Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice

Who is the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma course for?

The course is aimed at anyone with existing Undergraduate experience (a degree or FHEQ level 5 qualification) and who wishes to take their studies further. Applicants may wish to work on a specialised project or may be looking to develop the skills necessary for Postgraduate study.

Structure of the programme

The Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice is the first part of a two-year Advanced Diploma programme. You can study it as a standalone course, or apply to progress to the second part of the programme: the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences.

Depending on previous academic qualifications, some applicants may be eligible to complete year 2 (the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences) without having completed year 1.

Students who successfully complete both years of the programme will be awarded the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice in the Arts/Sciences worth 120 credits at FHEQ level 6.

What will I be studying?

The Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice will give you broad research skills training which encompasses your chosen research specialism and prepares you for future, Master’s level study.

It will be delivered via three teaching blocks (one per termly unit), via individual and group supervisions and via ICE’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The curriculum will cover both generic research skills as well as subject-specific research skills.

The latter will be taught via three streams (‘Arts and Social Sciences’, ‘The Human Past’ and ‘Natural Sciences’) so that you will receive training relevant to your chosen subject specialism.

Subject specialisms to be supported in 2022-23:

• Archaeology
• Coaching
• Creativity Theory
• Education Studies
• English Literature
• Film
• History of Art and Visual Culture
• History
• Natural Sciences (predominantly life sciences)
• Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
• Politics, International Relations and International Studies
• Social Sciences (predominantly Sociology and Politics)

If your chosen research specialism is not listed above please do still get in touch with the Course Director to discuss whether your research interest can be supported.

• Unit 1: Thinking like a researcher (Michaelmas term 2022)

  1 two-day teaching block: 10th & 11th October 2022 1-5pm (GMT)

• Unit 2: Research design (Lent term 2023)

  1 two-day teaching block: 9th & 10th January 2023 1-5pm (GMT)

• Unit 3: Collaborative research (Easter term 2023)

  1 two-day teaching block: 3rd &4th April 2023 1-5pm (GMT)

Full details of each unit; including learning objectives, outcomes and assessment, will be given in the course guide, which will be available later in the year.

What can I go on to do?

Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences (60 credits at FHEQ level 6)

This course is the second part of the two-year Advanced Diploma programme. It is expected that applicants for this course will have successfully completed the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice, however it may be possible to take the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences as a standalone course depending on previous academic qualifications. A separate course fee will apply for the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences.

Please note that credit awarded by the Institute can in some cases be transferred into the degree programmes of other higher education providers. However, the amount of credit which can be transferred into degree programmes varies from institution to institution and is always at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Entry requirements

This Advanced Diploma level (FHEQ level 6) course is designed for students who either have satisfactorily completed a Diploma level qualification (FHEQ level 5) or who have an equivalent qualification.

Applicants with evidence of the following will be considered:

• Completion of an FHEQ level 5 qualification, e.g. an Institute of Continuing Education Diploma level course
• Academic study relevant to your proposed subject specialism, i.e. for students seeking to specialise in an Arts subject the above qualification should be in an Arts-related subject, e.g. English, History, Philosophy

If you have none of the above but feel that this Advanced Diploma course is right for you please contact the Course Director: Dr Alexander Carter (Alexander.Carter@tutor.ice.cam.ac.uk) in advance of making an application. Acceptance onto this course will be entirely at the discretion of the Institute. 

One of the criteria for a successful application for this course is the availability of a suitable supervisor. Please be aware that the course is taught at university level (FHEQ 6) and you should be able to read, write and speak English fluently.

English language requirement: If English is not your first language, you need to be able to prove you meet the University of Cambridge English language requirements on application. Please refer to our English language requirements pages for further information. 

Technical requirements 

For the 2022-2023 Academic Year this course is being taught remotely. This means there will be no face-to-face teaching and you will not need to be present in person in Cambridge, although there is an expectation that you will attend synchronous teaching sessions. The course content will be delivered, and the learning outcomes met, through the use of video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). 

You will therefore need to have access to: 

• the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device.  
• speakers or headphones in order to hear any pre-recorded material 
• a webcam and microphone for any interactive sessions which may be available 

Once you are logged into the VLE you can familiarise yourself with the learning environment. There is also guidance about how to access course materials and activities.  

The tuition fee for the course is £4,000.

You can pay in two ways:

1. in full on enrolment by credit or debit card 
2. in three equal instalments by credit or debit card: the first on enrolment, the second on 1 January and the third and final instalment on 1 April. The exact dates will be confirmed in the student’s individual booking details. 

Please note, your place on the course is not secured until payment is received by the Institute of Continuing Education accompanied by any necessary documentation, i.e. proof of English language proficiency.

ICE Cancellations and Refunds policy 

Information on sources of funding, bursaries and Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) 

This course will require a minimum number of students in order to run. Applicants for this course will be notified one week after the application deadline if the course is not going to be running at which point students will be offered to transfer their application to another course or receive a refund of the fees they have paid so far (please see our ICE Cancellations and Refunds policy). 

Applying

Please apply via the link at the top of this page. Your application will be assessed and you will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are offered a place, you will receive instructions as to how to register and pay. Please note that places are limited and on a first-come first-served basis. 

Additional information required on the application form

In the “Education” box please list all your qualifications and education background starting with the highest level qualification gained (title/level/date). You will be asked to give more detail about qualifications and experience relating to your chosen field of interest in your Curriculum Vitae.

In the “Personal Statement” box please include a statement of around 500 words in length explaining why you wish to enrol on the course and how it fits into your long term career plans.

Documents to submit with your application

Research interest statement

 This should be no longer than a side of A4 (roughly 500 words) and include:

1. A specific research question you are interested in e.g. "my particular interest is in henge monuments in Wiltshire". If you don't have a specific question at this stage please specify a general area of interest e.g. the Neolithic in Britain.
2. A list of recent reading you have done about your research question topic. Please include the author and title of the books you have read.

Your Curriculum Vitae

Please include in your CV the following:

1. the full list of your qualifications and/or prior study within your chosen field of interest. This list should include the name of the course provider, the course dates, the module/unit titles studied, the qualification awarded and the mark/grade achieved.
2. relevant information about your career and experience to date. This could include: membership of relevant academic societies, any non-credit courses you might have taken relevant to your chosen field of interest, any relevant practical work, any relevant work experience or volunteering relevant to your chosen field of interest.
    

Some applicants may also be asked to provide additional information or a writing sample in order to help assess applications. If you are asked to submit a piece of writing but have nothing prepared, the Course Director will be able to set you a question to answer in a short essay.

You may also be asked for a personal interview so the Course Director can discuss your application with you.

Acceptance onto the course will be entirely at the discretion of the Institute.

Closing date for applications

Applications for this course can be received until midday (12 noon) on Wednesday 13 July 2022.  All applications will be considered together after the application closing date. If you are offered a place on the course we will ask you to complete your booking within a limited time period and to pay the fees or if paying fees by instalments, the first instalment of fees to secure your place.

If you would like an informal discussion on academic matters before making your application, please contact the Course Director: Dr Alexander Carter (Alexander.Carter@tutor.ice.cam.ac.uk).