Part-time Mode of Study
By adopting an efficient modular approach to teaching, part-time students will only need to be in the University for lectures and workshops for typically one day per week during semester time (on occasions may be at most 1.5 days), and complete the taught component of the programme over two years with up to a further year to complete the project dissertation. Part-time students should however recognise that in addition to this contact time within the University, they will be expected to allocate an appropriate amount of time for self-study (exercises, assignments and exam preparation), something in the region 14 hours per week averaged out over the course of a semester (15 weeks).
Whilst there is no formal requirement on programme pathway for part-time students, one based on the following structure is strongly suggested (for details on individual modules see 'Programme Structure and Content' page).
YEAR 2
Semester 1
Either
MAT001 Operational Research Methods
or
(whatever module was not chosen in year 1)
MAT003 Communication and Research Skills
Semester 2
Two options
Summer
Initial work on Project Dissertation*
YEAR 3*
Work on Project Dissertation.
* N.B. It is possible to complete the programme within two years if the student works full-time on the Project Dissertation during the summer of year 2, submitting by the September deadline.
Operational Research Methods and Statistical Methods are taught in one-day blocks per week for 10 weeks. Computational Methods is taught in one-day blocks per week for 5 weeks. Option modules are taught in half-day blocks per week for 5 weeks. Assessment is a mixture of written exams (in January and May) and coursework assignments. The Communication and Research Skills module consists of workshops and a written assignment. Part-time students who are in employment will usually be expected to undertake their project work within their own organisation.