Assessment is based on course work, examinations, essays, oral presentations, a literature review and the research dissertation.
Optional modules involve a research placement and teaching skills.
The degrees have a set of mandatory elements but are flexible enough to allow individual tailoring to particular interests or career aspirations. Some of the individual courses are common to both M.Sc. degrees. Core Research Skills is a module where students will learn how to effectively present and communicate the outcome of a research project and acquire management skills to plan and organise projects. The course will provide students with information about current research findings on these and related topics. The course aims to give students the skills necessary to keep abreast of future theoretical and empirical advances.