MA and Diploma in Manx Studies

Introduction
The Centre offers two postgraduate qualifications for taught study. Both courses are intended to inspire the advanced, scholarly study of the Isle of Man and to encourage new research, targeting those people who have a professional or other interest in the academic study of the Isle of Man. Students register for either the Postgraduate Diploma or the MA.

Year 1 provides a self-contained introduction at postgraduate level to a study of the Isle of Man. The compulsory modules lead to an understanding of the sources and techniques used by scholars in a range of relevant disciplines. The option modules allow for specialisation. The MA builds on the modules presented in the Postgraduate Diploma over a second year of study.

Who can study for the MA/Diploma in Manx Studies?
The courses are open to students based on the Isle of Man who fulfil entrance requirements. In the past, we have found that students have often fallen into the following categories:

The list is by no means exhaustive. If you have been out of full-time education for some time, you may find it easier to take individual courses offered by the Continuing Education programme within the Centre for Lifelong Learning and organised by Fenella Bazin (tel: 897590) before enrolling on the MA/Diploma course.

Entrance requirements
Candidates will normally be graduates or will have an appropriate professional qualification. In exceptional circumstances, applicants without formal qualifications but with a proven record of achievement will be considered for registration. Read about some of our previous students' academic background by clicking here.

The course structure

Postgraduate Diploma
The main components of the Postgraduate Diploma in Manx Studies are:

  1. two compulsory core modules which provide a background to the study of the Isle of man
  2. three option modules
  3. a research skills modules
  4. an extended essay of up to 10,000 words on a topic arising from the year’s study

Masters (MA)
MA
students follow the same course in Year 1 as the students on the Postgraduate Diploma but when they have successfully completed components a, b and c, they will go on to Year 2, when they take part in a Research Seminar, as well as following their own research interests in greater depth, each producing a 25,000-word dissertation based on topics studied during Year 1.

MODULES
Compulsory core modules: The Isle of Man and its people I and II (all students)
The two core modules, usually held between October and July in Year 1, are compulsory for students on both courses. Module I gives a broad view of the Island’s geology, its complex geomorphological and vegetational history and the natural processes involved in their formation to provide a background against which impact of the arrival of human societies is set. Module II gives an overview of the political, social and cultural history from the Early Christian period to the present day.

Compulsory module: Research skills (all students)
During the first semester all students take part in this module, which provides an introduction to the skills required and resources available for postgraduate research.

Compulsory module: Research seminar (MA students only)
In Year 2, all MA students must take part in the Research seminar module, which will allow them to develop their research and presentation skills.

Option modules
Students must choose three option modules from a list provided by the programme team. The options run each year reflect the majority student interest of that intake.  

New modules are being developed:

What will it cost?
The MA and Diploma are offered on a part-time basis over two years only.  Fees for part-time study are a fraction of the cost of those for full-time.  For the academic session 2006/07, the part-time fees per annum for Islands students are £1847 for the MA and £1231 for the PGDip.

Up-to-date figures for full-time fees are to be found at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/University/study_at_liverpool/fees/postgrad.htm  

Funding
The Isle of Man Department of Education http://www.gov.im/education/ provides information about student grants at a postgraduate level.

Additional information about University scholarships and funding from research councils can be found at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/University/study_at_liverpool/scholarships.htm

Further information
For further information or to apply for any of the courses listed please contact Dr Breesha Maddrell at the Centre.

Follow links to student pages so that you can read what graduates of the MA in Manx Studies have to say.

Option to study individual modules
It is also possible to study individual modules from the MA programme for credits.  If you are interested in choosing to study one or more modules as stand-alone units, contact Breesha for more information.

 

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