Our units are offered in three delivery modes:
- Synchronous,
- Asynchronous and
- Research.
Each mode supports a different way of learning.
Synchronous Units
Most units are delivered in this mode with live online scheduled weekly classes for lectures and tutorials. This delivery mode is the closest to a traditional classroom experience, but online.
Students living in the same time zone are expected to attend at least 80% of classes. You will be online in a video call with opportunities to ask questions. Those living in different time zones can watch the recordings after class.
What to Expect
- Units run with a fixed timetable each teaching week. (e.g., 7 pm on a given day).
- 12 Weekly classes (2.5 hours each week).
- Each teaching week includes:
- 1.5-hour lecture delivered live by your lecturer.
- 1-hour tutorial for discussion and activities.
- You’ll attend classes each week across the semester if you live in the same time zone.
- If you live in a different time zone and cannot make the timeslot, you can watch the recorded classes afterwards and comment in MS Teams.
Interactive Learning
- Lectures allow for real-time engagement and clarification.
- Tutorials provide opportunities for questions, group work and deeper understanding.
Asynchronous Units
Some units are delivered online without weekly live lectures. This means you can work through recorded lectures and learning materials at times that suit you, while still taking part in a small number of live sessions for support, discussion and interaction.
What to Expect
- You can study 12 prerecorded lectures and 12 associated learning materials in your own time.
- You are still expected to keep up with the unit schedule and complete learning activities across the semester.
- These units are designed to give you more flexibility (e.g., if your schedule prevents you from attending scheduled live lectures or if you wish to complete your degree quicker) while still supporting your progress.
Support and Interaction
- Three 1-hour live sessions will be scheduled for support, discussion and questions.
- You will still have opportunities to connect with teaching staff and engage with the unit content via Teams.
- In some units, students will be allocated 30 minutes for presenting tutorial papers.
Research Units
Research units are usually available to students (both UG and PG) who have completed a substantial part of their course and are ready for autonomous academic work, under supervision. These units provide an opportunity to explore a topic in greater depth, build your research skills, and work closely with academic staff in a focused area of study.
What to Expect
- You will usually work independently more than in a standard taught unit.
- You will work closely with a supervisor of your choosing, throughout the unit.
- You will be asked to formulate a research question, review relevant literature, complete a research project, and present your findings in a written or other supervised project format.
- The exact requirements may vary depending on your area of study.
- Research units can run over 1 or 2 semesters.
Approval and requirements
- If you are interested in completing a research unit, you will need to discuss your options with the Academic Dean.
- Approval is usually based on your progress in the course (have an average mark above 75), your academic readiness, and the availability of appropriate supervision.
- Especially students enrolled in Master’s degrees are encouraged to complete a research component as part of their degree, especially if they intend to pursue a higher degree by research.
If you would like to find out whether a research unit is right for you, please contact the Academic Dean at [email protected]
