Scottish History (MSc by Research) (PRMSCHISSC2F)

• Awarding institution
• Teaching institution
• Programme accredited by
• Final award
• Programme title
• UCAS code
• Relevant QAA subject benchmarking group
• Postholder with overall responsibility for QA
• Date of production/revision
• External summary
• Education aims of programme

• Programme Outcomes
• Knowledge and understanding
• Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry
• Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy
• Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication
• Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness
• Technical/practical skills

• Programme structure and features
• Teaching and learning methods and strategies
• Assessment methods and strategies
• Career opportunities
• Other items

External summary

Educational aims of programme

The programme enables students to extend the depth and sophistication of their knowledge in specific areas of historical enquiry and understanding. In this division specific attention is given to all aspects of Scottish history. The programme is closely linked to the outstanding library and archives facilities of Edinburgh.

The principal aims of the programme are to:

•    provide students with the intellectual background, training and support necessary for the conduct and critical assessment of historical research;
•    provide students with advanced knowledge of and competency in a specific field of history;
•    enable students to work in a manner which is theoretically and methodologically engaged;
•    equip students with a familiarity with historiography and modes of historical explanation;
•    ensure that students are trained in the skills and the research design and strategy required to achieve the focus, precision and time management required by modern research conditions;
•    provide students with the skills of archival and other relevant forms of research together with the ability to exploit such sources in a critical manner;
•    develop and test the ability of students to formulate and sustain a substantive piece of research in history.
 

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

Teaching is organised close interaction with named supervisors who will set a programme of research in conjunction with the student.  These will allow students to gain the following a specialised knowledge and understanding of an area of research within Scottish history.

• a detailed knowledge and understanding of the central historiographical issues of that area;

• an understanding of the interaction between historical sources and explanation;

• an appreciation of the historical and historiographical context of the student's individual area of research.

Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

The programme is designed to develop an ability to:

• process and critically assess information derived from historical research, utilising historiographical, theoretical and methodological knowledge and skills specific to the specific area of the student's research;

• provide clear written and oral analyses based on historical information;

• utilize central theoretical and cultural concepts;

• identify historical continuities and contrasts;

• construct and pursue a coherent historical argument based on the hypotheses which have been formulated and tested by reference to primary and secondary source material;

• understanding the role of causality in Scottish history;

• formulate and test hypotheses;

• locate an argument - whether verbal or written - within a broader intellectual context and to evaluate its implications from that more general perspective;

• undertake textual analysis and close reading of evidence;

• formulate and implement a plan of research;

• conceive and pursue to its conclusion a coherent argument founded on evidence provided by the sources at the student's disposal;

• undertake a sustained independent research project, and to complete it within a strict time limit;

• write clear, accurate, precise and concise prose;

• understand and undertake study and research conforming to the highest ethical standards.

Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

The programme is designed to contribute to the development of personal effectiveness in both academic and broader life contexts including future employment.

• goal setting as a route to personal effectiveness and happiness;

• time management and the most effective use of time with reference to small and large tasks;

• respect for the opinions, ambitions and aims of others;

• participating in and directing effective meetings through tutorial sessions and exercises;

• understanding conventions, rules and boundaries.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

The programme is designed to develop an ability to: 

• analyse, assimilate and deploy critically a range of secondary literature relevant and essential to the student's individual research subject;

• identify and deploy critically relevant primary historical sources;

• locate a specific thesis within its broader historiography;

• formulate hypotheses relating to the student's research subject and to test them by marshalling a range of primary and secondary evidence;

• reflect critically on the processes and methods which the student utilises in both their research and their writing;

• Reflect critically on and deploy the highest ethical standards when undertaking research and communication of that research;

• Reflect critically on the role of the individual in achieving their own personal and intellectual ambitions and goals.

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

The programme is designed to develop the ability to:

• assimilate, process and communicate a wide range of information from a variety of sources;

• formulate and test hypotheses in written and verbal forms;

• locate an argument - whether verbal or written - within a broader intellectual context and to evaluate its implications from that more general perspective;

• undertake written and verbal textual analysis incorporating historical evidence;

• formulate and implement a plan of verbal communication through tutorial participation;
• undertake a sustained independent research project, and to complete it within a strict time limit to the highest textual standards;
• write clear, accurate, precise and concise prose in different formats;
• understand different audiences for historical research.

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

The programme will expose students to an awareness of and opportunities to develop technical and practical skills in the following areas.

• digital technology in the practice of historical research and writing;

• online digital technology in the representation of historical sources, with the ethical and intellectual challenges that such technology represents;

• practical skills in navigating and using book and journal based library resources;

• practical skills in accessing and handling original and archive historical sources, including material and visual sources;

• practical skills in making effective contributions to group based learning.

Programme structure and features

Structure and Credit Values

Students conduct research independently but benefit from regular supervision meetings with their supervisors. 

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Practices

On completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. research a project at an advanced level, through relevant study, consultation of sources and original research;

2. roduce a substantial written work on a set theme within prescribed parameters (within set time, and limits of length).

The programme's outcomes are assessed by means of the dissertation. Dissertation of 30,000 words, to be submitted by the date specified in the programme handbook.

Modes of Study

The programme is taken full time over twelve months.

Exit Awards

Requirements for the Award of the MSc

In order to be awarded a Masters degree candidates must achieve a pass at Masters level for the dissertation.

Requirements of the Award of the MSc with Merit

The Masters degree may be awarded with merit. To achieve a merit, a student must have been awarded between 60-69% on the University’s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme for the dissertation.

Requirements of the Award of the MSc with Distinction

The Masters degree may be awarded with distinction. To achieve a distinction, a student must have been awarded at least 70% on the University’s Postgraduate Common Marking Scheme for the dissertation.

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

Teaching and Learning strategies employed at the University of Edinburgh consist of a variety of different methods appropriate to the programme aims. The graduate attributes listed above are met through a teaching and learning framework (detailed below) which is appropriate to the level and content of the course.

Teaching and Learning Activities

Specific activities will vary with path taken, if the coursework path is taken, course options will include lectures, seminars and workshops.

Assessment methods and strategies

Assessment

Courses can be assessed by a diverse range of methods and often takes the form of formative work which provides the student with on-going feedback as well as summative assessment which is submitted for credit. 

Various assessment methods are used dependent on path taken, but may include:

• Essays;

• Dissertation;

• Online discussion forums;

• Power point presentation;

• Poster presentation.

Career opportunities

Other items

The Programme Director is responsible for monitoring and reporting on students’ overall academic progress, as well as offering pastoral support. Graduate Officers in the relevant subject area will offer additional academic and pastoral advice and support to each student. The Graduate School Director will ensure that two supervisors are appointed to guide students through the process of completing the dissertation.

Access is provided to a networked wireless graduate study room with 38 desktop PCs, as well as two further graduate study rooms containing book collections, wireless networking and study space. These are maintained by Information Services via an e-Learning and Web Development Officer. Information Services also offer students access to training courses in a range of computing applications. 

MSc students are also encouraged to engage with and attend the various research seminar programmes organised by the School so as to familiarise themselves with current research issues and to develop their discursive skills.