Programme Specification for the 2025/6 academic year
MA Politics of Energy, Infrastructure and Environment
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MA Politics of Energy, Infrastructure and Environment | Programme code | PTA1IAIIAI26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Academic year | 2025/6 | |
| Campus(es) | Streatham (Exeter) |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
An innovative and exciting new programme which presents a multidisciplinary and deeply anchored examination of energy utilization, the transition to sustainable energy sources, and the impact of infrastructures on the environment through the critical lenses of humanities and social sciences. The program's profound grounding is manifest in its utilization of urgent contemporary cases from the Middle East, where fossil fuel consumption significantly influences the region's societal fabric. The Middle East also contends with a spectrum of environmental challenges. The programme’s core courses engage with the politics and social life of energy and infrastructure on the one hand, and the political and social life of the environment, on the other. The module offers students the possibility of choosing from a raft of modules from across the disciplines on offer at Exeter and provides an exciting opportunity for alternative assessments for the capstone project (e.g. curatorial or artistic outputs; policy documents; NGO grant applications etc) alongside a dissertation.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
The programme aims to introduce you to both the academic study and real-world case studies in the fields of energy usage, infrastructure construction, and environmental conflicts and struggles. You will explore examples and cases of real-world contemporary and historical problems and the scholarly debates around them, as well as analysing and evaluating policies that have emerged in trying to respond to these problems.
4. Programme Structure
The MA Politics of Energy, Infrastructure and Environment is a 1-year full-time programme of study at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ).
Interim / Exit Awards
Exit awards of PGDip (120 credits) and PGCert (60 credits) are available to students who have completed the required number of credits but are unable for any reason to complete the 180 credits required for the MA.
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
Option modules vary from year to year and are dependent on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Whether an option module is from within or outside of IAIS, any prerequisite and / or any corequisites should be checked prior to choosing any options, making sure the module is a viable choice.
You may take elective ARA3XXX modules up to 30 credits from RFQ Level 6 (final stage undergraduate).
Stage 1
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual review of this programme. Details of the modules currently offered may be obtained from the Faculty website:
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyinformation/
You may take optional modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
Stage 1: 120 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules
AYou may choose only one of these modules.
Compulsory Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARAM090 | Energy, Logistics, Infrastructure | 30 | Yes |
| ARAM091 | Ecological Struggles | 30 | Yes |
| ARAM092 | Capstone Project (See Note A) | 60 | Yes |
| ARAM027 | MA Dissertation (See Note A) | 60 | Yes |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANT3097 | Environment and Society | 15 | No |
| ARAM147 | The Kurds: History and Politics | 30 | No |
| ARAM233 | Dissertation skills | 15 | No |
| BIOM568 | Blue Planet | 15 | No |
| EAS3194 | Resource Fictions: Oil, Water and Conflict in the World-System | 30 | No |
| GEOM141 | Global Challenges | 15 | No |
| POL3250 | Environmental Policy in Times of Crisis | 15 | No |
| SML3041 | Green Matters in Modern Languages and Cultures | 15 | No |
| SPA3016 | Climate Change in Global and Local Perspectives | 15 | No |
| SPA3014 | Environments in the Public Sphere | 15 | No |
| ARAM221 | The Palestine Question: Past and Present | 30 | No |
| ARAM236 | Sociology and Anthropology of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula | 15 | No |
| BEM3056 | Business and Climate Change | 15 | No |
| EAF3519 | Cinema in the Anthropocene | 30 | No |
| ARAM054 | State and Society in the Middle East | 30 | No |
| GEOM149 | Green Planet | 15 | No |
| POLM222M | The Politics, Policy and Practice of Sustainable Development | 30 | No |
| SOCM044 | Food and Sustainability: Economy, Society and Environment | 15 | No |
| THEM305 | Ecological Interpretation of the Bible | 15 | No |
| ARAM093 | Energy Infrastructure Environment Placement | 15 | No |
| EFPM839 | Transdisciplinary Collaborations for Creative Futures | 30 | No |
| HASM013 | Mental Health in Social and Historical Context | 30 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Demonstrate extensive knowledge of key issues, critical themes, and concepts in the politics of energy/infrastructure and environment |
| Depending on the optional modules chosen, the assessment methods may include:
|
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
3. Develop the ability to assess political arguments and texts having to do with the specific issue area |
| Depending on the optional modules chosen, the assessment methods may include:
|
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
5. Think and work independently at an advanced level, including in conducting research. |
| Depending on the optional modules chosen:
|
7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
Personal and Academic tutoring:
It is University policy that all Faculties should have in place a system of academic and personal tutors. The role of academic tutors is to support you on individual modules; the role of personal tutors is to provide you with advice and support for the duration of the programme and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.
Learning Resources:
You will conduct original research for essays and for dissertation, using online resources that are plentiful having to do with the subjects at hand. Core modules will dedicate one session to outlining the range of resources, archives, databases and primary and secondary materials available for research. Should you be interested in the Middle East as your area of research, the Arab World Documentation Centre has a substantial and expanding archive of materials that can be of great utility.
The University Library maintains its principal collections in the main library buildings on the Streatham and St Luke's campuses, together with a number of specialist collections in certain Colleges. The total Library collection comprises over a million volumes and 3000 current periodical subscriptions.
IT Services provide a wide range of services throughout the Exeter campuses including open access computer rooms, some of which are available 24 hours, 7 days a week. Helpdesks are maintained on the Streatham and St Luke's campuses, while most study bedrooms in halls and flats are linked to the University's campus network.
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
Not applicable to this programme.
18. Final Award
MA Politics of Energy, Infrastructure and Environment
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | ECTS credits |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 11/06/2025 |
Date of last revision |
|---|
