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Postgraduate Study |
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POSTGRADUATE STUDY AT LOUGHBOROUGH FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What postgraduate programmes do you offer? We offer three postgraduate programmes: MSc/PG Dip in Information and Knowledge Management, please see http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/studying/pg-ikmph.htmlfor more information. MA/MSc/PG Dip in Information and Library Management, please see http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/studying/pg-ilmph.html for more information. MSc/PG Dip in Information Management and Business Technology, please see http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/studying/pg-imbtph.html for more information 2. What are the entry requirements for your postgraduate programmes?Academic: a good honours degree or equivalent If you are an international student, the University provides more specific information for some countries at: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/international/country/index.htm Information Management and Business Technology – degree should be in a relevant subject, e.g. information science, computer science, information technology or a business-related subject. Work experience: Information and Library Management – ideally one year's work experience working in a library / information-service jobs. The length of LIS experience is negotiable. If you are not sure if your experience is acceptable, please contact us at dis@lboro.ac.uk. English: if you are not a native English speaker, you will have to provide evidence of your English language competence. All applicants are required to have either: a minimum IELTS of 6.5, with a score of 6.5 in listening and 7.0 in writing or a minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based)/250 (computer-based) with a TWE score of 4.5. Alternatively, applicants with a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 or TOEFL 570/230 may be admitted to a 10 week pre-sessional English language course. Applicants who obtain an IELTS of 6.5 but NOT a score of 6.5 in listening and 7.0 in writing may be admitted to a 5 week pre-sessional course. The University requires a formal qualification even if your undergraduate course in your home country was taught in English. Please see for a list of qualifications recognised by the University. 3. Are any sources of financial support available?The Department of Information Science also offers a small number of scholarships to highly qualified, self-funding UK students. The latest details for UK students can be found at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/funding/pg/ukeu/ls/index.htm and for International students http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/funding/pg/international/ls/index.htm Scholarships are awarded on a first come, first served basis so it is important to apply early. Other possible sources of funding include: International students: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/funding/pg/international/index.htm Home students: The John Campbell Trust offers scholarships to students living in the UK and Ireland and studying on UK or Irish information science programmes. You cannot apply for the scholarship until you are already registered and attending a programme. The closing date is in January of each year. The Richard Stapley Educational Trust offers grants to highly qualified graduates over 24 years old. The closing date is 31 March. The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals’ leaflet Financial Assistance for Study provides useful information. Career Development Loans may be available for up to two year’s study. Contact the learndirect free helpline on 0800 00 900 or the CDL Information Line on 0800 585 505. Loughborough is a registered Learning Provider, our registration number is 3853. 4. Can I study part-time?If you are a UK-based student, you can study the programmes on a part-time basis. Part-time students normally complete their programme over a period of two or three years. The dissertation module may be undertaken in year 3 or, alternatively, students may start background study during the spring and summer months of year 1, completing the research and writing during the same period in year 2. The Department tries to be as flexible as possible to meet the family and work commitments of part-time students, but cannot undertake to set up individual timetables. Information about the timetable will normally be known near the beginning of each semester. 5. What teaching and assessment methods are used?The first part of each programme is taught by a combination of lectures, tutorials and practicals. It is anticipated that students will contribute to tutorials and undertake private study using the library and computer facilities as appropriate. Methods of assessment depend on the subject of the module, but normally consist of a range of assessments, which may include case studies, essays, practical projects, project reports and structured exercises. Class tests will be set in a small number of modules. In some modules, oral presentations resulting from group work projects may be required. To achieve satisfactory progress on some modules, students may also be expected to undertake preparation for classes and non-assessed exercises. The second part of the programme (the dissertation) involves independent study and research under the guidance of an individual supervisor. Assessment for the MA and MSc degrees is by coursework and dissertation; for the Loughborough Postgraduate Diploma by coursework. Assessment follows the University’s general regulations for postgraduate programmes: distinction (70-100%), pass (50-69%), minimum performance (40-49%) and fail (0-39%). Credits are awarded for the successful completion (i.e., at least pass) in a module. 6. Do you offer distance learning programmes? No, not at the moment. 7. Are your postgraduate programmes accredited?Our IKM and ILM Masters programmes are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Information Professionals. CILIP has reciprocal arrangements with professional associations in other countries, including the United States and Canada, so our Masters qualification is recognised by these bodies. 8. Do your programmes have a work placement element?No. The Information and Library Management has a pre-course work experience entry requirement. Relevant work experience is desirable for the other programmes but it is not essential. 9. What is the difference between the Masters and the Postgraduate Diploma?The masters programmes require students to obtain 180 credits (120 from the taught modules and 60 from the dissertation). A postgraduate diploma requires 120 credits from the taught modules. 10. What is the difference between the MA and the MSc in Information and Library Management?All students follow the same core programme. The award of an MA or MSc is dependent largely on the topic and/or methodology of the dissertation and the optional modules selected. 11. When do your programmes start?Our programmes start at the end of September/beginning of October of each year. There is no January intake. The taught modules run from October to mid-May, students undertake dissertations from mid-May to mid-September. 12. How much time will I have to spend in classes?IKM and IMBT If you are studying the ILM programme full-time you will normally spend around 12-14 hours per week in classes. However, the total expected effort for each module will work out at a full-time working week. Three modules are taught in block mode. Classes are scheduled between 09:00 and 18:00 and you may have classes any day, Monday to Friday, except for Wednesday afternoons. Final timetables are only available a week or two before the start of term. Part-time students should be able to choose the modules that match their requirements, but must be aware that not all the modules chosen will fit comfortably into one day of attendance or, indeed, even two. 13. What are the fees for postgraduate taught programmes?You can find information on fees here: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/funding/pg/index.htm 14. What do I do about accommodation? You can find useful information about accommodation here. 15. Who do I contact if I have more questions, or want to apply for a programme? The role of the Postgraduate Admissions Team is to ensure that you find the right programme for your needs. Please contact them if there is any matter in which they can be of help. Please click here if you wish to apply online, or email the Admissions Team for an application pack.
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