Course information

Course highlights

• The online open learning materials are written in an interactive style and are designed to encourage students to use their own workplace experiences as a basis for new learning and development of research skills.
• Students have full electronic access to the University of St Andrews library resources.

Teaching format

The PGDip/MSc in Adults with Learning Disabilities is a part-time distance learning course run by the School of Psychology and Neuroscience. The Postgraduate Diploma is intended to be studied within one calendar year from either March to February or October to September. For those progressing on to the MSc, you will spend an additional year researching and writing a 15,000-word dissertation.

The course is delivered via online modules through the University of St Andrews Dynamic Learning Environment. Students will have access to research publications, electronic databases and the University's library resources.

Over the course of the year, students will take six compulsory modules. It is not possible to enrol for individual modules at the Postgraduate Diploma level. Typically, each module is completed within two months and requires 100 hours of total study time, including completion of assessments. Module teaching materials are delivered online where students will have access to additional reference materials.

Students complete assessments online. The taught modules are continuously assessed through coursework, which students submit online. Coursework assessment includes multiple choice questions, short answer assignments, reference searches, and analysis of published research as well as a 5,000-word essay for the Small Scale Study module. There is no final exam for the course.

University tutors are available for support via email and telephone.

Further particulars regarding curriculum development.

Modules

Each module typically comprises:

• guided online teaching and learning materials
• 100% coursework assessment.

For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue.

Compulsory modules

• Intellectual Disability Research: introduces students to the core skills necessary for research in the field of intellectual disability.
• Data Collection and Sampling: introduces key skills and concepts of data collection and sampling including quantitative and qualitative data, surveys and questionnaires, interviews, standardised assessment instruments, observational methods and experimental measurement.
• Qualitative Data Analysis: Flexible Designs: introduces qualitative research including grounded theory studies, case study methods, ethnographic studies, analysing qualitative data and reporting qualitative research.
• Quantitave Data Analysis: Fixed Designs: introduces core analysis skills including general design issues, experimental design, the analysis of quantitative data and of single subject data, and graphical presentation.
• Undertaking a Small Scale Study: teaches skills in conducting small-scale studies including developing your idea, conducting a literature review, writing a research proposal and working through the model answer.
• Writing a Research Report: teaches skills in research report writing including reporting data from quantitative and qualitative studies, types of reports, organisation and content, referencing and submitting papers for journal publication.

The modules listed ran in the academic year 2015-2016 and are indicative of this course. There is no guarantee that these modules will run for 2016 entry.

Take a look at the most up to date modules in the module catalogue.

Dissertation

MSc students will spend one additional year researching and writing a 15,000-word dissertation on a practice-related topic of choice, integrating one area of specialised study with research methodology. Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process.

Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy.

Curriculum development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online. (PDF, 72 KB).

Tuition fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online. (PDF, 84 KB).