Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LH Medical Humanities Independent Research Project
School	Liberal Arts & Natural Science
Department	Liberal Arts & Natural Science
Module Code	08 37081
Module Lead	Dr Jennifer Marshall
Level	Honours Level
Credits	40
Semester	Full Term
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites	LI Interdisciplinarity I - (08 31538)
Restrictions	Students must be registered on BA Medical Humanities Intercalated Year
Contact Hours	Lecture-2 hours Project supervision-5 hours Guided independent study-393 hours Total: 400 hours
Exclusions
Description	Medical Humanities Independent Research Project challenges students to develop a focused engagement with their medical background and their current studies. Students identify a significant topic or problem that can be approached through the medical humanities. They test its viability in consultation with a supervisor (appointed to guide and advise on their progress) and define its parameters in consultation with the supervisor and with reference to current scholarship and knowledge. Students move on to design and test an appropriate methodology, and conclude by producing a substantial portfolio of independent research. The findings are presented in: (1) a research paper (10,000 words) comprising: (i) the identification and description of a significant research problem which benefits from interdisciplinary approaches; (ii) a review of the state of relevant current scholarship, evidence, and the disciplinary boundaries, approaches, and methodologies involved in tackling this problem; and (iii) a piece of sustained analysis addressing the research topic or problem, with full scholarly apparatus as appropriate to the disciplines; (2) an academic poster articulating the methodologies identified and adopted, outlining any challenges addressed, summarizing the development of the argument, and mediating the key conclusions derived.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Design and undertake a scholarly and evidentiary review Organise and present data in a professional way (accurate referencing, complete bibliography, clear tables and illustrations) Identify and develop a viable interdisciplinary research question Test the quality of primary material or sources and identify key evidence relevant to sustain the argument pursued Frame research questions and understand associated problems Construct a fluent and coherent extended argument Complete an integrated analysis of primary evidence and secondary material as appropriate to sustain the chosen argument Work effectively to manage time and maximise the benefits of the supervisory framework Present ideas concisely and lucidly in a visual format
Assessment	37081-01 : Dissertation : Coursework (90%) 37081-02 : Dissertation poster : Coursework (10%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Dissertation : Dissertation (90%) Dissertation poster : Coursework (10%) Reassessment: (1) A research paper (10,000 words) (90%). (2) An academic poster (10%).
Other
Reading List