IA519-7-PS-CO:
Academic Skills for Postgraduate Research

The details
2024/25
Essex Pathways
Colchester Campus
Spring & Summer
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 27 June 2025
45
11 October 2023

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

MPHDN42KJS Accounting and Finance,
PHD N42KJS Accounting and Finance,
MPHDC84KJS Applied Psychology,
PHD C84KJS Applied Psychology,
MPHDG40KJS Computer Science,
PHD G40KJS Computer Science,
MPHDML9KJS Criminology,
PHD ML9KJS Criminology,
MPHDL10KJS Economics,
PHD L10KJS Economics,
MPHDQ1XKJS English Language Teaching,
PHD Q1XKJS English Language Teaching,
MPHDL20KJS Government,
PHD L20KJS Government,
MPHDB99KJS Health and Organisational Research,
PHD B99KJS Health and Organisational Research,
MPHDQ10KJS Linguistics,
PHD Q10KJS Linguistics,
MPHDN20KJS Management,
PHD N20KJS Management,
MPHDG10KJS Mathematics,
PHD G10KJS Mathematics,
MPHDB93KJS Occupational Therapy,
PHD B93KJS Occupational Therapy,
MPHDL40KJS Social Policy,
PHD L40KJS Social Policy,
MPHDL30KJS Sociology,
PHD L30KJS Sociology,
MPHDB62KJS Speech and Language Therapy,
PHD B62KJS Speech and Language Therapy,
MPHDG30KJS Statistics,
PHD G30KJS Statistics,
MPHDN32KJS Actuarial Science,
PHD N32KJS Actuarial Science,
MPHDL50KJS Social Work,
PHD L50KJS Social Work,
MPHDG34KJS Data Science,
PHD G34KJS Data Science,
MPHDQ91KJS Translation Studies (Translation, Interpreting and Subtitling),
PHD Q91KJS Translation Studies (Translation, Interpreting and Subtitling),
MPHDN60KJS Human Resource Management and Organisation Studies,
PHD N60KJS Human Resource Management and Organisation Studies,
MPHDQ1CKJS Language and Communication Science,
PHD Q1CKJS Language and Communication Science

Module description

This module is designed for international students who do not have English as their first language and who are planning to pursue a PhD at the University of Essex. It builds upon the English language skills being concurrently developed in the English Language and Communication Skills module and prior research knowledge all students on the module will have already acquired at Level 7. The module has been developed to carefully and incrementally support the development of academic skills in those students with research aspirations, but a level of English which needs to be slightly enhanced and refined to meet the requirements for PhD study at the beginning of Term 1. Following that first term of intensive preparatory work, students will be fully prepared for Term 2 during which the focus will be on further consolidation of the skills acquired whilst developing more in-depth analysis and critical reading, writing and discussion in addition to supporting students in undertaking their own scaffolded research project. Furthermore, the module develops these skills within the context of materials and tasks which familiarize the students with the potentially different systems and academic expectations and conventions of a UK university.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To develop the English language ability level, academic skills and attitudes that can support a postgraduate student’s research journey.

  • To help students to make effective use of research articles by supporting understanding of their structure, style, use of sources and specific use of academic language and developing students’ skills to effectively create their own postgraduate research level written work.

  • To encourage students to analyse, synthesise and reason in a critical and investigative manner.

  • To offer students an opportunity to undertake, write up and deliver a presentation on a small-scale research project.

  • To acclimatise students to University of Essex academic conventions and expectations of postgraduate research students.

  • To encourage students to build supportive academic relationships and to develop strong help-seeking behaviours.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Demonstrate an ability to search through literature and data sources for appropriate material and undertake critical analysis of said material.

  2. Understand, synthesize, analyse and make use of complex, abstract content in an appropriately sophisticated manner.

  3. Identify structure, style and specialist academic language required for different sections of research reports and assignments.

  4. Recognise, assess and present different types of argument and presentation of ideas within written texts.

  5. Engage critically with a wide range of academic texts of relevance to the student’s discipline.

  6. Construct a research project at B2/C1 level in accordance with UK academic conventions for postgraduate research students such as those related to thesis presentation, appropriateness of research methodology; and breadth and depth of knowledge (within word limit considerations).

  7. Research, create and present an effective and appropriately scholarly research-focused poster presentation including presenting findings of research in a logically structured, concise and accurately referenced manner.

Module information

The syllabus is intended to develop postgraduate students’ academic skills including but not limited to the following:



  • Reading research papers

  • Reading and taking notes critically and effectively

  • Extracting and synthesising information from outside sources

  • Comparing academic sources

  • Constructing and presenting bibliographies and references

  • Academic Integrity

  • Preparing and delivering poster presentations

  • Writing a research project

  • Writing critically and analytically

  • Developing an argument

  • Skills of enquiry, reflection and problem-solving

  • Help-seeking behaviours

  • Time management skills for postgraduate researchers

  • Building academic relationships and engaging with opportunities

  • The academic community

Learning and teaching methods

The module will be delivered via:

  • Two 2-hour seminars per week.

This module runs for 22 weeks. Students will be guided to make use of the facilities online and in the Albert Sloman library, individual support will be provided and they will be encouraged to work independently

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Annotated Bibliography Task    20% 
Coursework   Research Project - 2,500 Words    45% 
Coursework   Individual Poster Presentation    35% 

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

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Mr Gerald Dampier
University of Surrey
Teaching Fellow in Learning Development
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information
Essex Pathways

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