Independent Study in Languages & Cultures - LAN00134H

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  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2025-26

Module summary

This module allows students to explore, develop and study in depth an area that is not covered in other modules in their chosen languages programme, but where academics in languages and cultures have expertise in. The module enables students to develop advanced independent research skills, an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a specific area in languages and cultures, and extensive practice and refinement of writing skills in the chosen language of study.

Related modules

Pre-requisite module

French/German/Italian/Spanish Language and Cultures: Advanced 

NB. Students may undertake no more than one Independent Study module in Languages & Cultures.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2025-26
B Semester 2 2025-26

Module aims

The aim is to allow students to develop a detailed programme of study on a topic, which, while falling within the areas where teaching staff in languages and cultures has expertise, is beyond what is available in the teaching programme on offer to them.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:

  • design a course of study in a chosen area of languages and cultures

  • demonstrate an ability to read critically some of the research which has previously been undertaken in that area

  • bring to bear their prior knowledge of the society and culture of a country where the language of study is spoken

  • understand the main issues that have been raised in the literature on that topic

  • demonstrate an ability to critique and to summarise previous scholarship on the area of study

  • demonstrate an ability to communicative sophisticated ideas, complex concepts and arguments in written form in the chosen language of study (French/German/Italian/Spanish)

Module content

Contact hours

Four contact hours to be arranged with the supervisor. A total of 196 hours of independent work is required.

Registration procedure

Students are responsible for designing a course of study, which will allow them to explore a topic area in depth. A student wishing to take such a module must consult (during the academic year prior to the final year) a member of staff with expertise in the relevant area on the feasibility of undertaking such a course of study. Students will receive information on the areas of expertise staff are willing to supervise them. Once a member of staff has agreed that they could in principle supervise such a course of study, they will provide the student with feedback on the plan they have designed. The plan must be approved by a sub-committee of the Board of Studies, no later than the term prior to that in which the module is to be undertaken.

Using the proposal form from the Department website, students should make a detailed proposal of their plans, for discussion with a potential supervisor, giving information on:

  • The content of the module

  • An outline of the work that needs to be conducted

  • A preliminary timetable for completion of the work

  • References, or a proposed bibliography, as appropriate (at least 5 titles)

Permission will not be given to students to take this module unless the supervising member of staff and the approval committee see adequate evidence that the proposed work is realistic and feasible.

NB. Until the project has been approved, students will be required to register for an alternative module.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

4000-word research essay

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Feedback on formative work

  • You can expect feedback during discussion and presentation sessions as you develop your project.

  • You can expect language related feedback on a sample of your final submission which does not exceed 400 words.

Summative assessment and feedback

  • Feedback will be given within 25 working days.

Indicative reading

To be determined by the student in consultation with the ISM supervisor.