Postgraduate Course: Approaches to Research: Buddhist Studies (DIVI11093)
Course Outline
| School | School of Divinity |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course concentrates on developing the skills necessary for designing a research project in the field of Buddhist Studies, and supports students in preparing their dissertation proposal. |
| Course description |
Academic Description:
This course is a partner to Approaches to Research in Divinity and Religious Studies, the 10-credit S1 course on research skills for all PG students in the School of Divinity. This 10-credit S2 course is the devolved component for MSc Buddhist Studies students in particular. It concentrates on developing the skills necessary for designing a research project, and supports students in preparing their dissertation proposal.
Syllabus/Outline Content:
The course will provide full preparation for embarking on the dissertation component of the MSc, covering (1) how to choose a suitable topic and refine the focus; (2) how to develop research questions and select the appropriate sources and methods to answer them; (3) how to plan a research project and approach the different stages, including reviewing literature, primary research of different types, and the writing process itself; (4) how to write a dissertation proposal, and how to deliver a presentation based upon it. These four topics are covered in weeks 1-4 of the semester, before giving students time to develop their projects independently. The course culminates with each student delivering an oral presentation of their proposal in week 11, and, following feedback, submitting a written version of their proposal.
Student Learning Experience Information:
The course is taught by means of five classes and individual meetings with the CO. The first four classes provide an introduction to developing a research project and proposal in Buddhist Studies, and include individual advice to help each student prepare for their dissertation. The middle of semester is spent independently developing individual research projects, with support from the CO and/or prospective supervisor. The final session of the course is devoted to oral presentations of students' research proposals (forming 40% of the grade), allowing feedback from peers and course staff. A written proposal is then submitted forming 60% of the grade.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
87 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
60 %,
Practical Exam
40 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
40% oral presentation of dissertation proposal (15 minutes)«br /»
60% written dissertation proposal (2,000 words)«br /»
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| Feedback |
Students will all have an individual meeting with the CO to help them develop their projects, and to receive feedback on an outline proposal. Written feedback on the oral presentation will be sent to students in time to be of use in finalising the written proposal. In addition, classes are small and offer ample opportunity for feedback from peers and staff as projects start to take shape. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Plan a research project of appropriate scope for a dissertation;
- Create and refine research questions appropriate to advancing understanding in the field of Buddhist Studies;
- Select appropriate sources and methods for answering their selected research questions, and justify their selection;
- Critically engage with scholarly methods and theoretical frameworks relevant to their chosen project;
- Present a clear and coherent dissertation proposal in both oral and written form.
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Reading List
| There is no reading list for this course. Students will be encouraged to create their own reading list related to their chosen approach, sources and project. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
- Curiosity for learning and openness to different perspectives
- Willingness to engage across disciplinary boundaries and to approach sources in new ways
- Finely-tuned skills of critical analysis
- Ability to construct an argument concisely
- Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing |
| Keywords | Research methods,Buddhist Studies,dissertation |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Paul Fuller
Tel:
Email: paul.fuller@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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