Teaching and assessment for Philosophy and International Relations MA (Hons)

We use a wide range of teaching methods, from lectures, to small group seminars or tutorials.

Most Philosophy modules in Levels 1 and 2 have two lectures and one tutorial each week. This may vary in Levels 3 and 4 where you typically have one lecture and more small working groups or seminars per week.

For the philosophy lectures you will be introduced to the major themes and topics of a philosopher or philosophical problem. For the tutorials you will question and develop your own world views, construct arguments to defend them, and put together projects to illustrate them with a small group of students.

For International Relations there are different teaching methods depending on which modules you choose. Most will include:

• lectures
• tutorials
• seminars
• workshops
• online resources

Some modules will include specialised teaching such as trips, a simulation element (European Union politics), or working directly with a human rights advocacy organisation on their campaigning work as part of the curriculum.

You can find out more from individual module descriptions.

Assessments across both subjects are carried out by coursework, examinations and vary in type and weighting from module to module.

Assessment methods can include:

• essays
• tutorial performance
• formal exams (where you answer essay-type questions from a previously unseen paper)
• 'seen' exams (where you know the questions in advance but still must answer them in timed exam conditions)
• online journals / online discussions

In Level 4 you will have an opportunity to apply the skills you have learned by writing a dissertation on a topic of your own choice.

Generally, modules will involve a mixture of assessment techniques in order to achieve an all-round picture of your abilities and to give you a chance to shine in the type of test that suits you best.