Accessibility statement

Postgraduate Life in Practice - ENG00152M

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  • Department: English and Related Literature
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

Postgraduate Life in Practice provides skills training for MA students in English. It is designed to support students’ academic development by delivering a foundation of the core skills, competencies and understanding that are needed at MA-level study and beyond. Teaching takes the form of lectures and workshops, and focuses on writing and on the preparation and presentation of research, as well as supporting students in planning their career development after graduation.


Assessment tasks offer practice in these core skills. Students will receive feedback on assessment tasks but no numerical mark, which allows the module to offer a space for training within the MA programme.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

The module delivers a foundation of core academic skills, competencies and understanding to support students in their MA studies and beyond.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, you should:

  1. Be familiar with the specific challenges and possibilities of writing at MA level.
  2. Have developed MA-level research skills, including digital skills.
  3. Be ready to undertake a substantial dissertation project in your field.
  4. Be aware of possible career paths open to you after graduation.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 50
Essay/coursework 50

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Minimum criteria for passing the tasks are as follows:

Formative essay: A student must submit an essay of a minimum of 1400 and a maximum of 1600 words on a topic derived from the Core module teaching in Semester One (ELS students may choose a topic from either of their Option modules). The material may subsequently be incorporated or adapted in a Core (or Option) module essay, although this is not obligatory.

Dissertation proposal: A student must submit a dissertation proposal of no more than 500 words.'

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 50
Essay/coursework 50

Module feedback

  • You will receive feedback on all assessed work within the University deadline, and will often receive it more quickly. The purpose of feedback is to inform your future work; it is designed to help you to improve your work, and the Department also offers you help in learning from your feedback. If you do not understand your feedback or want to talk about your ideas further you can discuss it with your tutor or your supervisor, during their Open Office Hours.

Indicative reading

N/A: this is a skills-based module


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.