Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

Completion of all taught modules specific to the following MA programmes: Museum Studies (4007), Curating Art (4138) and Global Heritage Management (4139).

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aim of the module is to provide an opportunity for a sustained piece of research that relates to issues raised during the taught modules of the programme.

Outline Of Syllabus

The students are required to attend briefings, module talks, lectures and workshops. In addition, students will have regular meetings with their allocated supervisor.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module a successful graduate will have:

-       Understood the nature of heritage, gallery, and museum and/or art museum research; and

-       Understood the use of research methodologies pertinent to the heritage, gallery, and museum and/or art museum sector

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module a successful graduate will have:

-       Developed general research techniques;
-       Developed analytical skills; and
-       Developed writing and presentational skills

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lecture: On-campus structured guided learning to help students on the module to plan the various stages of the dissertation, from formulating a research question to developing a research strategy and writing up research findings.

Module talk: on-campus structured guided learning to help students to understand the module, and the assessments.

Drop-in/surgery: Drop-in sessions (may be in person or online) to clarify any questions about the project proposal and the ethics form.

Workshop: to support students to develop all aspects of their research project through a mix of interactive group activities and individual in-class work.

Dissertation-related supervision: 1:1 individual supervision meeting to support dissertation development.

Assessment preparation and completion: This category enables students to complete their dissertations.

Guided independent study: This broad category refers to independent student activity and covers the range from reading and preparation through to situations where students are required to work without staff supervision or where students are required to undertake very specific pieces of work.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

A Masters-level academic dissertation must be an original piece of work and not simply a synthesis of existing knowledge.

It requires the gathering and analysis of new material, the development of original arguments and the presentation of conclusions and recommendations.

The dissertation should be presented and written in the style and format of an academic journal article.

To be successful the dissertation will need careful planning and preparation.

Written exercise 1 consists of a completed ethics approval form, submitted to the university, which reflects the ethical considerations of the individual research to be undertaken for the dissertation.

Research proposal 1 is a required formative assessment, consisting of an outline dissertation proposal, on which formative feedback will be given, usually during a one-to-one meeting with the dissertation supervisor or module leader.

General Notes

N/A