Incorporating: PGDip Histories and Cultures and PGCert Histories and Cultures
Information Only
Leicester Vaughan College is currently in negotiations with an established university that should see us offering degrees from autumn 2021. The information provided here only gives an indication of the College’s plans and does not form part of any formal offer or commitment. Once we receive formal approval and agreement for the course, we will be able to provide more detailed information. Please note therefore that this information is subject to change.
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About the MRes Histories and Cultures Course
The MRes Histories and Cultures is designed for students who would like to study independently and collaboratively at a higher level, pursuing a flexible master’s degree. We have created a supportive, encouraging space for you to study history, history of art, and literature. If you completed the BA Societies and Cultures or previously studied the BA Humanities at Vaughan College when it was part of the University of Leicester, the format will be familiar: small-groups in weekly twilight sessions where you will have the opportunity to purse a broad range of topics to satisfy curious minds in a small cohort.
When studying for the MRes you will be part of an innovative co-operative Research Community of scholars, organizing autonomously with your peers and in dialogue with undergraduate students and academic staff. Participating in this will mean you gain valuable collaborative skills too, as this academic journey is co-delivered by you and other graduate students, with support and guidance from staff.
Part-Time Course Hours
Your commitment would be to approximately 15 hours of study per week.
Our intention is to offer this as weekday twilight sessions (approx. 6-9pm) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays , with occasional other days and times, such as Saturdays. These will be in Leicester City Centre, but it might be that the autumn term is online or blended in 2021 due to corona. If this is the case we will discuss with student the different options and structures. Normal face-to-face teaching will mean one evening per week; if blended we will likely have two shorter sessions each week.
Course Assessment
We take a broad understanding of what forms knowledge production can take. You may choose to pursue a dissertation as a conventional piece of academic writing, but we actively encourage different kinds of projects. You might: curate a small exhibition and prepare some kind of catalogue, establish a website, or create a documentary film or podcast. Not everyone’s academic talents or areas of interest can shine from traditional written research outputs. We want to support you to make the best of your skills and aptitudes.
Research and Presentation Skills
We also believe in an open approach to research. The Research Community runs a seminar, the Open Research Forum, for any member of the public interested to attend, and arranges an annual Festival of Research where you will showcase your work, alongside academic peers including staff and undergraduates. The Festival is something like a degree show and you will become confident talking to a broad range of people about what you have found and what you can do.
On completing the course, you will have a range of co-operative and transferable skills, from being a part of a supportive scholarly community, through research training and experience, and honing a broad range of oral and written presentation skills for specialist academic or professional audiences, as well as general ones. These are amongst the transferrable skills you will be able to use these at work and in your communities.
Leicester Vaughan College Community Benefit Society
You will be actively encouraged to join Leicester Vaughan College, the education co-operative in which you are learning. As members of the Community Benefit Society you will have full voting rights, and be able to participate fully in the life of this democratic organization, which in itself is a rich site of learning.