Course description
Introduction
The MRes in Humanities offers students the opportunity to produce
a substantial piece of independent research and writing, and to
undertake wide-ranging, systematic training in research skills. Students
will be admitted to write a dissertation in a specifi c fi eld with a named
supervisor. Supervision is available in all disciplines where the faculty
has expertise: American Studies, Media Communications and Culture,
English, History, Modern Languages (Russian and German), Music,
Music Technology. See websites and course leafl ets for these subjects.
There are close interdisciplinary links, for example in Victorian Studies
and Studies in Early Modern England.
Course structure and content
Students follow a personally designed or tailor-made programme,
comprising three components totalling at least 180 credits.
1. A 20,000-25,000 word dissertation (or equivalent composition
or artistic production) is at the heart of the course. (90 credits)
2. All students follow the Humanities Research Training Programme
covering research skills and reflective practice in the humanities.
(30 credits)
3. Students will then take further training (totalling 60 credits) which
will typically include one module covering research methods in the
disciplinary or interdisciplinary field relevant to the thesis topic
(30 credits) and one module of independent, individual, study
developing specific skills necessary for the dissertation (30 credits).
A number of 30-credit discipline specific research training
modules have been developed, including:
Approaches to Historical Research;
Philosophical Method Criticism, Analysis, Theory in Literary Studies;
Approaches to Music Research;
The Image of Russia in Russian Literature.
Some modules may be taken from the MAs run in the Faculty in
Local History, American Literature and Culture, US History and Politics,
and Victorian Studies, or from the Social Sciences Research Training
Programme if relevant to their dissertation topic. Language Training
is also available.
Assessment
Assessment is by coursework, culminating in the 20,000-25,000
word dissertation (or the equivalent composition or artistic production).
The Faculty Training Programme is assessed by a Portfolio consisting
of an annotated bibliography, a project outline and a reflective diary.
Each of the other modules will be examined through a 4,000 word
essay or equivalent.
The pass mark is 50% and a distinction will be awarded where students
obtain 70% or over for the dissertation, and an average of 70% in their
other coursework.
Career destination information
The MRes is an ideal preparation for students who wish to proceed to
doctoral research in the humanities and for those who wish to undertake
research for reasons of personal and career development. It should
appeal to those working in the fields of education, media, culture
and heritage.
Funding
Students are eligible to apply for funding from the Arts and Humanities
Research Council whose deadline is early May each year. It is essential
that students make early applications for the MRes so that academic
staff can help with their application.
Fee waivers for full-time and part-time students are sometimes
available on a competitive basis for students doing an MRes.
