Your guide to CeDEP studies

This guide applies to all our Centre for Development, Environment and Policy programmes.

Planning your study timetable

There are two study sessions per year. You can begin your studies in either April or October.

These two study sessions include one module and for MSc student an additional dissertation stage. The core and elective modules run over a 16 week period, during which you will need to allocate at least 10-15 hours of study per module, per week.

For MSc students, dissertation stages are taken immediately after each module. MSc students are required to enrol for their dissertation at the same time as their modules.

Using our online enrolment form, you will select and enrol onto your modules before the start of each study period. The form will automatically allow you to enrol onto the modules you require.

Study materials

Developed by subject experts, the module materials are designed to meet all your study requirements. We also encourage you to explore your interests through other on and offline sources of information.

The Centre for Development, Environment and Policy is continually reviewing and updating the resources available to you as well as incorporating innovative methods for making the learning experience more fulfilling. Study materials are available as follows:

  • The e-Study Guide will be made available to download through the Virtual Learning Environment. You will gain access to these materials at the start of the study session.
  • Text books and key readings will be made available electronically at the start of the study session.

Tutoring

Each module has a dedicated tutor who is a subject specialist. The tutor will guide students through the units of the module and prepare them for the examination. Students participate in weekly online discussion forums on the VLE facilitated by the module tutor. Weekly discussion contributes to questions, reflections of learning, points for further discussion, new issues or other topics relevant to the module and units being studied.

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

Login details for the VLE will be provided at the beginning of your studies. You will receive a SOAS email account, which acts as your username for access to the online learning environment.

The VLE includes a number of learning support features:

  • e-study guide to download and print
  • student – student and student – tutor interaction
  • links to relevant resources
  • module-specific discussion rooms where you can debate and find solutions to queries about your studies
  • assignment submission and tutor feedback area
  • administrative and technical help areas
  • notice boards where you will be informed of any important events or deadlines
  • student café where you can meet and chat to your fellow students informally

Library

The Centre for Development, Environment and Policy postgraduate students have full access to the online materials of the SOAS Library.and the University of London Online Library. This provides a range of full-text, multidisciplinary databases, as well as journal articles, book reviews and reports to which the University subscribes on students’ behalf.

Details about how to register for access to the online library can be found via the University of London Online Library

Graduation

Each year, usually in March, a ceremony is held in London at which graduates from all degree programmes are presented to the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor of the University of London. The University of London will send you further information about the ceremony with your results notification when you successfully complete your MSc or Postgraduate Diploma.

Further information is available from the University of London's Graduation page or you can email ceremonies@london.ac.uk
Alternatively, CeDEP students can attend the SOAS graduation ceremony which takes place in July.

For either ceremony, we recommend that you apply as early as possible, as although spaces for graduates are not restricted, tickets for guests are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is always a high demand.