Teaching
The course is heavily taught in the first year by invited speakers from a mixture of academic and professional backgrounds. Lectures are matched to field trips. The emphasis is on learning to evaluate architectural and documentary evidence and to formulate informed and accurate assessments. The second year is divided between a professional placement and a personal research project which constitutes the dissertation.
Students are assessed predominantly through independent research, i.e. Year 1 Recording Project (25%), Year 2 Dissertation (50%).
| One to one supervision |
Three hours per year |
|---|---|
| Seminars & classes |
First year: approximately 60 hours (guided site visits) |
| Lectures |
First year: approximately 100 hours |
| Practicals |
First year: approximately 40 hours |
| Posters and Presentations |
Students are expected to undertake "Crit" sessions on the recording project and dissertation proposals, and to contribute to a placement feedback session. |
| Taught/Research Balance |
Equal Taught/Research
|
Placements
All students undertake a six-month full-time (or equivalent) professional placement in the historic environment sector during Year 2.
Feedback
Feedback is given in supervisions, examiners' reports, supervisors' reports and throughout the course on request.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
Dissertation: 25,000 words (including footnotes but excluding bibliography and appendices).
Essays
Two essays: 3,500 words maximum each. One recording project: 3,000–5,000 words, plus drawings and photographs. One research proposal: 2,000–3,000 words.
Practical assessment
Logbook, portfolio and report on professional placement.
Other
Field test of one hour’s duration. A non-assessed (formative) essay is required during the first term of Year 1.