Your Learning Experience

Course Structure

Each undergraduate and postgraduate course is made up of a series of modules, lasting 12 weeks (BA courses) or 15 weeks (MA courses) with short breaks in between. Part-time students study one module at a time; full-time (postgraduate only) students study two modules at a time. There are three start dates per year, in February, June and October.

Undergraduate courses

6 years part-time; 3 years full time
BA Ancient History and Classical Archaeology
BA Archaeology

Postgraduate Courses

2 years part-time; 1 year full-time
MA Archaeology and Heritage
MA Historical Archaeology
MA The Classical Mediterranean

Doctoral research

5 years part-time; 3 years full-time
PhD in Archaeology
Phd in Ancient History

Study Materials

Each module consists of specially prepared self-study materials, which are delivered by post to your door and include:

• a workbook written specifically for the course by experts within the School of Archaeology and Ancient History’s academic staff
• a selection of published textbooks
• extracts from books and journals.

The workbooks consist of one section for each week of the module. These sections introduce topics and direct you towards relevant chapters in the textbooks supplied with the module as well as useful websites.

These printed materials are also supplemented with additional material made available electronically through Blackboard, our virtual learning environment, and the library, to which you will have access for the duration of your course.

Study Support

You will be allocated an academic tutor for each module. Your tutors are available by email or phone to provide advice on academic and study matters.

Wherever you are in the world, you will have access to University services, including the University’s David Wilson Library and its extensive range of electronic journals and e-books. The Library supports distance learning students in a variety of ways, including:

• a distance learning enquiry and support service;
• access to the online catalogue;
• internet and database services;
• postal book loans;
• free photocopies of journal articles if they are not available electronically;
• access to other libraries;

More information on library support for distance learning students can be found at
www.le.ac.uk/library/for/distancelearners

Study Time

If you are studying on one of our BA programmes you should plan to set aside 150 hours per 12-week module (about 12 hours per week). The dissertation is a double module.

If you are studying on one of our MA programmes you should plan to set aside 300 hours per 15-week module (about 20 hours per week). The dissertation is a double or triple module depending on which course structure you are following.

In practice, however, most students find that the amount of time spent studying can vary slightly from module to module, and of course also depends on your own academic background and personal study habits.

Assessments

Modules are assessed by written coursework, usually in the form of essays or reports. There are no examinations. You will be provided with detailed written feedback on each piece of work that you submit for assessment. This allows you to see your progress, understand your strengths and identify areas for improvement. Throughout your studies academics will be on hand to provide tutorial support via email or telephone and to give help and support when required. We also provide written study skills guidance on how to produce assignments.

The final piece of assessment for BA and MA students is the dissertation. This is an original piece of research on a topic of your choosing relating to some aspect of one or more of the modules which has particularly caught your interest. You will be assigned a supervisor who will help you to identify the title and content of your dissertation and you will receive direct, one-to-one supervision throughout the period of your research.

Visiting Leicester

As a University of Leicester student you are entitled to visit the campus at any time and to make use of the facilities, although if you wish to see particular members of staff you would be encouraged to make arrangements for this in advance. In addition, we run various field schools and laboratory weeks which take place on campus and in the surrounding Leicestershire area. Visiting Leicester in this way is optional for some courses and compulsory for others. For more details see the individual course pages as above.

Finally, students who successfully complete their BAs or MAs will be invited to attend a formal graduation ceremony in Leicester – many of our students take this opportunity and bring their families along too so that they can see at first-hand the University that they belong to.

Computer Access
In order to get the most from your learning experience, you will need easy and regular access to a computer and the internet, so that you can access Blackboard and library facilities, view the websites referred to in your study materials, and write and submit your coursework.