Learning and teaching
Your teaching will include lectures, tutorials and seminars, with a growing emphasis at each successive level on student-led learning. You’ll have on average 1-3 teaching hours per module per week and will need to allow for additional hours of private study. You should expect your total workload to average about 40 hours per week during term time.
As well as attending lectures, writing essays and revising for exams, you’ll be expected to make presentations in seminars and tutorials. We encourage your presentation work because it involves you actively in the teaching and learning process and develops important life skills such as good verbal and visual communication and effective interaction with other people.
In the first two years, we place considerable emphasis on teaching in small groups (15-20 students), which gives you ample opportunity to participate, as well as providing close contact between you and members of staff. In the third year there are fewer formal lectures and much of your learning is through seminars, in which, the student, presents a report to the group followed by class discussion.
We’re actively engaged in introducing new methods of learning and teaching, including increased use of interactive, computer-based approaches to learning through our virtual learning environment where the details of all modules are stored in an easily navigable website. You can access detailed information about modules and learning outcomes and interact through activities such as the discussion forums.
We are committed to creating a supportive learning environment in which you’ll be able to achieve your potential, providing you are willing to take responsibility for your own learning and take advantage of the academic and personal development opportunities the programme provides. You’ll have the chance to make your mark on the programmes through regular student evaluations and participation in the Student-Staff Liaison Committee and student societies.
Research-inspired teaching
Teaching that is inspired by research ensures lectures are up-to-date and relevant and you will benefit from access to the latest thinking, equipment and resources. All staff teach third year options which are linked to their own interests which include the study of Middle East politics, comparative politics, public policy and administration, climate change and sustainability, ethno-politics, terrorism and security studies, electoral and political behaviour, and political theory.
