This module offers you a practical insight into how to successfully plan and manage the development of your research project. This includes identifying characteristics of a good research topic and creating a research proposal for your research project, taking a critical approach to the literature review, thinking about the nature of research outputs, looking at approaches to research design and adopting a theoretical position.

You will also gain experience using project management tools and techniques and applying these to your research project. This will have an enormous effect on achieving a successful research outcome.

• Topics covered and materials delivered reflect the real needs of researchers
• Staff with considerable experience across a number of academic fields
• The freedom to continue working while pursuing your studies.
• Academic support from a subject specialist tutor
• Help and guidance from our Distance Learning Advice Team
• An opportunity for students from a wide range of countries and varied educational contexts to interact and exchange ideas.
• Two assessment points per year (January and September)
• A flexible credit based programme leading towards a higher degree.
• The option of interim awards at associate, certificate and diploma level for students who do not wish to, or are unable to, complete the programme
• The flexibility to pay for modules on an individual basis

Entry to the Postgraduate Associate Certificate
We aim to make the programmes as accessible to students as possible while ensuring that students who enter are likely to succeed. In keeping with the University’s commitment to widening access, consideration will be given to students applying from non-traditional backgrounds and to mature students.

To enter the programmes, students should normally have an undergraduate degree. We would, however, consider people with equivalent relevant practical or professional experience.
All applications without formal qualifications will be considered individually by the Programme Leader. This may involve a telephone interview and provision of suitable references.

Technical requirements
To participate in the programme you need at least:
1. Access to a PC or Mac with CD drive.
2. 56K modem with Internet access. (A broadband connection is strongly recommended.)
3. A supported Internet browser - see UELPlus’s tune-up page at http://www.webct.com/tuneup/viewpage?name=tuneup_browser_tuneup_information
4. Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or equivalent, and graphics software capable of viewing j-peg files.

The PC should be capable of running the standard MS Office suite (or equivalent) for producing word-processed documents, spreadsheets and presentations. You will be expected to spend approximately 5 hours online per week, participating in discussions and accessing additional resources. (You may find it beneficial to spend more time online to investigate more fully any areas that are of particular interest to you.)

The programme is delivered exclusively through distance learning. Learning will be principally supported through a UEL Plus web-based interface, together with a study guide and a reading pack.

The main purpose of the study guide is to help learners to make the most effective use of the core texts, reading pack and other resources. It provides clear structuring and signposting, to establish a context for learning. It highlights key concepts, models and frameworks and it clearly indicates the chapters or articles from the reading pack which they must study. In some areas, the study guide adds extra content, or integrates additional resources (such as journal articles), which are included in the reading pack.

The study guide encourages deep learning through the use of activities, self-assessment questions and other formative assessments. The activities help learners understand or master a new topic or skill. They generally require students to engage with the topic in some way. Feedback will be provided for all activities.

Students will be expected to participate in discussion forums within UEL Plus. The tutor will monitor the discussion topics, and students will be expected to respond to the tutor, and to each other’s responses. Students will also be able to initiate their own discussion threads.

The student will also be expected to do additional reading and research appropriate for their research project. They will also be expected to keep a research journal which will feed into their extended essay.

Assessment is by three items of coursework:

• A summary review of relevant literature for a research topic identified by the student (20%)
• A research plan (60%)
• An online presentation (20%)

If you are registered on a research degree at UEL, this module is compulsory. It may also be of interest if you are considering a career in research, or are considering registering on a UEL research degree.

N/A

• The Postgraduate diploma permits full membership of the Institute of Career Guidance (ICG).
• The MA Careers can be used to satisfy the CPD requirements for the ICG Register of Practitioners.
• The MA dissertation can also be used to support application for Fellowship of the ICG.

It is expected that most students will undertake these modules as core research skills training for UEL research degrees, therefore the majority of students will either continue with their research degrees, or will continue to register on a UEL research degree. Students may also elect to transfer on to campus based courses to undertake research skills training specific to their academic discipline.

The modules have been written by external authors commissioned by the school of Distance and E-learning (Understanding Research Processes and Contexts) and by members of staff associated with the Graduate School (Research Planning and Preparation). Academic support is provided through the Graduate School, technical support is provided by IT Services, and all other support – including administrative and pastoral – is provided by the School of Distance and E-Learning.

Given that the programmes are exclusively delivered by distance mode, the learning material for each module is detailed and activity-based to encourage learners to engage with concepts and techniques. Additionally, the learning material provides links to electronic journals and websites where appropriate. UEL Plus, the platform used for the delivery of the programmes, enables online discussions between learners and UEL staff, and also facilitates the downloading of programme material.

On enrolment, you will be provided with introductory materials on the use of UEL Plus (UELPlus) and UEL Direct.

During your studies, you will be supported by our team of Distance Learning Student Advisors in the School of Distance and E-Learning. These advisors act as a first point of contact for you, addressing the majority of student queries and referring only those that relate to academic matters to the module tutor. The Student Advisors will also contact students who seem to be falling behind and will offer advice and encouragement to them.

Those who are in a position to visit the campus have full access to all books, journals, CD-ROMs, video tapes, etc. held in the Learning Resource Centre. Also, UK-based students may access other university libraries under the UK Libraries Plus scheme.

We also provide useful advice and information in our Student Handbook and online at http://www.uel.ac.uk/dl/index.htm