Module manager: William Gamester
Email: W.Gamester@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module gives you the opportunity to engage in an extended course of directed readings and research in an area of staff specialism within the study of philosophy, with individual tutorial guidance and supervision. This is also an opportunity to undertake research in an area that complements and extends, without overlapping, the major field of study that has been elected in your choice of MA programme.
This module will provide the opportunity for you to undertake independent research in the study of philosophy to gain an in-depth understanding of a specific topic related to the programme, and to develop an original contribution or approach to the topic. It will enable you to build on the understanding, skills, and learning that you’ve developed in the other modules of the programme, and synthesise understanding, concepts and arguments from different areas of the study of philosophy. This work can take the form of an essay, a PhD proposal, or a literature survey. You will show a good grasp of the chosen field and relevant important literature.
You will be allocated a supervisor who will provide feedback on your work and advise on how to meet the learning outcomes. You will choose your own topic, but topics must be approved by the Programme Director to ensure appropriate supervision is available.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1- Undertake independent research in Philosophy on your chosen topic.
2- Exhibit advanced knowledge and understanding of your chosen topic through accurate exposition of relevant source material and advanced critical analysis of that material.
3- Present your work in the academic style of scholarship in the discipline.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4- Critically analyse source material and demonstrate independence of thought (Academic and Work Ready skill)
5- Apply standards of academic integrity including when and how to appropriately acknowledge someone else’s work (Academic and Work Ready skill).
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Private study hours | 297 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 3 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
Students are provided with 3 hours of supervision during which their progress is monitored, and they are provided with feedback on the extent to which they have demonstrated the module learning outcomes as well as advice on how to improve.
They can submit a partial draft for feedback. Feedback can be provided on up to two thirds of the essay, PhD proposal, or literature review. This can be in the form of a complete two thirds or smaller sections that comprise two thirds in total.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay, PhD proposal, or literature review | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The resit will comprise an improved version of the original submission
There is no reading list for this module
Last updated: 08/05/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team