Taught courses Our extensive selection of full-time and part-time postgraduate courses incorporate the specialist knowledge of leading academics, providing an outstanding qualification. Taught courses are usually facilitated through lectures, seminars, tutorials or lab-based work and tend to be assessed by course work or examinations. The structure of a taught Master’s varies from course to course, so it is important to find out what your course of interest is offering. Many include some form of research project or dissertation, as well as taught elements. Some offer a choice of units, but others have set criteria that all students have to follow. Our Master’s courses involve independent work, with support from a personal tutor.
Qualifying criteria To gain a Master’s degree, you will need to achieve 180 credit points at Master’s level. Typically this will be made up of eight 15 credit units and a dissertation worth 60 credits. In most subjects, intermediate qualifications are available after completion of 60 credits (a Postgraduate Certificate) and 120 credits (a Postgraduate Diploma). This can be extended to a higher level qualification at a later date, providing the credits you obtained are still current.
Delivery and support Most units are a blend of lectures and seminars and are supported through materials that are available online via the University’s virtual learning environment – Bedfordshire Resources for Education Online (BREO). It is also possible to study particular units within the workplace (work-based learning) or to develop a unit to meet your own needs through independent study.
Education and teaching courses Postgraduate teaching courses are run at our Bedford campus and offer specialisms in a range of disciplines. Students undertake at least 120 days in a practical school placement in addition to attending lectures, seminars and workshops.
Credit for prior achievements If you have credit from a previous postgraduate qualification, whether studied at Bedfordshire or elsewhere, you may be able to use some of it towards a higher award. RPCL (Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning) is applicable if you have a recognised qualification, and RPEL (Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning) is where credit is given for wider work experience. If you think you may be eligible, please refer to the academic course contact, who will be able to provide you with guidance and advice.
Benefits of a taught Master’s • Enables you to develop necessary research skills and techniques • Study fits in with other commitments such as work or childcare • The course is taught over a longer period which allows more time for development • The course is more structured and more guidance on projects is provided • More contact time with your tutors and peers
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