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School of Histories & Humanities

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HH7022 Research Training 2

  • Status: Compulsory
  • Credit Weighting: 5 ECTS
  • Semester/Term: All year
  • Contact Hours: 15-20
  • Module Staff: Co-ordinator: Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate)
  • Pre-requisite / Target audience: students in year 2 of the PhD programme who have completed HH7021 Research Training 1

Leaning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students are able to demonstrate the competences required for confirmation on, or transfer to, the PhD register; or submission, at the end of Year 2, of a satisfactory MLitt thesis; namely to:

  • Present a carefully considered and viable PhD/MLitt thesis plan, with appropriate focus, scope, depth and originality, based on the student’s emerging research results.
  • Produce academic writing display­ing the type and quality of research, critical analysis, origi­nality, coherence, clarity and referencing expected at PhD level (or MLitt level, if ap­plicable) in the student’s academic field.
  • Demonstrate advanced project management and time management skills by producing and maintaining a feasible schedule for completion of the research of project and on-time submission of the thesis.
  • Confidently engage with issues and debates in the student’s academic discipline and adjacent disciplines which do not directly relate to their own research.
  • Effectively communicate research knowledge in oral presentations.
  • Demonstrate the specialist and generic skills required for successful completion of their research project and thesis.
  • Reflect on their own professional ambitions, career prospects, transferable skills and personal strengths and weaknesses.

Leaning Aims

The aim of this module is to support second year PhD/MLitt students in their academic and professional development and research and career planning; and to help them shape their emerging research results into a viable PhD/MLitt thesis, with an appropriate focus, scope, depth, originality, coherence and clarity, and a feasible schedule for completion within the time-frame set for a PhD or MLitt.

Module Content

(A) Throughout the second year of the PhD/MLitt programme: attendance at research seminars in the student’s area of research (e.g. Classics Research Seminar, Medieval History Research Centre Seminar, Early Modern History Research Seminar: see section 6.4).
If this is impossible, e.g. due to work commitments, the student must ensure equivalent exposure to high level academic discourse through other activities, to be specified in their Research and Professional Development Plan and agreed with their supervisor(s) and the Director of Teaching and Learning.
(B) Delivery of at least one academic presentation on the student’s research project, or an aspect thereof, to an appropriate audience.
(C) Ca. 19.5 months into the programme: submission of Year 2 confirmation/transfer/progress review materials as follows:

  1. A draft chapter (or part thereof) of 8,000–10,000 words, displaying the levels of research, critical analysis and originality commensurate with research at PhD level (or MLitt level). It should not be a general account or introduction, nor purely descriptive.
  2. A complete bibliography of all primary and secondary works consulted to date.
  3. An outline of the thesis, consisting of:
    • An introductory section (1-2 pages), outlining your topic, central questions, aims and objectives, sources and methods and contribution to knowledge.
    • A list of chapters (including introduction and conclusion) with chapter titles, projected word count and a paragraph for each chapter which outlines what the chapter will discuss and, if possible, what you expect it will argue, demonstrate, contribute to the overall aims of your thesis.
         
  4. An up to date Research and Professional Development Plan, containing all required elements, such as a detailed plan of work for the following year, a list of research seminars and other academic presentations attended in Year 2, etc. (see Appendix).
  5. A progress report, completed by both student and supervisor, on the School Progress Report form.
  6. An up to date Research and Professional Development Plan, containing all required elements, such as a detailed plan of work for the following year, a list of research seminars and other academic presentations attended in Year 1, etc. (see Appendix).
(D) 20 months into the programme: attendance at a confirmation/ transfer/progress review meeting with a panel consisting of the Director of Teaching and Learning, a reader appointed to assess submitted materials, and the student’s supervisor(s).

Assessment Details

  • This module is assessed pass/fail in a review meeting (D) by a panel consisting of the student’s supervisor(s), a reader and the School’s Director of Teaching and Learning, assessing fulfilment of requirements (A, B) and submitted materials (C) as outlined under Module Content in an oral discussion and written reports.
  • Re-assessment: repeat review meeting after submission of revised materials; in case of unsatisfactory attendance: agreed equivalent academic engagement; in case of failure to deliver a presentation: scheduling of a presentation.
  • PhD students and MLitt students seeking transfer to the PhD register must pass this module to progress to Year 3 of the PhD programme. Students planning to submit an MLitt thesis must pass this module for sign-off on the taught elements of the MLitt by the Director of Postgraduate Teaching and Learning required for examination of the MLitt thesis.