Psychiatry (blended learning) MSc
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Teaching and learning
Taught component:
The emphasis of the taught component of the programme is on acquiring basic theoretical knowledge. The teaching and learning methods include a blend of online learning and face-to-face interactive sessions.
The online learning includes lectures, directed reading, formative MCQs/EMIs and discussion boards. As students progress through each unit, the constituent topics within that unit will be addressed through a sequence of clusters of online material, each cluster being followed by a face-to-face interactive session, which will consolidate the knowledge through a mix of case presentations, group discussions, small group work, workshops and critical appraisal.
Dissertation:
Following the two-year taught component of the course, a third year is allowed to be used for the student's research project and writing their dissertation. Advice on choosing a research project and writing a dissertation will be available.
Dissertation research topics will be made available by senior members of the Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health that can be completed within one year (for example: analysis of existing data sets, systematic review, or through joining an approved existing research study).
It is important that students do not undertake an overly ambitious research project and part of the Supervisor's role will be to ensure that they undertake a piece of research which can be completed in the time available. Although a small piece of hypothesis driven research may be carried out in certain circumstances, students and supervisors must ensure that it can be completed within the one-year timescale. Unless formal systematic review or meta-analytic approaches are used, a literature review without reporting original observed data will not be sufficient.
Progression and assessment
Formative assessment:
Formative assessment and feedback to students is a key feature of the online learning materials and interactive seminars.
There will be formative MCQs/EMIs at the end of each cluster of online material. On completion of these, the student will be provided with individual feedback.
Students will be required to engage in a range of interactive exercises to enhance their learning and test their developing knowledge and skills.
Summative assessment:
There will be a summative assessment at the end of each unit comprising an MCQ/EMI examination (approximately 60 questions) or a written assignment of 3,000 to 4,000 words.
Dissertation:
The research project of the student will be supervised and written up in the form of a dissertation which will be due to be handed in by the end of a third year of study.
The dissertation should be between 12,000-20,000 words long.
The dissertation will be marked by two internal examiners and may be modified by the programme's external examiner.
Facilities
Teaching takes place in University Place based at The University of Manchester's main campus.
All registered students have access to the University of Manchester Library on the main campus which holds a large number of journals relevant to psychiatric, psychological, psychobiological and psychosocial research and related areas.
The University of Manchester provides public PC clusters which are appropriate for students on the programme.