A significant proportion of the teaching on the course is interactive and involves small group learning. Students will be expected to present their project to the group and to submit a 5,000 word dissertation of their research, including a literature review. The project is a major component of the diploma course and carries 40 per cent of the total diploma mark. Each student is assigned a project supervisor who will be a member of the academic staff of the department. The supervisor will advise on topic selection, literature review, research methodology and writing up.
Great importance is placed on learning as well as on the content of the course.
Many students embarking on the diploma course will not have undertaken such a major learning exercise since their university days. It is felt that students should maximise opportunities on the course to develop their learning skills. With this in mind students have to keep a learning portfolio. This is used to record learning and to reflect on this as well as a record of reading and copies of all written work. Teaching methods include seminars, group work, co-mentoring, personal study and supervised research projects.