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MA in Italian Studies: Culture and Communication
2010-2011
The Handbook
Table of Contents
General Information
Teaching Dates 3
Graduate School Facilities 3
Registration and Tuition Fees 4
General Orientation on Arrival
Induction Meetings 5
Campus Maps and Car Parking 6
Departmental Information 7
Programme Structure and regulations
Modes of Study and Programme Structure 8-9
Assessment and Coursework 9-10
Progression (Criteria, Appeals, Termination of Registration) 11-13
Complaints, Disciplinary Matters, Cheating and Plagiarism 13-14 Monitoring Progress 14
Modules, Essays and Dissertation 15
Course Outlines for Core and Optional Modules 15-22
Writing an Academic Essay and Marking Scheme 23
Regulations for the Dissertation 24
Coursework and Dissertation Extension Request Form 25-26 Web CT
Guidelines for using WebCT 27-30
Staff Contact Details
Academic and Support Staff Contact Details 31-32
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION Teaching Dates
2010-2011
Autumn Term | 4 October 2010 – 17 December 2010 (Birmingham) 4 October 2010 – 11 Dec 2010 (Warwick) | Spring Term | 17 January 2011 – 1 April 2011 (Birmingham) 10 January 2011 – 19 March 2011 (Warwick) | Summer Term | 3 May 2011 – 24 June 2011 (Birmingham) 27 April 2011 – 2 July 2011 (Warwick) |
Taught Postgraduate students are expected to continue with their studies outside the stated term dates. MA programmes for full-time students include work equivalent to a notional 45 weeks within the year.
Graduate School Facilities
The Graduate School Resource File/Handbook Upon registration, MA students receive access to information from both Birmingham and Warwick University written exclusively for Postgraduates. The resource files and handbook include location information, codes of practice and procedures and training availability related to each institution. They are intended as a source of reference for University matters, just as this handbook contains details specific to your course.
The College of Arts and Law Graduate School (Birmingham) http://www.alpg.bham.ac.uk All arts and humanities postgraduates, whether full-time or part-time, research students or following taught courses, are members of the College of Arts and Law Graduate School. The principal aim of the Graduate School is to support the six academic Schools of the College in providing the best possible research environment and educational experience for postgraduates. Students on this programme are members of the School of Languages, Cultures, Art History and Music. Further information on the Graduate School, including access to the online Graduate School Learning and Information Resource (WebCT) and Handbook (expected to be accessible from October 2010), is available at the Graduate School website and in the Welcome Letter, which you will all be receiving.
The Graduate School (Warwick) http://www.warwick.ac.uk/services/gradschool As at Birmingham, the principal aim of the Graduate School at Warwick is to support the academic departments and centres of the University in providing the best possible research environment and educational experience for postgraduates. At Warwick, the Graduate School has an office located on the first floor in University House. This Office is responsible for all aspects of administration relating to postgraduate students and courses. In addition to providing administrative support, the Graduate School office offers advice and assistance on all postgraduate maters and, if unable to handle a specific query, will direct you to a department in the University which can. The Graduate School website offers a range of information about graduate study at Warwick, and a copy of the university’s postgraduate handbook can be downloaded there.
Guild of Students (Birmingham) and Students’ Union (Warwick) For information and What’s On guides please browse the following website: http://www.guildofstudents.com http://www.sunion.warwick.ac.uk
Registration
University Registration
Each student must register at BOTH Birmingham and Warwick University independently to obtain an identity card and guild card (relating to the Guild of Students/Students’ Union). The ID card enables access to facilities to both full and part-time students alike.
Registration normally takes place during the second half of September, and is now done on-line in both Universities.
If you have queries about the registration process, please contact Dr Ita Mac Carthy (i.maccarthy@bham.ac.uk).
Registration – Birmingham
Information concerning registration is contained in the Student Guide to Registration, which is sent to students after they have formally accepted an offer of a place. Registration is now done on-line following instructions in the Student Guide.
At Birmingham, registration is dealt with by Student Records (part of Student Services) located in the Aston Webb Building. Details of who to contact if you have any queries about registration can be found at http://www.as.bham.ac.uk/registration/contact.shtml . If you have not yet fulfilled the conditions of your offer or have not yet formally accepted your place, please contact Karen Preece (k.j.preece@bham.ac.uk), our Admissions Officer.
Registration - Warwick
Information regarding registration will already have been sent to you by post, and is also set out in details at http://www.warwick.ac.uk/AcademicOffice/postgrad/Enrolment.
Any queries regarding registration should be e-mailed to pgoffice@warwick.ac.uk
Tuition Fees
Note: your tuition fees should be paid to Birmingham in 2010-11 unless you receive instructions to the contrary. Further information concerning payment of tuition fees and the availability of bursaries and loans is available in the Student Guide to Registration and the Guide to Student Services that you will receive when you collect the photograph part of your identity card.
The two guides – Student Guide to Registration and Guide to Student Services - outline much of the initial information you will require at the start of your studies. You are advised to read these documents carefully and keep them for future reference. Further information regarding the services of Student Services and Admissions can be obtained on the website at http://www.studserv.bham.ac.uk/
GENERAL ORIENTATION ON ARRIVAL
Italian MA Induction: 5th October 2010
There will be an induction and welcome in the first week of term (Tuesday 5th October from 2 p.m.). This will take place in Birmingham (seminar room 2, Strathcona Building) and will give you the chance to meet a number of your tutors and the other students on the programme. At this meeting, you will be given information and guidance about the course. There will then be an introduction to the module ‘Research and Critical Reading Skills’ led by Charlotte Ross.
You should make every effort to attend the induction. If you cannot make it for any reason, it is your responsibility to contact the course convenor beforehand, so that the necessary information can be made available to you.
Two seminars are held each week throughout the year, in Birmingham on Tuesdays and in Warwick on Thursdays, always in the afternoon. In some weeks you may have to go to both universities, in others both your seminars will be in the same location on the same day. You will not be required to travel between Birmingham and Warwick on a single day. A full timetable for term 1 will be distributed at the meeting on 5th October.
Birmingham College of Arts and Law Graduate School Induction
This will take place from 9am on Wednesday 6th October in the Law Building, Lecture Room 2 (R1 on the campus map: www.about.bham.ac.uk/maps/pdfs/edgbaston-map-09.pdf). Here you will have an opportunity to meet the Graduate School team and your School Head of Postgraduate Studies, take a tour of the Graduate School IT workspace and the building’s seminar/conferencing facilities, learn about the role of the Graduate School Staff-Student Committee, find out about postgraduate events and activities that take place across the College, and talk to current postgraduate students. All new postgraduate students are required to attend what is an informative, lively and enjoyable start to the Graduate School annual calendar.
Warwick Humanities Graduate School Induction
An induction meeting is held on the first Saturday before term. Information will be provided to all students registered on the programme.
Maps
Maps of the Birmingham campus can be found at: www.location.bham.ac.uk/edgbaston.pdf Key buildings are the Arts Building (no. R16), the Ashley Building (R17), the Library (R22), the Aston Webb Building (R6), which is the hub for central administrative matters, and the European Research Institute Building (G3), where you’ll find postgraduate student study space and the CAL Graduate School Office.
A map of the Warwick campus can be found on www.warwick.ac.uk/about/visiting/maps/central/
Car Parking Information
Birmingham Students travelling to Birmingham by car are permitted to park in the Pay and Display car parks located on the campus periphery.
Students who are NOT resident in University accommodation may apply to Security at Aston Webb for access rights to South car park and Pritchatts Road car park.
Warwick
Students travelling to Warwick by car are permitted to park in a number of car parks located on the main campus. These are, in order of proximity to the Humanities Building: Car part 8 (multi-storey, by sports centre) PAY & DISPLAY 7am-4pm Car park 15 (multi-storey, by IMC Building) PAY & DISPLAY 7am-4pm Car 9-10 (open air, by main gatehouse) PAY & DISPLAY 7am-4pm
The electronic noticeboard located next to the main campus gatehouse gives information on which car parks have free spaces.
Car parking charges can be seen on the respective university websites.
Departmental Information
| Birmingham | Warwick | Contact details
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