Tuesday, 17 March 2020
A new type of postgraduate degree that allows students to choose from a rich palette of English subjects and study from a distance has been launched by the University of Nottingham’s popular School of English.
The Masters in Applied English scheme is a new way of studying for a degree from anywhere in the world over a flexible period of time, and is unique among UK universities.
The course can be tailor-made to each student, giving them the freedom to choose a study portfolio of subject ‘pods’ from the wide variety of 10 other English MAs offered at Nottingham. These include Masters in Professional Communication, English Literature, Name-Studies, Applied Linguistics, with English Language Teaching, World Literatures, and many others.
The original ethos of the Applied English suite of pods is to allow the postgraduate student to create a personal programme of study that draws on and is embedded in their own life and experience. This flexibility and the huge range of pods available means people from all backgrounds and careers can benefit – from teachers to writers, journalists and creatives, people in industry and anyone with an interest in English language, literature, history and communication.
Professor Peter Stockwell, School of English
Course leader, Professor Peter Stockwell, said: “We have redesigned our masters programmes for the way that students will study into the future. The student’s interests and requirements are central to the programme, all built upon the longstanding and world-leading traditions of English at Nottingham."
Kathryn Bullen, PhD student and former MA English distance learner
Kathryn Bullen is a current PhD and former MA distance learner student in the School of English. She said: “I think the new MA in Applied English is very attractive, as it offers a wide range of choices for the student and they are presented in an original, modern and highly interactive way. The new MA gives students the opportunity to build their own course over a flexible period of time. The pods on offer are a really exciting mixture of subjects too; for example, you can study Old Norse, English place-names, or the relationship between text and performance.”
Teaching on the new MA Applied English is delivered by the latest methods in online, web-based distance learning, featuring multimedia content, a rich range of interactive exercises, digital resources, instant access study materials and is supported by an active community of learners across the world. Each student is assigned a Personal Advisor to help them design their bespoke degree and guide them throughout the course.
In addition, individual research-active academic tutors supervise students through the teaching material and offer their own insights and support throughout the programme. A traditional dissertation is offered, alongside alternatives such as work-based learning or large research project, all of which are supported and supervised by world-leading staff.
Assessment of the MA qualification is through digital portfolio submissions with an option to include a traditional dissertation. Students can also submit creative projects which offer more relevance to their personal and professional goals, for example, a teaching plan, blog or video series. All assessment is bespoke, flexible, rigorous and conducted to the highest international standards.
The Masters course has a registration period of up to 4 years part-time. Within these limits, study time is flexible. Students can pay for individual pods on a per pod basis or in instalments if they wish.
A regular and optional residential school is held both at Nottingham and at other locations around the world at least once a year.
A new video on the current options for distance learning is available here and the Distance Learning Summer School is showcased here.
Full details of the MA Applied English, entry criteria and application process are available here.
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For more information please contact Emma Hutson in the School of English, University of Nottingham via email emma.hutson@nottingham.ac.uk or Emma Rayner, Media Relations Manager for the Faculty of Arts on +44 (0)115 951 5793 emma.rayner@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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