BE975-7-FY-CO:
Professional and Academic Development (PAD)
2025/26
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 26 June 2026
0
14 April 2025
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MSC N40012 Professional Accounting,
MSC N40024 Professional Accounting,
MSC N42012 Accounting and Finance,
MSC N42024 Accounting and Finance,
MSC N4N312 Accounting and Financial Management,
MSC N4N324 Accounting and Financial Management,
MSC N31012 Corporate and Investment Banking,
MSC N31024 Corporate and Investment Banking,
MSC N30012 Finance,
MSC N30024 Finance,
MSC N39012 Investment and Wealth Management,
MSC N39024 Investment and Wealth Management,
MSC N30212 Finance and Management,
MSC N30224 Finance and Management,
MSC N34212 Financial Engineering and Risk Management,
MSC N34224 Financial Engineering and Risk Management,
MSC N1E212 Management (Social Economy),
MSC N20012 Management,
MSC N20024 Management,
MSC N200MO Management,
MSC N2E112 Management (International),
MSC N2E212 Management (Marketing),
MSC N51012 Marketing,
MSC N51024 Marketing,
MSC N3G312 Financial Data Analytics,
MSC N60012 Human Resource Management,
MSC N60024 Human Resource Management,
MSC N21712 Organisational Change Management,
MSC N21724 Organisational Change Management,
MSC N3C112 Financial Technology (Finance),
MSC N3C124 Financial Technology (Finance),
MSC N50012 Digital Marketing and Analytics,
MSC N50024 Digital Marketing and Analytics
This module provides and introduction to key postgraduate academic, research and employability skills necessary for successful completion of a master’s level programme and securing graduate level employment. The module focuses on supporting students to make the transition to postgraduate level study, equipping students with a range of skills for independent study; practising critical and ethical integration of AI software as learning tools; developing research skills to support projects and dissertations; and promoting employability skills to enhance graduate outcomes and professional practice.
The aims of this module are:
- To enable students to develop a range of academic study and research skills to support the transition to postgraduate study and independently complete coursework, conduct research, and write a dissertation / research project.
- To cultivate a critical and ethical approach to academic literature and the use of generative AI applications as learning tools in both academic and research outputs.
To provide students with an understanding of the graduate labour market and develop a variety of professional skills to enhance employability.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of academic study skills in relation to the requirements of a postgraduate programme incorporating independent research projects.
- Demonstrate transferable skills of independent learning and critical thinking and reasoning to contribute to a research project and continuing professional development.
- Critically analyse and evaluate texts, methodologies, and AI tools and outputs.
- Demonstrate research skills in the use of library, software, digital and AI platforms.
- Identify and explain appropriate graduate career pathways.
Prepare applications / CVs in relation to their own interests, skills, and competencies, relevant to their future career choice
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered via:
- One 2-hour lecture per week (Autumn term CO and SO; Spring term SO only/Jan starts) including IT Lab sessions for library
Students are expected to engage in discussion, participate in activities, and complete tasks.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
PASS / NOTC - 2/3 required for PASS |
|
|
| Coursework |
Moodle Quiz (Academic Integrity / Referencing) |
|
|
| Coursework |
Moodle Task (short answers) - 500 words |
|
|
| Coursework |
Careers Task - 500 words |
|
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Module is either passed or marked as not completed.
Reassessment
Module is either passed or marked as not completed.
Module supervisor and teaching staff
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 18 (90%) hours available to students:
2 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.