School of Social Sciences Postgraduate Studies
Postgraduate Associate Certificate Narrative Research by Distance Learning
Dean’s Welcome
Welcome to the University of East London’s School of Social Sciences. If you want to develop your professional or academic interest in the Social Sciences, there are few more culturally diverse, historically rich and intellectually stimulating settings than east London. And, we believe, there is no other School of Social Sciences that is better connected to this world, or more actively engaged in the most pressing issues of our global world, its shifting boundaries and its transient populations. When considering postgraduate study you’ll want to be certain that you’re being taught by the people who are right up to date with the emerging issues of your subject, people who are actively researching and contributing new knowledge to these areas. You’ll be reassured, then, that our Sociology submission was the highest rated of any modern university, and one of the largest in the country with 75% of its work judged of international significance and 10% rated as world class. 75% of our Social Policy and Social Work research was judged as of international quality. The issues with which we deal benefit from multiple viewpoints and that is why we welcome students from such different backgrounds. If you have been working with immigrant or refugee communities, volunteering or involved in the charity sector, our postgraduate courses can help you make the next step in your career or to build a completely new one. Our research centres are genuinely unique and use their east London location to tap into global issues in a way that is authoritative and has real impact.
Our centres include: –– The Centre for East London Studies (CELS) which is stimulating debates about the changing nature of east London and the impact of initiatives such as urban regeneration ––
ur Centre for Narrative Research is the O leading international voice for this area. Interdisciplinary in approach, it recently started working with residents at the Jungle refugee camp in Calais on a Life Stories project
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he Centre for Research on Migration, T Refugees and Belonging has internationally recognised expertise in this very current area. Its location in east London is ideal as one of the best established hubs of international settlement, historically and to the present day. CMRB oversees the Refugee Council Archive and other valuable collections.
We hope that you will join us and use the professional skills and experiences you gain here to make a real difference to the world.
Professor Allaine Cerwonka Dean, School of Social Sciences
Postgraduate Associate Certificate Narrative Research by Distance Learning
This master’s-level course provides you with an overview of the range of narrative research methodologies, and will guide you through understanding, comparing, criticising, and practicing those methodologies. Beginning with an exploration of the meaning of narrative, this short course outlines Labovian methods, biographical methods and context-oriented methods. It then considers three key fields of narrative research: oral, personal narratives; written narratives (including autobiographies and letters); visual narratives; digital narratives; and process or activity narratives. Through a range of theoretical perspectives, we address a number of questions; for instance: How do people come to see themselves as distinct subjects about whom a story can be told? What role do memory, ideology, sense of audience, etc. play in people’s accounts of their lives? How do class, ethnicity, gender and other social characteristics shape the stories people tell? What do we look for when we analyse accounts of people’s lives? On this course you will: ––
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earn about and critically evaluate a range L of approaches narrative research methods, across written, oral, visual and digital media. Interact with tutors and other students regularly in e-seminars, e-tutorials, and via Skype meetings Use your growing knowledge to develop your own strategies for conducting narrative research and analysis.
uel.ac.uk/pg-narrative-research
Course structure This part-time course is delivered via online distance learning. It consists of one 30-credit (UK) and 15-credit (ECTS) master’s-level module in Narrative Research. Upon completion of this course you’ll gain UK master’s credits. We’ll provide you with a comprehensive study guide, containing many activities, and key reading texts. The learning materials also provide you with links to electronic journals and websites. Online support is available throughout your course via two online platforms: UEL Direct and UEL Plus. UEL Direct provides access to online services, enabling you to manage your account and view your assessment feedback and results online. It also provides general course information and some support material tailored to the needs of distance learners. UEL Plus, the platform used for the delivery of the course, provides the academic content for each module and facilitates online discussions between learners and UEL staff. It also helps you to download course material.
Individual and group tutorials are conducted via Skype. Our online platform also allows for weekly e-tutorials and e-seminars. Some related Centre for Narrative Research events are also available via Skype and/or podcast. Students visiting London are in addition able to interact with these learning possibilities in person, but our online provision makes all of them available to every student. We encourage our students to interact with each other about their ideas and in their learning. Such interaction is part of the programme’s flexible approach to all of your learning.
Your future career Using and applying narratives is a growing career field including amongst others: academic social science and cultural studies, applied social policy areas, health services, computer career pathways (particularly in the development and theorisation of narratively-based games) and narrativelybased art and media work. Graduates of this course have drawn on it to pursue research work, within master’s and PhD programmes. They have also used the course to develop papers and books for publication. Others have used their experience and applied it in fine art, commercial art and community art projects; in health service projects; in health activism; in oral history; and in community advocacy.
Resources In addition to our online resources, the course tutor and co-tutors are available weekly online on the course ‘day’ and at other times by arrangement.
Entry requirements Applicants should have a degree with a minimum 2:2 honours in a relevant subject. We would also normally expect you to have a grade C in GCSE English and maths. Other subject areas may also be considered. Applicants who are not graduates but who have relevant research or professional experience may also be considered. As an inclusive university we recognise that applicants who have been out of education for some time may not have the formal qualifications usually required for entry to a course. We welcome applications from those who can demonstrate their enthusiasm and commitment to study and have relevant life/work experience that equips them to succeed on the course.
“ The academics teaching on this course are inspiring and have a great knowledge and integrity in what they are teaching, and a willingness to let their students do what is important to them. The course is an asset to UEL.” Sharmini Chaytor Narrative Research Graduate
“ I’m very grateful for the support this course has offered me, it has been very useful for my thesis work. Definitely, narratives have changed my way of doing research. I just wish I could have known about them before, at an earlier stage of my academic formation.” Maja Zilveti Vazquez Narrative Research Graduate
uel.ac.uk/pg-narrative-research
School of Social Sciences
Further information
Fees and funding Up to date course fees are published on our website. To support you in your postgraduate studies, we offer a generous package of scholarships, bursaries and discounts. Please check our website to see what you may be eligible to apply for.
How to apply Visit our website uel.ac.uk and search for the course you wish to apply for. Use the How to Apply button to apply directly using UEL’s secure online form.
Enquiries For further information contact our Applicant Enquiries team Tel: +44 (0)20 8223 3333 Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Disclaimer This publication has been prepared some months before the academic year to which it relates, and whilst every care has been taken to ensure accuracy at the time of going to press, its ongoing accuracy cannot be guaranteed. In particular, we are constantly developing and improving the programmes, modules and options described in the publication, and we reserve the right to modify or discontinue them. No part of this publication is to be construed as an offer or the basis of any agreement between UEL and an individual.
uel.ac.uk/socialsciences
For comments and queries regarding this publication, please contact study@uel.ac.uk