Up from Slavery, and Amitav Ghost’s In An Antique Land.
You will consider the work of Shakespeare and his contemporaries such as Marlowe and Middleton, both as text and performance. Through your experience of performance, and understanding of historical context, you will consolidate your analytical skills in reading narrative, poetry, and drama. You will gain an awareness of the traditions of criticism, and an appreciation of how the plays’ themes continue to challenge readers and audiences today.
The dissertation module aims to develop and showcase your critical abilities, as you plan, research and deliver an extended, independent research project. You will work under the guidance of an academic supervisor, and draw upon extra support provided by a series of workshops and lectures. The dissertation allows you to make an in-depth study of a particular topic, author, or genre; to undertake extensive independent research; and to write at length on your chosen subject. The length of the dissertation encourages the development of argument and analysis, the marshalling of evidence, and the reading of the relevant criticism. The dissertation allows you to develop and demonstrate bibliographical and presentational skills. It also encourages you to manage your time effectively, to organise your ideas, and extend your previous studies in creative directions.
For students to obtain knowledge of key current debates concerning the usefulness of psychoanalytic enquiry for analysing cultural productions, as well as a critical understanding of some of the major foundational texts of psychoanalysis.
EN3E8-30 Literature and Psychoanalysis
The English and History dissertation enables you to undertake a substantial independent research project, and to produce an article-length essay. It provides the opportunity to work in a way similar to a literary scholar or historian: identifying a research topic; mastering the relevant scholarship; identifying and critically analysing primary texts; and articulating and sustaining a coherent argument. As the final-year core module, it completes the intellectual training that has been provided in your earlier work on the degree, particularly the two core modules.
This module takes place in term 2 and is specially designed to introduce you to MFL curriculum and pedagogy in the Secondary school age range. You will explore your subject from a new perspective through engaging sessions at university led by teaching fellows and visiting teachers. Practical workshops will examine the content of Secondary MFL National Curriculum and how to address barriers to learning in MFL through the development of effective teaching approaches and resources.
The module is hosted by the Centre for Teacher Education (currently rated 'Outstanding' by OFSTED). Anyone who completes the module is automatically eligible for an interview for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) initial teacher training course (providing all entry requirements for Initial Teacher Training are met).
The idea of creativity is at the heart of contemporary educational policy and practice. You could say that developing creativity is a 21st-century educational ideal. Yet claims about creativity often avoid questions of what creativity is and why creative activities might be valuable. Through this module, you’ll understand:
This module will explore models, concepts and themes relating to education at a global level. There are two overarching trends which structure the sessions. First, processes of globalisation provide a theoretical frame within which students will examine themes and trends that cut across geographical and national boundaries. Among other things, globalisation and children’s rights to education, the Millennium Development Goals, the investment in early years education, and the marketisation of schooling and higher education are discussed. Second, the module will focus on the way that education is promoted within different international contexts, thereby exploring how factors such as ideology, culture and economics impact on education. There will be more of a case study approach here with students focusing on country specific education systems, such as Scandinavia, America or Italy. In each case the focus may be on the schooling system, the provision of early years education or the shifting role of higher education.
This module is your starting point to understand historical and contemporary issues in education. It is organised around the idea that policies and practices from the past still resonate in the organisation, funding, priorities and day-to-day life of educational institutions today. Students will get the chance to access the historical archive held at the Modern Records Centre on campus, which contains a wealth of material on late 19th-20th century British and international history, politics, economics and society. The themes covered by the module include compulsory schooling policies, colonialism and schooling, special needs education, and gender segregation.
This module introduces you to various psychological theories outlining how human beings learn. The module covers leading child development theorists' perspectives on learning in the early years (such as Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky) as well as exploring the work of theorists who explore learning from the perspective of older children, young people and adults. By the end of the module you'll have acquired the tools for evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of contrasting learning theories. This module also aims to give you an insight into the relationship between social values, culture and theories of learning.
This reflective and practical module allows you to explore your preferred ways of learning. Through considering the academic standards, assessment methods and teaching and learning practices used in Higher Education this module will support you to develop an informed, personalised and critical approach to academic scholarship that will scaffold your success at university.
What is philosophy? What does a philosophical question about education look like? What role has philosophical thought historically played in shaping education? What role and status should philosophy have in education today? Can teaching and learning be effective if there is not a philosophical element to it? This module considers these questions, in the context of exploring the relationship between the discipline of philosophy and the field of education. The module will provide an introductory starting point for wrestling with these questions through close reading of extracts of key philosophical texts and through practically exploring the teaching of philosophy with primary aged pupils in a local school setting.
This module introduces students to key concepts, theories and research in the sociology of education. Taking a plural approach that draws on a range of sociological ideas, the module explores the relationship between educational and social inequalities and discusses important theoretical concepts and debates. Students will consider social class, gender, race, and disability, and employ their ‘sociological imagination’ as we explore and critique contemporary uses of sociological ideas in educational research.
This module explores education using historical analysis techniques and frameworks. We consider the role of government, political ideologies, and social and economic issues as they have impacted education. The skills developed in this module will allow you to comment on and critique past events with the aim of mapping continuity and change in education.
Here we look at the interdisciplinary study of childhood, children, and child development. Using concepts from education, psychology, sociology, social care and health, you will develop a holistic understanding of children and young people’s experiences. Examining the various ways that childhood is understood and conceptualised, you will gain insight into the developmental trajectories of children and factors that influence their development.
This module will equip you with the theoretical knowledge and the practical research design skills required for research in the education field. By running your own small-scale research project, you will also gain confidence in your ability to devise and conduct your dissertation project in your final year. In this module you’ll study:
This module will explore models, concepts and themes relating to the globalisation of education. In particular, there are two general trends outlined and critically examined with reference to globalisation.
The first overarching theme is the idea of globalisation as a process of global standardisation. The module will pick up on a number of debates and issues relating to how attempts have been made to homogenise education globally, or at least move towards more universal provision at a number of different levels. This will involve analyses of the political and economic dimensions of globalisation as it affects education including the involvement of supra-national organisations, NGOs, and nation states.
The second dominant theme is the emphasis on global diversity. Attempts at globalising education come up against political and cultural obstacles. The second half of the module will focus more on trends and cases of education and schooling that highlight the diversity of provision, and practices within education. The sessions will refer to global and national policy contexts where relevant, as well as pick up on novel attempts to provide education and schooling in contexts of political and economic adversity.
This module gives you the opportunity to hone your professional skills and career aspirations through an education-focused work-based placement. In taught sessions you’ll explore the professional characteristics of organisations who work with children, young people and their families in an educational capacity. This will include investigating the staffing and leadership structures of example organisations, their policies, their modes of work, professional roles and conduct. In addition, the role of reflective practice in professional development will be examined from both theoretical and practical angles. You’ll be given support with organising your placement, which can be in a location of your choice (however, approval must be gained from the module leader who must see a clear connection between the work of your chosen organisation and the concept of ‘education’) or may be based with one of the Department of Education Studies’ key partners. Education Studies placement partners consist of organisations that deliver both formal and informal education in a variety of contexts (i.e. schools, hospitals, charities, children’s centres, sports organisations, youth theatres, community organisations).
This module will introduce you to the core areas of policy contention, innovation and development in the English educational system. Starting with the historical context, you’ll discover how the major reviews of education in the 20th and 21st centuries have shaped educational policy and practice. You’ll also explore:
This module develops students' skills in designing arts-based educational learning experiences based on critical evaluation of theory and practice. It will appeal to students interested in careers in teaching or those interested in exploring the potential for an arts-based pedagogy to develop positive learning environments in a variety of fields. The module builds on the department’s relationships with professional arts-practitioners and local schools, in order to make real-world connections.
In this module you’ll critically explore the concept of inclusion, learning about its history, theoretical underpinning, and the dilemmas and tensions associated with it in practice. The module will broaden your knowledge of SEN/D policy, the roles and responsibilities of practitioners and teachers in early identification and intervention, and explore common areas of need (e.g. learning disabilities, autism, speech, language and communication needs).
This module explores the nature of policy, with particular reference to education policy. Students will investigate how policy is developed in a political and global context, and discern links between national and world events which may influence policy choices. To achieve this, some sessions will focus on the education system of particular countries. This module will consider different policy analysis models and techniques and apply these to real world examples.
What do Disney films, TikTok, and AI chatbots have in common? They are all part of the digital landscapes shaping how children play, learn, and make sense of the world. This interdisciplinary module explores children’s media and technology. Designing for children means blending imagination, empathy, and play - alongside a clear understanding of child development. From “happy endings” in fairytales to “infinite scrolling” on social media, students will critically examine how narrative, visual, and interactive design choices shape children’s learning, wellbeing, and identity. Through case studies, collaborative analysis, and hands-on design thinking, the module explores developmentally appropriate and ethically responsible media and technology for young audiences.
This module explores and problematises the idea of ‘change’ in education. It identifies and critiques contemporary issues in education and will enable you to propose and develop ways of addressing those. You will consider the future needs of (and from) education and be encouraged to make evidence-informed arguments for change in an area you select for detailed analysis.
This module builds on developing a deeper understanding of those module aims from the Research Methods module in Year 2, culminating in a 10,000-word dissertation project in an education topic of your choice. It focuses around understanding the process of formulation of research questions and hypotheses, and the need to match the research questions to appropriate research methodologies. Support will be offered to students to formulate and calibrate their research questions for their own project, and develop the research design that best fits the question and the purpose of their research through discussions around the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of data collection. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabs will be presented, and ways of interpreting and writing up the results will be discussed.
This module is designed to provide all School of Engineering students a foundation on which to build further study of bodies in motion and thermodynamics as applied to any engineering discipline.
To present, in context, the fundamental concepts of circuits, devices and systems that underpin all branches of Engineering. Students will study fundamental circuit analysis techniques including nodal analysis, mesh analysis, Thevenin circuits as well as transient analysis applied to 1st and 2nd order circuits. Students will study fundamental mathematical operations of Digital Circuit and Analogue Circuit quantities including phasors, vectors and complex numbers. Students will also study basic electronic components (like diodes, transistors, operational amplifiers and filters) that make up more complex electrical and electronic circuitry.
Design is a major activity within all branches of engineering. Similar design methods and skills can be applied at many levels of detail from the conceptual arrangement of a complex system down to the physical embodiment of its constituent parts. Designers use a range of skills and a repertoire of prior knowledge to synthesise an appropriate solution that satisfies the various constraints of the problem. Their efficiency and success depend on judicious use of analysis, experience and creativity.
This module aims to introduce students to the complexities of the design task and equip them with some of the techniques and experience required to design for a function and manufacturing/construction process within their discipline.
To present, in context, and provide skills in the application of fundamental Mathematics concepts that underpin all of Engineering. To encourage the development of problem solving as required in other Year 1 modules and in order that more advanced material can be tackled in modules taught in later years.
Most professional engineers apply their skills within a business organisation. A key objective of business is to be commercially successful. Hence it is important for engineers to appreciate the industrial and commercial environment in which businesses operate and recognise the requirements and constraints created by this environment, ultimately with a view to strategically managing the business to greater success.
The aim of this module is to provide the engineering student with an appreciation of some of the practical problems and issues involved in competitively managing an engineering business.
Most professional engineers apply their skills in a business organisation, and so are required to appreciate the industrial and commercial environment in which they operate. You will use a systems approach to understand and work within the economic constraints affecting performance across a range and variety of businesses. By studying key aspects of business management including strategic marketing, accounting and costing, and product lifecycle you will develop your communication skills using different media, and gain the business acumen required to work in a competitive environment.
The focus of this module is on enabling students to undertake a systematic materials selection process, taking account of the required performance, constraints, objectives, cost and environmental implications for engineering components. Selecting the wrong material can be as bad as any other poor decision when designing engineering products or systems. Poor materials choices can lead to non-competitive or environmentally damaging products and, in the worst cases, catastrophic failures.
The aim of this module is to build fundamental knowledge of statics and behaviour of structures that underpin many branches of engineering science. This will provide the knowledge required for further study in the design and analysis of structures from buildings to spacecraft, motor vehicles and wind turbines. The module will increase the students’ ability with mathematical analysis and in particular its application to solving problems in structures. The module will further help in developing experimental skills and awareness of health and safety issues applicable to working in a supervised laboratory.
Systems modelling is an essential skill which underpins all Engineering disciplines allowing the Engineer to model a variety of problems. The use of models aims to provide information necessary to make decisions in the design and development of Engineering solutions or to investigate systems which are too costly, difficult or unethical to investigate physically.
Vast numbers of bespoke software solutions are available to Engineers working in industry but this module will focus on designing and programming models from first principles showing the application of mathematical techniques and avoidance of modelling errors. There are design principles associated with models which ensure robust development and these will also be covered along with verification and validation techniques and applications to data modelling. These methods are inherited from software design processes and the synthesis will be exploited.
Economic growth requires new businesses to be established and therefore it is important to also generate enthusiasm amongst engineering students for private enterprise and business ownership as a career option and to provide them with guidance on how to start and run a business.
This needs to be at an appropriate depth and with appropriate focus, so that informed decisions can be made and so that he/she is able to communicate effectively with entrepreneurial and business colleagues.
Analogue electronics is one of the core requirements for any electronics and electrical engineer. The module is designed to provide learning on the practical applications of different analogue electronic circuits and devices that are commonly used in modern electronics.
This module provides an introduction to the multi-disciplinary applications of Engineering in medicine and healthcare and to clinical engineering as a profession. This module will give an overview of different areas of Biomedical Engineering and highlight how previously taught topics can be used.
This module covers basic architecture and programming knowledge of selected digital computer systems and microcontrollers.
The principal aims of the module are to develop upon a firm understanding of mechanical concepts from the first year. Furthermore the module aims to generate a familiarity with key techniques used in the analysis and testing of mechanical systems, and then to introduce fundamental concepts underpinning solid and fluid dynamics.
The module aims to show applications of instrumentation and measurement in integrated electromechanical engineering systems, apply the principles of engineering control and feedback and design an electromechanical system with motors, actuators, sensors, control, mechanical and electrical power transmission. It also aims to deliver an understanding of the underpinning science behind energy conversion in electromechanical systems and instil the fundamental engineering principles and mathematical techniques of electromechanical power conversion.
This module aims to build on the fundamental material introduced in ES193 Engineering Mathematics and ES197 Systems Modelling, Simulation and Computation thereby ensuring that students are equipped with the necessary analytical and computational tools to tackle advanced material in modules taught in later years.
This module aims to equip students with the skills to design, develop and install integrated systems of people, materials, equipment and energy.
This module will develop strategies to identify product requirements, identify design constraints, think creatively, solve problems, identify solutions and foster a holistic approach between design and manufacturing.
This stream-specific second year design module focusses on creative practice and practical aspects of problem solving. Supported by development of CAD proficiency and manufacturing experience.
To provide an understanding of the core concepts of motor vehicle technology.
There are two themes to this module: structures and mechanisms. The first part of the module aims to develop engineers’ understanding of mechanisms and how to describe their state in terms of position, velocity, and acceleration. The second part of the module aims to supply Mechanical Engineers with specific skills related to the calculation of stress and strain and how this impacts on design.
Ecological and ‘green’ constraints weigh significantly on engineering designers already and these pressures are likely to increase very significantly during the careers of today’s students. This module examines the need for significant change in the design philosophy employed in industrialised manufacture and civil construction in terms of energy and resource use. It then examines responses to those pressures including legislation and standards, alternative processes and materials and design for resource economy at small and large scale.
This module aims to introduce students to the concept of systems engineering and systems thinking.
There have been great advances in semi-conductor technology during the last decade, leading to chips with increased area and gate density. You will receive a theoretical and practical grounding in modern approaches to the design of digital electronic circuits, with a focus on field programmable gate array implementation, including tool flow, architecture, testing and design for performance. Practical skills you will develop include use of the hardware description language Verilog and strategies for evaluating the functional correctness of a circuit.
This module aims to build on the fundamental material introduced in Engineering Mathematics in Year 1 thereby ensuring that students are equipped with the necessary analytical and computational tools to tackle advanced material in modules taught in later years.
Practically all electronic equipment, whether domestic or industrial, requires power conditioning to deliver the energy for it to operate correctly. This is using electronics for power processing, not information processing. The applications vary widely from power supplies for laptops and mobile phone chargers, through industrial motor drives, hybrid and electric vehicle drives, electric rail transport, to solar and wind energy systems and power transmission and distribution systems. Learning of power electronic devices and power electronic converters is therefore essential and it is the subject of this module.
To give students an introduction into the process of designing a medical device, including assessing clinical needs, collecting relevant clinical evidence, considering cost-efficacy constrains, ethical issues, regulatory frameworks and management methods and tools.
Energy efficiency is becoming ever more important as we seek to mitigate the effects and extent of global warming. While solar and wind generation are obvious replacements to traditional fossil fuel energy sources, there are a wealth of materials and technologies that can offer substantial advantages in terms of energy management.
In this module we will explore the critical role that materials and technologies play in shaping a sustainable energy future. This module covers topics and concepts that will allow us to utilise materials and technologies for future energy generation and storage applications, such as traditional (e.g. silicon/perovskite photovoltaics, lithium/sodium ion batteries) to emerging (e.g. hydrogen production, piezoelectric, thermoelectric) technologies.
This module aims at highlighting the more practical side of civil and construction engineering, providing an introduction to geotechnical engineering, surveying and how design is then translated into practical solution on site. With the support of professionals, this module will allow student to deal with the issues related to the design and construction processes by means of workshops and on site practical activities.
The aims of the module are to introduce students to a range of materials (concrete, steel, timber, masonry, asphalt, fibre reinforced polymers and strawbale/rammed earth) in terms of structural behaviour, analysis and design within the context of sustainable construction. Primarily focusing on concrete the module will provide knowledge and understanding on its constituent materials, their properties and those of fresh and hardened concrete. Variables that affect these properties in the short and long term will be identified.
Furthermore, this module will focus on the impact of the production and use of materials for civil engineering on global carbon emissions and on how such emissions can be reduced in different ways including reusing/repurposing where possible, contributing to a more sustainable development and reducing waste by saving primary resources.
Knowledge of water engineering is essential for good practice of civil and environmental engineering. This module provides background material on fluid mechanics, open channel hydraulics, and engineering hydrology that serves as a sound base for other relevant civil and environmental modules and for future professional practice. The module will enable students to understand the principles of free surface flows and engineering hydrology applied to civil engineering problems.
Design describes a process of imagination and creativity that applies to all engineering activities, whether the requirement is to produce an artefact, a process, or a conceptual framework. Creativity requires imagination, intuition, intellectual rigour, and the sound application of underlying engineering principles. The module aims to develop your creativity and conceptual thinking, exploring where design ideas come from, how those ideas evolve into practical and workable engineering solutions which are able to take into account also equality, diversity, inclusion, and what factors lead to good design at the concept stage of a civil engineering project.
Mechanical Engineers are expected to have a working knowledge of the thermodynamic basis of a number of types of engine and refrigerators / heat pumps, together with the principles (such as the Second Law) that constrain their performance. This module addresses those requirements.
The aim of the module is to introduce the rationale behind appraisal and design of structures; the main activity of many professional civil engineers. The module will lay the foundations for more advanced and specific structure design modules, since it will review and more deeply explain fundamental structural analysis concepts such as stress and strain, statically determinacy and bending moment/shear forces.
The module will also provide an introduction to the use of digital tools (SAP2000) for the study of structural engineering analysis problems.
The module aims to introduce signal processing to 2nd year students. It aims to develop the student’s ability to:
This module provides an overview of CAD/CAM technologies. Both theoretical concepts and practical applications are covered. The CAM element links into the Manufacturing aims of the module while the CAD element links directly with the engineering aims. It also provides an introduction to discreet event simulation.
A manufacturing manager is a person who connects broad engineering, science and managerial knowledge in a way, that allows organisations to successfully make and deliver products of the required complexity and quantity. Developments in both technology and human science allowed us to deliver highly optimised products with better focus on customers.
Successful creation of a product is an execution of the manufacturing strategy through specific operations, that include, but are not limited to design of: facilities and production layouts, factory management and philosophies (like Lean Manufacturing), inventory and Supply Chain Management Systems and understanding of the role of the people in its micro and macro business environment.
The Electrical and Electronic Design Group Project is a group project aiming to give students experience of working within a team, and parallel the way engineers often work in industry. Students will integrate their knowledge and understanding in order to specify and solve an Electrical and Electronic Engineering problem (or user need), through the creation and development of a product, process or system.
The project also allows students to develop their understanding of project management, time management, ethics, sustainability, health and safety, risk management and intellectual property rights. Students will develop effective communication and leadership skills, for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Projects will vary in nature from design and make to computational and research-based projects. All proposed projects should give students the opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes. The module aims to provide students with a vehicle to develop and/or integrate knowledge and skills as well as discover and (in some cases) create new knowledge using literature, experimentation or modelling and analysis where appropriate. The module also aims to reward curiosity and motivation with a satisfying experience involving close interaction with an academic supervisor.
The module aims to study communications techniques that send and receive information reliably and efficiently in wired or wireless systems.
The module provides an understanding of the principles of operation of automated equipment with particular reference to industrial robots. It focuses on the knowledge needed to select and use such equipment effectively and safely. However, some design aspects will be presented. There is an emphasis on the use of sensors to make robots behave "intelligently".
This module provides an overview of CAD/CAM technologies. Both theoretical concepts and practical applications are covered. The CAM element links into the Manufacturing aims of the module while the CAD element links directly with the engineering aims. It also provides an introduction to discreet part simulation.
This module investigates the detailed links between component design, material selection, product requirements and limitations of manufacturing processes. Through the application of sound engineering design principles, it is shown how a product can be optimised for a given manufacturing route and also ensures that the optimum manufacturing process is chosen.
This key automotive-specific module will introduce the concept of design for vehicle safety. The module aims to promote an understanding and an interest in the issues of design for safety for the vehicle structure as well as considering some of the automotive systems which contribute to safety aspects. This module will draw upon the close links that WMG has with the automotive industry to deliver industry-relevant theory and applied engineering.
To introduce students to the principles and practice of designing digital electronic circuits, with a focus on field programmable gate array implementation, including the tool flow, architecture, testing, and design for performance.
The module examines the systematic approach to the complete design of optimal mechanical systems. Working at the convergence of fundamental mechanical engineering concepts and engineering design, the module approaches the design of mechanical systems by drawing on aspects such as theoretical calculations, computer-based simulation and design for manufacture to come up with a design that fulfils a design brief.
Most disciplines of the engineering profession require a sound understanding of the techniques used in the modelling and control of dynamic, multi-domain physical, and other, systems. The aims of this module are: to build on techniques and computer tools for modelling, predicting and analysing the behaviour of dynamic systems; and to build on concepts, principles and techniques employed in classical methods of single loop feedback control system design.
The design of concrete structures is a main stream activity of professional civil engineers. The module aims at developing ability to conduct structural design of reinforced concrete elements (slabs including two way slabs and flat plates, beams and columns).
The appraisal and design of structures is the main activity of many professional civil engineers. Study of the structural behaviour, analysis and design is therefore a principal part of civil engineering teaching and is essential for professional accreditation. Structural engineering is a substantial economic activity.
The study of the design of steel structures is therefore core within an integrated programme leading to a degree in Civil Engineering The ES3D2 module aims to learn the design process according to Eurocode 3. It includes an educational and comprehensive experience in the design of simple steel structures
All Mechanical Engineers require a sound understanding of fluid mechanics. Issues involving aspects of fluid mechanics are involved in the vast majority of engineering problems. This module introduces the elementary principles and concepts and the fundamental theoretical and applied tools required for solving typical problems in mechanical engineering. At the end of the course students should have an understanding of how broad physical principles (conservation of mass, momentum, energy) determine fluid behaviour and lead to mathematical descriptions of key features. Students should be able to utilise the results of such descriptions, together with appropriate modelling, to carry out calculations/estimations of such engineering quantities as pressure, forces (e.g. friction, drag, lift), power requirements, efficiency.
Practically all electronic equipment, whether domestic or industrial, requires power conditioning to deliver the energy for it to operate correctly. This is using electronics for power processing, not information processing. The applications vary widely from power supplies for laptops and mobile phone chargers, through industrial motor drives, hybrid and electric vehicle drives, electric rail transport, to solar and wind energy systems and power transmission and distribution systems.
The module aims at providing experience of performing an individual investigative project (projects will be specified to groups and involve group interaction without influencing an individual character). Students will apply and demonstrate their capabilities (engineering knowledge, numeracy, initiative, communication, self-learning, creativity) to plan, carry out and control an open-ended design project in civil engineering. Students will consolidate learning from other modules and will investigate aspects of sustainability (carbon minimisation both operational and embodied) and feasibility of engineering and architectural choices with regards to materials and conceptual designs.
Students will enhance their writing, oral and communication skills through writing a technical report that conforms to predefined specifications, and giving an oral presentation under specific time constraints.
This module seeks to integrate and consolidate students’ understanding of the full life cycle behaviour of manufacturing systems. By modelling in detail, a given manufacturing system, a greater understanding of goal and scope, inventory analysis, flows (such as materials, cash, process and information) and impact assessments will be developed within the module.
The main aim of the module is to provide a practical training in Engineering design using finite element methods. The first half of the module aims at introducing the fundamental principles of the modelling for statics and dynamics analyses including non-linear FEM. In the second half of the module the student’s will be taught how to use the method in practice and to critically assess and evaluate the results, especially the advanced non-linear FEM simulations.
The aim of this module is to consider, in depth, the design and operation of synchronous, induction and DC machines. In addition, the module aims to provide an in depth knowledge of the modern power system as an interconnection of rotating electrical machines, transformers, transmission lines, switch gear, loads etc.
By the end of the module you will know about the more advanced features of FPGA architectures in high performance embedded systems design. You will learn how to design a hardware accelerator for a complex algorithm by evaluating its parallelism and arithmetic requirements; how to integrate a hardware accelerator with a processor and design the necessary software and hardware communication infrastructure; and apply practical knowledge of hardware design at the register transfer level and use high level synthesis.
The group project aims to give students experience of working within a team and mirrors the multi-disciplinary teams that exist in industry. The group project requires students to identify an engineering business challenge and to select and design a product or process to meet the need. The students will forecast and plan sales via appropriate channels, market the product, plan its manufacture or provision, provide a forward financial projection and design an appropriate supply chain structure in line with market requirements. All students selecting the module will undertake the project and will be aiming to provide viable recommendations to an end customer / user.
The project also allows students to develop their understanding of project management, time management, ethics, sustainability, risk and other appropriate industry conventions and best practices.
Projects will vary in nature but will be specifically focused around commercial / business aspects of the engineering sector (e.g. quality, supply chain management, procurement, and marketing). All of the proposed projects should allow the students the opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes. The module aims to provide students with the opportunity and challenge to develop and / or integrate existing knowledge and skills as well as discover
Module Summary (and in some cases create) new knowledge using existing literature, primary data collection, case studies etc.
The module also aims to reward curiosity and motivation with a satisfying experience involving close interaction with a suitable academic supervisor. The project aims to provide the student with an opportunity to analyse a critical business issue / challenge experienced within the engineering sector and to make specific, feasible recommendations to overcome the issue / challenge.
By the end of the module the student should be able to:
The module aims to impart a firm understanding and knowledge of the principles of mechanics as applied to biomedical and biological systems, across the spectrum from single cell and tissue mechanics, through to analysis of human gait. The module will introduce fundamental principles involved in both experimental and analytical methods, and enable students to use such methods.
The module aims to introduce students to the fundamental principles and applications of medical imaging in the human body, and to imaging and sensing in the brain.
The aim of this module is to equip students with the practical and theoretical knowledge to develop a complex system within industry, and ensure that systems engineering graduates are equipped with marketable skills.
Engineering organisations operate within part of a larger supply chain or network, whose combined processes deliver a product or service to the end customer. To increase competitive advantage businesses must not only seek to design and operate processes that add maximum value within their own entity but also strive to optimise these processes within the larger supply chain or network.
The module aims to give participants an understanding of the operation of the supply chain and the opportunities that tools such as e-commerce bring for the more effective integrated operation of the supply of both products and services.
The module aims to enable participants:
All Civil Engineers require a sound understanding of geotechnical engineering. This module gives a basic geological and geotechnical knowledge base and introduces a number of fundamental principles and key applications appropriate to the level of the module and the framework of the course.
Vibrations exert a significant influence on the performance of the majority of engineering systems. All engineers should understand the basic concepts and all mechanical engineers should be familiar with the analytical techniques for the modelling and quantitative prediction of behaviour. Thus, this module provides students with fundamental skills necessary for the analysis of the dynamics of mechanical systems, as well as providing opportunities to apply these skills to the modelling and analysis of vibration.
This module will introduce students to the analyses used in the design of gravity, embedded and reinforced soil retaining walls, simple shallow and deep foundations, the assessment of slope stability and slope stabilisation schemes. It will build on the basic concepts of soil mechanics introduced in previous Geotechnical Engineering modules.
In an increasingly competitive business environment, successful organisations use a variety of management approaches to ensure competitiveness. Companies facing external pressures need engineers who can respond to challenges, through effective project and change management, commercial awareness, and a commitment to continuous improvement to drive excellence. Some of the biggest challenges faced are those associated with the environment and minimising adverse impacts. Central to any successful company are employees and an inclusive approach will support business excellence.
The group projects aim to give students experience of working within a team, and parallels the way engineers often work in industry. Students will integrate their knowledge and understanding in order to specify and solve a substantial engineering problem (or user need), through the creation and development of a product, process or system. The project also allows students to develop their understanding of project management, time management, ethics, sustainability, health and safety, risk, ED&I and intellectual property rights. Students will develop effective communication and leadership skills.
Popular projects include the IMechE Formula Student racing car competition, electric racing motorcycle (TT Zero), IMechE Railway Challenge, creating a human-powered submarine, building search-and-rescue robots with Warwick Mobile Robotics, Severn Trent reservoir design, or ICE shaping the world infrastructure design for poor communities.
The module aims to present, mainly though substantial practical experience, the design methodology of Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) and Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS).
To be successful engineering organizations must combine technical skills with organizational and managerial competencies. This module links key theories of leadership, change management, motivation and robust decision-making to industrial practice; it will develop the understanding and capabilities of students to contribute effectively in developing and delivering strategies for excellence and change in complex organizational situations.
The aim of this module is to provide the student with a fundamental understanding of important numerical techniques in computational fluid dynamics and to establish a critical view on the use of CFD as part of the design process. This module offers an increased depth and range of specialist knowledge in computational fluid dynamics required by IMechE.
This Advanced Robotics module will explore in great depth areas relevant to not only industrial robotics but service robots (i.e. robots outside a factory environment particularly mobile robots) and the application of this technology to real world environments e.g. driverless vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and tele-robots. Students will also master robot kinematics including dynamics and trajectory planning.
Automobiles are made up of primary subsystems which individually behave as dynamic systems. The aims of this module are: to introduce techniques and computer tools for modelling, predicting, analysing and understanding the behaviour of the individual primary systems in automobiles, and the interactions between these primary systems; and to promote understanding of the role of on-board active systems in automobiles.
A wide variety of biomedical processes behave as dynamic systems where the system states vary in time, often in response to external stimuli or interventions. The aims of this module are to introduce techniques and computer tools for modelling, predicting, analysing and understanding dynamic behaviour in biomedical systems.
This module aims to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of the human factor’s challenges associated with current and future mobility. The module will promote an understanding of the key human factors concepts associated with mobility (including autonomous, electric, and micromobility vehicles) and related technologies, infrastructure, schemes, and policies, from initial concept to implementation. This will include anthropometry, safety, trust, acceptance, drive state monitoring, distraction, interaction, wellbeing, and human sensing.
Ecological and ‘green’ constraints weigh significantly on engineering designers already and these pressures are likely to increase very significantly during the careers of today’s students. This module examines the need for significant change in the design philosophy employed in industrialised manufacture and civil construction in terms of energy and resource use. It then examines responses to those pressures including legislation and standards, alternative processes and materials and design for resource economy at small and large scale.
Engineers are sometimes required to carry out public health services related to the water and environmental engineering subsector. This module introduces the concepts of water supply in rural and urban areas, the design of components of the technologies required, and how the choice of technology interacts with economics and social impacts. The module also focuses on the design of technologies required for sustainable sanitation processes; incorporating wastewater, fecal and solid waste management principles.
At the end of this module students will be able to critically analyse a range of common propulsion technologies such as ICE, electrification and hybrid solutions.
The main role of many manufacturing engineers is to select and or develop manufacturing processes in order to get the best out of them and to provide a competitive edge. This module aims to show how this has been done in the past and is being done at this time. Participants will learn the skills and techniques involved and will gain experience of the thought processes used.
This module aims to provide the theoretical background to basic and advanced modelling techniques and computational methods as used in engineering and to provide the necessary software application skills for using the techniques and methods in Matlab environment.
Engineering organisations operate within part of a larger supply chain or network, whose combined processes deliver a product or service to the end customer. To increase competitive advantage businesses must not only seek to design and operate processes that add maximum value within their own entity but also strive to optimise these processes within the larger supply chain or network.
The module aims to give participants an understanding of the operation of the supply chain and the opportunities that tools such as e-commerce bring for the more effective integrated operation of the supply of both products and services.
The module aims are providing the students with grounding in construction management of building and civil engineering works. The module shall prepare students for working in the construction industry through an understanding of the important interactions between construction processes, strategic and business management. Students shall be able to apply this understanding to achieve safe, economic, timely and quality outcomes over the life cycle of a project.
To deepen knowledge and understanding across advanced topics in geotechnical engineering. To instil an appreciation of the principles, theories and concepts related to:
The students will be given the opportunity in the field work to carry out practical activities related to geological controls on instability.
To provide a knowledge of heat transfer that is of vital importance in many industrial sectors from process industries, through vehicles, etc., power plant, to building technology.
The module is intended to present and assess some of the important renewable energy technologies and give some sense of the engineering design and development of some of these technologies. Starting with a brief outline of existing and proposed renewable energy systems, the course adopts an active solution-seeking approach, assessing these technologies against economic, engineering and other criteria.
Two of the most promising technologies, wind power, and solar energy are treated in some depth as an example of optimisation in mechanical and electrical engineering design. Other technologies studied include geothermal, biomass, ocean and hydro power.
This automotive related module advances the known key aspects of materials selection for body-in-white parts as well as for view parts and powertrain application. A range of selected processes to manufacture and combine different materials will be evaluated, according to their suitability for automotive manufacture and in order to improve performance of the vehicle in terms of mechanical strength, weight reduction, overall costs and environmental impact. Highly specialised parts such as coatings, catalysts and brakes will also be introduced to the audience.
Practically all electronic equipment, whether domestic or industrial, requires power conditioning to deliver the energy for it to operate correctly. This is using electronics for power processing, not information processing. The applications vary widely from power supplies for laptops and mobile phone chargers, through industrial motor drives, hybrid and electric vehicle drives, electric rail transport, to solar and wind energy systems and power transmission and distribution systems. With the foundation of studying the module ES3E0 Power Electronics, ES4E8 is to give students a wide range, in-depth and advanced knowledge of Power Electronics and Devices.
The aims of the module are to build on the knowledge of control systems that students have acquired in previous years and teach them the advanced techniques for the design and analysis of real-world control systems that are currently used in multiple engineering industries (e.g. aerospace, automotive, robotics, power systems, electronic systems, etc).
The module enables students to carry out project work in radiowave propagation and wireless communications. It provides fundamental theory and presents its application to support understanding of the operation and design aspects of the physical layer of a wireless communications system.
Modern electrical drives are complex electromechanical systems combining electrical machines, power electronic converters, control and protection circuits. The aim of the module is to develop an advanced understanding and systematic analysis and design skills on integration of electrical machines and power electronics into up-to-date electrical drives with predefined and required control quality. It will include development of conceptual functional block diagrams of the electrical drives, their mathematical modelling and simulation, systematic design of required controllers, advanced analysis of steady state and dynamic drives’ characteristics, electrical schematics and modern practical implementation.
The principal aims of the module are to understand, evaluate and optimise, through both analytical and numerical approaches, the dynamic behaviour of a complex mechanical system, in a variety of application contexts (e.g. in aerospace, automotive and robotics).
This module aims to present the current (advanced) technologies and trends in development that will shape future electrical power systems to achieve the low carbon objectives. The students will gain a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the construction, operation and control principles of power systems. They will learn advanced analytical skills for examining different modes of operation in complex systems.
This module introduces students to the role of systems and control theory in understanding and engineering living systems.
This module aims to further enhance the students’ skills in biomedical signal and data processing with the principles of computational intelligence as applied to biomedical engineering including cardiology, neurology, biomechanics and movement sciences.
In this module, you will gain a thorough and critical understanding of the concepts, theories and research findings of cognitive and social psychology. You will start by learning the fundamental features of cognition, such as perception, attention and memory, before going on to examine the extent to which cognition is influenced by culture and society. By the end of your studies, you will be able to explain key concepts of culture, cognition and society, and describe their principal applications in cross-cultural psychology.
What is language? What is it made of? What rules do we follow when we put sounds together to create words and when we combine words to create sentences? How many languages are spoken in the world today, and in which ways are they similar or different? These are some of the questions that you will explore on this module. Using examples from different languages, you will analyse real-life language data in order to develop the practical skills required for linguistic analysis.
In this module, you will learn to unpack the ways in which language shapes and is shaped by society. You will analyse critically how language operates in different linguistic and cultural settings, using a range of theoretical concepts, empirical research and methodologies to understand, describe and interpret language use in society. This includes an investigative study of language use, during which you will also develop your communication and study skills.
Providing a foundation for modules ET214 (Qualitative Research) and ET215 (Quantitative Research Methods), this module will help you develop the research, academic and professional skills needed to succeed at university and beyond. You will explore research, data-collection and analytical methodologies, using real-life examples of language, culture and communication. You will develop an analytical toolkit to serve you in multiple contexts, including your future career. You will also become familiar with research conventions, including ethical approval, literature review, communication and critical understanding of academic writing.
In this module, you will learn about the structure of the English language and critically reflect on the nature of its grammatical ‘rules’, using relevant terminology. By the end of the course, you will be able to apply this descriptive framework to any text in English and understand the effect of grammatical choices on different styles of writing.
The English language is an international phenomenon, with the number of speakers learning it as an additional language outnumbering those who acquire it as their first. On this course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of its historical and global complexity. You will learn about its roots and how it has developed, and gain an enhanced awareness of current issues related to its worldwide spread and influence on other languages.
Learning a language is an amazing feat, but one that children seem to manage to do without much effort. In this module, you will learn how this happens. You will develop a sound knowledge and understanding of the key concepts, terms, theories and research evidence related to the acquisition of language in children. You will also study relevant research methods so that you can perform an analysis of child language.
Where did English come from and how has it changed over time? This module will give you a comprehensive understanding of the historical development of the English language, including an awareness of how different languages have informed this development. You will learn about the roots of English and how it has developed through the Old English, Middle English, Early Modern and Late Modern periods, with reference to texts, including literary texts, from these periods. You will also gain an enhanced awareness of current issues related to Standard English and prescriptivism.
The English language has become a global phenomenon, with the number of speakers who learn it as a second language outnumbering those who acquire it as a first language. How did this situation develop? What has happened to English as it has internationalised? This module will give you a comprehensive understanding of the global complexity of the English language. You will learn about how it spread, beginning in the early 17th century. You will gain an enhanced awareness of current and historical issues related to its global spread and influence on other languages.
This module explores the knowledge, skills and competences for appropriate and effective intercultural communication. To this end, we draw on methods and theoretical frameworks from cross-cultural and developmental psychology, cross-cultural communication, applied linguistics, educational sciences, as well as from insights from cross-cultural training, evaluation, and the business field.
The module is designed to give you an interdisciplinary overview of intercultural competence models and equip you with relevant skills for your professional life regarding the development and assessment of intercultural competence. It also equips you with strategies to reflect critically about and learn from your own encounters across cultures.
This interdisciplinary module will provide you with a multifaceted understanding of the ways that language, culture, and human psychology come together in the process of understanding and communicating meanings in intercultural communication. You will explore concepts and theories from a number of disciplines that attempt to explain the influence of culture on communicative processes. You will also consider how social attitudes affect perceptions of self and other, and how stereotypes and prejudice impact on intercultural communication. In this module, students have many opportunities to take the initiative in their learning and to understand more deeply their own ways of perceiving and responding to cultural diversity.
How does culture affect the way we do business? How can we communicate effectively across culturally different workplaces and with diverse stakeholders? What is (g)localisation and why is it relevant? This module will help you to gain a better understanding of communication within and across global businesses at individual and corporate levels, internally and externally. You'll try out different IBC training activities in the seminars, which is an approach designed to give you hands-on insights into the ways global companies develop their staff. We’ll consider the way digital technology has changed the landscape of business communication and how values and beliefs about culture are having an impact on new media use in the modern business world. This module will promote your awareness and understanding of key aspects of communication, and importantly help you to develop your ability to communicate effectively across differences within the context of global business culture.
Have you got an inquisitive mind? Would you like to learn how to design, develop and conduct research in issues related to language, communication and culture? The ability to conduct research is a great skill to have and is one that is highly sought after by employers. In this course you will develop an understanding of qualitative research, including the primary approaches to carrying out qualitative research, some of the important data collection techniques, and how to analyse qualitative data. You will also have an opportunity to hone the crucial skills and attributes you need to be able to conduct research in the future including resilience, intellectual curiosity, personal and project management and critical thinking. This course will give you an opportunity to formulate, design and conduct your own qualitative research project related to a language, culture and communication issue you are interested in, and will provide you with support and feedback along the way to help foster your development as a researcher.
Building on the foundations in ET120 Research, Academic and Professional Skills, you will progress to developing your research skills through deeper insights into the generic principles of planning, collecting and analysing quantitative data. In addition to weekly engagement with real-life problem-solving tasks, you will be a member of a group project conducting empirical research. You will appreciate the purpose and application of different quantitative research designs and their relevance in applied contexts, such as organisational analysis and consulting. At the end of the module, you will be able to critically review quantitative data and understand its power as well as its limitations, and also demonstrate the skills needed to generate, analyse and interpret such data in the workplace.
Why do we speak differently in different situations? Can you identify the features of a Geordie and a Scouse accent? Do men and women speak differently, and if so, why? These are questions you will explore as we examine the relationship between language use and social context. Building on module ET119 (Language in Society), you will develop a greater understanding of linguistic variation. With the opportunity to conduct your own research study, you can expect to complete your course armed with a set of theories, insights and skills to enable you to address such questions, and to explore your own questions about the role of language in society.
On this module, you will study the principles, research and current issues underlying the teaching of English as an additional language. You will learn to evaluate teaching materials and to develop your own tasks for teaching the English language. This will give you a very good practical and theoretical foundation for your teaching career, either in the UK or abroad.
What does spoken language contribute to the world? In this module we will investigate the importance of spoken interaction for creating relationships, establishing identity and consolidating community. We will explore the concept of language itself and trace how theories have incrementally increased current linguists' understanding. We will note the growing realisation of the interaction between context and meaning as well as the fundamental position of spoken discourse in the fabric of society. The module will provide you with skills of recording and transcribing what you hear around you in order to analyse natural everyday conversation. From that analysis you will be able to gain insights into a range of issues such as power dynamics, identity work, politeness and discursive practices.
This module expands on concepts introduced during ET118: Linguistics: Understanding Language in order to provide core knowledge and skills for students in phonetics and phonology as essential fields of language study. It aims to:
What structures do the world’s languages have in common and how are they different? How can we classify languages? Why do languages change? This module expands on concepts introduced during Linguistics: Understanding Language in order to provide core knowledge and skills for students in the core linguistic domains of morphology and syntax. You’ll learn about more advanced morpho-syntactic features of a wide range of the world’s languages and how these features interact with semantics. You’ll explore methodologies to document, study, and analyse real-world language data. You’ll also be introduced to research in subfields of linguistics such as typology and language change.
Why are some texts easy to read and others not so easy? What makes a piece of writing persuasive? What can you learn about the ideology of an organisation from the texts it produces? In this module you will learn how to analyse the function of written and electronic texts in detail. You will become familiar with a wide range of text-analytical frameworks and techniques, applying them to various types of data, You will be introduced to a range of approaches to theorising the links between texts and the society of which they are a part, so that you can understand and discuss how society influences discourse and vice versa.
Large-language model (LLM) artificial intelligence (AI) systems are evolving and expanding rapidly and dramatically--in terms of technological capabilities, practical applications, and roles in people's lives. Applied linguists are uniquely positioned to shape LLM AI and to influence the ways that people act and interact with, through, about, and because of LLM AI. Indeed, applied linguists arguably have a responsibility to engage with LLM AI, as scholars who can offer insights into language structure, communicative interaction, knowledge and truth, teaching and learning, ethicality, and social justice. This module will probe the intersections of applied linguistics and AI to prepare students to understand LLM AI, and to engage, challenge, critique, improve, and apply these systems as scholars and professionals. Following a symposium approach, module content will evolve according to research and teaching activities within Applied Linguistics at Warwick, giving students exposure to active innovations in LLM AI and applied linguistics.
Do you have a topic or question about Language, Culture and Communication or English Language and Linguistics that you would like to explore in depth? By the time you get to the third year you are likely to have a lot of potential areas of interest. For the dissertation module you get the opportunity to develop a project around one of these interests and, with the support of a supervisor, conduct research and write it up! As well as developing content knowledge in an area of interest to you, the dissertation will help you enhance your research, critical and creative thinking, time management and academic writing skills. The dissertation module also provides excellent training if you are interested in undertaking postgraduate study beyond the BA.
In this module, you will learn how the sounds, gestures and facial expressions we make combine with linguistic choices to give meaning to our messages and influence our interpretation of the messages of others. You will develop a deeper awareness of the impact of different modes of communication and increase your understanding of the research and analysis that underpin our knowledge of human communication in all its complexity.
You will connect your growing understanding of film’s technological development with its industrial and social history. In exploring the relationship between cinema and society, you will increase your understanding of the role of the state in film production, and the place of cinema in mass culture. These fundamental theoretical approaches will be accompanied by case studies, giving you a firm grounding in film history as well as an enhanced understanding of the different ways of analysing the historical record.
This module aims to give first year students in Film Studies an introduction to visual cultures and, in particular, to proximate media forms and questions of medium specificity. The module aims to complement and enrich students' year one work on film and television by exploring mediums proximate to television and cinema as well as by introducing students to the analytical and historical study of specific visual cultures. The term is divided into two units, a structure that allows for short intensive studies of discrete mediums, periods, genres, technologies, artistic practices, visual regimes, or mediascapes.
What might you study? Photography; comics, manga, and sequential art; music videos; concert films; surveillance cultures; analog and digital games; computing and screen technologies; and a range of films and TV shows that either dramatise these issues, such as Nope (Jordan Peele, 2022) or Searching (Aneesh Chaganty, 2018) or from the perspective of remediation.
Cinema didn’t get to where it is today by standing still.
There are innovations that changed cinema forever – its invention, the introduction of synchronised sound, digital imaging technology. But these events didn’t happen overnight, and nor did they happen in a vacuum.
This module will connect an understanding of film’s technological developments with its industrial and social history. You’ll gain new perspectives upon the history of moving image media by studying key moments of transition. You’ll become familiar with important theoretical and historiographical approaches to technological change. By the end of the module you’ll have a firm grounding in technological film history and will be able to apply these new ways of thinking to the other films you encounter as you progress through your degree.
What might you watch? 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968); Sortie d’usine (Louis Lumière, 1895); The Jazz Singer (Alan Crosland, 1927), Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941), Leave Her to Heaven (John M. Stahl, 1945), Lola Montès (Max Oplüls, 1955), Jurassic Park (Steven Spielberg, 1994), Festen (Thomas Vinterberg, 1998), Tangerine (Sean Baker, 2015)
In this module you will be introduced to key critical debates in Film and Television Studies. You will explore a range of approaches to critical writing about film as well as the key critical turns in the study of television. There will be a historical focus to this work which will think about the development of film and television scholarship over time.
As your skills develop you will be encouraged to make reasoned and carefully argued interpretations, and to reflect upon the validity of other accounts and interpretations, both in group discussion and through reading of critical scholarship on module films and programmes.
What might you watch? The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939), Gun Crazy (Deadly is the Female) (Joseph H. Lewis, 1950), Thelma and Louise (Ridley Scott, 1991), Alice in den Städten (Wim Wenders, 1974), Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Tobe Hooper, 1974), Gogglebox (Channel 4, 2013-), Ghostwatch (BBC Television, 1992), The Royal Wedding (BBC1, 2011); London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony: Isles of Wonder (BBC1, 2012); Dallas (Lorimar Productions, CBS, 1978-1991); 24 Hours in A&E (The Garden Productions, Channel 4, 2011-present); CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Alliance Atlantis, CBS, 2000-present); Seinfeld (Castle Rock Entertainment, NBC, 1989-1998).
In this module you will gain a historical, conceptual and practical grounding in the nature of film as a national, transnational and global industrial and economic practice. It will introduce you to a range of key issues and approaches that have shaped global film industries from the end of the Second World War through to the present day. You will explore many of the elements by which film may be understood as not just a cultural, but also a socio-economic phenomenon. These will include such themes as the evolution of international trends in film finance, production, distribution, exhibition and marketing, and the application of enduring concepts such as authorship, genre and stardom to many of these aspects.
You will also examine matters related to political economy and film policy with weekly topics that might include: the role of government policy, funding and support; the intervention of state and cross-cultural organisations such as the British Film Institute, Channel 4, the BBC and the EU; questions of censorship and regulation; and the management of issues related to social and cultural diversity.
Overall, the module will help you to contextualise much of the foundational teaching and learning from across your first year.
In this module you will explore theoretical models that have been taken up by scholars within Film Studies but were originally developed in other subject areas. These include English Literature, Philosophy, and Psychology. You will engage with a range of theories that offer different constructions of textuality, meaning and interpretation. You will gain knowledge of major shifts in theorisation by addressing key paradigms such as structuralism, psychoanalysis, Marxism, semiotics, deconstruction and postmodernism. You will also apply these theoretical models to specific film texts, adding a conceptual dimension to your textual analysis.
Look closely. No, closer still. Let’s watch that again.
In this module, viewing and close analysis is everything. We want to give you intensive practice in looking at and listening closely to films and television programmes. Lectures will equip you with the technical and analytical vocabulary of textual analysis. In the discussion-based seminars that follow, you’ll get to practice using and applying these terms yourself in a supportive environment, building up your confidence and command of the terminology that will be your academic language for the next three years. Written work is designed to build you up to a point where you can create your own reasoned and carefully argued interpretations of film and television texts. We’ll set readings each week that introduce you to the best of critical scholarship and get you to begin to evaluate and reflect upon other accounts and interpretations of film.
We think it’s really important that you are exposed to a variety of films and television programmes from different times, in different styles and from different nations. Each year, we carefully choose our screenings to offer you the chance to experience and compare different approaches to the expressive use of film form and mise-en-scène. We want you to be able to examine, in detail, the ways in which stylistic choices create meaning and affect interpretation.
What might you watch? Sunset Boulevard (Billy Wilder, US, 1950), Elephant (Gus Van Sant, US, 2002), La Règle du jeu (Jean Renoir, France, 1939), Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Thailand, 2010), Edge of Heaven (Germany/Turkey, Fatih Akin, 2007), M (Fritz Lang, Germany, 1931), The West Wing (NBC, 1999-2006), Miranda (2009-2015), This Morning (ITV, 1988- present), The Wire (HBO, 2002-2008)
Film Theory introduces key theoretical concepts related to film form, spectatorship, and politics. The module will enable you to read film theory as a written text and a historical document, and to use it as a theoretical tool for interpreting screen media. As a theory course, the module will give you the skills needed to approach theoretical texts, and we will be focusing as much on analysing written arguments as discussing the screenings.
By the end of the module you will be familiar with some of the key theoretical frameworks and debates in film scholarship, and their position within broader interdisciplinary contexts. You should be able to read complex critical writing with confidence and precision, and to deploy theoretical arguments in your own writing with similar confidence and rigor. You will be able to apply theoretical frameworks to screen media texts in both oral and written communication.
What might you watch? Le Crime de Monsieur Lange (Jean Renoir, 1939), The Gleaners & I (Agnès Varda, 2000), The Bourne Ultimatum (Paul Greengrass, 2007), Il Posto (Ermanno Olmi, 1961), Written on the Wind (Douglas Sirk, 1956), Gilda (Vidor, 1956), Mahogany (Berry Gordy, 1975), Starship Troopers (Paul Verhoeven, 1997)
On this module, Adaptation is considered in its broadest sense: from the traditional conception of the printed page to the filmic image, to the multiform texts crossing contemporary multimedia platforms. The module covers key debates, such as the issue of fidelity, the role of heritage cinema and the rise of contemporary multimedia forms.
Students will engage with the work of major theorists in the field, including Robert Stam and Allesandra Raengo, Sarah Cardwell and Linda Hutcheon, contextualising their approaches within the wider movements of post-structuralism and postmodernism. In the second term, students will undertake detailed analyses of a specific case study. One such case study might, for example, encompass the multiple iterations of hardboiled crime fiction – including radio and filmic adaptations – and the many faces of Sherlock Holmes. The case study will be determined by the research expertise of the module leader.
The category of ‘world cinema’ represents a point of convergence for both the flattening impulses of a universalizing neoliberalism and the more radical bents of internationalist coalition-building. In other words, such cinema figures large in affective negotiations of global culture, world community and international human rights. This module looks at the wide range of fictional feature films, including the work of Deepa Metha, Akira Kurosawa, Samira Makhmalbaf and Satyajit Ray, among others. This course addresses several specific topics, including: transnational marketing, the touristic gaze, the politics of dubbing/subtitling, and the slow cinema debates.
This module reassesses ‘world cinema’ in light of globalization and global crises. Since the term ‘world cinema’ has always simultaneously invoked industrial, generic and aesthetic categories, our reckoning of the field hopes to expose otherwise unseen geopolitical fault lines. We investigate the historical and current contexts for the widening distribution of non-Hollywood films. We also examine the renaissance of international art cinema practices in recent decades, including new waves from East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
What you might watch? Run Lola Run (Tom Tykwer, 1998); Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Werner Herzog, 1972); Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1974); Good Bye Lenin! (Wolfgang Becker, 2003); The Baader Meinhof Complex (Uli Edel, 2008); Stray Dog (Akira Kurosawa 1949); Sansho Dayu (Kenji Mizoguchi, 1954); Tokyo Story (Yasujiro Ozu, 1953); Crazed Fruit (Ko Nakahira, 1956); Face of Another (Hiroshi Teshigahara, 1966); Ring (Hideo Nakata, 1998); My Neighbour Totoro (Hiyao Miyazaki, 1988); Still Walking (Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2008); Pather Panchali (Ray, 1955); Riso Amaro / Bitter Rice (Giuseppe De Santis, 1949); Rashomon (Kurosawa, 1950); De cierta manera / One Way or Another (Sara Gómez, 1977); The Apple (Samira Makhmalbaf, 1998); What Time Is It There? (Tsai, 2001); Fire (Deepa Metha, 1996); Lan Yu (Stanley Kwan, 2001); Peking Opera Blues (Tsui, 1986)
This core module will build on what students have learned about Hollywood in first year modules by expanding their knowledge about Hollywood in what has been deemed its ‘classic’ period. The module will illustrate important aspects about the industrial system that dominated Hollywood filmmaking from the late 1920s to the early 1960s, including style, genre, and stars. By first focusing on Hollywood as an industry, examining the practices and cultures of film production, the module will then consider its ideological influence by promoting specific American values and traditions through political issues, such as race and ethnicity.
This module is concerned with the close reading and interpretation of film texts through close textual analysis. Over the course of the module, you will acquire the skills and vocabulary necessary to analyse the ways in which meaning is conveyed through the formal properties of film. This module is also concerned with the broader applications of close textual analysis. By the end of the module and you should be confident in applying your skills of textual analysis in order to interrogate the political dimension of audio-visual texts.
This module is concerned with the close reading and interpretation of film texts through close textual analysis. Over the course of the module, you will acquire the skills and vocabulary necessary to analyse the ways in which meaning is conveyed through the formal properties of film. This module is also concerned with the broader applications of close textual analysis. By the end of the module and you should be confident in applying your skills of textual analysis in order to interrogate the political dimension of audio-visual texts.
While this module will always focus on close textual analysis and issues of film and politics, the exact content of the module in any given year will depend on the particular expertise and research interests of the current module convenor. An example of what might typically be covered on the module is given below:
This module will focus on film and history, exploring the various ways film texts have been analysed as reflecting social and cultural historical moments, filmmaking movements of particular eras, and how films have historicised individuals and events. There are many ways to ‘do’ film history and this term will not be an exhaustive survey of the history of cinema. Instead, it will offer some key contexts, methodologies, and traditions that have formed the wide-ranging study of film and history.
Film Aesthetics approaches film first and foremost as art, and lets you grapple with the fascinating questions raised by doing so. The module considers how key, longstanding problems in the philosophy and sociology of art might apply to the medium of film, as well as aesthetic issues that seem to be raised by audiovisual media in particular.
Film Aesthetics approaches film first and foremost as art, and lets you grapple with the fascinating questions raised by doing so. The module considers how key, longstanding problems in the philosophy and sociology of art might apply to the medium of film, as well as aesthetic issues that seem to be raised by audiovisual media in particular.
You will deepen your understanding of French grammar and syntax with the help of tutors experienced in facilitating the transition from A Level to university-level competence. You will learn appropriate technical vocabulary and handle complex structures. You will develop the skills required to produce authentic and accurate translations of written texts in both English and French. Writing in formal French introduces you to the structures and methods used to debate ideas on contemporary issues. You will increase your reading and comprehension skills and develop your ability to exploit texts for vocabulary, idioms, syntax and grammatical structures. Working with a native speaker in a small group, you will discuss aspects of contemporary French and Francophone culture and society, using audio, video and written resources.
As a beginner learner of the French language, you will cover the main linguistic skills in speaking, listening, writing and reading. You will focus on gaining grammatical accuracy as well as communicative fluency and competence. By the end of the year, you will be expected to be able to sustain everyday conversations in French, read authentic texts such as newspaper articles, follow the gist of TV/video extracts and be able to write different types of texts in French. You will also work on basic translations to and from French, as a means of consolidating your knowledge.
Pre-requisite: prior knowledge of French
This foundation allows students to revise and consolidate the basics of the French language, develop main linguistic (oral, aural, written, spoken) skills, and acquire grammatical awareness & essential communicative competences.
Why is modern France so deeply invested in the past? What are the milestones in the creation of modern France? How have notions of France and Frenchness been shaped through the stories told about them? These are some of the questions you will explore through close reading of primary sources from major periods and events in French history. You will explore a range of written, visual, and audio-visual materials, from the student posters of May 1968 to prints dating back to the French Revolution, and from stories of Charlemagne to films and texts reflecting France’s ongoing preoccupation with its (often controversial) recent past. Engaging with this varied range of cultural sources will equip you to study further aspects of French and Francophone culture in the later stages of your degree.
You will consolidate and develop the language skills acquired in your first year. By the end of the module, you should have the knowledge of vocabulary and syntactic and grammatical structures to produce written French in two prescribed genres. You will develop your skills in translation to and from French, with a focus on specific translation challenges. In spoken French, you will improve your ability to understand and use structured spoken French on a range of topics related to contemporary cultures and in simulated real-life contexts.
You will increase the range of your general and specialised vocabulary in French, improve your speaking, listening and comprehension skills, and develop your ability to translate from French, including through a sound knowledge of grammar, register, semantic nuances and style. There will be opportunities to write in French and to work on materials applicable to real-life situations.
You will consolidate and develop your ability to write and speak confidently and at a level of intellectual sophistication in French. By the end of the course, you should be able to produce a structured written argument on a given topic, in French that is grammatically correct, idiomatic, varied in vocabulary and grammatical structure, and in an appropriate register. You should be able to translate accurately from French to English and English to French, using your detailed knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and idiom, and employing an appropriate register. You will strengthen your skills in pronunciation and intonation skills and demonstrate these through fluent oral presentation and discussion of an intellectually demanding topic.
Politics, violence, and religion are burning issues today, to the extent that the media speak of the ‘new’ Wars of Religion, whilst others defend the principles of secularity. But what were the first Wars of Religion (1562-1598/1629)? To what extent were violence, religion and state-making interwoven at the dawn of French modernity? Do the sixteenth-century texts that describe massacres and brutality, but also formulate principles of just war, peace-keeping and good governance have a particular resonance for the present? This module investigates issues of political thought (good vs. bad governance; kingship vs. tyranny; rebellion and resistance); the relation between religion and state; and the place of violence, tolerance, persecution and freedom of conscience in society. At the same time, it pays attention to the relation between physical conflict and polemics (conflicts fought out in writing), specifically to the role of satires and pamphlets in Early Modern disputes –– all hot topics of current research! Our primary sources will be very varied, and will include poetry, philosophical Essais, clandestine pamphlets and diplomatic dispatches – as well as more recent representations of the era in French fiction and film, with Robert Merle's novel Fortune de France (1977, translated in 2014 as The Brethren) and Patrice Chéreau's film La Reine Margot (1994 / version restaurée 2014).
This two-term module explores some of the most original and significant ideas in Modern French thought. The module is structured around the concept of the subject, or self: in the first term we explore, in turn, the feeling, learning and thinking subject. In the second term we explore the subject of reverie, the subject of sexuality and the subject of nature. The thinkers we study offer thought-provoking visions of what it means to be a human subject: to feel emotion, to learn, to understand ourselves in terms of science and neuroscience or to fall into reverie, to be liberated or trapped by categories of sexual identity, to grasp our freedom in the context of environmental destruction and climate emergency. As well as testing your understanding of the material, the assessment is designed to allow you to develop a range of transferable critical thinking, reading and writing skills.
Why and how can economics address issues of global sustainable development? In this module, you will learn about the relationship between economic activity, social inclusion and environmental sustainability, and critically analyse the economic theories that underpin sustainable development policy interventions and how those theories impact upon policy design.
This module focuses on the natural science of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. We will cover well-known topics like climate change and biodiversity loss and less prominent problems like biogeochemical flows. You will receive training in scientific methods and will investigate environmental systems first hand through experimental approaches. You will evaluate existing governance and management efforts and develop innovative responses of your own. You will learn how to write a policy briefing and create a policy briefing paper and policy pitch, aimed at a specific decision-making audience.
This module examines concepts that enable you to analyse and interpret social and political issues related to global sustainable development. You will learn to understand and evaluate pressing social and political dimensions of sustainability at national and international levels.
This is an exciting, innovative, and practical module. It is designed to give you research and analysis skills and to enable you to apply the theories from your other first-year core modules. You will learn how to research sustainability by designing and developing a group project on the topic of sustainable transport, under the guidance of an academic supervisor. Staff from across the GSD Department with expertise in transport policy as well as research methods teach this module.
Viable and equitable solutions in health and sustainable development require interdisciplinary and critical thinking. The first part of the module will introduce you to fundamental concepts of global health governance and health systems, whilst acquainting you with key global health priorities like drug resistance and mental health from the perspective of global sustainable development. The second part of the module will focus on cross-cutting issues that shape and impact on global health.
Goal 2 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to end hunger, end all forms of malnutrition, and ensure sustainable food production systems. However, the world population will likely increase to nearly 10 billion people by 2050. After decades of positive change, the incidence of malnourishment is again on the rise, global stocks of key food are contracting, and it is currently more expensive to buy food than for most of our planet’s modern history.
This module addresses these significant challenges by encouraging students to adopt a 'food systems approach' in responding to the imperative agendas of food security, sovereignty and sustainability. The module is taught in collaboration with researchers from across various disciplines at Warwick.
This module focuses on how inequalities shape our societies, economies, environments and politics. Starting with the question ‘Does inequality matter?’, you will critically reflect on the United Nations' decision to integrate inequalities into the Sustainable Development Agenda. You will then explore six different dimensions of inequalities (work, politics, environmental justice, societal discrimination, automation and globalisation, empowerment) and gain an understanding of the complexities of these problems. Finally, you will appreciate the challenges faced by today’s policy makers who aim to address issues of inequalities while taking into consideration all three pillars of sustainable development.
In this module you will bring together all your learning and experiences on the course – the theoretical concepts and principles and your practical know-how – to address a specific sustainable development problem of your own choosing. This will be a problem that concerns you most and which you would like to tackle.
You will be supported by an academic supervisor to devise a suitable project and to undertake research to explore the issue, taking a transdisciplinary approach to your investigation in order to produce an original research output. This may be a concept paper, a practical project, a film production, a long essay, an advocacy campaign...use your creativity!
You will design a strategy for disseminating your findings (for example at a conference presentation, via online publication or an article in a journal, or at a public meeting that you have arranged). This provides you with an opportunity to have your voice heard in a forum where it matters and could have lasting impact.
Over the year you will have four sessions in German language per week. These consist of (a) a weekly Translation class covering translation from and into German, and (b) a small language class working on Grammar. You will also have (c) one weekly Conversation and Comprehension class taught by our native-speaker LektorInnen and (d) one weekly Writing class which will introduce you to the German media, to different genres and writing styles and help you hone your own writing skills in German. In addition, you will be expected to work through exercises in the paper-based Hammer Grammar and its online version, which will be demonstrated at the first Translation Class in Week 2. You are also encouraged to explore other online and paper-based materials as directed by your tutors. In the spring term you will work in pairs on a German language topic (Media project) under the supervision of your Writing class tutor.
As a beginner in the acquisition of the German language, you will cover the main linguistic skills in speaking, listening, writing and reading. You will focus on gaining grammatical accuracy as well and communicative fluency and competence. By the end of the year, you will be expected to be able to sustain everyday conversations in German, read authentic texts such as newspaper articles, follow the gist of TV extracts and be able to write an intermediate range of texts in German. You will also work on basic translations to and from German as a means of consolidating your knowledge.
This module introduces landmarks in the history of modern Germany, which emerged as a nation out of a confederation of provinces and principalities in the 19th century. You will touch on the political turmoil, conflicts, and violence that at times made Imperial Germany, the Third Reich and the post-1945 Germanies pariah states in the eyes of the international community. You will also reflect on the developments that led to contemporary Germany's emergence as a cultural, political and economic powerhouse, shaping global trends in film, literature, theatre and music. The module focuses on the media and representations through which many of us first encounter German-language culture: fairy-tales and their afterlives; performance, visual and screen culture; music and sound. In other words, students will sample the works and ideas that have put Germany and the German language on the world map.
We will engage with a number of key questions. How did German literature, film, art, and music transform the status of the German language? How did German-speaking artists shape the cultural genres that we consume today? How does engaging with these works give us a more differentiated understanding of the positive and negative aspects of Germany's history and its global influence?
The module will help you develop skills that will be essential for the rest of your degree and your life after Warwick: critical reading; clear and concise argumentation; excellent written and oral communication skills; independent thinking and research.
In this second-year module, you will increase your general and specialised vocabulary in German through translation into English and German, essay-writing in German, spoken and listening comprehension, and work on business-related materials. In pursuit of these aims, you will learn to identify and rectify grammatical errors, and gain increased sensitivity towards language in general, and an awareness of register, semantics and style in particular. You will also gain important language research skills, including correct use of dictionaries.
You will increase the range of your general and specialised vocabulary in German, improve your speaking, listening and comprehension skills, and develop your ability to translate from German, including through a sound knowledge of grammar, register, semantic nuances and style. There will be opportunities to write in German and to work on business-related materials.
You will get to grips with the emerging sense of German nationhood, against the background of the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars. You will study concepts such as the state, the nation and the classical ideal as an aesthetic and political model through the work of authors such as Goethe, Schiller and Hölderlin, before exploring German Romanticism up to its critical reappraisal in the 19th century. You will develop your appreciation of the role of the artists in the German Weltanschauung and the rise of nationalism to broaden your understanding of how literature reflects different models of progress and anticipates social and political change.
One of the problems of modern literature in general and theatre in particular is how to represent large scale social conflicts such as class struggle, the relationship between capital and labour, or war. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Germany experienced a number of dramatic socio-economic changes and challenges: the rapid development of market capitalism and population growth of urban metropoles, the devastations of WWI, the change from a monarchy to a republic troubled by political conflicts, the world economic crisis of 1929 and the resulting mass unemployment, the rise of National Socialism.
The uncompromising modernity of Kafka’s writing has fascinated generations of readers across the world. His fiction has added the word Kafkaesque to the English dictionary for the experience of an obscure and dislocating modernity. A vast body of criticism concerns the question of how to read a body of writing that upsets many of the reader’s conventional expectations about meaning-making. In this module we will analyse how Kafka employs realist, symbolist and allegorical frames of reference in order to challenge the very notion of stable meaning. You will study a selection of Kafka’s short stories with reference to the following themes: narrative perspective; authority, law and justice; gender roles; performance art and Kafka’s animals. The module is optional for students on all degrees and runs over one term.
The uncompromising modernity of Kafka’s writing has fascinated generations of readers across the world. His fiction has added the word Kafkaesque to the English dictionary for the experience of an obscure and dislocating modernity. A vast body of criticism concerns the question of how to read a body of writing that upsets many of the reader’s conventional expectations about meaning-making. In this module we will analyse how Kafka employs realist, symbolist and allegorical frames of reference in order to challenge the very notion of stable meaning. You will study a selection of Kafka’s short stories with reference to the following themes: narrative perspective; authority, law and justice; gender roles; performance art and Kafka’s animals. The module is optional for students on all degrees and runs over one term.
A module which examines Germany's filmic legacy between 1918-1945. It considers the relationship between film and society at a time of massive social change and, ultimately, war. The section focussing on Weimar film considers aesthetics, gender relations, images of modernity, and messages of hope and despair. The section focussing on Nazi film covers some of these elements but also considers how film can serve ideological goals as propaganda.
From Medea to Kriemhild, Charlotte Corday to Irma Grese, violent women haunt the cultural imaginary as figures of horror and fascination. This module will use the exceptional figure of the female perpetrator as a frame for considering shifting ideas about women and society in modern German culture. We will begin by discussing canonical representations of violent women using short-texts and visual art, considering why the female perpetrator is such a prominent artistic motif and how her representation relates to anxieties about the gender hierarchy and social order. We will particularly investigate how traditional images of female perpetrators shape how society understands violence today. As we engage with more recent works, we will explore how feminist writers have revised and challenged stereotypical images of female perpetrators. To what extent do they construe violent women as symbols of transgression and power? Are they role models or outlaws? Are they deserving of sympathy or derision? Finally, how successful are these writers’ attempts to challenge stereotypes about violent women and demonstrate their concrete implications?
In recent years the topic of German terror has made a popular cultural come back and it has been a feature of numerous films and literary, historical and autobiographical texts (i.e. Der Baader-Meinhof Komplex (2008)), sparking debates about the glamorisation of terrorism (Prada Meinhof) and discussions on the place of terror in the German national narrative. This course examines the outbreak of terrorism in West Germany during the late 1960s and 1970s against this background. It explores the origins and aims of different terrorist groups which unsettled West German political and civilian life during this period and, in this way, moves beyond the usual focus on the Rote Armee Fraktion (raf).
You will study the evolution of modern German literature, from Poetic Realism, through Naturalism and Modernism across a wide spectrum of authors, genres and themes in dialogue with major social, cultural and political movements that mark the transformation of Germany and Austria from the 1870s onwards. Themes include the Industrial Revolution, social critique and the dramatic form, sexuality, adolescence and education in the Wilhelmine period, gender roles and modernity, and the lead-up and response of German writers to the First World War. You will analyse major literary movements through the work of, among others, Theodor Fontane, Gerhart Hauptmann, Arthur Schnitzler, Franz Kafka, Thomas Mann and Georg Kaiser, and appreciate how the arts became a vehicle for expressing ambivalent attitudes to modernity.
Over the course of the 1990s post-unification Germany integrates the legacy of the Holocaust in the official self-image of the Berlin Republic (for example by creating a Holocaust memorial in the nation’s capital). The re-inscription of Auschwitz into a national and collective memory opens the gates for a return of German wartime memory that appeared to have been obscured by the commemoration of Nazism’s victims. The re-emergence of the issue of German wartime suffering to the fore of German public discourse since the turn of the millennium represents the greatest shift in German memory culture since the 1980s. The (international) attention and debates triggered by, for example, W.G. Sebald’s Luftkrieg und Literatur, Günter Grass’s Im Krebsgang and Jörg Friedrich’s Der Brand testify to a change in focus away from the victims of National Socialism to the traumatic experience of the ‘perpetrator collective’ and its legacies. In this module, you will address the representation of German wartime experience in contemporary literature and film from several angles. Opening with a historiation of the problem of representing Germans as victims of war, you will move on to W.G. Sebald’s essay Luftkrieg und Literatur. Sebald’s thesis that German writers had failed to inscribe the experience of the air raids into post-war German literature, triggered a debate about the moral assessment of the Allied bombings of Germany and its literary representation (or lack of it). After focusing on literary and filmic representations of the bombings of Düsseldorf and Dresden, you will address the issue of family memory, transgenerational trauma and the long-term legacy of traumatic war experience in both literature and film.
The module is one of a number of 15-CAT final-year modules available to final-year students studying German (either singly or in combination with a range of other subjects) and will expand student choice. It compliments upon but does not necessitate prior knowledge of work covered under ‘GE109 Aspects of German Culture in the Age of Enlightenment’, and ‘GE207 German Culture in the Age of Revolution, 1789-1848,’ which are core modules in the first and second years.
The module is one of a number of 15-CAT final-year modules available to final-year students studying German (either singly or in combination with a range of other subjects) and will expand student choice. It complements, but does not necessitate prior knowledge of, work covered under GE217 'Film in the Weimar Republic and under National Socialism' and complements, but is not a prerequisite for, GE 424 ‘Reflections of National Socialism in Post-war German Writing’ and GE 431 ‘German Memories of WWII - From Perpetration to Suffering’.
Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble (1990) radically advanced the way that we think about gender and sexuality. The philosopher argues that gender identity is not an intrinsic essence. Instead the illusion of a gendered identity is created through the way we walk, talk, dress, and act in accordance to gender norms. The “trouble” that Butler evokes in her title refers to several things. In patriarchal culture, she argues, woman (other and unknowable) has always been a source of trouble. At the same time, patriarchy is founded upon a perception of sexual difference that affirms the superiority of the male subject. Binary notions of masculinity and femininity, attached to heteronormative sexuality, bolster existing power structures. To challenge these concepts thus challenges the social order.
This module allows advanced students of German to explore contemporary German culture and language. Students will acquire profound knowledge of current social, political, cultural, economic, and ecological developments in Germany, advancing linguistic fluency alongside cultural fluency. Taught in German, this module aims at a critical in-depth understanding of highly topical debates that shape German society today, including Germany’s role on the international stage. Newspapers, journal articles, essays, TV series, films as well as media like news channels, broadsheets, blogs, and podcasts will provide materials for the module.
In her 2012 study, 'Why Love Hurts', Eva Illouz diagnosed a loss of the 'cultural pathos' of love wich she ascribed to the increasing rationalisation of emotions and the destabilization of clear gender roles in the latter half of the 20th century. This, according to Illouz resulted in uncertainty and irony towards love relationships. The paradigmatic expression of what Illouz calls a “de-structuring of romantic desire”, an ironic disillusionment with discourses of love and passion is the globally successful TV-series 'Sex and the City'.
In contrast, and partially in response to the ironic malaise diagnosed by Illouz, German literature and culture since the early 2000s experiences a renaissance of literary 'love stories' that explore the conditions of love, intimacy and romance in the present, and against a cultural horizon of representations of love that goes back to Goethe's first novel 'Die Leiden des jungen Werthers' (1774). The module focuses on a series of exemplary texts from the early to mid-2000s that all thematise the literary, social and cultural issues surrounding love and intimacy and their representation. Beginning with an introduction to the cultural history of representations of love and central conceptions of love from contemporary Social Theory (Giddens, Illouz, Bauman), the module will explore the renaissance of the literary romance with Ortheil's bestselling 'Die grosse Liebe' (2003) and Hans-Ulrich Treichel's ironic deconstruction of Ortheils model in 'Mein Sardinien' (2014). Navid Kermani's 'Grosse Liebe' (2014) combines a reflection on Islamic (Sufi) traditions of romance with an ironic reflection on the German protest movement of the 1980s from the perspective of an Iranian teenager. The module then focuses on two texts that explore romance from non-heterosexual perspectives Strubel's, 'Kältere Schichten der Luft' (2008) from a transgender perspective while Sulzer's 'Ein perfekter Kellner' (2006) is a novel about male homosexuality. The module concludes with two films, Maren Ade's study of couple power dynamics 'Alle Anderen' (2009) and Thomas Stuber's underclass romance 'In den Gängen' (2018). Issues of gender, diversity, ethnicity, power and normativity in relation to (Western European) traditions of representing love and romance will be addressed throughout the module.
In this third-year module, you will use vocabulary of increasing sophistication in both general and specialised fields, and improve your skills in spoken and written German and translation. You will improve your listening and reading comprehension skills, and learn to identify and rectify grammatical errors. An important aim of the course is to cultivate sensitivity towards language in general, and an awareness of register, semantics and style.
Taking a thematic approach to the history of Global Art, the module brings in comparisons across time and space and explores a wide spectrum of images and ideas, including those related to architecture and the applied arts. Introductory analytical and communication skills required for a good understanding of the field will be enhanced, including areas which will be useful for the study of later modules.
Introducing art-history and how we study it, we offer a historical survey of Western and Global Art, concentrating on Late Antique, Medieval and Renaissance art. Skills and techniques are developed that will allow you to describe accurately what you see, in terms of how an object is made, as well as its form and iconography. These core skills will form your foundation for later modules.
Works of art need to be set into their historical and physical contexts and by working with the collections at Waddesdon Manor we take this module outside the classroom. We'll study how objects are made, and how they are displayed, gaining skills in understanding the practicalities of making objects, and of interpreting them. This module provides the foundation for studies in later modules.
The importance of exhibitions for the interpretation of contemporary art and architecture forms the theme of this module. Based in Venice, we can study current exhibitions both within and outside the frame of the Biennale, in conjunction with texts on contemporary exhibition-making, curating, and museum and exhibition history.
Venice’s rich art and architectural heritage studied in within its unique physical, political and cultural location is the focus of this module. Key examples of architecture, painting and sculpture will be studied by looking at their commissioning, manufacture, consumption and subsequent critical reception.
We explore the relationship between modern architecture and the historic city, examining how architects and planners have engaged with the legacy of Venice since the 19th century.
Topics studied have included: Ruskin’s Venice and the Emergence of Conservation in the 19th century; International Modernism’s Response to Venice in the 20th century; Post-modernism and New Technologies of Contemporary Architectural Practice; Saving Venice to Date; Sustainability and the Historic City.
By examining a range of theoretical approaches from the discipline’s beginning in the early 19th century to contemporary debates you’ll gain understanding of the methods used in art history. Looking at questions of theory and method, you‘ll develop the skills of critical reading and the evaluation of evidence. You'll be encouraged to reflect on your own theoretical models, and to consider how these will shape your dissertation.
The Dissertation is an extended essay for which you choose your topic, and it enables you to write a substantial piece of work, with expert guidance and support. It brings together all the skills that you’ve gained from the course and gives you the chance to make your own contribution to knowledge. It demonstrates key skills in researching and writing a critical analysis of a topic that you find fascinating.
The importance of exhibitions for the interpretation of contemporary art and architecture forms the theme of this module. Based in Venice, we can study current exhibitions both within and outside the frame of the Biennale, in conjunction with texts on contemporary exhibition-making, curating, and museum and exhibition history.
This module examines key Venetian buildings and monuments and their decoration (mosaics, paintings, sculptures, etc.) in the light of their unique physical and historical context from the middle ages to the early modern period. Venice's early links with the Byzantine empire, its status as a maritime republic and its distinctive political situation fostered a culture different from those of other Italian cities and which can be studied as a discrete entity. The influence of Venice on art and architecture in the mainland will also be examined through, for example, study trips.
This special subject looks at the relationship of modernist architecture to tradition and historic cities, with particular reference to the city of Venice and the surrounding area.
This module focuses on art museums and galleries. The first part takes a historical and theoretical view of galleries and museums, introducing students to a variety of permanent collections, exhibition spaces, concepts of display and interpretation. Local and global collections as well as those associated with the canon of Western Art History will take prominence, providing not only a contextualisation of the specific host collection on which the students will concentrate in their assignment, but also introducing an approach to the artwork as a displayed object and its interpretations. The second part provides an insight into museum departments, their working roles with emphasis on teamwork and developing related skills. Areas examined will include curating, interpretation, outreach and learning, administration and finance, publicity and marketing.
Seismic change. Gradual shift. Both? Or neither?
Between 1450 and 1800, Europe saw profound developments take place: whether it was Gutenberg's printing press, Columbus’ ‘discovery’ of America, or Martin Luther’s challenge to the papacy, the events of this ‘Early Modern’ period dramatically changed the social and political landscape of the times.
And yet, this was a period that could equally be viewed as slow-paced: for example, did the people of Europe experience significant changes to life expectancy or social hierarchies during the period?
Through this module, you’ll consider the differing historical viewpoints of both Europe and the Early Modern period itself. You’ll think about the individuals of the time too, considering the notions of European identity, and understanding encounters and relationships between Europeans and non-Europeans. And, through the comprehension of key historical and historiographical terms, you’ll begin to ascertain the roots of modernity.
We live in the here and now. But what got us here? This module studies the string of major social, political, and cultural developments that established our modern world. Radical (and not so radical) ideas from the Enlightenment, the industrial revolution’s structural transformations of how we work, build and buy things, and the struggles and stumbles of imperialism, capitalism and globalisation have gone far to set terms of life in the twenty-first century. The module will also help you develop your critical voice as a historian while asking comparative questions about historical difference across the world.
Cross-dressing, witches and prostitution: there was much to occupy the thoughts of those living between 800 and 1500. And that’s before we consider the impact of broader themes such as the Hundred Years War or the Rise of the Ottomans.
This module provides you with an introduction to this time of great upheaval and non-conformity across Europe. Often using a wide range of primary source materials, you’ll assess the economic, religious and spiritual life of the people of the medieval world. Through this study of the later Medieval and Renaissance periods, you’ll learn to communicate ideas and findings, and develop your own critical approach to analysing the sources that you use.
This is a new module for 2025/26.
This module will introduce you to current themes and approaches to history writing, so that by the end of the module you are able to devise your own historical research project. You will learn about key developments in the history of historical writing, and will engage with the research interests and methods of staff in the department.
The module will also introduce you to various types of source material (oral, material, visual, printed, quantitative, government records, digital, and so on); and writing and research skills including editing, integrity, and ethics.
One of the first international financial centres. A city of enormous architectural and artistic significance. A metropolis of myth and empire. There is a lot that people already know about Venice; for a budding historian though, there is much more to unearth on this remarkable city.
This module will give you ample opportunity to learn about Venice through a range of primary textual, visual and material sources. And, by spending a term studying in the city, you’ll be able to put your learning into practice through a series of site visits.
Through this immersive study of Venice, you’ll find yourself getting closer to the city’s history between the late 14th century and the late 16th century. Venice will also act as a base from which you can explore wider issues, including gender, violence and church reform.
What have you learned? What are you most interested in? And what do you want to tell us about history?
Over the previous years of study, you’ll have gained skills and understanding that will enable you to research, analyse, critique and discuss key historical themes – all the attributes you need to become a critical and imaginative thinker.
Your final-year dissertation is your opportunity to demonstrate this. It’s your platform to choose and explore an area that truly fascinates you, based on a module in your second or final year, or your year abroad. It’s your chance to prove yourself as a capable historian.
By working on your dissertation, you’ll undertake a substantive piece of historical research and produce an article-length piece of work. You’ll call upon the theoretical approaches you explored in the Historiography modules, and critically assess a wide variety of primary sources. You’ll have the scope to outline, write and sustain a coherent and logical argument.
Help is on hand throughout. You’ll be allocated a supervisor in term one of the final year, and there is also a Dissertations Coordinator available for general guidance and queries. If you’re spending a term in Venice, your tutors there will be able to support you too.
Do you have A Level or an equivalent in Spanish and want to consolidate, extend and refine your skills? This module will equip you with sound grammatical and linguistic foundations, with the aim of increasing your confidence in reading, listening, speaking and writing in Spanish. You'll use authentic resources in a variety of media from around the Hispanic world, including books, articles, newspapers, television, music, and podcasts, as well as taking part in our virtual language exchange with students at the Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá, Colombia, a fantastic way to expand your linguistic and intercultural skills outside the classroom. During the module, you will develop your skills through a combination of classroom sessions, guided learning activities and appropriate self-study resources. Weekly classes will cover reading, language in use, grammar and functional aspects of Spanish such as translation, extended writing and oral expression, which are reinforced through complementary activities on Moodle, our multimedia VLE.
As a beginner in the acquisition of the Spanish language, you’ll gain a keen grammatical awareness, a sound understanding of cultures and societies across the Hispanic world, and most of all, confidence in reading, listening, speaking and writing in Spanish. Using authentic resources, including newspapers, television and radio, you are expected to end your first year able to sustain everyday conversations in Spanish, read authentic texts, follow TV extracts and write at an intermediate level in Spanish. You'll also work on basic translations to and from Spanish as a means of consolidating your knowledge.
How has the Spanish language travelled around the world and what happens when it co-exists with other languages? How do writers use language to explore identity, and what happens when they work between two (or more) languages? What skills do we need as readers to interpret the nuances of texts that travel between languages? This module will equip you with an understanding of the cultural and sociolinguistic diversity of the Hispanic world, and a strong grounding in the literary and cultural analysis of texts that address this diversity.
Have you ever wondered where the familiar stereotypes of Spain and Latin America come from? How have they circulated and been received at different times and in different places? And how have Spaniards and Latin Americans represented themselves to travellers, tourists, artists, and even invaders? The module will introduce you to a wide range of written and visual representations of the Hispanic world, and some of its most influential and iconic cultural figures. We investigate topics which, in different ways, pose important questions about studying other languages and cultures.
On this module, you'll extend your competence in Spanish. You'll deepen your understanding of advanced grammatical and linguistic structures, increase the range and sophistication of your vocabulary, and refine your use of register in authentic spoken and written discourse. You'll use resources from a variety of media from around the Hispanic world, and take part in our virtual language exchange, where you will have the opportunity to work online with students in Spain and Latin America. At the end of the course, you should have sufficient mastery to discuss different topics, report on your independent reading and support your opinions with solid arguments.
This module for students who started as beginners follows the first-year module HP102 and seeks to consolidate the language skills gained in students’ first year of study. The aim of this module is to further extend and refine competence in modern Spanish. It covers the main linguistic skills (oral, aural, reading and writing), and seeks to promote the continued acquisition of grammatical awareness and essential communicative competences. At the end of the course, you will be able to understand discourse on concrete and abstract topics, to give presentations about different subjects, to report on the results of your independent reading and research, and to state your point of view and support it with solid arguments.
This module explores the relationship between postmodernism, the creation of new forms of fiction contesting traditional history and truth and the emergence of popular culture in Latin American literature and cultures. We will study how major Latin American authors explored the potential of popular culture - Radio, Cinema, Music - to create new techniques for writing the self and to question the meaning of their national identity in a postmodern age.
This module will take a relational approach to the cultural life of the small Atlantic country of Galicia, in Spain’s north west, from the perspective of Galicia’s situation as a crossroads between land and sea, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Europe and America, and the Hispanic and Lusophone worlds. We will consider how Galician and foreign writers and artists have explored Galician language and culture across time, asking how the foundations of modern Galician cultural identity are both consolidated and transformed in a relational context. Teaching will be through a combination of weekly lectures and practical hands-on workshops.
This module explores questions of gender and feminist thinking across different periods of Hispanic culture, focusing on the Golden Age and the Hispanic Enlightenment.
How can you be sure of what is real? What do you do if you cannot trust your senses? And is it a sin to be tricked? Questions like these defined the Baroque period, which was obsessed with deceit, and terrified of its consequences. This module asks why that happened, and explores the effects of these ideas in some of the greatest writing of the age.
his module will explore “cli-fi” literature in Spanish, as a genre able to raise awareness of climate change and its consequences on mankind and the anthropocene.
How has water been understood by humans in Latin America? How has it been represented across different cultural contexts?
Latin America contains one-fifth of the world’s water resources, including some of the earth’s largest lakes and rivers. As the global climate emergency and increasing levels of pollution threaten their (and our) futures, this course looks predominantly to the past to consider the nature of human entanglements with water in Latin America. We will study examples of how Indigenous groups interact with and manage water, as well as how water systems and the creatures that inhabit them have been represented in European and Latin American sources. Students will explore representations of some of the region’s most emblematic aquatic locales across three thematic blocks: Lakes, Drainage and Dispossession in Mexico (Lake Texcoco and Lake Tláhuac-Xico, Mexico), Mining, Resistance and Aquatic Justice in Peru (Highland lakes in Cajamarca, Peru) and Patagonia, Pinnipeds, and Living Water (Cape Horn and the Strait of Magellan, Argentina/Chile). This course will further familiarise students with scholarship on water, aquatic life and the ‘blue humanities’ in Latin America. We will work across a variety of primary sources including maps, an art installation, film, and literature, with students being encouraged to think laterally across disciplinary, temporal, and national boundaries in the Latin American context. This module will be of interest to any students who would like to learn more about environmental history, ecology, Latin American literature and visual culture, map history, and Indigenous studies.
This course provides a detailed introduction to Spanish film from the 1950s until the present day. It explores the ways in which Spanish cinema has frequently explored, constructed and problematized Spanish nationhood across a diverse range of cinematic movements and genres.
This module will consolidate your linguistic skills acquired in the intermediate year and extend them through translation, writing, reading, speaking and listening activities. A range of assessments will be offered for students to track and reflect on their progress through the provision of regular feedback. Students will also be provided with complementary autonomous learning and grammar activities and directed to appropriate activities for self-study in order to develop independent learning strategies.
The aim of this module is to refine fluency in spoken and written Spanish, working towards a C2 standard of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Emphasis will be placed on sophisticated translation and writing, as well as oral and comprehension skills, using an appropriate range of complex linguistic structures, vocabulary, register and style.
This module explores the importance of slavery, its consequences in Latin American societies and its representation in contemporary Latin American music, film and literature.
This module explores the rich and varied presentation of desire in Golden-Age literature. Students will assess how people typically thought and wrote about love, and how those ideas are developed, challenged, and ridiculed throughout the period. We will ask whether love language is just a mask, as authors use its tropes to discuss a range of other questions, from gender politics to the relationship between humans and God – or, indeed, simply to amuse the reader. And we will ask why literary lovers are so often unsuccessful, by examining a series of Golden-Age masterpieces about jealousy and illicit desire. Throughout the module, emphasis will be placed on the close reading of primary texts, to see what they can tell us about the human condition, and to explore the dynamics of one of the most vibrant of all literary traditions.
This module explores how the varied depictions of criminality in Spanish cinema have reflected broader changes in the cultural understanding of transgression, civil disorder and social control in Spain.
Journeys and cities have occupied a central location in Latin American cinema in recent years. In drawing on the theme of travel and the urban experience, key film directors such as Alfonso Cuarón, Walter Salles and Iciar Bollaín have used their filmmaking to explore the impact of globalisation and neoliberalism on culture and everyday life in Latin America.
How do societies heal the wounds caused by brutal state repression, violence and extensive human rights violations? How do they battle to search for truth, advocate for memory and seek justice? This module will approach these questions using the cases of Chile and Argentina through the combined lenses of Transitional Justice (TJ) and Memory studies.
The concept of “one world living” has stimulated a demand for sustainable feedstocks and resources for a range of industrial applications. Economic and government policies have generated a market for “first generation” biofuels, however, there are growing public concerns that the crops used as feedstock for these fuels are utilising land mass more suited for food production and are therefore not truly sustainable. The development of a truly sustainable “second generation” biofuel is ongoing and there is increasing interest to exploit plants as feedstock’s for other industrial applications via the development of bio-refineries. There is a need to take account of ethics and increasing competition for land use for different purposes in order to develop a sustainable future in which biologically based technologies will play an important role.
The aim of this module is to enable students to make the transition from textbook driven learning to cutting edge science represented in primary literature. This will be achieved in a fast evolving, highly topical subject, which is extreme biology. The subject is notable for integrating all levels of biological organisation.
Operational Research is concerned with advanced analytical methods to support decision making, for example for resource allocation, routing or scheduling. A common problem in decision making is finding an optimal solution subject to certain constraints. Mathematical Programming 1 introduces you to theoretical and practical aspects of linear programming, a mathematical approach to such optimisation problems.
Explore the importance of contract law in the world of business. Consider the ways in which legal systems work. Develop an understanding of the main sources of law and the procedures involved in creative law. Learn to analyse legal problems.
Develop an understanding of the sources and uses of accounting information within organisations.
Business Analytics is used by companies committed to data-driven decision-making. It is the practice of methodical and intelligent exploration of an organisation’s data to gain insight and drive business strategy and operational decisions.
Explore the basic concepts, theories and context that underpin and influence accounting and its development.
This module introduces the key concepts of Financial Management and prepares the foundations for a more advanced study of Finance by encouraging students to develop a critical understanding of the main theories and models of Financial Management.
The module will introduce you to the key concepts of Finance, giving you good preparation to study more advanced modules in related disciplines. It will teach you the main theories and models of Finance (and the assumptions that underpin them), enabling you to apply these theories to the financial press that you are encouraged to read daily. You will cover topics including present value of expected future cash flows, estimating the cost of capital, the Efficient Markets Hypothesis, Interest-rate parity and purchasing power parity theorems in the context of foreign exchange. You will also consider various shareholder ratios and learn about constructing spreadsheets to calculate net present values and internal rates of return. You will learn how to critically analyse and reflect on the limitations of models and develop the tools to solve numerical problems and analyse case studies.
This module forms part of the Business & Management pathway for non-WBS students.
The module aims to provide students with a broad introduction to financial and management accounting from a managerial or user perspective rather than that of an accounting specialist.
This module aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of management, organisations and some key societal issues and to be able to engage critically with the topics covered which typically include management theories, managers & leaders, motivation, power and politics, ethics and diversity.
This module is only open to WBS undergraduate students, and some students taking joint degrees with WBS and another department. Students from other departments cannot take this module. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module introduces you to key skills such as teamwork, presentation, creativity and complex problem solving, analysis, research, critical thinking and debate, and allows you to put these into practice. It also provides the opportunity for you to appreciate and understand the key theories from the fields of business and management and demonstrate your ability to analytically examine a question, conduct research to validate and construct an argument and apply critical thinking.
This core module introduces students to the principles of financial and management accounting, highlighting its diverse range of users and applications. It develops students’ understanding of how accounting information serves as a vital business tool for decision-making, planning, and performance evaluation.
This module is only open to WBS undergraduate students, and some students taking joint degrees with WBS and another department. Students from other departments cannot take this module. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
A quick read of most our daily news highlights how we are facing a number of significant global risks. Sustainability, diversity loss, climate change, global warming, data privacy, trade wars, and rising inequality are key current global risks. How should or can today's manager respond to these risks?
In this module we analyse the most significant social issues encountered by t he contemporary managers. Some of the 'social' or non-market issues we explore include:
surveillance and data privacy ,
business and human rights ,
labour rights in supply chains , and
sustainability and climate change .
However, we go beyond a simple one dimensional business perspective to explore these issues as risks to the environment and risks to communities, as well as risks to business; in doing so, we adopt a multi-risk perspective.
This module is only open to WBS undergraduate students, and some students taking joint degrees with WBS and another department. Students from other departments cannot take this module. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
Introduction to Statistics provides you with a basic knowledge of probability and statistical concepts, including the ability to be critical of reported quantitative information - skills that are essential for other modules and careers in business.
This module is only open to WBS undergraduate students, and some students taking joint degrees with WBS and another department. Students from other departments cannot take this module. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
Data has become a ubiquitous in our personal and professional lives. This means that understanding the foundations of data analysis is paramount for developing critical thinking, excelling in a career or navigating the world of social and other media.
This introductory module covers the basic statistical concepts that everyone should muster before progressing to more advanced techniques. All concepts are showcased using real-world examples and implemented using Excel software. The concepts covered in the module start at the very beginning with exploring where data comes from (i.e., measurement and data sampling), progresses to how data is summarised (i.e., summary statistics and visualisation), and finally looks at how data is used to make conclusions about data (i.e., confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and basic regressions).
The module has several aims: 1) introduce students to the foundational statistical concepts and help them master them both on theoretical and empirical level; 2) help students develop critical thinking skills when it comes to data analytics; 3) develop students’ technical skills using Excel software.
This is an elective module designed specifically for non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module designed specifically for non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module designed specifically for non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
You will explore the basic principles, techniques, uses and application of both financial and management accounting information. The module aims to provide you with the ability to prepare and interpret accounting information within a business context which supports management planning, decision-making and control.
This module introduces students to the study of business and management in an integrated and applied manner. It develops conceptual understanding across the core disciplines of business — including marketing, accounting, finance, operations, and people management — and helps students transition from school to university-level critical analysis and problem-solving.
Students will engage in applied case studies, and teamwork projects to understand how organizations create value, make decisions, and contribute responsibly to society.
Data has become a ubiquitous in our personal and professional lives. This means that understanding the foundations of data analysis is paramount for developing critical thinking, excelling in a career or navigating the world of social and other media.
This introductory module covers the basic statistical concepts that everyone should muster before progressing to more advanced techniques. All concepts are showcased using real-world examples and implemented using Excel software. The concepts covered in the module start at the very beginning with exploring where data comes from (i.e., measurement and data sampling), progresses to how data is summarised (i.e., summary statistics and visualisation), and finally looks at how data is used to make conclusions about data (i.e., confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and basic regressions).
This module will cover undergraduate introductory level content with a particular emphasis on business investment decisions, financing decisions, and payout decisions. We will also discuss how financial markets and securities work, with emphasis on understanding the theories that explain the drivers of financial markets.
Marketing is a major force in almost any business today. It includes a large number of functional areas of business (such as sales, advertising, sales promotions, distribution, pricing, product design and packaging, customer service, marketing research, etc.), it is also a philosophy of 'doing' business. This module will cover a broad range of topics within the field of marketing and offer a strategic approach. The objective is to get you acquainted with common marketing theories and the problems and activities within organisations. You will be provided with the background needed to deal with marketing problems, analyze and evaluate marketing decisions, and select feasible marketing strategies.
This module addresses a core challenge in management: we cannot effectively manage what we do not understand. Developing the ability to analyse and make sense of organisations is therefore essential.
Students will be introduced to organisations from multiple perspectives—individual, group, and organisational—and encouraged to think about how these levels interact in a holistic and integrated way. Throughout the module, concepts and frameworks will be presented as part of a practical analytical toolbox, enabling students to approach organisational realities in a systematic, structured, and evidence-informed manner.
Operations are the foundation of all human activity, from making breakfast to performing brain surgery. They involve processes that transform inputs (materials, data, or labour) into desired outputs (products or services) through the coordination of resources (people, tools, spaces) within an organisational context.
This module addresses further theoretical and practical problems of mathematical programming, based on the prerequisite knowledge of linear programming and the duality theory. It provides an introduction to the world of discrete and non-linear optimization with coverage of application context, theoretical basis and methodological skills.
This module builds on the first year module Mathematical Programming 1. You will learn how to identify the business problems that can be modelled using optimisation techniques and formulate them in a suitable mathematical form. You will then apply optimisation techniques to the solution of the problems using spreadsheets and other appropriate software and learn how to report on the meaning of the optimal solution in a manner suited to a business context.
Providing you with an understanding of some of the major theories of accounting, the regulatory environment for financial reporting, the techniques underlying current reporting practice.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
Accounting makes organisations possible and underpins the smooth running of markets. It shapes how we act and what we value. Living in a world influenced by the products of accounting, and using accounting information well, requires critical reflection. In this module we draw on theories, concepts and empirical material to develop your critical understanding of the power of accounting. We explore, through weekly readings and an assessed essay, how accounting (including standard-setting) works and changes. We investigate its impacts on us, what it enables in economies and societies and what can and does go wrong (how scandals are possible) as well as what needs changing to deal with current challenges.
By the end of the module students will have developed their understanding of:
i) the contingent nature of accounting information and regulation, through engaging with the importance of understanding the historical, social, economic and political nature of accounting.
ii) the impact of financial reporting and management accounting numbers (including issues in Audit and Sustainability Reporting).
iii) the basic elements of normative, positive and critical theory (in accounting).
iv) the need to contextualize technical accounting information in order to interpret it.
You will further your understanding of how accounting is used within organisations for the planning, control and evaluation of activity with a special focus on the manager's role.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module builds on previous studies of financial accounting to further develop understanding students' ability to prepare financial statements and apply the requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards. Students will be introduced to the conceptual framework for financial reporting and develop skills in critical evaluation of the regulatory environment
You will learn how to use quantitative tools for pricing stocks, bonds and derivatives, and for measuring risk and return.
You will learn to critically assess the factors that determine the optimal investment, financing and pay out decisions of a firm.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
Work is central to our lives and this module provides an introduction to the field of employment relations. The employment relationship is studied within a broad political, historical, economic and social context, with a primary focus on the UK and secondary focus on the US. Students develop familiarity with the academic discussions around the key issues affecting the contested ordering of working life. The module enables understanding of the changing roles played by different participants in the 21st century workplace and how these are affected by outside the workplace. This understanding is framed by the major theories and concepts involved in shaping and making sense of the employment relationship.
This module aims to support future managers and consultants in managing and improving processes in any industry. You will learn start-of-art definitions and models to describe the main components of a process, as well as the concepts and tools to define and measure the performances of a process.
This module aims to develop a critical understanding of the global megatrends, grand challenges and issues facing business in the 21st century. Students will acquire fundamental knowledge and strategic tools to practice business management.
This module explores the origins and basis of human sociality and cooperation using an interdisciplinary approach that includes theories and empirical findings from psychology, economics, sociology, biology and anthropology. It addresses evolutionary mechanisms, psychological mechanisms (from a developmental and comparative perspective) and societal mechanisms underlying human social and cooperative interactions. It will address a variety of topics and questions such as: How does prosocial behaviour develop in life (ontogeny)? What are the evolutionary roots of human cooperation and morality? What is the role of social norms in societies? How can our knowledge about human sociality improve decisions in business and public policy?
This module is only open to WBS undergraduate students, and some students taking joint degrees with WBS and another department. Students from other departments cannot take this module. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module enables you to understand the fundamental need for finance in entrepreneurial companies, the flow of capital around entrepreneurial young companies and how to execute a practical fundraising strategy for a start-up.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
In this module, we demonstrate the essential role of digital technology and information systems as drivers of business and innovation in organizations. We present digital business as a combination of technology, processes, and social connections inside and outside organizations.
The module builds on the more managerial perspective in Principles of Marketing/Foundations of Marketing to consider the longer term issues in the evolution of markets and competition and the ways in which organisations, through their offerings, both sustain their own position(s) and erode those of their competitors. The module is concerned with strategic marketing. The focus is on strategic market management decisions which have a long-term impact on the organisation and its offerings and which are difficult and costly to reverse. To achieve this, the strategic marketing decision-making process is supported by external analysis (analysis of the organisation's environment) and internal analysis.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
Operations Management is the activity of managing the resources which are devoted to production and delivery of products and services. The module aims to provide an introduction to the decisions managers need to make about the design and management of operations. It provides conceptual, analytical and practical insights into the effective management of operations in manufacturing and service companies in both private and public sector organisations.
This module offers a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of business strategy, The module will explore how organisations create, implement, and evaluate strategies to achieve competitive advantage in complex environments.
In an era of digital transformation, sustainability imperatives, and stakeholder activism, any business strategy must be both responsible and responsive. Students will be challenged to consider how strategy can contribute not only to organisational success but also to social value and long-term resilience.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
The rapid acceleration of new digital technologies in the workplace commensurate with the expansion of new working patterns requires deeper managerial understanding of how the “fourth industrial revolution” affects and shapes work and organisations. Advancement in digital and social technologies are shaping and changing the organisation of the workplace, as well as the nature and meaning of work. As such, you will have the opportunity to explore a digitally transformed landscape of work. You will analyse the opportunities, as well as debate the risks of the digital workplace and, in doing so, further develop your critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills.
This module highlights the need for creativity and innovation for organisations to thrive. It will cover key parts of the innovation process – from imagining possibilities, to creative problem-solving for idea development, and then management and implementation of innovations. Action-learning and teamwork will be central to the module – enabling students to practice developing innovative solutions themselves and communicate their ideas to others. They will also use analytical and critical thinking skills to evaluate the innovative practices of organisations. Creativity and innovation examples will be international, span multiple industries, and types of organisations (e.g., SME to MNC), to build global commercial awareness of what innovative organisations do in terms of strategy, processes, and people management. The evidence base for the module will draw from several areas of business scholarship, including organizational psychology, strategy, project management, and entrepreneurship.
Programming is a key dimension of digital literacy, a core skill in today’s digital economy. Besides hiring programmers with software engineering and computer science backgrounds, employers across industries increasingly desire a pool of business graduates that have fundamental knowledge of programming for business application. This particularly stems from an ever-growing interest in business data analytics (given the volume of data organisations must process for better and timely managerial decision making) and business service digitalisation (given the extent to which new services are being offered online, via apps and web portals), and consequently the increasing extent to which future managers will need to work with software developers if not assuming both roles concurrently. This module aims to provide business students with such knowledge.
On this module you will become familiar with the main tenets of marketing theory, and practice, through an applied and discursive approach.
This module aims to give a rigorous grounding in the key concepts and theories in behavioural economics, as well as the experimental and other evidence that underpins the field. This will allow you to critically evaluate and apply behavioural economic ideas in practical business and policy contexts.
This module enables students to understand how strategic, operational, financial, and human factors interact in business decision-making. Through lectures, and practical workshops, students experience the complexity of managing a firm in a dynamic market. The course builds the capacity to interpret data, make integrated decisions, and reflect critically on performance, ethics, and leadership.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the concept of integrated marketing communications (IMC) and the various ways in which marketing communications are employed by individuals and by organisations in both for-profit and non-profit contexts. Students will explore the principles of communication theory and are encouraged to reflect critically upon how they apply in the commercial field of marketing. Students are introduced to marketing communications strategy formulation and communications planning and will explore a range of promotional tools and techniques that can be employed individually, and in concert, to achieve specific communications objectives. They will also reflect upon what constitutes 'creativity' within the field of IMC and the importance of ethics and sustainability. Finally, students will explore ways of measuring the effectiveness of IMC campaigns and reflect critically upon both the value and the challenges associated with current measurement techniques.
This module will be taught using the 1+1+1 structure. One hour in-person lectures will be followed by one hour of directed student activity that is specifically formulated to prepare students for the tasks to be tackled in the one hour in-person seminar. Full details of the sessions and supporting resources will be available on the myWBS VLE and a full Talis reading list is available through the University of Warwick Library Website.
Key features of this module include a grounding in contemporary marketing communications practice so that students not only develop subject-specific expertise but can practice important transferable professional skills. Examples and cases from current industry practice will be employed both as illustrations within lectures but also as the basis for challenges and tasks within seminar activity. The assessment strategy is purposefully grounded in industry-relevant practices and using real-life industry communication challenges.
The purpose of the portfolio is to provide a record of how your time was spent during your year away and to conduct a critical evaluation of your own personal experiences. It should also demonstrate an awareness, appreciation and understanding of the wider cultural and business-related issues in the relevant industries/sectors/countries in which you have undertaken your year away. This will be the only module completed in resect of your year away and counts towards 10% of your overall degree.
This module introduces students to the principles and practices of responsible business. It covers ethical decision-making, corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and the role of business in society.
This is an elective module for WBS and non-WBS students.
To develop students’ knowledge of key principles underlying the design of systems of business taxation. To equip students with knowledge of specific aspects of those taxes which impact business operations in the UK. To develop the ability of students to critically evaluate tax policy developments in relation to the taxation of business operations.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
Students who successfully complete this module will have a deep understanding of the theory and practice of optimally combining securities into portfolios, institutional understanding of security markets, and some of the issues that a fund manager faces in putting theory into practice. They will be familiar with the theoretical and applied literature on modern portfolio management and investment analysis.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module looks at the way different groups of people experience working life and explore the extent to which women and minority groups (e.g., ethnic minorities, disabled people, older/ younger workers) experience disadvantage within organisations and the labour market. Various explanations for this disadvantage will be considered, in relation to both the supply side (e.g. human capital theory, attribution theory, and the demand side (e.g. dual labour market theory, workplace discrimination). We will examine conceptual approaches to equality and diversity and their implications for the way that ‘difference’ is understood and the sometimes conflicting explanations for why different experiences occur and persist. The module also focuses on the different approaches taken by governments and organisations to address the disadvantage women and minority groups encounter. These steps include the introduction of equal opportunities policies and practices, the business case for diversity, legislative remedies and the role of trade unions. Reasons why these potential solutions have typically met with limited success will also be discussed.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students.
To provide an overview of the internationalisation process from the perspective of both MNEs from developed economies and emerging economies.
To understand the wider context of globalization and geo-political shifts within which International businesses operate.
To explore how international firms compete and the importance of innovation/R&D.
To explore the relationship between strategy and structure as firms internationalise.
To provide a distinct understanding of the differences between domestic and international business in particular the role of national and organisational culture and risk assessment when crossing borders.
To understand multinational firms’ R&D strategy and structure, and how an industry’s geography of innovation affects firms’ economy-selection and entry choices.
To provide a thorough understanding of the strategic challenges that the top managers in multinational firms face and the choices that they make.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module is an advanced level management accounting module which builds on previous modules in this subject area. The module revisits and evaluates the traditional tools of management accounting and introduces new tools and ideas which support modern businesses and the strategy of organisations. Key topic areas include strategic cost and revenue management as well as the effects of digitisation and sustainability.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module is an advanced level management accounting module which builds on previous modules in this subject area. The module revisits and evaluates the traditional tools of management accounting and introduces new tools and ideas which support modern businesses and the strategy of organisations. Key topic areas include strategic cost and revenue management as well as the effects of digitisation and sustainability.
This module will present you with a range of contemporary business-related issues and problems in the management of modern organisations.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students.
a) To extend students’ knowledge and understanding of the theory of corporate financial management to include firms that operate in an international context.
b) To develop students’ critical reasoning skills in the context of international financial risk management.
c) To equip students with the practical skills required of financial managers in international companies.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
Several companies such as Apple, BMW, Alessi, IKEA and Amazon have been able to differentiate their products, services and business models thanks to superior design. In this module we consider design as an essential way to innovate the aesthetics, functionality, ease of use and meaning of products and services. As such, design is not an attribute of luxury goods and elite products alone, but rather a way to solve problems and innovate.
The module provides you with a sound basis for understanding corporate strategy. The managerial perspective may be of use if you are intending to work in the corporate world, and provides frameworks for business analysis and strategy. The module also provides multiple perspectives upon corporate strategy which broadens perceptions of the scope of the academic subject.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module explores pressing global challenges affecting business and society, such as climate change, digital disruption, inequality, pandemics, and geopolitical instability. Students critically analyse these challenges and develop strategic responses through lectures, workshops, and applied projects. The course emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking, ethical leadership, and innovation in complex, uncertain environments.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module provides some of the essential legal knowledge required by a potential entrepreneur in the UK and beyond. The module is divided into two broad themes relating to the regulation of businesses and regulation of the employment relationship. A wide-ranging insight into business law is included with topics covering key areas such as protection of intellectual property, data protection, contract terms, debt recovery options, health and safety, anti-discrimination law and employment law. The focus is on applied law (how the law operates in practice) and the object of the module is to provide students with sufficient knowledge to avoid potential legal problems in a business start-up situation. Although students may choose this module to build on knowledge gained in other law modules at WBS, no previous study of law is required as the topics can be understood in their own right.
This module explores pressing global challenges affecting business and society, such as climate change, digital disruption, inequality, pandemics, and geopolitical instability. Students critically analyse these challenges and develop strategic responses through lectures, workshops, and applied projects. The course emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking, ethical leadership, and innovation in complex, uncertain environments.
This module is designed to build a bridge between students' lived experiences during their year abroad and their transition into the world of work. It focuses on helping students to develop, articulate and apply the global mindset, intercultural skills and international awareness gained through their international study and/or work placement abroad.
This is is an interdisciplinary module available and relevant to all University of Warwick Undergraduates in their final year of study. The module examines and illuminates Creativity through collaborative group learning drawing on a range of different domains / disciplines. The overarching aim of the module is to build an interdisciplinary appreciation and understanding of creativity and creative processes, including the relationship between theoretical ideas and concepts and practical applications, and how its value (both personal and professional) can be communicated to an multidisciplinary audience.
Content features: creative contexts inc. people, places, processes, curiosity, motivation, learning from failure, resilience, design thinking.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students*. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
Most choices involve interaction, and cannot be made successfully without taking that into account. Our choices affect others, and their choices affect us. Such interactive situations have come to be called "games", and "game theory" is a way of analysing the strategies that can be used in these games, and the strategies that should be used. The "theory" part of game theory starts by assuming everyone is rational, and then works out what actions a rational person (or animal, or machine – personhood is not required, but preferences are) will do in any given interactive situation. Rationality means, roughly, that everyone is trying to maximise the expected benefit from the choices they make. This does not exclude the possibility that they get benefits from how well or how poorly others do: we are entitled to be competitive, spiteful, or altruistic.
This module provides a relatively non-technical and highly selective introduction to game theory and its applications. The focus will be on strategic situations that are either likely to be encountered in everyday life, that shed light on everyday interactions, or are simply fundamentally interesting.
*Please note that Economics students are unable to take this module due to overlapping content in Year 1 and 2 Economics modules.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
As customers, we can all reflect on customer experiences that have been outstanding, and those that have been infuriating. How we feel about brands that offer either exceptional or terrible customer experiences determines how likely we are to purchase again from that brand, whether we are retained as customers and how likely we are to
become loyal to that brand. Customer experience (CX) is everything related to a business that affects a customer's perception and their feelings about it.
Customer expectations have increased and this is putting more pressure on organisations to balance the experience they want to offer customers and limited internal resources and other priorities. However, for many organisations, customer experience is their key differentiator. Attracting and retaining customers in an ultra-competitive business
environment is not easy, and companies that ignore the importance of providing a seamless, effective customer experience can end up losing out to competitors who understand that it's the customer who defines good service.
In this module we are going to explore the relationship between a business and its customers and all the ways that customers interact with companies across the customer journey. We will consider the frameworks, concepts and tools used in the Customer Experience field and explore some key themes and issues facing marketers today. We will
take a practical approach to understanding how to create, develop, understand and measure customer experiences. This module requires student participation in discussions and activities and will be a lively module with a focus on putting theory into practice.
This module is designed to provide real world, practical learning on how to actually start a new business venture, with a focus on the lean startup methodology. The process of developing a new business venture involves testing the feasibility of a business idea.
This is an elective module available for WBS and Non-WBS Students. This course aims to define the Promotional Mix - advertising, sales promotion, PR, sponsorship, personal selling and direct mail - and to explain its role in marketing strategy. The emphasis is on advertising, PR and consumer behaviour in the context of communications, stressing the application of theory in practice, and the agency's role.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module explores and analyses the relevant decisions in the process of firm internationalisation. Particular focus lies on strategic challenges for international marketing together with the specific issues of internationalising the marketing mix. Throughout the module, students will discuss examples of successful international marketing practices as well as explore why some international marketing strategies have worked less well.
This module is only open to WBS undergraduate students, and some students taking joint degrees with WBS and another department. Students from other departments cannot take this module. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module is only open to WBS undergraduate students. Students from other departments cannot take this module.
The module focuses on helping students understand and build on different kinds of international experience obtained during their compulsory year abroad. This includes encounters with macro-level issues - cultural, societal, economic and political – but also related micro-level experiences (embodied, emotional, rational and relational) in the face of these challenges. Bringing these aspects together through reflexive practice, the module is designed to help students combine theory and personal insights to better understand and mobilise the value of experience – and methods for learning from ongoing experience – in their future careers as managers and leaders.
This module focuses on strategic marketing, exploring how organisations remain competitive and respond to evolving markets. You will learn to make long-term marketing decisions supported by internal and external analysis, and apply key strategic concepts such as market positioning, brand equity, and sustainable advantage. The module builds on foundational marketing knowledge to develop your critical thinking, analytical, and decision-making skills in complex, real-world contexts.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
Over 10 weeks, this module develops the knowledge and skills needed to create effective digital marketing strategies. Content is divided into three sections: fundamentals (week 1), strategy development (weeks 2–3), and implementation (weeks 4–7, 9). AI’s role and impact will be integrated throughout. Students will explore key technologies shaping modern marketing, with a strong focus on AI.
Students will engage in practical exercises, case studies, and projects to reinforce theory and build expertise. By the end, they will be equipped to design digital marketing strategies and apply AI effectively.
Aligned with the C.O.R.E. framework, this module fosters curiosity, openness, restlessness, and excellence. Students will conduct research on topics like AI-driven personalization, brainstorm emerging tech applications, and analyze diverse global case studies. Critical discussions will cover digital ethics, data privacy, and AI biases.
They will assess real-world examples, such as AI in Tesla and Netflix marketing, and develop strategic improvements. Reflective exercises will enhance digital marketing competencies. Excellence is prioritized through cutting-edge AI content, guest speakers, simulations, and data analysis labs. High standards for projects will push students to create outstanding AI-driven marketing strategies.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module focuses on providing an understanding of judgment and decision-making in the entrepreneurial process. With an emphasis on learning from practice, the class provides an overview of the main concepts and theories associated with decision-making in the context of business opportunity identification and facilitates comprehension with hands-on exercises. This is achieved by representing the entrepreneurship journey as a journey of the mind, identifying the cognitive mechanisms that support or hinder entrepreneurs’ ability to discover or create business opportunities. This module is not intended to be a complete overview of entrepreneurship; it is an immersion experience for identifying and creating opportunities.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module provides an insight into the role of external audit and explores the importance of external audit for the stakeholders of an organisation. The module is quite practical and based on real-life audit situations. Successful completion of the module allows students to gain appreciation of the regulatory framework in which auditors operate, apply this knowledge to case study situations and evaluate the procedures used by auditors. As well as considering the process of external audit, the module also explores the profession of auditing, looking at how the professional firms operate, and profession-wide issues such as audit quality, ethical behaviour and political pressures.
This module focuses on international transactions involving the sale and shipment of goods and payment for such goods. It will provide you with a detailed understanding of the significance of international conventions and privately promulgated rules in addressing the issues encountered by the parties to an international sales contract.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module aims to develop the leadership and people skills of final year undergraduate students in practice as the platform to transition from undergraduate studies to the next stages of their lives. Students will learn theories of managing teams, conflict management, coaching skills, and influencing skills, amongst other skills, to become resilient and effective leaders who can navigate a fluid and complex world. Also, students will train their leadership mindset by becoming familiar with cutting-edge research on contemporary management issues, including grand societal challenges and wicked problems such as equality, diversity, ethics, sustainability, entrepreneurship and the future of work. In the seminars, students will engage in high-level, intellectually challenging critical discussion and debates, and practice their leadership and people skills, and complex problem-solving skills.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
From job interviews to managing difficult conversations, this module teaches negotiation as a broad, life-changing skillset including bargaining, valuation, auctions, nudging, persuasion, strategy, and influence. Designed for students entering the workplace, you'll get actionable skills, proven techniques used by leaders and studied by top researchers, and extensive hands-on practice. You will also explore how cutting-edge AI can support your negotiations. You will also learn about negotiation theory, ethics, the role of culture, and the key part emotions play in every negotiation. You will complete this module a more confident person, equipped with valuable soft skills and deep theoretical understanding, and a knowledge of how to increase your influence on the world around you.
This is an elective module available for WBS and non-WBS students. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.
This module explores the real-world applications of concepts in behavioural economics, in particular how governments and firms have applied insights from behavioural economics to promote behaviour change. Lectures will begin with a brief overview of the behavioural
economics concept under consideration and will then move to discussion of the relevant real-world applications, including a deeper dive into select academic papers on the topic.
Topics include the applications of behavioural economics to: health; education; firms and the workplace; savings; tax salience and compliance; labour market discrimination; development and scarcity; charitable giving; and cross-country differences. Throughout,
we will interweave discussions of methods used to research these topics. We will conclude with an assessment of when insights from behavioural economics are more or less likely to be applied effectively in real-world contexts.
This module is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the various facets of investment management, from understanding financial markets to mastering investment strategies.
Operations are the foundation of all human activity, from making breakfast to performing brain surgery. They involve processes that transform inputs (materials, data, or labour) into desired outputs (products or services) through the coordination of resources (people, tools, spaces) within an organisational context.
We will look at the importance of negotiation in every human encounter and how to become effective in negotiations. As such it is a life skill and one that also plays out in human interactions in the workplace and in business. We will look at the different types of negotiation and you will develop the skills to become a more effective negotiator.
The aim of this module is to build an in-depth understanding of leadership by focusing on the three complementary areas of: leading self, leading others and leading change.
This module introduces you to the key concepts of Financial Management and prepares you for more advanced study of Finance by encouraging you to develop a critical understanding of the main theories and models. This module will encourage you to reflect on, and engage in critical discussion of, what you are reading in the financial press and to make links with what you are learning in the classroom. You will critically reflect on the importance of ethics, the need for regulation and the impact of politics in financial services provision.
This module is designed to provide a broad understanding of the theory and practice of entrepreneurship with a special focus on the entrepreneurial mindset. Entrepreneurship is a comprehensive mindset that enables people to identify, evaluate, and act on opportunities in a variety of contexts, settings and organizations (and is not just about starting new businesses).
This module is designed to provide a broad understanding of the theory and practice of entrepreneurship with a special focus on the entrepreneurial mindset. Entrepreneurship is a comprehensive mindset that enables people to identify, evaluate, and act on opportunities in a variety of contexts, settings and organizations (and is not just about starting new businesses).
How does change happen? What foundational behaviours and patterns of thought are drawn upon by those who seek to make change? Where does change take place? What are its origins? Is change a natural value, a natural movement for human beings? What is the role of hope, and of despair. How do we engage critically with ideas and practices of change? What can we learn from artists, scientists, activists and educators?
In this module we’ll have the opportunity to work with students from right across the university to investigate the ways in which the imperative for change is understood and acted upon. Together, we will explore our own perspectives and place within communities with a view to understanding - and perhaps making - meaningful change.
This module aims to explore the conditions and circumstances that foster oppression, our own positionality in relation to oppression and agency, and to consider how we move from critique and understanding towards action and change.
Drawing on a variety of theoretical and applied critiques including, among others, critical pedagogy, contemplative pedagogy and action research, and taking a critical reading to the concept of ‘change,’ this module will explore how academics, artists and activists have understood the imperative for change and how that has translated to action.
How does change happen? What foundational behaviours and patterns of thought are drawn upon by those who seek to make change? Where does change take place? What are its origins? Is change a natural value, a natural movement for human beings? What is the role of hope, and of despair. How do we engage critically with ideas and practices of change? What can we learn from artists, scientists, activists and educators?
In this module we’ll have the opportunity to work with students from right across the university to investigate the ways in which the imperative for change is understood and acted upon. Together, we will explore our own perspectives and place within communities with a view to understanding ─ and perhaps making ─ meaningful change.
This is an introductory module on exploring and reimagining what interdisciplinary research looks like with the aim of providing a space for you to develop your own ‘passion project’. Whether you begin the module with an idea to develop or not, this module will help you acquire the skills, knowledge and network to produce an interdisciplinary research project on a topic and in a format of your choice. It is an opportunity for you to shape what it means to be an interdisciplinary student researcher, how research is (and can be) conducted and developed into an output, and who you are as an interdisciplinary researcher. We will ask you to consider the broad spectrum of intentions when it comes to conducting interdisciplinary research – is it to create a new artefact, with enterprise in mind? To inform a particular sector or industry? To raise public awareness? To review existing scholarly work and highlight or address gaps? To develop a piece of art or music to perform or share? Maybe it’s something else?
On this module, you will follow a step-by-step guide (in the form of a weekly workbook) that introduces the interdisciplinary research process and will help shape your learning experience. This weekly workbook will be used as a formative tool throughout the course of the module to break down the interdisciplinary research process into digestible steps, and guide you towards your final research project.
This module introduces students to the fundamental techniques, concepts and contemporary discussions across the broad field of data science. With data and data related artefacts becoming ubiquitous in all aspects of social life, data science gains access to new sources of data, is taken up across an expanding range of research fields and disciplines, and increasingly engages with societal challenges.
The module provides an advanced introduction to the theoretical and scientific frameworks of data science, and to the fundamental techniques for working with data using appropriate procedures, algorithms and visualisation. Students learn how to critically approach data and data-driven artefacts, and engage with and critically reflect on contemporary discussions around the practice of data science, its compatibility with different analytics frameworks and disciplinary, and its relation to on-going digital transformations of society.
As well as lectures discussing the theoretical, scientific and ethical frameworks of data science, the module features coding labs and workshops that expose students to the practice of working effectively with data, algorithms, and analytical techniques, as well as providing a platform for reflective and critical discussions on data science practices, resulting data artefacts and how they can be interpreted, actioned and influence society.
Big data technologies involve scaling-up - scaling up quantities of data, scaling up data infrastructures, scaling up data management, and scaling up the number of participants in a given technological system. This module provides an understanding of the technical. methodological and conceptual changes in the new forms of thinking, research and engineering required for understanding and working with scalable socio-technical systems. Beginning with the question of what 'scale' is in general and how data-based transformations redefine the limits of scale, the module presents students with a series of different ‘lenses’ through which the impact of scale manifests itself differently across contemporary data spaces, including hands-on laboratory exercises.
This module offers a critical, hands-on introduction to contemporary artificial intelligence (AI), with a focus on deep neural networks and generative systems such as ChatGPT and StableDiffusion. Students will explore these technologies in their historical, philosophical, political, and ethical contexts, while also experimenting with them in an interactive environment. The module engages with current media, policy, and regulatory debates, equipping students to assess the powers, limitations, and evolving impacts of Generative AI.
This module explores the use of computational modelling and simulation to study complex social phenomena. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, it introduces students to key theories, methods, and tools for developing models and simulations, interpreting results, and communicating findings. Students will gain both practical skills and critical insight into how modelling and simulation contribute to research across disciplines and to understanding social systems.
This module encourages students to identify their role as a researcher - which forms an integral part of their professional identity. In addition, this module supports students to examine ethical principles for research and the centrality of the voice of children and families in matters concerning them.
In the era of big data, spatial data has come into its own. Building on the ready availability of GPS systems and advances in GIS most data now captured has an inherent spatial element. This is furthermore reflected in data visualisation practice, which routinely makes use of geographic elements to ‘map out’ the data at hand. However, while spatial data may now be abundant, the use of this data is often divorced from a conceptual understanding of the space. This module offers a practice-based introduction to the history of cartography and mapping, theories of space and power, and a hands-on approach to working with spatial data. It will challenge students to develop a critical approach to spatial data - how it is collected, mapped and used to understand the social - as the theoretical way we understand space cannot be separated from how we seek to represent it. It would see students learning to work with spatial data, to gain confidence in visualising this data and, through doing so, engage with critical research on space and power.
This is your introduction to the history, skills, and fundamental values behind liberal education (principles) and what we do in the classroom (praxis). It is where you begin to think beyond the boundaries of traditional academic disciplines and how these might be transgressed. We will question the purpose and outcomes of learning itself, and consider how education can be a key step towards achieving freedom (broadly defined). You will also work on practical skills development designed to help you feel confident about your university career and beyond.
From LGBTQ+ oral histories to ethnographies of car subcultures, from 19th century diaries to 1980s zines, from Shakespeare to Childish Gambino - researchers in the creative arts, humanities, and social sciences engage with a wide range of sources!
This module introduces you to methodologies used in social, historical, and cultural research. Qualitative research asks “why” and “how”, rather than “how many." You will critically engage with theoretical debates, putting your learning into practice by conducting primary research using cultural, creative, archival, text-based and interview methodologies. The hands-on research assignments in this module link to other core modules, so activities will always be relevant to your studies.
How can we use quantitative data to understand the world around us? This module will introduce you to the foundations of quantitative analysis and the principles of quantitative research, descriptive statistics, and data visualisation. You will begin to consider how we can use data at our disposal to draw conclusions about the wider world.
This is an introductory module - you do not need to have studied Maths at A Level (or equivalent). It will act as a prerequisite for more advanced analytical modules.
Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder? Beauty has been a key issue for critical thinkers across cultures for centuries and can be approached from a variety of perspectives. This module will not tell you what beauty is nor how to think about it. Instead, it will challenge your existing preconceptions and encourage you to develop critical thinking skills around the interdisciplinary issue of beauty through encounters with theoretical frameworks, detailed case studies, and focused problems. The module will combine a wide variety of perspectives drawn from disciplines such as aesthetics, musicology, sociology, art history, gender studies, media and communications studies, literary studies, anthropology, and poetics.
This dynamic module explores the complex concepts of truth and misinformation, covering topics such as news and fake news, social media, conspiracy theories, scientifically and socially-constructed models of truth. This module will be taught through case studies from around the world related to the issues of truth and misinformation, from interdisciplinary perspectives. You will critically examine the case studies, developing your own understanding of these concepts. We will invite you to bring your own interests into discussions, and therefore the case studies examined will change from year to year. By the end of this module, you will have developed key skills such as critical thinking, writing, independent research, time management, and project management.
On this module you will explore the ways in which the things we make through skill and knowledge - art broadly conceived - interact with, prompt, or respond to moments of crisis and change. We will examine a variety of revolutionary case studies across a wide range of time periods and cultural contexts. You will learn how to apply an array of research skills to generate original interventions in debates on complex revolutionary topics.
This module explores the ways in which order is discussed, included, inescapable and integral to fields across science, art, society, culture, technology and more. Using problem-based learning, students explore rich case studies that cut across a range of historical, scientific, social, and conceptual boundaries.
This module will not tell you how to think about Order. Instead, it will challenge your existing preconceptions and encourage you to develop critical thinking skills around the interdisciplinary concept of order through encounters with theoretical frameworks, detailed case studies, and focussed problems. The module will combine a wide variety of perspectives drawn from disciplines across the sciences, social sciences and humanities.
Consumption connects the local and the global. It is at the core of our lives: from our food to our clothes, to our cultural and leisure activities, to the services we use. This module interrogates the relationship between consumption, culture, society and identity in different time periods and cultural contexts. You will explore how consumption operates as an organising social force through the analysis of film, literature, music, advertisements, branding, case studies, social research, and critical theory.
This module aims at interrogating the foundations, principles and practices of disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research, with a specific focus on evidence quality, application and evaluation. Through the use of case studies and real-world examples, students will explore and evaluate the scope, value and limitations of different approaches to the use of evidence in arts and sciences. Students will gain a practical understanding of how to engage with evidence across a breadth of research literature and studies and develop an advanced understanding of the ontological and epistemological factors which underpin methodological choices. Students will further develop their ability to critically engage with theoretical and applied principles of different forms of research.
This module critically examines the role that consumption plays in contemporary society, analysing different theorisations of processes of consumption and cultural works which engage with issues of consumption. Using an interdisciplinary Problem-Based learning approach, this module will encourage students to interrogate problems at the intersection of the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
The dissertation is a year-long project marking the culmination of your degree. You will design and carry out a significant piece of original research. This is the ideal opportunity for you to showcase what you have learned and what you can do next. You will make a real contribution to an area of academic study, a policy debate, or a community issue of importance to you. You will draw on experts from across the University and you will work with a dedicated advisor who can help you achieve your project goals.
This is an optional module for the BA Liberal Arts, and for the GSD BASc Global Sustainable Development degrees; it will be available to undergraduates across the University, but students from SCFS will have priority. As part of Warwick AISP, it will be available to students from Warwick and Monash.
This is an optional module for the BA Liberal Arts, and for the GSD BASc Global Sustainable Development degrees; it will be available to undergraduates across the University, but students from SCFS will have priority. As part of Warwick WIISP it will be taught intensively onsite in Venice.
Would you like the challenge of learning a new language at university? This foundation module for absolute beginners combines the acquisition of core language skills with knowledge of broader aspects of Italian culture, equipping you with the tools to engage with a wide range of relevant, contemporary topics in Italian. Opportunities to practise your Italian vary from role play to quizzes, working both individually and in your group. Successful completion will mean you are able to hold a conversation in Italian, read newspapers and get the gist of TV and radio programmes in Italian.
Would you like to use your Italian A Level (or equivalent) language skills creatively? This module will develop your linguistic and intercultural competence in Italian by means of advanced activities, including creative writing, translation, debates, presentations and drama. You will explore linguistic structures using resources in a variety of media and engage with authentic and sophisticated texts to compare cultural systems and express your opinion critically and creatively. In translation, you will experiment with different genres, registers and styles to enhance your cultural appreciation of Italian. Finally, you will have opportunities to explore cultural subjects and lead group discussions.
You will chart the course of cultural, political and social change in Italy over the past century, studying key moments in its history, including the rise of fascism, World War II, the economic boom of the late 1950s, and political extremism of the 1970s, through to contemporary issues such as immigration and recent economic and political crises. You will study these events through the lens of literary and cinematic works and gain an understanding of how they have contributed to the nature and identity of contemporary Italy, in order to prepare you for your year abroad and further study of Italian culture. You will also build your competence in textual analysis, independent research and essay-writing.
How do we define Italy? What do we mean by Italian culture and identity? One of the defining features of Italy has been how it has engaged with other countries, powers and cultures throughout its history, even before it officially became a nation state in 1861.
This module examines how Italian identities have been formed through interaction with other cultures and how Italian thought and culture has shaped the world around us from medieval times to the present day. The module traces the development of a standard Italian language and its relationship with dialects and local identities. It examines the processes leading to the establishment of an Italian nation state. We will consider internal diversity within Italy (regional and linguistic diversity, ethnic diversity, gender and sexuality), before moving on to look at Italy's cultural influence globally, from anglophone receptions of Dante's Divine Comedy and the influence of Renaissance thought in Europe, to stardom in Italian film.
The last section of the module questions the impact of mobility on questions of belonging, examining Italian emigration, the colonial period, and contemporary immigration. The module aims to situate the study of Italy within a global perspective, whilst maintaining a focus on local specificities.
This module will extend and refine your competence in Italian. With an emphasis on the key skills of reading, listening, speaking and writing, you will consolidate your proficiency in both new and familiar grammatical and linguistic structures, and expand the range and sophistication of your vocabulary and use of register in spoken and written discourse. In addition to classroom exercises, advanced discursive written work and oral projects, you will also be directed to appropriate activities for self-study.
On this module, you will develop your translation, writing and oral communication skills to advanced level. You will engage in translation as a practical skill, working to produce translations of literary, journalistic and academic texts with a focus on conveying nuances of meaning and culturally specific terms. You will develop greater fluency in different writing styles and genres. Oral sessions will increase your familiarity with more sophisticated registers of spoken Italian and raise your awareness of recent developments in Italian society so that you can discuss aspects of contemporary Italy in relation to your personal experiences.
Film is widely credited as having performed a central role in the re-building of an Italian sense of nationhood following the collapse of the fascist regime and World War II. Viewed from both within and outside Italy, Italian cinema of the immediate postwar years was interpreted as a chronicle of the challenges facing ‘ordinary’ Italians in their everyday lives and, by extension, of the issues which faced the nation. This module interrogates this supposition, associated heavily with neorealist cinema, and pursues the questions it raises through selected films made in the decades from the 1940s to the present day. Looking closely at examples which include the auteur cinema of the 1960s, internationally-renowned ‘classics’ of the 1970s, and both mainstream and art-house successes from the 1990s-2000s, the module traces through these films themes such as regional and national identities, landscape, gender relations, changing social structures, and political commitment. You will encounter significant figures and movements in Italian cinema history and form a sense of the interactions between them, whilst developing a complex understanding of factors which have influenced and shaped Italian cinema, from both film-makers’ and spectators’ points of view.
Film offers a powerful medium for expressing the interior life of individuals and sometimes communities, creating images and sounds which together articulate a sense of how an individual experiences her or his environment, relationships, values, and sense of self in the world. The world of the individual or group is often seen to be in conflict or at odds with a wider view of what society is, and cinema has the capacity to allow the viewer to participate in the individual perspectives of its human subjects.
The module aims to enhance students’ understanding of questions of literary-critical and intellectual movements, of genre, and of readership/audience in Italian culture in the 19th and 20th centuries. By incorporating a broad chronological range of canonical and non-canonical texts, the module allows students to explore these questions from a variety of perspectives and thus to develop a nuanced and flexible understanding of concepts of genre and readership, whilst also mapping a history of the literary and cultural history of modern Italy.
The module's thematic emphasis will be on stories of marginalized spaces, subjects and communities in contemporary Italy. Through analysing novels, graphic novels, films and TV series, students will develop an understanding of how minority identities in Italy are negotiated and expressed through both individual narratives of interior experience and an outsider’s observational gaze. The module will discuss normative and non-normative constructions of what is ‘contemporary Italy’ and what it is to be a ‘contemporary Italian’, and explore the strategies used by a wide range of authors and filmmakers to articulate, challenge, and re-imagine these positions. Questions of exploration and discovery, and of the construction of knowledge in relation to spaces and subcultures, will be followed through the different sections and texts.
The module leads students through a multisensory journey into Inferno, the first realm of his grandiose vision of the afterworld, the Inferno (Hell).
The lectures will introduce you to the central figures, themes and stylistic features of the first cantica of the Divine Comedy through the close-reading of selected cantos (full and abridged) in English translation (with facing Italian text). Students will engage in a collaborative exploration of its historical context, narrative complexities and the ethical issues Dante poses and which are still relevant in the contemporary world (including, but not limited to, desire and sexuality, freedom of thought, punishment and expiation).
This module explores the cultural vitality of the Italian peninsula approximately from the fourteenth century (the age of Petrarch) to the 1530s. It asks what contributed to making this period so special in European history and considers a series of upheavals, tensions and rivalries in a time-span that included some of Italy’s most famous writers, artists and thinkers, such as Petrarch, Boccaccio, Alberti, Leonardo da Vinci, Machiavelli, Ariosto and Michelangelo. Among other topics, we shall look at the rivalries between humanism and scholasticism, magic and philosophy, ancient and modern languages, poetry and other genres, Florence and other centres, manuscript culture and print culture. We shall look at how and why this period came to be known as the ‘Renaissance’, ask whether it was the cradle of modernity, and consider how different it really was from the Middle Ages.
Primary readings for this module will be taken mainly from Italian and Latin texts (the latter in translation).
This module aims to provide an exploration of key figures and topics within Renaissance cultural and intellectual history, usually starting with Italy but developing in a pan-European context. Topics vary every year. In the past, we have explored personalities such as Machiavelli, writings on utopias, discussions on power and resistance, or particular disciplinary fields in the Italian and European Renaissance (such as science and medicine; philosophy).
The module aims to enhance student’s understanding of how mobility and immigration have shaped identities in Italy in recent decades. Students will develop a detailed knowledge of Italy’s history as a former colonial power and explore the impact of postcoloniality on national cultures. These questions will be explored in relation to Italy’s identity as a destination country in global migratory flows through an analysis of four contemporary novels. The topics discussed will include the impact of displacement on subjectivity; the problematic notion of home; the memory of Italy’s colonial past; and motherhood and migration. The analysis of the texts will be informed by theories of personal, cultural, and national identity construction and students will develop an awareness of how terms such as transnationalism, post colonialism, hybridity and multiculturalism can be applied to the Italian case.
This module offers a comparative study of short-story collections in the fourteenth century, particularly Boccaccio’s Decameron (which served as a model to all later writers of short fiction) and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The tales are set strongly in their literary, cultural, and historical contexts, addressing topics such as frame narratives, humour, religion, and the place of women. We shall also discuss the influence of these collections in the Renaissance. The examination of texts in both English and Italian will develop skills in close reading and in comparative literary analysis. Lectures and seminars are supplemented by a reading group, geared to aid the comprehension of difficult texts in the original language. Warwick undergraduates and exchange students from Italy often take this module together, which makes it even more culturally comparative.
This module explores the shaping of Italian intellectuals as well as the shaping of Italian culture and politics within and across the national borders, in relation to the main transnational political and literary movements of the 20th century.
For centuries Italy has been a favoured destination for travellers, from medieval pilgrims to the Grand Tourists of the 1700s and 1800s. More recently it has become a site of mass tourism while millions more experience 'Destination Italy' by staying in one of the hyperreal hotels of Las Vegas or by strolling through Renaissance Florence in the virtual world of a video game. In this module we will explore how Italy has been constructed in popular imagination through the accounts of both foreign travellers to the peninsular and by Italian writers. We will interrogate common notions of travel as a means of self-fulfillment and quest for authenticity and consider the impact that gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity and class have on travel. The module also examines the ethical and environmental implications of travel and considers alternatives such as ecotourism, slow travel and virtual travel. Discussions will be informed by theoretical works on travel, identity, postmodernism, postcolonial studies and semiotics.
Should we judge books by their covers? The module aims to explore this question considering what books, in their material and digital forms, can reveal of history, society and the publishing field. Looking at Italian works and translations of American classics published in Italy from the second half of the Nineteenth century to the 2000s, this module will focus on the central role of book covers, illustrations, series etc - the so called paratext - as a place of direct contact between readers and publishers. Here, marketing strategies as well as the social, historical and political context play a key role in mediating literary texts.
Students will develop a detailed knowledge of the history of publishing in Italy in this time frame, and will be encouraged to reflect on the role of key historical moments and authors in shaping the Italian publishing field. The analysis of the texts and the awareness of the dynamics of the publishing field will allow the students to design their final project where they will themselves become publishers of a new book edition.
Building on Intermediate year language, you will deepen your writing, speaking and translation skills, paying particular attention to register and style and learning some of the underpinning translation theory. We approach translation not just as a linguistic exercise but as a practical skill, so you will work to produce translations of literary, journalistic and academic texts, and explore techniques for conveying semantic nuances, culturally specific terms and more sophisticated registers of spoken Italian. Both the writing and oral components of the course will raise your awareness of recent developments in Italian society and enable you to discuss relevant aspects of contemporary Italy in relation to your personal experience.
You will develop an understanding of the general principles of criminal law and its operation within society, coupled with an awareness of the social and political forces that influence the scope of the law and its enforcement. You will encounter basic concepts of the structure of English Criminal Law, and some knowledge of procedures, theories, and scholarly debates, so as to understand and discuss legal arguments and policy. You will also gain insights as to the historical, political and social context of criminal law, so as to engage in reflections about its role in society. In your studies, you will be expected to assess and present arguments for and against in open debate and work collaboratively with your peers on specific tasks.
You will examine the law of civil liability for wrongfully inflicted damage or injury: the law of tort. We emphasise the processes and techniques involved in judicial (as opposed to legislative or administrative) law-making; the relevance and responsiveness of doctrines thus developed to society’s actual problems; and the policies and philosophies underlying the rules. As well as acquiring knowledge of the application of these technical areas of law, you will develop skills of legal reasoning and critical judgement, with particular reference to insurance, loss spreading, developing medical knowledge, professional standards and consumer protection. Work is undertaken independently and in debate and collaboration with your peers.
You will deepen your knowledge of the institutions of the English Legal System while developing the critical skills vital to succeed in a Warwick Law Degree. The Module explores 'Law in Context' as a concept and approach. You will gain a critical overview of the machinery of justice at the heart of the English legal system, become familiar with fundamental legal techniques and develop an understanding of theoretical approaches to law. You will be introduced to English legal method with a focus on developing your skills in reasoning, argumentation and research. Subjects will be taught primarily through participatory and problem-based exercises in workshops and seminars (of approximately 20-25 students) where you will have the opportunity to test and develop the fundamental legal knowledge and core skills necessary for your wider legal studies.
You will study the sources of law (Acts of Parliament, common law rules, conventions) and foundational concepts (such as the legislative supremacy of Parliament, the rule of law and separation of powers) through the critical reading and understanding of academic material and legal texts. We will consider the role of politics and economics and the institutional and theoretical aspects of the law, alongside the law’s relationship to the state and individuals. You will also become familiar with the purposes, limits and possibilities of legal language and methods. The module consists of a mixture of participatory and problem-based exercises, workshops, and more orthodox lecture and seminar work through which you will develop and test your knowledge and practical legal skills.
This Introduction to French Law and Methodology class is taught in French and runs throughout the year. It will introduce you to the fundamentals of French constitutional law and French legal institutions. During those 2 hours, we encourage participation and class discussion on the basis of newspaper articles and films on current social, political, ethical or legal issues in France and aim to equip you with advanced linguistic competency in French. As the course is taught and assessed in French, you can expect to develop your ability to speak and write good French and become familiar with French legal methodology. You will demonstrate this in an assessed essay and oral presentation raising a political, social and/or legal issue based on a French film or book, and a final exam.
The module has its focus on the contemporary French legal system, its origins, its ideological inspirations and its developments. In the light of these principles, students are introduced to the basics of constitutional law, civil law and administrative law in France. The major aim of the module is to get students acquainted with the materials, methods and linguistic skills necessary for the study of French law and French legal procedure and to enable them to understand and evaluate their relationship to social and political issues.
This second year module will introduce you to German Civil Law and prepare you for your year abroad in Germany. We will focus on German Contract Law and on the “Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch”, the German civil code, which forms the core of German Civil law. Throughout the module we will engage with a range of problem-solving tasks and you will enhance your competency in applying German legal methodology on a case-by-case basis. Being taught in German and working in a small group, you will gain confidence in discussing complex legal problems in German.
Read more about the German Law moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
The module is jointly taught by members of the School of Law and the Department of Sociology. You will be equipped to critically analyse and debate contemporary theories and disputes about the role of law in society. This includes consideration of significant theories of law, justice and jurisprudence and recognition of their origins, and their limitations in contemporary society. You will be expected to conduct self-directed learning and research into primary and secondary sources to arrive at your own considered position, and to express this through relevant arguments in writing, and in debate.
On this module, you will learn to understand and explain the fundamental principles of contract law, one of the building blocks of the common law and which underlies commercial and consumer law. The module is designed to help you understand the nature of contract law and its key principles, to study selected topics relevant to the lifecycle of a contract (notably formation, performance, and remedies for breach), and to appreciate the wider context of contract law. You will have opportunities to study the relationship between case law and statute and to tackle specific problem-solving tasks, as well as engaging in discussions that will help you develop both your theoretical knowledge, including your understanding of the social context and function of the courts, and key legal and transferable skills.
This module provides students with the opportunity to
The syllabus will be arranged on an individual basis in consultation with the department and the host institution. It will normally comprise a combination of taught courses and any language training required. It is subject to the approval of the year abroad tutor. Modules selected must not duplicate those taken by students when they are at Warwick but must be chosen to provide adequate preparation for modules students will take when they return to Warwick. Any amendments to the approved study plan must be approved by the study abroad tutor. Students are expected to take the same total workload as that of a typical full time student at the host institution and be equivalent to 120 credits at Warwick.
On this module, you will learn to understand and explain the fundamental principles of contract law, one of the building blocks of the common law and which underlies commercial and consumer law. The module is designed to help you understand the nature of contract law and its key principles, to study selected topics relevant to the lifecycle of a contract (notably formation, performance, and remedies for breach), and to appreciate the wider context of contract law.
You will have opportunities to study the relationship between case law and statute and to tackle specific problem-solving tasks, as well as engaging in discussions that will help you develop both your theoretical knowledge, including your understanding of the social context and function of the courts, and key legal and transferable skills.
On this module, you will focus on the role of law in relation to the ownership, use and development of land. Starting with the basic principles of English land law, you will learn to apply these to hypothetical cases, and analyse, evaluate and critique individual cases and statutory provisions using a series of linked materials on a discrete topic. Working both independently and collaboratively, you will also acquire research skills and be able to speak and write about property law accurately and using appropriate terminology.
You will develop an understanding of the general principles of criminal law and its operation within society, coupled with an awareness of the social and political forces that influence the scope of the law and its enforcement. You will encounter basic concepts of the structure of English Criminal Law, and some knowledge of procedures, theories, and scholarly debates, so as to understand and discuss legal arguments and policy. You will also gain insights as to the historical, political and social context of criminal law, so as to engage in reflections about its role in society. In your studies, you will be expected to assess and present arguments for and against in open debate and work collaboratively with your peers on specific tasks.
This module prepares students on the Law with German LL.B. for their year abroad and the academic demands of Warwick’s partner universities in Germany. The module is taught in German and is available to any student with an adequate knowledge of the language. Students are introduced to the basic features of the German legal system and the German legal method. The module will cover a general overview of German law, a short introduction into constitutional law and a discussion of key concepts of German private law as laid down in the Civil Code (BGB). Throughout the themes are presented by using the specific German legal method.
The module has its focus on the contemporary French legal system, its origins, its ideological inspirations and its developments. In the light of these principles, students are introduced to the basics of constitutional law, civil law and administrative law in France. The major aim of the module is to get students acquainted with the materials, methods and linguistic skills necessary for the study of French law and French legal procedure and to enable them to understand and evaluate their relationship to social and political issues.
The module has its focus on the contemporary French legal system, its origins, its ideological inspirations and its developments. In the light of these principles, students are introduced to the basics of constitutional law, civil law and administrative law in France. The major aim of the module is to get students acquainted with the materials, methods and linguistic skills necessary for the study of French law and French legal procedure and to enable them to understand and evaluate their relationship to social and political issues.
The supervised project allows students to undertake independent study to complete one of a range of outputs. These may include a researched dissertation; reasoned policy briefing; a legal judgment re-written from a particular socio-legal perspective; a piece of investigative journalism a dramatized dissertation; or other creative piece of work. Students will be able to choose from a range of these options each year, depending on staff availability.
The supervised project allows students to undertake independent study to complete one of a range of outputs. These may include a researched dissertation; reasoned policy briefing; a legal judgment re-written from a particular socio-legal perspective; a piece of investigative journalism a dramatized dissertation; or other creative piece of work. Students will be able to choose from a range of these options each year, depending on staff availability.
The supervised project allows students to undertake independent study to complete one of a range of outputs. These may include a researched dissertation; reasoned policy briefing; a legal judgment re-written from a particular socio-legal perspective; a piece of investigative journalism a dramatized dissertation; or other creative piece of work. Students will be able to choose from a range of these options each year, depending on staff availability.
The supervised project allows students to undertake independent study to complete one of a range of outputs. These may include a researched dissertation; reasoned policy briefing; a legal judgment re-written from a particular socio-legal perspective; a piece of investigative journalism a dramatized dissertation; or other creative piece of work. Students will be able to choose from a range of these options each year, depending on staff availability.
The supervised project allows students to undertake independent study to complete one of a range of outputs. These may include a researched dissertation; reasoned policy briefing; a legal judgment re-written from a particular socio-legal perspective; a piece of investigative journalism a dramatized dissertation; or other creative piece of work. Students will be able to choose from a range of these options each year, depending on staff availability.
The supervised project allows students to undertake independent study to complete one of a range of outputs. These may include a researched dissertation; reasoned policy briefing; a legal judgment re-written from a particular socio-legal perspective; a piece of investigative journalism a dramatized dissertation; or other creative piece of work. Students will be able to choose from a range of these options each year, depending on staff availability.
The supervised project allows students to undertake independent study to complete one of a range of outputs. These may include a researched dissertation; reasoned policy briefing; a legal judgment re-written from a particular socio-legal perspective; a piece of investigative journalism a dramatized dissertation; or other creative piece of work. Students will be able to choose from a range of these options each year, depending on staff availability.
This module examines the relationship of law and gender, in terms of the role of law in constructing, reinforcing and breaking down gendered inequalities, as well as the gendered assumptions that inform the processes of law, legal method and law making. Topics explore the different impact of laws on different communities and tackle questions about the relationship between feminism, multiculturalism and globalisation.
The supervised project allows you to undertake independent study to complete one of a range of outputs, building on skills you will have acquired through your degree. These may include a researched dissertation; reasoned policy briefing; a judgment from a critical perspective (e.g. feminist); or a piece of creative work about the law. The module aims to provide you with a high degree of responsibility for the learning process and will require you to manage your own learning, reflect on it critically, and seek and use constructive feedback. There is no set syllabus given that each project is individual to the student. However, general skills-based workshops will be provided to introduce you to research methods, research ethics, writing skills and project management to enable you to commence independent project work early in the term. Small group supervision meetings will be focused on substantive issues and on improving quality of the work. The length of the Supervised Project is either 6000 words (half module - 15 CATS) or 12,000 words (full module - 30 CATS).
The supervised project allows you to undertake independent study to complete one of a range of outputs, building on skills you will have acquired through your degree. These may include a researched dissertation; reasoned policy briefing; a judgment from a critical perspective (e.g. feminist); or a piece of creative work about the law. The module aims to provide you with a high degree of responsibility for the learning process and will require you to manage your own learning, reflect on it critically, and seek and use constructive feedback. There is no set syllabus given that each project is individual to the student. However, general skills-based workshops will be provided to introduce you to research methods, research ethics, writing skills and project management to enable you to commence independent project work early in the term. Small group supervision meetings will be focused on substantive issues and on improving quality of the work. The length of the Supervised Project is either 6000 words (half module - 15 CATS) or 12,000 words (full module - 30 CATS).
The supervised project allows students to undertake independent study to complete one of a range of outputs. These may include a researched dissertation; reasoned policy briefing; a legal judgment re-written from a particular socio-legal perspective; a piece of investigative journalism a dramatized dissertation; or other creative piece of work. Students will be able to choose from a range of these options each year, depending on staff availability.
You are encouraged to embark on a dissertation during your final year as part of Warwick Law School’s research culture. This allows you to follow up a particular research interest under the individual supervision of a member of staff.
This module will cover the cell biology of neurons and glial cells of the nervous system. It will provide insight into the basic structure and function of these cells and describe the cell biological processes that give rise to them, allow them to migrate to their correct location, to establish synaptic and other contacts, and to satisfy metabolic needs at sites distant from the cell body. The aim of the module is to introduce the students to how the wiring of the nervous system arises through an understanding of the differentiation and development of individual cell types.
This module will equip you with the fundamental knowledge of chemistry required for a thorough understanding of biochemistry. The module will provide an introduction to general chemistry, including chemical bonding, reaction mechanisms, thermodynamics, kinetics and quantum mechanists.
This module gives you an understanding of key principles in Chemistry that are relevant to undergraduate studies in biological disciplines. You should achieve a good understanding of (i) organic chemistry as applicable to biological systems, (ii) physical methods used in structure determination for biological molecules, (iii) the fundamentals of physical chemistry important to understanding cell function.
Infectious agents come in many forms, including viruses, bacteria, yeasts and eukaryotic parasites. Infectious disease caused by this array of agents is all around us. Human disease clearly matters a lot to us, but infections of other species also have major impacts on human activity and well-being, such as when crops and livestock fall victim to infection. This module will introduce you to important aspects of the topic of infection, considering some of the agents themselves, and their interactions with host species.
On this module you will gain an understanding of how parts of the body functions and how these parts work together in the whole organism. The focus will be on cellular signalling, the nervous system, the cardiovascular and respiratory system, as well as special senses. You will then combine your learning to gain a thorough understanding of the way the body adapts to environmental conditions such as altitude, depth, cold and heat.
You will study this module as the essential foundation for most other modules taught in the School of Life Sciences. It will lay the foundations for the study of organisms at the molecular, genetic and cellular levels.
This module covers major animal and plant body plans and their evolution in deep time. We take you onto a journey of discovery, to see animals and plants from the molecular and cellular 'inside'. We show you how organisms changes across vast timescales and how we can trace these processes. This is going to be much different from what you have learned in school, so enjoy the ride!
This module offers an overview of animal biology, explaining the evolutionary reasons for adapted and shared anatomy. How these are manifested and observed at a cellular level will be explored. The module is intended to broaden student’s biological background and to support second and third year modules.
This module will provide you with an introduction to the fundamental skills required for all Life Sciences degrees and you will see how skills are inter-related. The module will involve tutorial sessions, laboratory sessions and quantitative skills sessions. You will gain experience with basic lab techniques, learn to acquire data, and analyse and communicate your findings.
This module introduces concepts and techniques in genetics and genomics that are used to understand and manipulate complex traits. It includes hands-on workshops.
On this module, you will gain a sound knowledge of the organisation, complexity and essential processes that occur in the genomes and information-processing mechanisms in all three domains of life. You will study the molecular biology that underlies fundamental cellular processes, including the cytoskeleton in cellular structure, function and motility, the mechanisms that control cell proliferation and genome stability, protein processing in secretory pathway organelles, and programmed cell death in eukaryotic cells.
You will become familiar with the basic methods of studying enzymes, understand the mechanisms whereby enzymes are able to catalyse reactions and appreciate how individual reactions are controlled and integrated into the metabolic pathways of the cell.
On this module, you will examine the principles by which key techniques in the field of biochemical discovery provide biochemical information. This will involve you studying structural techniques such as X-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and cryo-electron microscopy. As well as, biophysical and analytical techniques such as circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and fluorescence. In the second half of the course, you will widen your studies to analyse biological interactions through case studies, covering topics such as proteomics, high-resolution light microscopy, surface plasmon resonance, isothermal titration calorimetry and immunoprecipitation.
You will be introduced to a range of important microparasites, the diseases they cause and the parasite-host and environmental interactions that govern their biology and approaches to control. Examples include vector-borne and/or zoonotic organisms from Mycobacterium, Trypanosomes, Plasmodium to fungi.
Basic concepts of protein structure are built upon in order to understand the structure/function relationships of proteins in terms of the chemistry of their component amino acid residues.
You will discover the complexity of the eukaryotic cell and its subcellular compartments. You will gain an overview of cell division and its underlying control process, the cell cycle, and how this responds to growth signals and death signals, resulting in cell proliferation and programmed cell death respectively.
This module provides you with a foundation for the further study of endocrinology at the cellular and molecular level and a firm basis for understanding normal hormonal control.
In this module you’ll have the opportunity to gain a scientific and interdisciplinary perspective of ecosystems and responses by habitats and species to disturbances cause by a variety of factors. Several major environmental issues are presented along with possible solutions to some of them, using concepts learned through case studies from across the world.
This module gives an overview of the field of Neurobiology. It includes an introduction to the physiology of the nervous system and reflects the expertise of the School of Life Sciences with a more detailed analysis of the cell and molecular biology underlying our present understanding of the way in which the nervous system develops and functions.
Pharmacology is the study of how chemical agents influence bodily functions in both health and disease, and indeed how the body deals with these chemicals. Chemical agents include a wide range of sources, from hormones and neurotransmitters that occur naturally in the body, to foreign agents taken voluntarily, such as medicines or recreational drugs, to agents acquired when bitten or stung by an animal, or mistakenly eaten, for example via the ingestion of poisonous mushrooms or berries. As such, pharmacology underpins much of modern medicine and is an indispensable subject for the understanding and treatment of disease.
Neuropharmacology is the study of how chemical agents influence bodily functions in both health and disease, and indeed how the body deals with these chemicals. The module will concentrate on the use of drug-based therapeutics in a range of human diseases and will bridge the gap between basic cell signalling, biochemistry and the complex patho-physiology and treatment of the diseases.
This physiology module provides an overview of neurobiology and includes an introduction to the physiology of the nervous system and detailed analysis of the cell and molecular biology underlying the development and functions of the nervous system.
An introduction to modern evolutionary theory, population and evolutionary genetics in order to understand the fundamental processes and the genetic make-up of populations.
This module will introduce you to one of the fundamental processes that underpin modern biomedical science: immunology. It considers many disease processes and their mitigation; immunology deals with the basic processes of immunity to infection, but also covers aspect of hypersensitivity and auto-immune disease.
The overall aim of this module is to describe the haematological system (blood and the tissues and organs associated with it) and the cardiovascular system (CVS) in an integrated manner in order to give students a good understanding of the physiology, in health and disease, of these two linked systems.
You will learn about the structure and function of the brain and the peripheral nervous system. You will gain an understanding of the neuropathology, anatomy and pathophysiology of diseases involved. You will be taught how physiological processes can be disrupted and the clinical consequences these disruptions cause.
This module will continue to enhance the fundamental skills required for all life sciences degrees. The module will involve tutorials, laboratory sessions and quantitative skill workshops where the different skills are assessed in a synoptic way. You will expand your experience with more complex lab techniques, learn to acquire data, analyse and communicate your findings and discuss scientific results with your peers.
This module will introduce you to the specific aspects of working translationally, to provide an understanding of the main differences between basic and translational (including clinical) neuroscience, and to teach basics of best-practice translational strategies.
The study of non-autonomous dynamical systems can shed new light on biological systems. On this module, you will learn how our understanding of cells and cellular pathways can be enhanced by considering them as entities that can change their behaviour both in space and time.
Synthetic biology is having a major impact on the development of applications in biotechnology, medicine, agriculture and energy, and accordingly brings academic and industrial interests together. We have therefore decided to incorporate contributions from representatives of some of our industrial partners into this module so that you can hear about commercially oriented research ‘first-hand’. Overall, this course will suit students who are interested in cutting edge science and who are keen to understand what the alternative (but related) paths of research in academia and industry might offer them in the future.
You will complete the third year of our laboratory and tutorial-based skills programme. The key aims of this module are to embed final year level literature and practical research skills. This will be achieved through a combination of set tutorial tasks and laboratory classes.
You will complete the third year of our laboratory and tutorial-based skills programme. The key aims of this module are to embed final year level literature and practical research skills. This will be achieved through a combination of set tutorial tasks and laboratory classes.
You will carry out a research project in industry, based on ongoing research programmes within the host company.
You will develop a skills portfolio of experience gained as part of your placement. You will also receive training in research proposal writing and evaluation.
You will carry out a research project in industry, based on ongoing research programmes within the host company.
You will develop a skills portfolio of experience gained as part of your placement. You will also receive training in research proposal writing and evaluation.
Students will be introduced to basic forms of language in spoken form that are used in practical everyday situations. They will also learn basic linguistic tools for reading and writing.
The module can be followed by an accelerated beginner’s module or a level 1 module (where permitted)
Absolute beginners only. This module is offered to students with no prior knowledge of French.
Students will be introduced to basic forms of language in spoken form that are used in practical everyday situations. They will also learn basic linguistic tools for reading and writing.
Students will gain an insight into French society.
Successful completion qualifies students to enrol in French Beginners Accelerated or French 1 (where permitted).
Students will be introduced to basic forms of language in spoken form that are used in practical everyday situations. They will also learn basic linguistic tools for reading and writing.
Students will gain an insight into Hispanic society
Successful completion qualifies students to enrol in Beginners Accelerated or level 1 (where permitted).
This module will give students the opportunity to build upon previously learned knowledge to use more complex grammar and sentence patterns, and further develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills to deal with a wider range of predictable situations, and gain more insights into Chinese culture. Simplified Chinese characters will be taught and assessed.
Do you need to consolidate and expand your competence in Italian while enjoying talking about culture and society? If so, this is the module for you. You’ll be given opportunities to revise fundamental grammar and vocabulary before acquiring more complex grammatical constructions, including through translation. We will integrate cultural topics with your linguistic studies, so you have the chance to explore areas such as tourism, the arts, the environment and Italian traditions. You will have opportunities for individual and group presentations and to engage in activities that integrate the skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking. By the end of your course, you’ll be expected to be able to write competently in several registers, using appropriate styles and terminology, and to converse in Italian to a good standard.
This module will give students the opportunity to build upon previously learned knowledge to use more complex grammar and sentence patterns, and further develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills to deal with a wider range of predictable situations, and gain more insights into Chinese culture. Simplified Chinese characters will be taught and assessed.
Students will learn and reinforce the basics of the Chinese language. This module will offer an opportunity to continue to work on basic sentence patterns, grammar and ways of expressions, to develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in a range of predictable everyday tasks and to gain greater knowledge of Chinese society. Simplified Chinese characters will be taught and assessed. Successful completion of Chinese 2 qualifies students to progress to Chinese 3.
This module will be offered to students who already have a good knowledge of Chinese from 6 months or more intensive study or work in the native speaking countries, AS level or lower grades of IB or A level, or those who have completed Chinese 3 or equivalent levels. It will give students the opportunity to build upon previously learned knowledge and use more complex grammar and sentence patterns and some formal register on a wider range of social, study and work-related topics. Simplified Chinese characters will be taught and assessed.
This module will be offered to students who already have a good knowledge of Chinese including one year or more of intensive study or work in the native speaking countries, good A level, or those who have completed Learning Chinese 4 or equivalent levels. It aims to further develop linguistic and cultural competence in using Chinese in different social situations, and to enable students to live and work more effectively in the relevant countries. Students will also learn to reflect their own strengths, weaknesses and strategies in language learning. Simplified Chinese characters will be taught and assessed.
This module will be offered to students who already have a good knowledge of Chinese, for example, 2 years or more of intensive study or work in the native speaking countries, good A level, or those who have completed Chinese 5 or equivalent levels. It aims to develop linguistic competence and cultural awareness in accomplishing a broad range of complex and non-routine tasks across a wide and often unpredictable variety of business contexts. Simplified Chinese characters will be taught and assessed.
What is translation, and how does it help us to explore relationships between languages and cultures? This module introduces you to key theoretical approaches to translation and enables you to develop your own translation skills, working between English and either French, German, Spanish or Italian. You will learn how to analyse translations produced by others as well as your own work, and you will gain experience of translating for different purposes. The module gives you the opportunity to discuss topics both in language-specific tutorial groups and in larger, multilingual seminars.
This module enables you to spend some time developing your independent working and in particular to build research skills for the later stages of your undergraduate degree. The module comprises a series of skills sessions on undertaking undergraduate research, tutorials with the module leader, along with a set of supervisory meetings with the project supervisor. In addition to producing work in a range of formats in the course of the year, linked to an aspect of the culture of your chosen language and the study of modern languages at university level, you will be supported to produce an end product related to their specific area of interest and linked to the curriculum for your other first-year cultural module. The end product will be an appropriate piece of work such as a mini dissertation.
What role does technology play in translation? How can digital tools help translators, and how can we make the most of these technologies in our translation work? This module will introduce you to different forms of translation that are mediated and enhanced by technology. It will introduce computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools (such as translation memories, machine translation and corpus resources) and equip you with the skills to critically assess and use these tools. You will be introduced to current practices in the language industry (web translation, post-editing, subtitling) and will gain an overview of the translation profession (translation competences, project workflows). In the second half of the module, students will work in teams to complete a collaborative project to translate a website into multiple languages.
This module aims to challenge Anglo-centric narratives of the Gothic, by putting in the spotlight trans-national and trans-linguistic exchanges between the French, German, and Italian domains in the ‘Golden Age’ of Gothic literature (1764-1830). By focusing on specific case studies of textual translation, adaptation, and manipulation, it innovatively brings together elements of translation theory, history of printed culture and history of the book, Gothic theory, and media studies. In particular, the module aims to strengthening students’ skills as researchers, by encouraging them to make direct fieldwork in a still underdeveloped area of scholarship.
This module examines the role played by propaganda in modern Europe (from 1930 to 1975). In particular, we will look at how propaganda has been created, disseminated and received in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
This cross-SMLC module builds on the existing 15-CAT module LN307 Propaganda and Persuasion in modern Europe. The module introduces students to aspects of political propaganda from 1975 to the present day in four country contexts: France, Italy, Spain and Germany.
This cross-SMLC module builds on the existing 15-CAT module LN307 Propaganda and Persuasion in modern Europe. The module introduces students to aspects of political propaganda from 1975 to the present day in four country contexts: France, Italy, Spain and Germany.
Who are translators, and how do they translate? What are the ideas and agendas that shape the work of translators in the contemporary world? This module situates translation within the context of relevant theories developed in the field of Translation Studies, developing core theories you have learned about in the first year and introducing a focus on the role of translation and translators in contemporary society. By looking at the role of translators, as well as publishers and editors, you will be able to approach translation as a social, cultural process involving multiple agents. The module will equip you to reflect in depth on your reading of translations and on your own translation practice in relation to cultural and sociological issues.
This cross-SMLC module introduces students to translation as a specific set of skills. It situates the practice of translation within the context of relevant theories developed in the field of Translation Studies, and raises awareness of the role of translation and translators in contemporary society. Adopting an interdisciplinary perspective and integrating a linguistic approach with sociological and cultural theories, the module presents case studies related to the students’ language specialisms, which challenge a purely textual approach to translation.
By looking at the role of translators, as well as publishers and editors, students are encouraged to approach translation as a multifaceted cultural process involving several diverse agents and perspectives in both source and target culture.
This module offers you an opportunity to develop your own translation project, with the support of a language-specific supervisor. You will complete two translations and write a reflective commentary on each of them, supported by ideas from translation theory. The module enables you to:
The module aims to enhance student’s understanding of Mediterranean history, culture, and identity. Cinema will be used to explore issues such as travel, tourism, migration, orientalism, colonialism and postcolonialism. Students will develop a detailed knowledge of the area, explore the impact of colonially and postcoloniality on national cultures, understand how the Sea has been narrated though moving images. The topics discussed will include the orientalist representation of early cinema and how Europeans have filmed in North Africa; French colonial cities and their struggle for independence; the Mediterranean as a site of conflicts and encounters; the role of islands as a cinematic place; the current migration crisis. The analysis of the texts will be informed by theories of the Mediterranean, culture and film studies, national identity construction. Students will develop an awareness of how terms such as transnationalism, post colonialism, orientalism can be applied to the Mediterranean case.
This is a new module designed in line with the University’s internationalisation Strategies to offer students an international education experience during which they’ll develop intercultural competence and benefit from the teaching and research excellence of our Eutopia partners. Diversifying our students' international learning experience is central to the SMLC strategy and this student-driven module will add particular value to those students unable to spend a full year abroad by giving them opportunity to benefit from the Eutopia alliance. Since the pandemic and with the costs of going abroad caused by Brexit (and the cost of living crisis), we are seeing an increasing number of students unable to spend a year abroad. This will offer a unique opportunity for international exposure, experience and new employability skills relevant to today’s globalised world.
Students will be able to design their own term of study from an à la carte menu of options offered by Eutopia partners (excluding Warwick).
There are 2 alternative routes but they have comparable contact hours and workload. Students will design their own learning and so co-curate their own module.
route a) Virtual engagement: students would typically take 2 online micro courses each of 4-5 weeks . These may be from the same partner or 2 different partners. (1 longer 9-week course may also be a possibility).
route b) in-person engagement: students would spend 1 week in Brussels at VUB where they would follow an intensive Eutopia module
Both a) and b) will be assessed through attendance and a reflective paper
This module is linked to a community of the European University Alliance EUTOPIA. Through this module, you will have the opportunity to engage with EUTOPIA in ways appropriate for the module’s learning outcomes. For further information, see the department’s module webpage.
This is the dissertation module for the School of Modern Languages and Cultures.
This 15 CAT module offers students the opportunity to undertake a short independent research project with an appropriate supervisor in the relevant field. It is a shorter version of the standard dissertation module, assessed by a final assignment of 4000-4500 words.
Projects should normally be associated with the research and teaching interests of a member of academic staff in the SMLC. Project topics will need to be approved by the module coordinator in conjunction with the relevant supervisor. Topics will normally be connected to an existing SMLC cultural module.
This module aims to equip you with a knowledge of the creative, media and cultural sectors with specific reference to different types of organisation, the practicalities of working in the creative and media economy and the challenges you may face in the workplace.
The module will take the first step into establishing significant intellectual, creative, and practical capabilities related to working within the various sub sectors providing you with an ability to appreciate the nuances of working in these organisations.
This module introduces students to the Media Lab experience (a three-year pathway through the course designed to develop skills, experiences and understanding of media storytelling), and the emergent ideas, techniques and approaches that a contemporary media creative will need. As well as appreciating the role of changing technology in media, creativity and content manipulation through experimenting with different forms and practices, the module aims to develop media production techniques, a sense of creativity and an appreciation of authorship. Transformations in the production, circulation and consumption of media content mean that the way we make, watch, use and interact with media requires new ways of thinking and application. Thus, you will have new possibilities for aesthetics, forms, content manipulation, distribution, access and participation.
Together with the Year One module Thinking Culture and Creativity this module aims to introduce you to key concepts and frameworks which underpin the programme. The aims of this module will be to define what we mean by the media, creative and cultural industries, to understand how industry structures shape production and consumption, and how digital technologies are transforming our experiences and relationships through media.
This module aims to equip the student with a working knowledge of the concepts and theories fundamental to understanding contemporary culture and apply this knowledge in a practical group project. It aims to demonstrate to the student that a historical understanding of culture and creativity can provide a source of creative ideas, inspiration and intellectual material for media and creative production, and that art and intellectual history offer considerable resources for innovation in contemporary media and communication. The module will seek to establish significant intellectual, creative, academic and practical capabilities, all of which are central to playing a transformative role in future global media and creative industries. It will develop a student’s initiative, ability to take risks, experiment and test ideas. The module will aim to dissolve your assumptions on the nature of contemporary media content and impact, and through creative thinking processes re-define creative content, communication and engagement, audiences and experience.
This module aims to equip the student with a knowledge of the concepts and theories of communication and representation that pertain to “engagement” (of the public sphere and the public; of markets and consumer groups; of brand and new modes of global identity). The module will attend to theories of groups, classes and collectives and how they emerge and change through industrialisation and post-industrialisation, making institutionalised media and culture politically problematic – from dissent, protest, class-based representation to identity politics and the segmentation (through marketization) of society. The module will allow you to grapple with the dilemmas of contemporary cultural globalisation. The module facilitates student teams drawing on a range of socio-historic theoretical frameworks in order to assess new communication strategies for a pluralist, multicultural and global public.
This module introduces theories and practices of management and marketing in the media, creative and cultural industries. The aim is first to introduce students to management models and tools adapted to the distinctive challenges and conditions of these sectors. The second aim is for you to recognise that the business of cultural and media production depends upon relationships and capabilities beyond the ability to create excellent content.
The creative and media industries are frequently described as the copyright industries. In this module you will explore the relationship between creative production and IP law and consider IP law’s relevance and application within specific areas of creative practice. It will support and complement your learning on the Media Lab and Media and Creative Industry Residency modules, equipping you with both theoretical and practical understanding of the legal and contractual frameworks in which creative and media practitioners operate.
Building on Media Lab 1 and the concept and practice of transmedia production and theory, this module aims to move from your experimental explorations in year one to the next level of ‘habit –building’. Here you undertake a specific practical element of Transmedia Storytelling based on the curiosity you developed in Media Lab 1 and engage an audience in participatory media-making. Working across connected platforms you will create a clearly defined experience and/or piece of content in consultation with an audience. The module aims to develop experimentation and collaboration. You will also be asked to critically reflect on the processes and outcomes of your work in the light of the latest thinking.
The principal aim of the module is to test learning from the Year One Media and Creative Industries Case Study and the research undertaken to establish a relationship with an industry.
The module includes a placement or work-based study and will be supported by an evaluation of the operation of the creative, cultural or media organisation. It will build on your knowledge of the creative, media and cultural sectors with specific reference to types of legal entities, the practicalities of working in these organisations and appreciating the challenges faced by them. It also aims to develop your professional skills and confidence honed through practical work experience in an organisation.
This module focuses on digital producers who are responsible for bringing new products, services and experiences to the public. You will learn how to broker the diverse talents of technologists, artists, designers, and audiences to develop projects that contribute to cultural life and address social, cultural, economic and environmental concerns. You will put these skills into practice by working in a team to design your own event at the end of the module.
The module aims to prepare you as a leader of innovative projects in the media, cultural and creative industries, as well as other industries where creativity and media play a strong role. The module aims to help you develop your own value focused model of innovation leadership drawing on theories of leadership and innovation and critical self-reflection.
The principal aim of the module is to gain practical experience in the operation or development of a media, creative, cultural organisation through a residency or extended Workplace Study and critically reflect upon that experience and research in terms of capacity to shape, influence or impact an organisation. The module combines theory and practice (developed in Years One and Two) to equip you with an in-depth understanding of the creative, media and cultural sectors and your burgeoning role within them. The module will include a significant element of work experience or workplace study with an organisation in the form of residency or directed client brief which will develop your working knowledge and critical thinking about work practices and challenges of these sectors. It will develop your initiative, ability to take decisions and risks and develop their ambitions. Through their interactions with professionals, the module will aim to dissolve your assumptions on the nature of employment within the contemporary creative, cultural and media sectors.
The aim of this module is to build on the gamification experimental levels of Media Lab 1 and Media Lab 2 to the final level of ‘mastery’ so that you will now fully research, test and develop a finished project for showcasing in Term 3, supported by research. You will be invited to pitch ideas for an individual project during Term 1 and during Terms 2 and 3, you will spend the remainder of the module researching, planning, testing, developing and evaluating (with data) your project and approach to content production. You will also use the research and critical reflection techniques developed in the course in the planning and development of a clear methodology to inform your project and how to use the data your project produces to inform your approach.
This module contains a Python mini-course and an introduction to the LaTeX scientific document preparation package. It will involve a group project, involving computation, and students will develop their research skills, including planning and use of library and internet resources, and their presentation skills.
This module will bridge the gap between school and university mathematics, taking you from a calculation and method-based approach to a deeper understanding of mathematics based on proofs. In this module, you will learn the art of mathematical proofs through understanding key methods of proof and creating your own.
In addition to proofs, the module will also introduce you to essential university mathematics, including set theory, logic, number theory, algorithms and cryptography.
Mathematics can be described as the science of logical deduction - if we assume such and such as given, what can we deduce with absolute certainty? Consequently, mathematics has a very high standard of truth - the only way to establish a mathematical claim is to give a complete, rigorous proof. Sets and Numbers aims to show students what can be achieved through abstract mathematical reasoning.
Analysis is the rigorous study of calculus. In this module, there will be a considerable emphasis throughout on the need lay out mathematical arguments with much greater precision and care than you had to at school. With the support of your fellow students, lecturers, and other helpers, you will be encouraged to move on from the situation where the teacher shows you how, say, differentiate and integrate a function, to the point where you can develop your own rigorous proofs of calculus results that you may have taken for granted. The module will allow you to deal carefully with limits and infinite summations, approximations to pi and e, and the Taylor series. The module also covers construction of the integral and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
Mathematical Analysis is the rigorous study of calculus. In this module, there will be a considerable emphasis throughout on the need to lay out mathematical arguments with much greater precision and care than you had to at school.
With the support of your fellow students, lecturers, and other helpers, you will be encouraged to move on from the situation where the teacher shows you how to, say, differentiate and integrate a function, to the point where you can develop your own rigorous proofs of calculus results that you may have taken for granted.
Mathematical Analysis 1 is the first of a pair of first year modules on analysis. In this module, you will develop working knowledge of sequences and series, including limits, conditional and absolute convergence. You will also learn the properties of continuous and absolutely continuous functions.
Analysis is the rigorous study of calculus. In this module, there will be a considerable emphasis throughout on the need lay out mathematical arguments with much greater precision and care than you had to at school. With the support of your fellow students, lecturers, and other helpers, you will be encouraged to move on from the situation where the teacher shows you how, say, differentiate and integrate a function, to the point where you can develop your own rigorous proofs of calculus results that you may have taken for granted. The module will allow you to deal carefully with limits and infinite summations, approximations to pi and e, and the Taylor series. The module also covers construction of the integral and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
Calculus is the mathematical study of continuous change. In this module there will be considerable emphasis throughout on the need to argue with much greater precision and care than you had to at school. With the support of your fellow students, lecturers and other helpers, you will be encouraged to move on from the situation where the teacher shows you how to solve each kind of problem, to the point where you can develop your own methods for solving problems. By the end of the year you will be able to answer interesting questions like, what do we mean by `infinity’?
Calculus 1 is the first of a pair of first year calculus modules. In this first module you will be introduced to sequences and series, including limits, conditional and absolute convergence. You will also learn the properties of continuous and absolutely continuous functions.
Calculus 2 is the second of a pair of first year calculus modules. In this second module you will learn about differentiability, including higher derivatives and properties of differentiable functions. You will also develop a general understanding of the Riemann integral.
In the second term for Mathematical Methods and Modelling 2, you will study the differential geometry of curves, calculus of functions of several variables, multi-dimensional integrals, calculus of vector functions of several variables (divergence and circulation), and their uses in line and surface integrals.
Introduces the fundamentals of mathematical modelling, before discussing and analysing difference and differential equations in physics, chemistry, engineering as well as the life and social sciences. This will require the basic theory of ordinary differential equations (ODEs), the cornerstone of all applied mathematics. ODE theory later proves invaluable in branches of pure mathematics, such as geometry and topology. You will be introduced to simple differential and difference equations, methods for obtaining their solutions and numerical approximation.
Introduces the fundamentals of mathematical modelling, before discussing and analysing difference and differential equations in physics, chemistry, engineering as well as the life and social sciences. This will require the basic theory of ordinary differential equations (ODEs), the cornerstone of all applied mathematics. ODE theory later proves invaluable in branches of pure mathematics, such as geometry and topology. You will be introduced to simple differential and difference equations, methods for obtaining their solutions and numerical approximation.
In the second term for Mathematical Methods and Modelling 2, you will study the differential geometry of curves, calculus of functions of several variables, multi-dimensional integrals, calculus of vector functions of several variables (divergence and circulation), and their uses in line and surface integrals.
Many problems in maths and science are solved through a system of simultaneous linear equations in a number of variables. Even for problems which cannot be solved in this way, it is often possible to obtain an approximate solution by solving a system of simultaneous linear equations, giving the "best possible linear approximation''.
The branch of maths treating simultaneous linear equations is called linear algebra. The module introduces key properties of vectors, matrices and vector spaces. You will also learn how to use fundamental matrix operations to solve linear equations. Concepts and methods from linear algebra are useful for later modules such as Linear Statistical Modelling with R.
The branch of maths treating simultaneous linear equations is called linear algebra. The module introduces key properties of vectors, matrices and vector spaces. You will also learn how to use fundamental matrix operations to solve linear equations. Concepts and methods from linear algebra are useful for later modules such as Linear Statistical Modelling with R.
The second half concerns linear algebra and addresses simultaneous linear equations. You will learn about the properties of vector spaces, linear mappings and their representation by matrices. Applications include solving simultaneous linear equations, properties of vectors and matrices, properties of determinants and methods of calculating them. You will learn to define and calculate eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a linear map or a matrix. You will gain a solid understanding of matrices and vector spaces for later modules to build on.
This first half of this module will introduce you to abstract algebra, covering group theory and ring theory, making you familiar with symmetry groups and groups of permutations and matrices, subgroups and Lagrange’s theorem. You will understand the abstract definition of a group, and become familiar with the basic types of examples, including number systems, polynomials, and matrices. You will be able to calculate the unit groups of the integers modulo n.
Mathematical Analysis 2 is the second of a pair of first year modules on analysis. In this module, you will learn about differentiability, including higher derivatives and properties of differentiable functions. You will also develop a good working knowledge of the Riemann integral.
Mathematical Analysis 2 is the second of a pair of first year modules on analysis. In this module, you will learn about differentiability, including higher derivatives and properties of differentiable functions. You will also develop a good working knowledge of the Riemann integral.
This is a pre-sessional module for incoming first-year undergraduates from mathematics and joint-mathematics courses including Data Science, Mathematics & Statistics, and MORSE. The aim is to refresh key concepts from A Level mathematics and illustrate how they are used in university mathematics.
This module lays the basis for many subsequent mathematically-inclined modules, and it is concerned with fundamental notions of distances, measuring and continuity. Making these foundations into a consistent theoretical framework has kept many great mathematicians busy for many centuries, and in this module you walk in their footsteps.
In this module you learn the basics about discrete structures that lie at the heart of many real-world problems. A key notion is that of a graph, which is an abstract mathematical model for a network, such as a street network, a computer network, or a network of friendships. You learn to argue about these structures formally, and to prove interesting theorems about them. This will train your ability to think outside of the box.
The theory of partial differential equations (PDE) is important in both pure and applied mathematics. Since the pioneering work on surfaces and manifolds by Gauss and Riemann, PDEs have been at the centre of much of mathematics. PDEs are also used to describe many phenomena from the natural sciences (such as fluid flow and electromagnetism) and social sciences (such as financial markets). In this module you will learn how to classify the most important partial differential equations into three types: elliptic, parabolic, and hyperbolic. You will study the role of boundary conditions and look at various methods for solving PDEs.
Roughly speaking, a metric space is any set provided with a sensible notion of the “distance” between points. The ways in which distance is measured and the sets involved may be very diverse. For example, the set could be the sphere, and we could measure distance either along great circles or along straight lines through the globe; or the set could be New York and we could measure distance “as the crow flies” or by counting blocks. This module examines how the important concepts introduced in first-year Mathematical Analysis, such as convergence of sequences and continuity of functions, can be extended to general metric spaces. Applying these ideas, we will be able to prove some powerful and important results, used in many parts of mathematics.
You will undertake independent research on a mathematical topic with guidance and feedback from your Personal Tutor. You will investigate mathematics that may not be covered in the core curriculum. You will then communicate your research in a scientific report and an oral presentation.
This module introduces the concept of continuity and differentiability for multivariable functions, generalising the concepts studied in previous Analysis and Mathematical Methods modules. You will study multivariable generalisations of the derivative, the inverse-function and implicit-function theorems. You will revisit the divergence and Stokes’ theorems from the point of view of multivariable analysis, and study solutions of partial differential equations.
You will study a number of key concepts in applied mathematics and mathematical modelling, including methods and ideas for solving partial differential equations.
In this module, you will develop and continue your study of linear algebra: the Jordan normal form for matrices; functions of matrices; symmetric and quadratic forms; tensors; bilinear forms; dual spaces.
This first abstract algebra module focuses on developing your understanding and application of the theories of groups and rings, improving your ability to manipulate them and extending your knowledge and understanding of algebra from the Sets and Numbers module in Year One.
Read more about the Groups and Rings moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
This course focuses on developing your understanding and application of the theories of groups and rings, improving your ability to manipulate them and extending the results from Year One algebra. You will learn how to prove the isomorphism theorems for groups in general, and analogously, for rings. You will also encounter the Orbit-Stabiliser Theorem, the Chinese Remainder Theorem, and Gauss’s theorem on unique factorisation in polynomial rings. You will study applications in number theory, geometry and combinatorics.
This module lays the basis for many subsequent mathematically-inclined modules, and it is concerned with further study of the notions of convergence and calculus seen in Analysis 1 and 2. Creating a consistent theoretical framework for these concepts has kept many great mathematicians busy for many centuries, and in this module you walk in their footsteps.
This module lays the basis for many subsequent mathematical modules, and it is concerned with further study of the notions of convergence and calculus seen in Mathematical Analysis 1 and 2. Creating a consistent theoretical framework for these concepts has kept many great mathematicians busy for many centuries, and in this module you walk in their footsteps.
The third year essay offers the opportunity of producing an original and personal account of a mathematical topic of your own choice going beyond the scope of existing lecture modules.
The lectures will provide a solid background in the mathematical description of fluid dynamics. They will cover the derivation of the conservation laws (mass, momentum, energy) that describe the dynamics of fluids and their application to a remarkable range of phenomena including water waves, sound propagation, atmospheric dynamics and aerodynamics. The focus will be on deriving approximate expressions using (usually) known mathematical techniques that yield analytic (as opposed to computational) solutions.
Set theoretical concepts and formulations are pervasive in modern mathematics. They provide a highly useful tool for defining and constructing mathematical objects as well as casting a theoretical light on reducibility of knowledge to agreed first principles. You will review naive set theory, including paradoxes such as Russell and Cantor, and then encounter the Zermelo-Fraenkel system and the cumulative hierarchy picture of the set theoretical universe. Your understanding of transfinite induction and recursion, cardinal and ordinal numbers, and the real number system will all be developed within this framework.
This module expands your knowledge about reasoning and working with discrete structures, and moves you to more advanced topics beyond graphs. In particular, you will learn about partially ordered sets, matroids and set systems. This will enable you to see and appreciate the role of combinatorial reasoning in a broader context of mathematics and computer science.
The MiA projects are primarily aimed at those who seek to further develop their skills in public speaking and writing. The project involves understanding deeply how mathematics underpins a particular topic in the modern world and then communicating this understanding in the form of a presentation to the general public, a written popular science article, and a written scholarly report at the MMath level.
The primary aim of the Research Project is to give you experience of mathematics as it is being pursued close to the frontiers of research, not just as a spectator sport but as an engaging, evolving activity in which you can play a part. You will communicate your findings in a written scholarly report.
You’ll study this module as an essential foundation for many of the modules that will follow on the course. We will equip you with the essential core skills in molecular biology and scientific computing, bringing you up to speed with the course philosophy.
This module aims to equip you with the conceptual, theoretical and computational skills required for the analysis and engineering of atomic and molecular systems, with an emphasis on biomolecules. You’ll explore the molecules of life, looking at the physics that holds them together, the chemistry by which they react in watery solution and at their structures, motions and reactivities. Looking at self-organisation, you’ll also discuss the very important phenomenon for all living matter: how to generate large scale and defined structures out of a bunch of individual proteins. As part of this module, you will focus on revising and extending your A Level skills in Mathematics to support with plotting and fitting data.
This module aims to equip you with the conceptual, theoretical and computational skills required for the analysis and engineering of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organelles and cells. Starting with understanding the principles of light, you’ll also learn how life harnesses electrical forces to communicate and compute information. As the module progresses, you’ll explore chemical and synthetic biology, principally examining biology as macromolecular chemistry and how we can use chemistry to make biological probes. We conclude this module with cell division and underpin the principles of just how does one cell become two?
This module aims to equip you with the conceptual, computational and practical skills required for the analysis and engineering of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and their development. You’ll begin with development and unpick a key question in development of life: how are embryos organised? You’ll then move on to immunity, looking at the mechanisms and mathematics of the immune response, considering how do organisms recognise non-self. We’ll finish this module by covering pathogens and parasites and you’ll dissect how parasites have evolved to invade our bodies.
This module will give you a basic grounding in key topics, theories, principles, language, nomenclature and learning activities which will underpin ongoing study in the health and medical sciences. You will develop knowledge and understanding of the different skills, techniques and perspectives that will frame ongoing study. As part of your study in medical sciences, you’ll be introduced to core anatomical concepts and in health sciences, core concepts in health and illness.
As part of this module, you’ll unpack the challenges of curable and incurable diseases and conditions, considering that problem solving in health might not mean problem eradication, but the management of problems in the short and long terms. From a medical sciences perspective, you’ll be introduced to cell cycle regulation, cell division and communication, principals of genetics and epigenetics, elements of developmental biology and parental transfer of information, and anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system, bones and muscles in health and disease. In the health sciences, you’ll explore core concepts such as health behaviour, different health belief models and the interrelationships of population health and health and gender.
This module will provide you with an introduction to research in health and medical sciences. It will cover why and how we do research (evidence, study design, research methods) and specific methods of enquiry (including interpretation of results and bias). You will acquire skills in data acquisition and management, analysis and interpretation, and communication of findings to different audiences.
This module will give you a broad base of understanding of illness and how it relates to susceptibility and inequality. As part of the medical sciences, you’ll cover the anatomy and physiology of reproductive and endocrine systems, investigating the challenges associated with reproductive ageing and fertility. You’ll also explore the field of oncology, covering topics including the molecular basis of cancer, diagnosis, treatment and management. In health sciences, you’ll consider how the systems of governance, decision-making in health and economics impact the availability of life extending drugs.
This module will help you understand how wellbeing can have an impact on mental health and neurobiology. From a medical sciences perspective, you’ll be introduced to the anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system in health and disease, and circadian rhythm as these relate to wellbeing and mental health. Revisiting genetics and epigenetics, you’ll consider the relationships between environment, genome and epigenome. In health sciences, you’ll investigate the states of stress, anxiety and depression at a societal level with a focus on systems of care, the law and the balance between autonomy and best interest.
This module focuses on developing your knowledge of how to plan and implement biological experiments. Through a range of practicals and computing sessions, you will enhance your experimental skills and statistical knowledge. This will be utilised in your research projects in years three and four.
This module will provide you with an in-depth understanding of food as it relates to nutrition and malnutrition. In medical sciences, you will cover the anatomy and physiology of the renal and gastrointestinal systems. We will underpin your knowledge and understanding needed for the study of nutrition, metabolism and disease, covering topics such as digestion, absorption of macronutrients, nutritional principles and energy, impact of malnutrition, obesity and diabetes. You will also consider multigenerational effects of malnutrition on reproduction and health. From the health sciences perspective, you will be introduced to the role of the World Health Organisation and Public Health England as it relates to the global health problems of hunger, malnutrition, obesity and diabetes. You will consider the role of the food industry, dietary choices, food safety and media. The lens of responsibility and influence will be used to view many of the discussions taking place in this module.
As part of this module, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of infection and how it relates to prevention and outbreaks. In medical sciences, you will cover the areas of immunology in response to pathogens. You will learn about organisation and development of the immune system, its activation upon stimulation, microbiology and the defence mechanisms against different pathogens. Resistance to drugs and antibiotics and the use of technology in these fields will also be explored. Patient safety, occupational health and wellbeing, and work risk assessments will underpin many of the topics covered in Health Sciences. You’ll also consider how different expectations and work environments can highlight the complexities in epidemiology.
In this module, you will draw on key elements covered in previous module content to understand the importance of how the environment (both internal and external) can impact the body in the context of health and disease. From a medical sciences perspective, you will revisit the interactions between epigenome, genome, environment and health. Pharmacology, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical trials will provide the basis for topic areas and you will revisit circadian rhythm and sleep. From a health sciences perspective, topics of planetary health will be introduced. You will also consider the interactions between politics, policies and the law and how medical ethics and decision making can impact clinical trials as an example.
This module will be the second in a series of research focussed modules on the HMS course. As part of this module students will recap the basics of quantitative and qualitative research before moving on to consider more applied, controlled and systematic approaches to research in health, medical science, healthcare and health promotion, namely systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials and mixed-methods (including some lab-based) approaches.
Students will complete the third year of a laboratory and tutorial-based skills program. The key aims of the year 3 program are to embed final year level literature and practical research skills in preparation for their final year research projects. This will be achieved through a combination of tutorial set tasks and laboratory classes.
In this module, you’ll have the opportunity to utilise the research and evaluation skills developed through Years One and Two to produce a substantial piece of research. Ordinarily, you’ll join a WMS research lab and be supervised by the lab head. You’ll get to choose and conduct a research project using an integrated natural sciences approach to address a specific research question. You’ll read and appraise relevant literature, acquire, analyse and interpret data and produce a thesis and oral presentation summarising your findings.
This module will provide you with the basic skills and knowledge required to successfully undertake your dissertation project. You will be introduced to project planning, research methods and statistical analysis and you will learn what constitutes a good plan and the important considerations. You will understand how to define technical goals and milestones and appreciate the importance of monitoring progress and adapting the project objectives in light of progress made and learning gained including risk and contingency planning.
This module offers you the opportunity to work independently, under limited supervision, on an area of health and medical science of your choice. You will learn to take responsibility for the direction and management of a research project through to completion and submission. There is no specific syllabus for this module. The topic of the dissertation will depend on the mutual interests of the student and the student's chosen supervisor.
In this module you will investigate three advanced contemporary cases, spending two weeks per case. The three cases will cover authentic and complex global and local health problems. The cases will integrate and expand on the areas covered in years one and two. This module will further engage you in a transdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, providing unique opportunities to practice your holistic approach to investigating problems in health and go deeper in your analysis of the issues that arise from the cases to explore issues including health policy.
During this module, you are introduced to the varied uses of technologies in health and care settings. Furthermore, challenges associated with big data and artificial intelligence will be explored as well as their benefits for managing local and global health problems.
In this module you will explore how scientific discoveries are moved along a virtual path from the laboratory/data collection stage into real-world practice, leading to improved human health and health promotion. During this module, you will learn important concepts such as what is scientific communication and how to successfully disseminate scientific findings from a variety of perspectives and for a variety of purposes. Furthermore, you will be introduced to the concept of innovation and how innovation is needed to address some of the challenges faced by healthcare systems.
In this module you will experience practice sessions utilising transdisciplinary perspectives to answer questions about local and global problems in health using sustained thought, planning and writing. The focus will be on extending existing knowledge into new and different contexts.
This module aims to enable you to perform original high-quality research at the forefront of a field and be exposed to a cutting-edge research environment. It aims to develop your ability to produce and communicate a substantial, independent piece of work drawing on skills from at least two disciplines.
This module aims to:
Mathematical models play a central role in understanding mechanisms underpinning a wide range of biological systems. These models are used for the analysis and interpretation of large and varied biological data, but also for the prediction of the dynamic behaviour of these biological processes.
The module aims to:
The module intends to expose students to cutting edge scientific techniques and methodologies that are the interface of biology, engineering, chemistry and computer sciences; and develop students’ knowledge of their applications.
The module intends to develop research and professional transferable skills that future employers will look for whether in academia, industry or other professional settings. The module will develop students' analytical and critical skills and provide training on various topics including managing of research progress, data collection, analysis and presentation; managing time, resources and people; scientific technical and non-technical writing.
Building on your experience from Year 1, you’ll use mathematical and computational approaches to understand how cells can make decisions. We focus on different forms of feedback, to explain how, for example, cells can display switch-like behaviour. We finish by applying to developmental patterning.
Using more advanced methods and analysis, you’ll analyse data, model interactions and spatial patterns and link changes at the DNA and transcriptional level to outcomes in spatial developmental patterns, species interaction and population ecology.
Computer programming is increasingly essential to the study of all aspects of biology. It is now required for accessing and managing data or performing statistical analyses. This module intends to provide advanced programming skills for students to solve biomedical problems. The module teaching format will take an active learning, student-centered approach. Classes will consist of introductions to programming techniques and associated biological problems, followed by hands-on exercises.
In summary, this module prepares students for data-intensive research in the biomedical area by teaching data analysis methodology, decision making and computer programming to enable students to become less constrained by limitations of pre-existing computational skills.
This module introduces you to the combined study of philosophy and literature. You will study texts that raise philosophical questions, e.g., about knowledge, reality, values and mind, in adventurous ways. You will consider the importance of precisely how they communicate ideas, e.g., via narrative, myth, metaphor, dialogue, poetic and essay forms. You will develop your own responses to these texts and will learn to read, discuss and write reflectively about them. You might encounter authors such as Plato, Nietzsche, Muriel Spark, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, J. M. Coetzee, Toni Morrison, Emily Dickinson or Søren Kierkegaard.
You'll study a wide-ranging introduction to philosophy, including ancient, continental, moral and political philosophy, followed by epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind and aesthetics, and logic. You'll learn to engage critically with different viewpoints and critically analyse and evaluate arguments central to philosophy.
This module teaches you formal logic, covering both propositional and first-order logic. You will learn about a system of natural deduction and understand how to demonstrate that it is both sound and complete. You will learn how to express and understand claims using formal techniques, including multiple quantifiers. Key concepts you will consider are logical validity, truth functionality and formal proof quantification.
You will learn about Ancient Greek thinkers such as Heraclitus, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, focusing on metaphysics, epistemology and ethics. You will see contrast and continuity between treatments of these topics in the ancient literature and you will gain a foundation for further study of Greek philosophy, and of contemporary philosophical literature. You will develop skills in critical analysis, presenting rigorous arguments, oral and written, and learn how to discuss a topic with clarity, patience and sensitivity to the views of others.
Look around. What if all your experiences were the products of dreams, or neuroscientific experiments? Can you prove they aren’t? If not, how can you know anything about the world around you? How can you even think about such a world? Perhaps you can at least learn about your own experience, what it’s like to be you. But doesn’t your experience depend on your brain, an element of the external world? This course will deepen your understanding of the relationship between your mind and the rest of the world.
What would you do if you had a magic ring that made you invisible? Be an invisible superhero or use your power for ill? Why exactly should we be just and good? In the first half of this module, you will study Plato's Republic, a classic work examining questions like these. You will learn about the answers Plato proposed and, by evaluating Plato’s answers, deepen your understanding of the questions and the problems they raise.
Suppose an evil demon causes your experiences to be radically misleading about the real world. There is no computer, no cup of coffee on the desk, even though it appears there are. In his Meditations on First Philosophy, which you will study in the second half of the module, Descartes uses such exercises to argue that we can find truths about the world independently of the senses, simply through reasoning and reflection.
In this module, you will learn to identify common patterns of good and bad reasoning, helping you to expose errors in everyday life, to think better and develop the art of persuasion. The skills you gain will help you take a robust philosophical approach to your studies and work independently during your degree, giving you valuable reading, analysis and academic writing skills.
This module provides you with an understanding of key concepts, theories, problems and methods in moral, political and legal thinking and how the three interact. You will explore the topics at the intersection of the disciplines, considering both academic and real-life issues. You will build on the legal, philosophical and political science skills learned in your other modules, broadening your studies and building a foundation upon which to make connections in future year. The module shows how the study of politics, philosophy and law intersect and will encourage you to think about what it means to be a PPL student.
We often try to do the right thing. But what is the right thing? This module will explore key debates in ethics and political philosophy on how we should live and how we should live together. It will use texts from Thomas Hobbes and John Stuart Mill to address contemporary ethical issues. For example, can living morally sometimes be too demanding, or risk undermining our integrity? And what moral standards, if any, apply in political life? What obligations do politicians have towards the citizens?
You will discover the metaphysical and epistemological ideas of great Empiricist philosophers Locke, Berkeley and Hume on substance, qualities, ideas, causation and perception. You will then explore Kant's ideas, including metaphysics, space, self-awareness, causation, scepticism and freedom. You will develop skills in critical engagement, articulating your own views of the relative strengths and weaknesses of these arguments and interpreting key philosophical ideas.
In this module, you will learn about the metatheory of propositional and first-order logic; to understand the concept of a sound and complete proof system similar to that of Logic I. You will study elementary set theory and inductive definitions and then consider Tarski's definitions of satisfaction and truth, proceeding to develop the Henkin completeness proof for first-order logic. You will learn to appreciate the significance of these concepts for logic and mathematics, with the ability to define them precisely.
We evaluate each other’s actions constantly. Maybe your friend broke a promise, or you protest against a government welfare policy. But what makes these moral claims true? You will use the tools of philosophy to illuminate these questions. You will study theories of what makes things right or wrong (normative ethics) and more basic questions – is anything right or wrong anyway (metaethics)? Studying this module will provide you with knowledge and skills useful to the exploration of ethical and political questions in your further study.
Should I be able to buy your ‘spare’ kidney? You might think that if you are willing and I have the money then there is no harm involved. But if you were desperate, does that mean I would be taking advantage of you? These are the sorts of questions you will cover in Applied Ethics, answering them in systematic ways. For example, we may ask about our duties to animals, whether it’s permissible to have children and what is it that’s bad about death, among other questions. You will engage in debate on these and other questions arising in normative ethics and clarify and articulate your own standpoint on such issues.
An in-depth introduction to one or more foundational texts in the tradition of philosophical aesthetics. Typically, one of the texts will be Kant’s Critique of Judgement and other readings will be drawn from subsequent major work in aesthetics and/or the philosophy of art by, for example, Schiller, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, Dewey, Collingwood, Adorno, Benjamin, Freud, Lyotard. This year we spend the first 5 weeks on Kant’s Critique of Judgement, and after reading week turn to Heidegger’s Origin of the Work of Art and related essays.
The dissertation offers a structured opportunity for independent learning on a topic of philosophical relevance. It is a particularly useful choice if you are thinking of going on to graduate work, but it is also relevant for career destinations requiring skills in gathering and synthesising material.
The course will cover both the theoretical and practical philosophy of Aristotle. We will discuss Aristotle's views about different ways in which the world can be understood, his theory of change, his theory of the soul, and then move on to Aristotle's ethics. In particular, we will attempt to work out what Aristotle thought the best life for human beings was, in the light of both textual and philosophical problems.
Philosophical investigation is indispensable for fully understanding many discoveries in the behavioural sciences, and for identifying new areas of investigation. Key questions include: Are any cognitive processes modular? Is a distinction such as that between implicit and explicit knowledge needed in explaining cognitive development? Are there distinct roles for intention and motor representation in explaining the purposiveness of action? What is categorical perception and how is it related to phenomenology? Are there multiple systems for tracking others’ actions, beliefs and other mental states? Can emotions or other mental phenomena be known by means of perceiving them? When two or more agents act together, in virtue of what can their actions have a collective goal? What is it for agents to act together cooperatively, or to be committed to do so?
The PPL dissertation offers a structured opportunity for independent learning on a topic of interdisciplinary relevance. It aims to encourage you to bridge the PPL disciplines. It is a particularly useful choice if you are thinking of going on to graduate work, but it is also relevant for career destinations requiring skills in gathering and synthesising material.
This module is for EPP students only and introduces students to questions spanning the disciplines of economics, psychology and philosophy and aims to set the three disciplines in interdisciplinary dialogue with each other. Students will explore issues related to group thinking, the nature of reasoning that characterises group interactions, and the ways in which group thinking can lead to failures of reasoning.
On this course, we aim to make you a better communicator and critical thinker. Armed with cutting-edge research methods and the academic skills to make a successful transition to university-level study. This module focuses on how best we can support you to become independent learners, giving you the firm foundations from which to achieve the best possible degree, in addition to valuable transferable skills post graduation.
Introduction to Politics gives you a broad overview of the main issues and theoretical perspectives within Politics. You'll learn first to understand and then apply the core concepts of comparative political science and theory to processes, institutions, ideologies and practical policy-making. You'll conduct a comparative study of different political systems and political change, both in writing and in open debate.
This module will deliver an introduction to quantitative political analysis, which is useful to critically engage with the discipline of politics as a whole. In it, you will explore a range of tasks, such as conceptualisation and measurement, numerical data, data analysis, and interpretation. The module uses the software R.
In this module, you'll be introduced to world politics and the role that international relations play in the interactions between nations. You'll gain a solid understanding of the historical underpinnings of the structure and systems of states and become familiar with major theories of international relations post-1945. You'll analyse contemporary writings on world politics and engage critically, both orally and in writing, with key concepts and theoretical debates on the nature of international political systems.
The aim of this module is to get you thinking about ideas in politics and how they matter, and what happens when we put political theory to work on pressing real-world issues and dilemmas. We will explore the three core concepts in the title of the module through the lens of specific, real-world debates, such as the possibility of 'global justice', the question of reparations for historical injustice, competing ideas of representative and direct democracy, and whether being a citizen means that we have an obligation to obey the law.
This module is about what international development means, how it comes about, and what kinds of life it makes possible.
It will unpack the different ways in which 'development' has been theorised. In doing this, it provides a chronological overview of key intellectual interventions and how they responded to - and informed - 'real world' changes.
Many policies have been created in the name of international development yet so many in the world remain in poverty. This module challenges questions like, is poverty reduction the same thing as development? Examining key topics through this module, you will focus on why global inequalities persist today. You will be taught how to critically assess policies and ask what roles and responsibilities key actors, like the World Bank and aid agencies, should have in respect to international development.
This is a module about politics and power in the United Kingdom. It has perhaps never been more important, or exciting, to deepen our understanding of politics in the UK. Recent years have seen an upheaval in the major political parties, a major financial crisis and the deployment of austerity policies, an increased use in referendums to address major constitutional questions, and revived protest politics on both the left and the right. This module takes a systematic approach to understand all of these changes, combining both historical and comparative lenses to illuminate contemporary UK politics.
This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the political system of the United States of America and to the rival theoretical accounts explaining the political outcomes this system generates. It focuses on the ideas that influence US politics, and the key actors that participate in the American political system. These actors include the President, Congress, the Supreme Court, political parties, and the electorate. It also assesses the power and influence of informal actors that affect US politics such as the media and special interest groups, as well as considering the impact of race, ethnicity, gender and religion on political participation and representation. Finally, the module explores the political formulation of foreign policy.
Although a common-sense view of world politics is often presented as fact in non-academic contexts, there is little agreement about what International Relations is and how we should think about the discipline. In this module you will critically examine conventional wisdom. This module emphasises the ‘the truth’ about International Relations is disputed and reflects on hoe we can use theory to study global politics. The aim of the module is to introduce, explore and compare the key theoretical approaches in International Relations. Use examples to examine how different school of thought help us to understand past and current global affairs and encourage you to develop critical analytical and evaluative skills.
The module builds on ideas explored in Introduction to Politics during your first year, and it leads towards the term two module Topics in Political Theory, which deals with present-day arguments about social justice.
Home to nearly a quarter of the world's population with one of the fastest growing and largest economies in the world, China's rise to Great Power status is one of the most important issues in our time. But while the focus on China's international interactions might point to China's increasing power and strength, an analysis of domestic politics reveals a ruling communist party facing continued challenges in justifying its continued monopoly of power and dealing with the economic and social dislocations that rapid economic development has brought. This module examines the complex political, economic and social transformations in China from the times of Mao Zedong to the present. It starts by embedding the study of the contemporary in a knowledge of China’s recent history, with a focus on the consequences of China’s revolutionary past for the current political order.
Political Economy as an intellectual tradition was already vibrant in the 18th & 19th Centuries, with the disputes between Adam Smith’s liberal vision, Mercantilists such as List, and radicals such as Marx. Its starting point is the recognition that social orders, and the institutions which make them up, need to be studied as complex wholes in order to understand the interrelationships between the political and economic aspects. Political economy is also interested in the power relationships that characterise the broader political and economic context in which particular institutions are embedded. Political economy focuses attention on the interaction of states and markets, and on the interplay of structures and the role of agency. It is political economy because concerned with how a particular social order works –and with how it might work, how it should work.
Political economy shows that social orders, and the institutions that comprise them, need to be studied as complex wholes: power relations, states and markets, and how and why a particular social order might work. You will study the classic theorists of political economy and then explore specific themes and issues. Guest lecturers contribute on themes and issues that marry closely with their areas of research interest and expertise. In your studies you will develop good investigative and research skills, including in IT, and learn how to present your arguments in written and spoken form.
This module will provide you with a comprehensive introduction into theories, concepts and practices of international security. You will examine the study of strategy and warfare, debates about the meaning and scope of security, and key security actors, institutions and mechanisms in world politics. By the end of this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge using theoretical debates about security in international relations and their relationship to security practices.
Why are some countries democratic and others not? Why do people use political violence in some places and at times? What role does populism play in contemporary democracies? Why do different ethnic groups sometimes live together peacefully, and sometimes not? In this module, you will compare political developments in different countries around the world, and apply theoretical knowledge of comparative politics by working on both academic research projects and film projects. Through your studies of a variety of media, you will learn to critically apply theoretical ideas to practical examples, and to gather and analyse the evidence, data and information to support your conclusions.
The main purpose of the module is to explore the political and economic dimensions of European integration. We will be asking many questions about the nature of European integration. Issues to be covered range from the history of the European integration project, the role of the EU institutions, theories of European integration, EU policies (including the Eurozone crisis).
What is a “public policy”? This is a complex concept with many ways of defining it. Overall, public policies are what institutions DO, often in partnership with private actors, in order to face collective problems, such as unemployment, health, poverty, migration and so on. Public policy investigates several questions: Why some problems come to the fore while others not? How do actors interact in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies? Why it is so hard to change a long-term established policy, even though it is not working? Why do public policies change at a certain point? And what are the key challenges for public policies in the 21st century and the current troubling times? These are just some of the questions which our course explores. The course will provide students with a strong grounding in public policy by examining the relevant literature and the most contemporary debates which will be analysed through concrete real-life examples, as opposed to a purely theoretical engagement.
Politics considers how the political world operates, and how it ought to operate. In this module, we consider the “oughts” of politics. Building on Foundations of Political Theory, the module examines key thinkers and topics in contemporary normative political theory. The module is divided into two parts: key thinkers in contemporary normative political theory, including John Rawls, Robert Nozick, and Susan Moller Okin; and key topics in contemporary normative political theory, including issues such as immigration, education, representation, microaggressions, and climate change.
Politics considers how the political world operates, and how it ought to operate. In this module, we consider the “oughts” of politics. Building on Foundations of Political Theory, the module examines key thinkers and topics in contemporary normative political theory. The module is divided into two parts:
(A) Key thinkers in contemporary normative political theory. This includes the study of Rawls, and of other key political theorists, such as Nozick and Okin.
(B) Key topics in contemporary normative political theory. This includes issues such as immigration, education, representation, microaggressions, and climate change.
Read more about the Topics of Political Theory moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
The aim of this module is to introduce you to some of the foundational arguments and debates in modern (mainly) European political theory, as well as some of the discipline’s most important primary texts. To this end, you will critically examine claims about freedom, equality, democracy, revolution and crisis made by some of the most important political thinkers from 1640 onwards.
Should parents send their children to private schools? Is freedom of movement a moral right? Is it unjust to rear animals for food? Who should bear the costs of climate change? You'll explore fundamental questions of political morality by critically analysing complex arguments from contemporary political philosophy. You'll study closely John Rawls’s theory of justice, and consider the rival theories of Robert Nozick, G. A. Cohen and Ronald Dworkin. You'll have practical opportunities to develop and defend your own ethical standpoint through your considered judgements on current dilemmas, taking into account opposing arguments and perspectives.
This module aims:
The aim of this module is to introduce students to some of the foundational arguments and debates in modern (mainly) European political theory, as well as some of the discipline’s most important primary texts. To this end, students will critically examine claims about freedom, equality, democracy, revolution and crisis made by some of the most important political thinkers since about 1640. Key texts will include Hobbes’s Leviathan, Locke’s Second Treatise of Government, Rousseau’s Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Marx and Engels's The Communist Manifesto, Du Bois’s The Souls of Black Folk, Clara Zetkin’s Fighting Fascism, and Franz Fanon's The Wretched of the Earth.
The module will also consider how these theories speak to contemporary debates in political theory, such as debates about gender and sexual difference, economic crisis, reparations for colonialism and the resurgence of the far right. The module builds on ideas explored in Introduction to Politics during your first year, and it leads towards the term two module Topics in Political Theory, which deals with present-day arguments about social justice.
Read more about the Foundations of Political Theory moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
This module aims to provide you with an in-depth examination of current issues in abnormal, biological, cognitive, developmental, and social psychology. Rather than providing comprehensive coverage of classic psychological theories, this module will present you with cutting-edge research in the lecturers’ own areas of expertise, giving you insight into the most dynamic areas in this field.
You will gain the study skills needed to succeed on a psychology degree course covering both theoretical considerations, such as the nature of evidence, and practical navigation of an academic environment. With an emphasis on developing a coherent skill set based on critical, logical thinking and a deeper understanding of empirical psychological science, you will also gain an appreciation of the nature of assessment in higher education, and learn to organise your study time. We will also cover the efficient use of the university’s study resources, and soft skills such as communication and engagement that are essential to academic success.
Following from the introduction to the topic covered in Brain and Behaviour, this module also has two sections. The first section presents a basic introduction to the neuropsychology of memory, language, and emotion. The second section introduces contemporary psychological and biological approaches to mental illness.
This module will introduce the biological and methodological basis of current approaches to sensing, responding, and learning. The module has two sections. The first section presents a basic introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system. The second section presents an understanding of how organisms detect and respond to stimulation and how learning and goal-directed action are rooted in the brain.
This module will introduce the biological and methodological basis of current approaches to sensing, responding, and learning. The module has two sections. The first section presents a basic introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system. The second section presents an understanding of how organisms detect and respond to stimulation and how learning and goal-directed action are rooted in the brain.
This module introduces you to the history of psychology and core topics in developmental and cognitive psychology. You'll be able to discuss some of the classic studies, critically appreciate the main concepts and take a historical perspective on psychology as a science.
This module will present cutting-edge research in the lecturers’ own areas of expertise, giving students insight into the most dynamic areas in the field of psychology.
This module will introduce you to the skills and knowledge needed to conduct investigations and statistical analysis of research data, covering both the principles of the techniques taught and their practical application. You will acquire the skills and knowledge needed to understand the nature of empirical work in psychology, and to design, implement, analyse and report on your own investigations.
You'll examine contemporary research and theories in relation to personality, intelligence, and how we study the intriguing and hotly contested area of these individual differences. You'll gain insights into how this area of psychology has evolved, with competing theories and research that challenges and extends our understanding. By the end of the course, you'll have an appreciation of approaches such as the psychodynamic, biological, cognitive, humanistic, and social–constructionist theories of personality and individual difference, and be able to evaluate research and theoretical models in these approaches. You'll also become familiar with the methods used to measure and evaluate individual differences (i.e., intelligence tests, self-report personality questionnaires etc.), and able to articulate your view of the major controversies in this field, through in-class discussion, independent study and assessed work.
In this module, you'll investigate cognitive processes that underlie language, decision making and problem solving, in the context of investigating the evolution, biological mechanisms, and cognitive processes of language and communication. You'll master key findings and methods in psycholinguistics and cognitive science, and be able to critically evaluate theories of language and cognition.
This module covers psychology of perceiving, planning and acting, focussing on the neurobiological basis of perception, neuropsychological deficits in perceiving, planning and action and attention. You'll deepen your understanding of how perceptual processes work to provide useful information about the environment, how abnormalities and/or damage to the nervous system lead to deficits in perception, planning and action and examine theories of perception, planning and attention and how observations of the damaged or abnormal brain can play a role in developing and testing these theories.
The module builds on the first-year developmental section of Psychology in Context by exploring current research in infancy, childhood and adolescence, linking to examples from atypical development and education and focusing primarily on cognitive and social development in childhood. You'll develop an understanding of how different influences interact in development, and be aware of links between cognitive and social growth, and the development of reasoning and language.
The module extends the basic psychobiological knowledge acquired in the first year to more complex issues of nervous system functioning and nervous system/endocrine system interactions, in order to enable students to appreciate how a psychobiological perspective might help us to understand human behaviour. Particular emphasis is placed on providing an insight into the complexities of psychobiological research, its recent advances, as well as its limits.
The module discusses social psychology as the scientific study of human behaviour as influenced by other people and the social context in which this occurs, providing an introduction to central concepts, theories and research in social psychology, and discussing the contribution which social psychology makes to understanding the individual as a social being within a social context and the relationship between the two.
Following from the introduction to the topic covered in Research and Statistical Methods for psychology students, you will cover both conceptual issues, such as knowing when and why to apply a particular research technique, and practical applications, such as conducting analysis. You will be expected to demonstrate that you can systematically test hypotheses, evaluate assumptions, pay due regard to ethical and methodological considerations, and present your results clearly and concisely.
You will be encouraged to apply what you have learned in preparation for undertaking a project. You will develop your research skills further through the opportunity to work as part of a small team on a medium-scale project in an area of psychological enquiry. You will apply and consolidate the research methods and analytical skills to real data obtained by the study. You will demonstrate that you can plan and carry out research (including an appreciation of ethical considerations), analyse data, draw appropriate conclusions, and present your findings to a professional standard. You will also foster the essential soft skills of independent learning, communication, time management and collaboration with your peers. This will also help prepare you for your final year projects.
The module discusses social psychology as the scientific study of human behaviour as influenced by other people and the social context in which this occurs, providing an introduction to central concepts, theories and research in social psychology, and discussing the contribution which social psychology makes to understanding the individual as a social being within a social context and the relationship between the two.
This module allows you to develop research skills by conducting a project in Psychology. It aims to develop your research skills, provide experience in carrying out psychological research and develop your data analysis and key skills including communication, time management, and working with others.
The module introduces experimental science and teaches the skills required for successful laboratory work. These include how to work with apparatus, how to keep a laboratory notebook, how to handle data and quantify errors and how to write scientific reports. The module also asks you to think critically and solve problems.
The module introduces experimental science and teaches the skills required for successful laboratory work. These include how to work with apparatus, how to keep a laboratory notebook, how to handle data and quantify errors and how to write scientific reports. The module also asks you to think critically and solve problems. Initial experiments build core skills while later experiments explore important areas of physics.
Physicists use mathematics to state the basic laws of nature and to analyse their consequences quantitatively and rigorously. The module introduces you to concepts and techniques that will be assumed by future modules. These include complex numbers, functions of a continuous real variable, integration, functions of more than one variable and multiple integration. You will revise relevant parts of the A Level syllabus, to cover the mathematical knowledge to undertake first year physics modules, and to prepare you for mathematics and physics modules in subsequent years.
This module looks at dimensional analysis, thermodynamics and waves. Thermodynamics studies heat transfers and how they can lead to useful work. Even though the results are universal, the simplest way to introduce this topic is via the ideal gas, whose properties are discussed and derived in some detail.
The second half of the module covers waves. Waves are time-dependent variations about some time-independent (often equilibrium) state. They carry energy, momentum and information and much of their behaviour is similar whatever their nature. The module covers phenomena like the Doppler effect, the reflection and transmission of waves at boundaries and some elementary ideas about interference.
The module looks at Newtonian mechanics emphasising the conservation laws for momentum, energy and angular momentum. The module then explains how an inconsistency between Newton's laws and the theory of light waves forced Einstein to reject previous ideas about space and time and led directly to his special theory of relativity.
This module explains how classical physics is unable to explain the properties of light, electrons and atoms. (Theories in physics that make no reference to quantum theory are usually called classical theories.) It covers the most important contributions to the development of quantum physics including wave-particle 'duality', de Broglie's relation and the Schrödinger equation. It also looks at applications of quantum theory to describe elementary particles including their classification by symmetry, how this allows us to interpret simple reactions between particles and how elementary particles interact with matter.
This module is concerned with the great developments in electricity and magnetism, which took place during the nineteenth century. The sources and properties of electric and magnetic fields in free space and in materials are discussed. While charges are a source of electric fields (Gauss's law), moving charges are the source of magnetic fields (Ampere's law). We study Faraday's law, which describes how time-dependent magnetic fields generate electric fields. The module also deals with dc and ac circuit theory including the use of complex impedance.
The Universe contains a bewildering variety of objects - black-holes, red giants, white dwarfs, brown dwarfs, gamma-ray bursts and globular clusters. The module introduces these, and shows how, with the application of physics, we have come to know their distances, sizes, masses and natures. The module starts with the Sun and planets and moves on to the Universe as a whole.
This module introduces the Python programming language. It is quick to learn and encourages good programming style. Python is an interpreted language, which makes it flexible and easy to share. It allows easy interfacing with modules that have been compiled from faster C or Fortran code. It is widely used throughout physics and there are many downloadable, free-to-use codes available. The module also looks at the visualisation of data.
In the first part of this module you will use ideas, introduced in the first-year module, to explore atomic structure. This includes the time-independent and the time-dependent Schrödinger equations for spherically symmetric and harmonic potentials, angular momentum and hydrogenic atoms. The second half of the module looks at many-particle systems and aspects of the Standard Model of particle physics. It introduces the quantum mechanics of free fermions and discusses how it accounts for the conductivity and heat capacity of metals and the state of electrons in white dwarf stars.
This module develops experimental skills in a range of areas and includes the design and testing of a functional electronic circuit. The module also introduces the concepts involved in controlling an experiment using a computer. The module explores information retrieval and evaluation, and the oral and written presentation of scientific material.
You will review the techniques of ordinary and partial differentiation and ordinary and multiple integration. You will develop your understanding of vector calculus and discuss the partial differential equations of physics (Term 1). The theory of Fourier transforms and the Dirac delta function are also covered. Fourier transforms are used to represent functions using linear combinations of sines and cosines, and are a powerful tool in physics and applied mathematics. The examples used to illustrate the module are drawn mainly from interference and diffraction phenomena in optics (Term 2).
Our sky is dominated by the Sun and the Moon, the planets and stars, as well as occasional spectacular events that are associated with eclipses, comets, meteorites and supernovae. These objects are bright enough to be visible to the naked eye and have been the subject of wonder and study for thousands of years. In this module, you will see how modern observations and advanced space probes are changing our knowledge of stars and Solar System objects. Our physical understanding is advancing rapidly and providing us with a basis for the exploration of exoplanetary systems and the more distant Universe.
This module develops experimental skills in a range of areas of physics and astrophysics. The module introduces the concepts involved in controlling remote instruments using computers and the collection and analysis of astrophysical data. The module explores information retrieval and evaluation, and the oral and written presentation of scientific material.
Any macroscopic object we meet contains a large number of particles, each of which moves according to the laws of mechanics (which can be classical or quantum). Yet we can often ignore the details of this microscopic motion and use a few average quantities such as temperature and pressure to describe and predict the behaviour of the object. Why we can do this, when we can do this and how to do it are discussed in the first half of this module.
We also develop the ideas of first year electricity and magnetism into Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism. Establishing a complete theory of electromagnetism has proved to be one of the greatest achievements of physics. It was the principal motivation for Einstein to develop special relativity, it has served as the model for subsequent theories of the forces of nature and it has been the basis for all of electronics and optics (radios, telephones, computers, the lot...).
This module looks at the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formulation of classical mechanics and introduces the mechanics of fluids. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics have provided the natural framework for several important developments in theoretical physics including quantum mechanics. The field of fluids is one of the richest and most easily appreciated in physics. Tidal waves, cloud formation and the weather generally are some of the more spectacular phenomena encountered in fluids. The module establishes the basic equations of motion for a fluid - the Navier-Stokes equations - and shows that in many cases they can yield simple and intuitively appealing explanations of fluid flows.
The module covers the theory of Fourier transforms and the Dirac delta function. The module also introduces Lagrange multipliers, co-ordinate transformations and cartesian tensors illustrating them with examples of their use in physics. Fourier transforms are used to represent functions on the whole real line using linear combinations of sines and cosines. A Fourier transform will turn a linear differential equation with constant coefficients into a nice algebraic equation which is in general easier to solve. The module explains why diffraction patterns in the far-field limit are the Fourier transforms of the "diffracting" object. The case of a repeated pattern of motifs illustrates beautifully one of the most important theorems in the business - the convolution theorem. The diffraction pattern is the product of the Fourier transform of repeated delta functions and the Fourier transform for a single copy of the motif.
Employers look for many things in prospective employees. Sometimes they will be looking for specific knowledge, but often they will be more interested in general skills, frequently referred to as transferable skills. One such transferable skill is the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Over the past two years you may have had experience in writing for an academic audience in the form of your laboratory reports. The aim of this module is to introduce you to the different approaches required to write for other audiences. This module will provide you with experience in presenting technical material in different formats to a variety of audiences.
The project will provide you with experience of working in a research environment. You will work, normally in pairs, on an extended project which may be experimental, computational or theoretical (or indeed a combination of these). Through discussions with your supervisor you will establish a plan of work which you will frequently review as you progress. In general, the project will not be closely prescribed and will contain an investigative element.
The project will provide you with experience of working on an extended project in astrophysics in a research environment. You will normally work in pairs. Through discussions with your supervisor, you will establish a plan of work which you will frequently review as you progress. In general, the project will not be closely prescribed and will contain an investigative element.
The basic principles of quantum mechanics are applied to a range of problems in atomic physics. The intrinsic property of spin is introduced and its relation to the indistinguishability of identical particles in quantum mechanics discussed. Perturbation theory and variational methods are described and applied to several problems. The hydrogen and helium atoms are analysed and the ideas that come out from this work are used to obtain a good qualitative understanding of the periodic table. In this module, you will develop the ideas of quantum theory and apply these to atomic physics.
Einstein's 1905 paper on special relativity was called "On the electrodynamics of moving bodies". It derived the transformation of electric and magnetic fields when moving between inertial frames of reference. The module works through this transformation and looks at its implications. The module starts by covering the magnetic vector potential, A, which is defined so that the magnetic field B=curl A and which is a natural quantity to consider when looking at relativistic invariance.
The radiation (EM-waves) emitted by accelerating charges are described using retarded potentials, which are the time-dependent analogs of the usual electrostatic potential and the magnetic vector potential, and have the wave-like nature of light built in. The scattering of light by free electrons (Thomson scattering) and by bound electrons (Rayleigh scattering) will also be described. Understanding the bound electron problem led Rayleigh to his celebrated explanation of why the sky is blue and why sunlight appears redder at sunrise and sunset.
Questions about the origin of the Universe, where it is going and how it may get there are the domain of cosmology. In this module, we will ask whether the Universe will continue to expand or ultimately contract. Relevant experimental data include those on the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation, the distribution of galaxies and the distribution of mass in the Universe. Starting from fundamental observations, such as that the night sky is dark and, by appealing to principles from Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, you will develop a description of the Universe and the Big Bang Model.
In this module, you study the compact objects - white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes (BH) - that can form when burnt out stars collapse under their own gravity. The extreme conditions in their neighbourhood mean that they affect strongly other objects and even the structure of the space-time around them. Compact objects can accrete material from surrounding gases and nearby stars. In the case of BHs this can lead to the supermassive BHs thought to be at the centre of most galaxies. In the most extreme events (mergers of these objects), the gravitational waves (GW) that are emitted are now beginning to be detected on earth (the first GW detection was reported in 2015 almost exactly 100 years after their prediction by Einstein).
The project will provide you with experience of working in a research environment. You will work, normally in pairs, on an extended project which may be experimental, computational or theoretical (or indeed a combination of these). Through discussions with your supervisor you will establish a plan of work which you will frequently review as you progress. In general, the project will not be closely prescribed and will contain an investigative element.
The researching, evaluation and presentation of scientific information are important skills that you used in the 2nd year Physics Skills module. This project is designed to further develop these skills. Your class will be divided into groups, each of about six members. Each group will then be assigned a topic to be researched and reported on, and they will also each be allocated a member of Academic Staff who will act as a both a mentor and an assessor. The project will provide you with the chance of studying in-depth some particular field of physics at the research level.
The Physics Laboratory continues your introduction to experimental science and includes an introduction to computer simulations as a form of experimental science. It aids the transition from guided laboratory work with constrained experiments, to more open experimental investigations. It includes experiments such as scanning tunnelling microscopy, optical pumping and quantised conductance. You are assessed on the reports you submit, written in the form of scientific papers using your own results.
You will be introduced to collaborative, experimental and computational work and some advanced research techniques. It will give you the opportunity to plan and direct an experiment and to work within a team. It should acquaint you with issues associated with experimental work, including data acquisition and the analysis of errors and the health and safety regulatory environment within which all experimental work must be undertaken. It will also provide you experience of report writing and making an oral presentation to a group.
This module studies the calculus of variations and complex variables. The calculus of variations is concerned with the minimisation of integrals over sets of differentiable functions. Such integrals crop up in many contexts. For example, the ground state wavefunction of a quantum system minimises the expectation value of the energy. The classical equations of motion for both particles and fields can often be obtained by minimising what is called the action functional (which may be familiar if you took Hamiltonian Mechanics). Requiring functions of complex variables to be analytic (differentiable with respect to their complex argument in some domain) turns out to constrain such functions very strongly. As the module shows: only the constant function is differentiable everywhere, analytic functions are actually equal to their Taylor series and not just approximated by them, a function that is once differentiable is differentiable infinitely many times. Complex differentiable functions are clean, they are fun and they are important in physics. For example, response functions like the dielectric response function are analytic functions with the domain, in which the function is analytic, being related to causality.
Kinetic Theory' is the theory of how distributions change and is therefore essentially about non-equilibrium phenomena. The description of such phenomena is statistical and is based on Boltzmann's equation, and on the related Fokker-Planck equation. These study the evolution in time of a distribution function, which gives the density of particles in the system's phase space. In this module you will establish the relations between conductivity, diffusion constants and viscosity in gases. You will look also at molecular simulation and applications to financial modelling.
The researching, evaluation and presentation of scientific information are important skills that you used in the 2nd year Physics Skills modules. This project is designed to further develop these skills. Your class will be divided into groups, each of about six members. Each group will then be assigned a topic in astrophysics to be researched and reported on, and they will also each be allocated a member of Academic Staff who will act as both a mentor and an assessor. The project will provide you with the chance of studying in-depth some particular field of astrophysics at research level.
You will further develop the experimental skills you have acquired over the first two years. The experiments are less structured than in earlier years, more open-ended and performed in groups. This is to encourage you to take responsibility for the planning and direction of experiments while preparing you for independent research within a team.
The project will provide you with experience of working on an extended project in astrophysics in a research environment. You will normally work in pairs. Through discussions with your supervisor, you will establish a plan of work which you will frequently review as you progress. In general, the project will not be closely prescribed and will contain an investigative element.
Through case studies from the gender pay gap to the politics of Christmas, this module will transform how you see gender and its impact on the world. You will explore the origins of gender ideas and analyse their effects on areas of social life including: language; media and popular culture; science; work; family relationships; sexuality; violence; education; politics; and feminist movements.
While gender is the focus of this module, you will also consider how gender connects to other dimensions of social difference and inequality, such as sexuality, race, class or disability.
What is society and how do you study it? Is human behaviour governed by rules similar to the natural world that you can study objectively? Or do human beings consciously act upon their environment and change the world through creativity and intelligence, driven by their own understanding and motivations? These are some of the questions that this module will explore.
You will be introduced to the core ideas behind sociological research and the practical tools to undertake research yourself. As well as looking at some of the key qualitative methods (for example, interviews, ethnography and discourse analysis), you will also examine the political, ethical and practical issues that social research inevitably entails.
What is 'race' and why does it matter? This module answers these questions by drawing on the wealth of expertise within Warwick Sociology, and is taught by experts who research and write about race and racism from a range of perspectives. Students will learn about both theoretical concepts and real-world examples that will help them to understand how race and racism shape the social world.
Protest and anger characterise the contemporary era – young people taking part in militant politics, protest parties gaining more votes, and even NHS doctors taking to the streets.
In this module, we will explore the social consequences of the economic and political transformations associated with neoliberalism that have taken place in recent decades. We will ask why these changes might be responsible for the global rise in urban unrest and dissatisfaction.
Topics will include growing inequality and elite power, militant policing, consumerism, anxiety, debt, the destruction of industrial communities, class identity, the marketisation of education, and the diminishing spaces of public life.
This module will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between crime, its social context and current issues in the socio-political global context of crime and punishment. You will explore the sociological approaches to crime, victimisation and punishment through categories such as class, gender, ethnicity, mobility and space. You will develop the necessary analytical, theoretical and critical skills to examine contemporary problems and debates in the fields of criminalisation and justice.
What holds societies together? How do societies change? And how is politics in the conventional sense affected by factors such as class, status, ethnicity or religion, or the state of the economy? These are some of the questions with which you will engage with when you consider the history of sociological thought. You will gain skills of research, analysis and debate by considering the extent to which sociology may be considered a science and how the evolution of sociological thought has been shaped by events and the cultural, economic and political problems of the day.
This module will develop your understanding of key criminological perspectives and will encourage you to reflect on different assumptions and ideologies behind these different perspectives. It will equip you to be able to apply criminological theory to a broad range of contemporary problems of crime, social inequality disorder and social harm.
In the age of ever-increasing data availability which is paired with a growing sophistication of statistical techniques, the opportunities for social science research are vast. This module will give you an understanding of the basic elements of core descriptive statistics which will allow you not only to critically engage with quantitative findings in existing social science research, but also conduct quantitative analysis yourself. The module covers the topics of conceptualisation, operationalisation and measurement, as well as the principles of sampling and the basics of research design. You will be introduced to the process of social science research and quantitative methods in one hour lectures, and then explore these in extended seminars (2h) both through readings, and the statistical software SPSS. We will be working on real data sets, such as the European Social Survey.
This module provides a broad introduction to the human, social and political sciences, with a focus on their intersections.
The human sciences focus on how people live in different social and cultural contexts, social practices, beliefs, norms, and institutions in different communities. Key aspects include culture, the shared practices, values, symbols, and knowledge that define a group of people.
Social science, particularly sociology, focuses on society, social relations, and social institutions. Key aspects include social structures, socialisation, social inequality, and social change. Social scientists seek to understand and explain how inequalities based on class, race, gender, and other social categories are produced, maintained, and challenged.
Political science research focuses on systems of governance, political thought, and political behaviour. Key aspects include political theory, which examines the ideas and ideologies that have influenced political systems, such as democracy, authoritarianism, liberalism, and socialism. Key concepts include justice, freedom, equality, and the role of the state.
All three sciences share common theoretical foundations and overlap and inform each other. They also use the same research methods, including ethnographic research, quantitative methods, and comparative analysis.
The module ensures that students gain an understanding of each science, while appreciating its interconnectedness and interdisciplinarity.
This module will teach you the core concepts and practical skills to undertake qualitative social research in academic and professional settings. These include research design, ethnography, in-depth interviewing, documents and discourse. As well as practical skills, you will investigate how social research has changed in recent decades, considering:
You will also gain analytical skills to critically evaluate previous research and develop your ability to collect and analyse data using a range of qualitative methods.
Quantitative methods can help you answer questions such as:
Analysing representative, large-scale social surveys is crucial for sociologists to understand social processes. This module will introduce you to quantitative methods and how to analyse large data sets using SPSS Statistics software. It will help you engage with published quantitative sociological research and to undertake your own basic quantitative data analysis.
This module will introduce you to the main thinkers and movements in critical social theory. Topics include Marxism, post-structuralism, class and culture. The changing conceptualisation of power and class is a focus throughout the module. This helps you to see how the different theoretical approaches relate to each other, and to historical and political events.
This module will develop the necessary analytical, theoretical, and critical skills to analyse the complex relationship between gender, race, and sexualities in criminal justice institutions. You will be presented with contemporary conceptual issues around the categories of race, gender and sexualities and will be invited to consider how these are essential to unpacking current problems in policing, courts, sentencing, prisons, and community justice settings. The module will unpack criminalisation and victimisation in relation to contemporary problems linked to misogyny, sexism, racism, and homophobia. In this module you’ll have the chance to engage with key readings in feminist criminology, queer criminology, and in post-colonial, southern criminologies and will be invited to consider practical and policy-informed solutions to some of the most enduring problems of contemporary criminal justice systems.
The institution of the police is one of the state’s most important and yet most scrutinised and challenged institutions. Questions around policing and justice are arguably some of the most urgent in contemporary criminological scholarship and need theoretical as well as practical examination. In this module we sociologically and criminologically unpack the purpose of the police and consider different approaches to policing. We also examine the impact of policing on different communities and explore current debates around racism, discrimination, and excessive force in policing practices. Taking an international as well as critical perspective we consider the evolution, efficacy, and viability of the police and of policing in the 21st Century.
Surveys are an important tool in social science research. Their results are used by researchers and decision-makers in both the public and private sectors. This module develops students' skills in the analysis and reporting of survey data. This includes all the key steps in preparing survey data for analysis, carrying out the analysis and effectively presenting the survey results. The module will also show how Python, a popular programming language in data science, can be used to analyse survey data.
Surveys are a key method in empirical research across the social and data sciences, for example to study attitudes and public opinion, to test theoretical hypotheses, and to provide data for training machine learning models. However, designing a good questionnaire is a challenging task involving many decisions, such as question wording, question order and question layout. This module provides an introduction to survey design, covering each step in the development and implementation of a questionnaire. Students will design a web survey using Qualtrics, a popular survey tool in both the public and private sectors.
Dissertations are the result of independent research on a sociological topic of your choice, with some guidance from your supervisor. Instead of writing an essay on a pre-determined topic or doing an exam, you get the opportunity to:
Your dissertation aims to use a selection of concepts, theoretical ideas, observations, statistical findings and your own faculties of criticism and imagination in order to reach convincing defensible conclusions about a topic which interests, challenges or puzzles you.
This module will develop students’ understanding of social data science, corresponding ethical issues as well as why data science is a useful tool for research conducted at universities, governmental and non-governmental organisations, as well as private companies in various sectors. Besides discussing applications of social data science to the study of sociological, political, economic, criminal and language phenomena, the module will provide students with the skills to conduct and critically reflect on social data science research. The module does not require prior knowledge of R and advanced statistical techniques. It will provide an introduction to R and include some basic applications of social data science, for example in the context of web data collection and analysis, as well as quantitative text analysis.
This module is an introduction to statistical thinking and inference. You’ll learn how the concepts you met in Probability can be used to construct a statistical model – a coherent explanation for data. You’ll be able to propose appropriate models for some simple datasets, and along the way you’ll discover how a function called the likelihood plays a key role in the foundations of statistical inference. You will also be introduced to the fundamental ideas of regression. Using the R software package you’ll become familiar with the statistical analysis pipeline: exploratory data analysis, formulating a model, assessing its fit, and visualising and communicating results. The module also prepares you for a more in-depth look at Mathematical Statistics in Year Two.
Probability 1 is a foundational module that will introduce you both to the important concepts in probability but also the key notions of mathematical formalism and problem-solving. Want to think like a mathematician? This module is for you. You will learn how to express mathematical concepts clearly and precisely and how to construct rigorous mathematical arguments through examples from probability, enhancing your mathematical and logical reasoning skills. You will also develop your ability to calculate using probabilities and expectations by experimenting with random outcomes through the notion of events and their probability. You’ll learn counting methods (inclusion–exclusion formula and binomial co-efficients), and study theoretical topics including conditional probability and Bayes’ Theorem.
This module, which continues from "Probability 1", investigates probability theory in further detail. Now you will look at examples of both discrete and continuous probability spaces. You’ll scrutinise important families of distributions, the distribution of random variables, and the light this shines on the properties of expectation. You’ll examine mean, variance and co-variance of distribution, through Chebyshev's and Cauchy-Schwarz inequalities, as well as the concept of conditional expectation. The module provides important grounding for later study in advanced probability, statistical modelling, and other areas of potential specialisation such as mathematical finance.
This module takes you further in your exploration of probability and random outcomes. Starting with examples of discrete and continuous probability spaces, you will learn methods of counting (inclusion-exclusion formula and multinomial coefficients) and examine theoretical topics including independence of events and conditional probabilities. You will study random variables and their probability distribution functions. Finally, you will study variance and co-variance and famous probability theorems.
The concept of a stochastic (developing randomly over time) process is a useful and surprisingly beautiful mathematical tool in economics, biology, psychology and operations research. In studying the ideas governing stochastic processes, you’ll learn in detail about random walks – the building blocks for constructing other processes as well as being important in their own right, and a special kind of ‘memoryless’ stochastic process known as a Markov chain, which has an enormous range of application and a large and beautiful underlying theory. Your understanding will extend to notions of behaviour, including transience, recurrence and equilibrium, and you will apply these ideas to problems in probability theory.
Following the mathematical modules in Year One, you’ll gain expertise in the application of mathematical techniques to probability and statistics. For example, you’ll be able to adapt the techniques of calculus to compute expectations and conditional distributions relating to a random vector, and you’ll encounter the matrix theory needed to understand covariance structure. You’ll also gain a grounding in the linear algebra underlying regression (such as inner product spaces and orthogonalization). By the end of your module, expect to apply multivariate calculus (integration, calculation of under-surface volumes, change of variable formulae and Fubini’s Theorem), to use partial derivatives, to derive critical points and extrema, and to understand constrained optimisation. You’ll also work on eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalisation, orthogonal bases and orthonormalisation.
After studying probability in your first year, in this module you’ll have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge you need to study more advanced topics in probability and to understand the bridge between probability and statistics. You’ll study discrete, continuous and multivariate distributions in greater depth, and also learn about Jacobian transformation formula, and multivariate Gaussian distributions, and related distributions. You will also cover more advanced topics including the Law of Large Numbers and the Central Limit Theorem.
After completing “Probability for Mathematical Statistics”, this second-term module is your next step, where you’ll study in detail the major ideas behind statistical inference, with an emphasis on statistical modelling and likelihoods. You’ll learn how to estimate the parameters of a statistical model through the theory of estimators, and how to choose between competing explanations of your data through model selection. This leads you on to important concepts including hypothesis testing, p-values, and confidence intervals, ideas widely used across numerous scientific disciplines. You’ll also discover the ideas underlying Bayesian statistics, a flexible and intuitive approach to inference which is especially amenable to modern computational techniques. Overall this module will provide you a very firm foundation for your future engagement in advanced statistics – in your final years and beyond.
This module runs in parallel with Mathematical Statistics and gives you hands-on experience in using some of the ideas you saw there. The centrepiece of this module is the notion of a linear model, which allows you to formulate a regression model to explain the relationship between predictor variables and a response variable. You will discover key ideas of regression (such as residuals, diagnostics, sampling distributions, least squares estimators, analysis of variance, t-tests and F-tests) and you will analyse estimators for a variety of regression problems. This module has a strong practical component and you will use the software package R to analyse datasets, fit and assess linear models, and learn how to effectively communicate your results. The module will prepare you for numerous final year modules, for example a third year module covering the (even more flexible) generalised linear models.
The purpose of this module is to provide a systematic introduction to major ideas of statistical inference, with an emphasis on likelihood methods of estimation and testing. The module aims are to introduce systematically the major ideas of statistical inference with an emphasis on likelihood methods of estimation and testing.
A good understanding of these ideas is crucial preparation for further investigation of applied and methodological statistics, machine learning, and the core statistical aspects of data science. The module will consolidate and extend the initial understanding of probability developed in the first-year module ST120 Introduction to Probability.
In a series of tutor-led workshops, you will be introduced to an array of contemporary performance practices, such as site-specific performance, devising, clowning, performance art, physical theatre, improvisation, and various forms of multimedia performance. You will explore these through the study of a range of leading practitioners and theatre companies, which may include Spymonkey, Jacques Lecoq, Pina Bausch, Frantic Assembly, Mark Ravenhill, Akram Khan and Gob Squad. The module will conclude with presentations of your own devised work influenced by the various approaches investigated during the module.
In this module, students will explore the inter-related disciplines of theatre and performance, considering some of the key conceptual and artistic frameworks that have shaped these fields. Throughout the module students will engage with the sociopolitical and historical contexts that have informed these frameworks and the ways in which theatre and performance not only reflects, but also seeks to change and shape, society. The module therefore aims to:
This module explores the process of taking a text from page to performance. Through a programme of practical workshops, the module considers how dramaturgical and directorial choices generate meaning. You will have the opportunity to experiment practically with realising multiple texts in performance, considering aspects such as staging, genre, narrative structure, performance strategies, dramaturgical thinking and directorial conceptualisation, as well as the changing role and function of the audience.
As part of this module, you’ll be exposed to theatre and performance in a wide variety of forms. You’ll learn about theories and approaches to performance analysis and will develop your own methods to produce critical responses to artistic work. You’ll complete the module with an understanding of all of the tools that you might need to ‘read’, respond and write about theatre and performance.
Ways of Doing aims to develop your critically creative thinking, writing and practice, in dialogue with real-world issues. Throughout the module you’ll engage with different types of performance, alongside the different methods that draw them together.
The module seeks to show you new ways of doing research and practice, which will help you think about the real-world applicability of your work. You’ll be invited to share your ideas in response to the module material, and to experiment with them in guided workshops.
Ways of Doing will also prepare you for your third-year independent research project, which will take the form of either a practice-based or a written dissertation. The assessments will challenge you as research-practitioners to think critically about how you want to work. What do you want to say? What forms and methods will help you do this? And, critically, why?
Part practical and part theoretical, this module works to explore the intersections between Theatre and Performance Studies and other disciplines. You’ll ask how we do interdisciplinary research and how findings can be shared with audiences through practice. Lecturers draw on their own current research projects as material to teach the module, so its content changes each year. We begin by considering these intersections through lecture-seminars, via discussion and some practice. We then shift into innovative practice-based work that culminates in a practical realisation of a specific issue or enquiry in which performance intersects with another discipline.
If you choose to write a dissertation, you will carry out independent research into an area of theatre and performance studies that you love, and then write an extended essay on your findings. Throughout the research and writing process you’ll be supported by structured class activities and regular one-to-one supervision meetings with a member of the academic team. To aid the development of your work, you will present your research at a conference alongside your peers during the year.
If you choose this module, you will develop a practical project that is shaped by your questions about the world. This project may take a range of forms, including (but not limited to) live theatre, participatory workshops, an installation, a video, a written play, a space or a costume design, and you can choose to work solo or in small groups. You will be supported through in-class workshops, supervision meetings, and work-in- progress showings. Your final work will be showcased in one of our state-of-the-art studios at the end of the year.
Algorithms are the fundamental building blocks of computer science – but how can we prove that an algorithm does what we want it to? How can we improve the efficiency of existing algorithms? This module will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles and techniques in algorithm design and optimisation. You will explore a wide range of topics, including sorting, searching and pathfinding algorithms, while evaluating their correctness and efficiency.
Discrete mathematics forms the mathematical foundation of computer science and cyber security. It forms the basis of how computers work, allows us to prove system correctness and security, and underlies modern cryptography. On this module, you will be introduced to the discrete structures used by computers, as well as how to use them to solve problems in cyber security.
The Internet and computer networks have become pervasive, playing an increasingly vital role in our interconnected world. The smooth operation of computer networks is crucial for a wide range of computing activities. Currently, networks, whether wired or wireless, are an integral component of the present and future computing landscape. Computer networks form the foundation of modern information technology systems. They enable the seamless communication and transfer of data between devices and systems. As technology continues to advance, our reliance on networks is likely to increase. The future promises even greater integration of networks into various aspects of our lives. Emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and augmented reality are all heavily reliant on the underlying network infrastructure. This module develops a theoretical understanding of core networks and communications concepts, instantiation of these concepts in the dominant suite of protocols comprising Ethernet, Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP), the practical realisation of devices to operate these protocols (switches, routers and firewalls in particular) and the cyber consequences of the organisation and configuration of these devices.
Computer architecture and operating systems are crucial for providing a deep understanding of how computers function at a fundamental level. This knowledge is essential for effectively designing, developing, and troubleshooting software applications. It helps in optimising performance, identifying bottlenecks, and ensuring efficient resource utilisation. Studying computer architecture and operating systems from a cyber security perspective helps gain insights into the vulnerabilities that arise from design choices, implementation flaws, or misconfigurations. It also allows the development of effective security measures and countermeasures to protect computer systems from attacks.
Increasing the robustness and resiliency of systems against threats and attacks is a key cyber security goal. Although, cyber security practitioners should be involved in system design early enough to design cyber-resiliency into the system, quite often, they are presented with legacy systems designed with little consideration to cyber security. Notwithstanding, even well-designed systems are prone to cyber-attacks from both organised and ill-organised perpetrators.
Penetration testers (red teams) must possess a good understanding of network protocols and design. This enables practitioners to gain a basic understanding of the root causes of network vulnerabilities and the associated remedial measures that can be taken, particularly where the root cause relates to network misconfiguration issues (both hardware and protocol related).
Understanding the steps and common attack patterns associated with cyber is essential to detecting, identifying, mitigating and responding to cyber-attacks.
Working on this module you will develop knowledge of these core concepts. You will also gain insight into how adversaries move from initially probing and performing reconnaissance of targets, to implementing a way to persist and maintain access to a device/network once compromised.
Fluency in the process of software development is a prerequisite to the study of much of the remainder of this programme. This module brings together the fundamental concepts and skills related to the software development process. It will provide you with a foundation for other software-oriented aspects of the programme, such as: programming languages for cyber security, data science for algorithms and complexity in the cyber context, and the cyber context of software engineering.
At its core, this module is concerned with doing science well. It is about drawing the correct inference from the digital data which pervades modern society. There are a number of challenges with drawing inference from modern digital data: it is fragile, its quantity may be overwhelming, it may be transient or volatile, it may not be legally accessible, it may not be technically accessible, its structure may be unclear. And it is not merely that drawing inference from the data is complicated; attributing inference back to an individual or organisation is especially vexed.
This module introduces the role and responsibilities of professional engineers, highlighting safety, ethics, and sustainability. You will learn to engage with stakeholders, define system requirements, and apply systems design thinking to complex problems. It also supports your professional development through reflective practice, aligned with UK-SPEC standards.
In the development of engineering systems, engineers use a variety of approaches, both computational and physical, to model and test their ideas to ensure the final solution meets its design requirements.
This module will introduce computer-aided design and manufacturing (CADCAM) tools and implementation through prototype scale manufacturing processes and equipment.
In this module, you will work in teams on a project sprint to design, build, and test a prototype mechatronic device. The project gives hands-on experience of applying first-year engineering principles while learning the realities of teamwork, from collaboration to problem-solving under tight deadlines.
Electromechanical systems are required to move, exert force or energy on their surroundings, and do so in a controlled manner.
This module deals with the first of those challenges by introducing the principles of motion, the devices that are used to create motion in engineering systems, and the parameters needed to select these.
Electromechanical systems are required to move, exert force or energy on their surroundings, and do so in a controlled manner.
This module deals with the second of those challenges by introducing the principles of energy and power, the devices that are used to store and convert energy into mechanical energy in engineering systems, and the parameters needed to select these.
Electromechanical systems are required to move, exert force or energy on their surroundings, and do so in a controlled manner.
This module deals with the third of those challenges by enabling you to construct software programmes to control engineering hardware. An emphasis will be placed on development for microcontroller based systems, providing you with hands-on experience in both software development and hardware interaction.
This module provides a comprehensive foundation in the principles and practices of designing complex engineering systems. In today’s fast-evolving technological landscape, engineers are expected to develop innovative solutions that meet diverse requirements, address sustainability challenges, and integrate seamlessly into real-world applications.
All organisations have information that they value and that value needs protecting. Within an organisation, some individuals carry formal responsibility for protecting the value of information. Ensuring that the responsible persons within an organisation have appropriate confidence in the security measures, which are protecting the organisation's valuable information, is the realm of information security management.
Why the organisation might value the information will vary from organisation to organisation and from information point to information point. The properties of the information that give it value similarly will vary by organisation and by information point. Some information will be special secret knowledge that gives the organisation competitive advantage; if that information leaks to a competitor, then its value is reduced. Some information may control the organisation's processes; if this controlling information is changed, then its value may be reduced since it causes the organisation to behave less effectively. Some information may relate to external perception of the organisation's ability to function; if external parties perceive this publicity information is not under the control of the organisation, then future opportunities for the organisation may be degraded through loss of trust.
Determining the relationship between the properties of information that give it value, the vulnerability of those properties to degradation, threats that might take advantage of the vulnerability to degradation, and the resultant impact to the organisation when bad things happen, is the realm of information risk management. Things can be done to reduce the vulnerability, the threat, or the severity of the impact. These things enhance information security.
Secure systems aim to create a trusted environment that protects sensitive data, maintains system functionality, and mitigates risks associated with unauthorised access, data breaches, and other security threats. The goal of a secure system is twofold: to ensure the protection and integrity of information and resources by enabling authorised and desired actions while preventing unauthorised access, malicious activities, and undesirable incidents. However, achieving this goal poses significant challenges. These challenges include defining which events are acceptable and which are not, predicting future possibilities, and determining the system's boundaries. Notwithstanding these challenges, there exist established approaches to constructing secure systems that provide robust protection and maintain system functionality while minimising the occurrence of unwanted incidents. Cryptography plays a crucial role in achieving these goals. It is an essential tool that allows us to protect information and ensure confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. It provides mechanisms to protect sensitive information, verify the identity of users and devices, and enable secure communication over unsecured networks. Cryptographic techniques, such as symmetric-key and public-key cryptography, are used in various contexts including secure messaging, online transaction protection, and virtual private networks (VPNs). This module introduces concepts of cryptography and explores how they are practically applied to ensure strong security measures in secure systems.
Human-computer interaction (HCI) is concerned with designing interactions between human activities and the computational systems that support them, and with constructing interfaces to afford those interactions. Interaction between users and computational artefacts occurs at an interface that includes both software and hardware. Human behaviour should influence interface design and implementation of core functionality. For end-users, the interface is the system, meaning design in this domain must be interaction-focused and human-centred. It is therefore imperative that during the design phase of this human-computer interface cyber security component of human behaviour is addressed. One of the most significant challenges in the cyber domain is the transfer of meaning between the fully human agent, and the fully digital sub-system. Failure to correctly align human behaviour with computing sub-system behaviour has contributed to numerous, historic cyber security problems.
In addition, psychological traits and individual differences among computer system users can further explain vulnerabilities to cyber security attacks and crimes, as cognitive biases can make individuals more susceptible to exploitation by cyber criminals. Cyber security procedures and policies are prevalent countermeasures for protecting organisations from cybercrimes and security incidents, however, without considering human behaviours, implementing these countermeasures will remain to no effect or even become counterproductive.
Consequently, this module places the person at the centre of the cyber domain by addressing issues of usability and human factors. As such, the focus is on trade-offs between usability and security on the one hand, and human psychology and human error on the other hand. Human vulnerabilities will be addressed in detail to build greater cyber resilience, and narrative around security awareness/training programmes and security culture will also be introduced for understanding broader, non-technical influences on security through minimising human related risks.
In today's digitally connected world, where vast amounts of information are exchanged over networks, ensuring the security and protection of data has become paramount. Network security plays a crucial role in safeguarding the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information transmitted across computer networks. It encompasses a set of measures, technologies, and best practices designed to prevent unauthorised access, mitigate threats, and maintain the overall security posture of networked systems. As organisations rely heavily on networks to carry out their operations, any compromise in network security can have severe consequences. Breaches in network security can lead to data theft, financial loss, reputational damage, and legal liabilities. Consequently, businesses and individuals alike must prioritise the implementation of robust network security measures to protect sensitive information, maintain customer trust, and ensure business continuity. The module covers basic concepts of cyber security, such as confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, and authorisation. These concepts will be explored within the context of several generic asset configurations, enabling students to understand the potential threats that may arise and various security measures that will be used to defend against these threats.
Databases are the backbone of modern information systems, serving as repositories for vast amounts of data. They provide structured organisation and efficient retrieval, making them essential in various industries, from business and healthcare to technology and research. Understanding databases is crucial for effective data management and decision-making. In this module, students will be introduced to the essential concepts of databases, data modelling, and optimisation. This knowledge will empower students to craft efficient databases for superior information management. As our digital world becomes increasingly data-driven, protecting this data from cyber threats is of paramount importance. Therefore, students will give particular attention to database security and cyber security, equipping them with the expertise needed to safeguard valuable data and defend against potential threats. From understanding Database Management Systems (DBMS) and data modelling to mastering Structured Query Language (SQL) and optimising queries, students will gain indispensable skills for designing and maintaining robust databases.
This module is designed to familiarise you with researching cross-cutting issues in cyber security contexts, introduce you to a range of data collection methods and analytical options relevant to this, and help you develop relevant skills in data collection and analysis. You will also be introduced to ethical issues in cyber security research, as well as provided with guidance on how to design, plan and manage your dissertation effectively. Lastly, the module will present you with careers-oriented tasks, giving you the opportunity to consider your professional skills and career aspirations.
Penetration testers (red teams) require deep understanding of the underlying technologies, such as network protocols, operating systems, and applications, as well as a range of transferable skills such as project management, team working, report writing and communication. This module covers the latest techniques of ethical hacking and provides practical experience in selecting and applying suitable tools and techniques.
The module is also designed to ensure that students are able to define the scope of testing under certain requirements and develop a relevant project plan, and carry out a security assessment by applying appropriate testing methodologies and tools. Further emphasis is given to understanding of the requirements, preparation and reporting of testing results, impact, risk and countermeasures.
Software engineering is concerned with the application of theory, knowledge, and practice to effectively and efficiently build reliable and secure software systems that satisfy the requirements of customers and users. This discipline is applicable to small, medium, and large-scale systems. It encompasses all phases of the lifecycle of a software system, including requirements elicitation, analysis and specification; design; construction; verification and validation; deployment; and operation and maintenance. Whether small or large, following a traditional plan-driven development process, an agile approach, or some other method, software engineering is concerned with the best way to build good software systems. This module will look at software engineering in the context of cyber security, applying frameworks such as Trustworthy Software Framework, Secure Software Development Life Cycle, etc. when developing software systems.
Almost all the work engineers do is as part of projects, whether they are projects to design and develop new products, projects to improve performance in systems, or projects to enhance business performance. The success of a project is directly related to its planning and the people who contribute to it.
This module introduces project management, including engaging with stakeholders, managing project risks and the business benefits of effectively working in diverse teams.
This module introduces you to the fundamental principles of perception systems and how that information can be utilised to produce a response with a particular emphasis on robotics. You will explore a range of sensing technologies and control architecture, gaining an understanding of their applications in the context of robotics. Basic Machine Learning techniques will also be introduced to aid the analysis and modelling of perception data. The module will equip you to critically evaluate and compare various sensing and control approaches.
This module introduces Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) for robotics and mechatronics. You will use industry-relevant software and Model-Based Systems Engineering approaches to design, simulate, and analyse systems. The focus is on applying CAE to optimise performance, improve reliability, and support efficient development of mechatronic devices.
Automated systems often have to operate in dynamic environments. In this second group project, teams of engineers will work through a design project to deliver a functional prototype to an open-ended engineering problem, using industry-appropriate tools and techniques. The project will culminate in the manufacture, presentation and competitive demonstration of a working prototype.
This module covers topics including sensors (e.g., vision systems), communication technologies, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), cyber-security, robot kinematics, and various types of industrial robots. You will learn about automation's role in improving efficiency, safety, and reliability across industries, as well as ethical considerations in automation and industrial robotics.
This module builds on first-year studies of electrical power and motors, exploring more advanced electromechanical systems. You will learn new actuation methods, integrate sensors and microcontrollers, and develop intelligent control strategies for robotic systems.
This module explores the technologies and principles behind modern automated manufacturing systems, incorporating discrete event simulation (DES) as a key method for modelling and optimising these systems. Learners will gain exposure to various industrial automation practices, covering robotics, automated material handling, assembly lines, and production scheduling. The module also addresses the role of sustainability, focusing on how efficient automated systems can reduce environmental impact while enhancing productivity.
This module comprises two related but distinct themes: cyber incident response and digital forensics. The focus of the module is on investigations that respond to incidents in corporate environments, while it sets the scene on examining potential evidence based on the principles that have been established by the digital forensics community.
The cyber incident response theme concentrates on enabling an organisation to support its critical services in the face of a cyber incident. The incident response lifecycle is covered from preparation, through monitoring, detection, containment, eradication, restoration and post incident review.
The digital forensics part of the module concentrates on preserving and forensically analysing potential evidence as part of the incident response process. It sets the requirements for digital forensics within the incident response process and explores the techniques that should be followed by a digital forensics investigator.
Digital forensics unfold the digital trail of evidence and try to present potential explanations of how a related incident occurred. Digital forensics can involve criminal or civil investigations, corporate or intrusion investigations and even intelligence gathering. The investigations can involve all different sorts of digital devices, such as computers, networks, mobile devices, memory, and multimedia.
This module advances on previously gained skills in digital forensics and explores different themes.
One part of the module places a strong emphasis on engagement with applied research advances on contemporary topics in the field and current professional practises. The other part of the module strongly focuses on the technical analysis and techniques involved when investigating different devices and technologies.
Privacy is a fundamental human right frequently exploited in the digital domain through surveillance and data mining. Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) are therefore essential for minimising data use, maximising security, and restoring individual control over personal information. Without such control, identity manipulation threatens both personal autonomy and democratic processes.
This module introduces the concepts and technologies required to engineer systems that inherently protect user privacy. You will explore three core paradigms—privacy as confidentiality, control, and transparency—alongside the specific technologies that underpin them. Students will develop the ability to identify privacy challenges and select adequate technical solutions to mitigate risks.
Furthermore, the course examines the business tensions between reactive regulatory compliance and proactive privacy innovation. We will cover persuasive system design to improve the usability of privacy interactions and analyse the broader relationship between privacy and cyber security. This includes debating how privacy tools can act as a double-edged sword, serving as instruments for both democratic freedom and potential anti-social behaviour. By the end of this module, you will be equipped to navigate the complex technical, ethical, and societal landscape of digital privacy engineering.
Solutions to selectively revoke the protection provided by privacy technologies (i.e. adding backdoors or escrow possibilities to ease law enforcement) will not be covered as being strongly discouraged by the privacy researchers and practitioners alike. Moreover, many of the privacy technologies introduced in this module rely on the cryptographic concepts, which however will not be taught in this module. Familiarity with these basic concepts and cryptographic definitions and common primitives is therefore beneficial but not necessary to grasp the material since the focus is on more high-level perspectives as opposed to technical analysis.
A project for BSc Cyber Security must focus on the cyber security domain. With support from a supervisor, you will undertake the full life cycle of a research or development project in the cyber security domain.
Modern programming approaches use high level constructs which abstract away the system's architecture. These high levels of abstraction use code generation programs such as compilers and assemblers to take the human author's input, and produce code that will execute as output. The modern programmer rarely needs to consider the underlying architecture of the machine that will execute the code.
There are situations where, rather than creating an executable from source, you need to go in the opposite direction; you need to infer what the source code might look like by analysing the executable. Perhaps you have some potential malware; perhaps you have to analyse and exploit a vulnerability which an executable might have. Either way, you want to know what the program will do, were it to run on your system. In order to reverse engineer an executable, you need to understand the typical idioms that an operating system, architecture and code generation programs will adopt to convert high level constructs into low level executables.
In addition, if the executable is malware, then it is likely the authors will have used some obfuscation in order to make the analysis more difficult. Under these circumstances you need to understand the typical idioms of obfuscation.
Much attention relating to cyber security is focused on the digital aspects of cyber systems; all data tends to be represented as pure, abstract, ones and zeros. In reality, all these abstract ones and zeros need a physical representation in order to have an effect. That physical representation might be as electromagnetic radiation, travelling through space as a radio wave, it might be as electric charge in an electronic device or it could take a range of other forms.
Control systems gather information from a range of physical sensors (flow rate sensors, temperature gauges, accelerometers etc); after processing, they generate outputs which in turn produce physical effects via actuators (switches, motors, displays etc).
Much attention relating to communication in the cyber domain is focused around the Internet. A range of other communication protocols and technologies are widely deployed in industrial control, vehicle and other systems.
Understanding the significant characteristics of the physical manifestations of digital information, understanding the interconnectedness of the cyber domain with the physical domain via sensors and actuators, and understanding non-Internet technologies and protocols reduces the risk of inadvertently leaving a cyber system in a vulnerable position.
The overall aim of this module is to enable the cyber security specialist to have a meaningful conversation with practising engineers concerning the security of cyber-physical systems.
This module seeks to introduce you to the state-of-the-art in effective and proactive cyberattack deterrents, including tools and techniques that can have long-term benefits in organisational policies while maintaining the resilience of our agile and delicate cyber infrastructures.
This module considers the cyber security consequences of virtualised systems and the opportunities that they offer. Focusing on software containerisation systems such as Docker, and comparing their properties with other virtualisation tools and techniques, the module looks at the trust relationships and the available security controls between the underlying operating system, the container, or other virtualised environment, and the software executing within the container.
On the module you will explore the consequences of the fact that all software executes in some context and in some sort of container. It may be as an app on a mobile device, it may be the operating system on a laptop, it may be a virtual device hosted on the cloud, or it could be an embedded system. It is the container and the context that determine what a program does and what resources it can access. Getting this regulation correct is a significant challenge, giving away just enough resource to get the job done but limiting the resource to prevent additional undesirable things being possible.
The module provides you with practical experience of containerisation systems together with the insights necessary to think clearly about them in the context of cyber security. The module will equip you with the understanding you need to be able to hold meaningful conversations with experts in the field and will allow you to more effectively contribute to informed decision-making about cyber security.
AI-based solutions are having a significant impact in a number of areas, including cyber security. This module aims to enhance your knowledge of the development and application of the most common Machine Learning (ML) models, and in particular a critical understanding of the applicability of each ML algorithms in the solution of a particular problem (class of problems). It will cover the best practice and main steps of developing AI-based solutions, including data collection/engineering and pre-processing, model design, training and evaluation, and deployment.
This module explores how engineers can drive sustainable innovation in design and manufacturing. You will examine resource and energy efficiency, new technologies, legislation, and alternative processes, while learning to apply life cycle engineering to assess environmental, economic, and social impacts. The module also develops skills to create viable, ethical solutions and communicate them effectively to stakeholders.
Engineers undertake projects to investigate, design and develop solutions to complex problems. Projects must be delivered on time and on budget, while meeting ambitious stakeholder requirements.
In this module each engineer will evidence their learning and development, to plan and execute a substantial individual engineering project and produce a portfolio that presents and critically reflects on their professional development throughout their degree.
This module will address the need for human factors and an inclusive and ethical approach in the design of automated systems, particularly robotic, systems and the legislation, safety and ethical aspects that surround that, especially systems employing Artificial Intelligence, using diverse case studies (e.g., agricultural technology, soft robotics technology and applications in health and social care).
This module covers the technologies enabling robots to operate independently. It includes locomotion methods such as wheeled, legged, and aerial movement, along with probabilistic algorithms used for path planning and decision-making in uncertain environments. It also covers the integration of sensors for navigation and mapping, and Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM).
This module explores the key concepts and techniques that form the backbone of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). This module aims to provide you with a thorough understanding of how machines can be designed to exhibit intelligent behaviour, learn from experience, and make decisions autonomously. By combining theory and practical application, you will engage with fundamental algorithms, tools, and methodologies in AI, as well as the ethical implications of AI systems.
This module aims at providing digital and computational tools and techniques for use in the efficient, collaborative and rapid design of engineering systems.
Digital engineering offers significant advantages over traditional design methods, including for modelling a variety of design concepts and scenarios, to predict the performance of systems early in their life cycle, and the use of Artificial Intelligence to generate, iterate and optimise designs. It allows engineers to efficiently collaborate and communicate in a global working environment on complex engineering problems.
This module aims at providing the tools and techniques that transform theoretical Machine Learning (ML) knowledge into a manufacturing-ready skillset. It covers how to conceptualise and build integrated systems that continuously operate in manufacturing. In contrast with standard ML applications, manufacturing systems need to handle continuously evolving data. Moreover, the manufacturing system must run at the minimum cost while performing at its best. In this module, you will learn how to use industry-relevant tools and methodologies to achieve this effectively and efficiently.
