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Culture, Diaspora, Ethnicity

MA, PG Cert, PG Dip

Application options include:

Full-time Part-time
On campus

Course Overview

Birkbeck is a global centre for research and teaching on ‘race’ and racism. We are home to multidisciplinary communities of scholars and students, academic programmes and research centres committed to the study of this subject area.

This innovative interdisciplinary course stretches across the arts and humanities and social sciences. It offers the opportunity to explore:

  • histories and cartographies of ‘race’ and racism; multiculture and postcoloniality; empire and the formation of modern Britain and contemporary, transnational political communities, social identities and urban cultures  
  • connections between histories of colonisation and contemporary social formations and inequalities 
  • how local debates on ‘race’ and racism are shaped by the global geopolitics of the twenty-first century.

The course examines connections between intertwined colonial histories and our ordinary, local everyday life. We focus on a broad range of subjects such as modern colonial statecraft, forms of colonial labour, racial typology and other systems of categorisation; colonial cultures and nationalisms; histories of anticolonial, antifascist and antiracist resistance, criminalisation and policing; theorising culture, community and postcolonial belonging; contemporary racial nationalisms and religious authoritarian movements and race, gender and sexuality. 

We offer this course as a Master’s, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate. You take four modules and complete a dissertation for the Master’s. You take four modules for the Diploma and two modules for the Certificate. You do not complete a dissertation for the Diploma or the Certificate. 

The Postgraduate Certificate allows you to progress to and complete the Postgraduate Diploma or MA if you wish. The Postgraduate Diploma enables you to progress to and complete the MA.

Discover the career opportunities available by taking Culture, Diaspora, Ethnicity (MA, PG Cert, PG Dip).

Key information and modules

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Highlights

  • This interdisciplinary postgraduate course will introduce you to important historical and political debates and theoretical frameworks in the broad area of 'race' and racism, multiculture and postcoloniality. MA students can undertake an empirical or theoretical dissertation or a practice-based dissertation such as a film or an exhibition.
  • Through our formal link with the University of São Paulo, Brazil, you can undertake an option module at the university as part of your study at Birkbeck.
  • You will become part of a vibrant, stimulating and diverse intellectual environment. Birkbeck is the first higher education institution in London to receive the title University of Sanctuary. You will have access to the Race Forum at Birkbeck, research centres including the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities and Centre for Law and the Humanities and there are specialist student reading groups that focus on particular subject areas such as medicine, ‘race’ and empire and psychoanalysis and colonialism.
  • Birkbeck Library has an extensive teaching collection of books, journals and learning resources in relevant disciplines. You will also be able to use the rich research resources nearby including Senate House Library, the British Library of Political and Economic Science (the LSE Library), the SOAS Library and the British Library.
  • This course consistently achieves high levels of satisfaction from Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey respondents. In 2019 and 2020, the student satisfaction rate was 100%; in 2021 the rate was 95%; in 2022 it was 85%; and in 2023 it was 100%.
  • If you are taking this course part time, you may be eligible for a Bonnart Trust Master’s Studentship which will cover the cost of your tuition fees. You must have received an offer of a place on the course by 31 May 2024 to apply.

Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

  • Entry Requirements Entry Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in social sciences or arts and humanities.

    Applications are reviewed on their individual merits, and your professional qualifications, relevant work experience or a lively interest in the subject area will also be considered.  

    We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

    On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

    Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

    English language requirements

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this programme is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

    Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

    Visa and funding requirements

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

    Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university, you may have accumulated credits through the modules you studied. It may be possible to transfer these credits from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

  • Fees Fees

    Fees

    Culture, Diaspora, Ethnicity MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25

    Academic year 2024–25, starting October 2024

    Part-time home students: £5,400 per year
    Full-time home students: £10,800 per year
    Part-time international students: £9,915 per year
    Full-time international students: £19,830 per year

    Culture, Diaspora, Ethnicity PG Cert: 1 year part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25

    Academic year 2024–25, starting October 2024

    Part-time home students: £3,600 per year
    Part-time international students: £6,610 per year

    Culture, Diaspora, Ethnicity PG Dip: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25

    Academic year 2024–25, starting October 2024

    Part-time home students, Year 1: £5,400 per year
    Part-time home students, Year 2: £1,800 per year
    Full-time home students: £7,200 per year
    Part-time international students, Year 1: £9,915 per year
    Part-time international students, Year 2: £3,305 per year
    Full-time international students: £13,220 per year

    Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the College Fees Policy.

    If you’ve studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a discount on the tuition fee of this course.

    Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

    International scholarships

    We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. Discover if you are eligible for a scholarship.

  • Teaching and Assessment Teaching and Assessment

    Teaching

    At Birkbeck, most of our courses are taught in the evening and all of our teaching is designed to support students who are juggling evening study with work and other commitments. We actively encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching, to ensure our students have the best learning experience.

    Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials. Formal lectures are used in most degree programmes to give an overview of a particular field of study. They aim to provide the stimulus and the starting point for deeper exploration of the subject during your own personal reading. Seminars give you the chance to explore a specific aspect of your subject in depth and to discuss and exchange ideas with fellow students. They typically require preparatory study.

    In addition, you will have access to pastoral support via a named Personal Tutor.

    Methods of teaching on this course

    A range of teaching and learning methods, such as lectures, seminars, student presentations and supervisions.

    Teaching hours

    Our evening hours are normally between 6pm and 9pm (6-7.30pm and 7.30-9pm). Some programmes also offer teaching during the day and this will be clearly signposted to you where it is available.

    On our taught courses, you will have scheduled teaching and study sessions each year. Scheduled teaching sessions may include lectures, seminars, workshops or laboratory work. Depending on the modules you take, you may also have additional scheduled academic activities, such as tutorials, dissertation supervision, practical classes, visits and field trips. On our taught courses, the actual amount of time you spend in the classroom and in contact with your lecturers will depend on your course, the option modules you select and when you undertake your final-year project (if applicable).

    Alongside your contact hours, you will also undertake assessment activities and independent learning outside of class. The amount of time you need to allocate to study both for taught sessions (this might include online sessions and/or in-person sessions) and personal study will depend on how much you are studying during the year and whether you are studying full time or part time.

    Birkbeck’s courses are made up of modules and allocated ‘credit’. One credit is equivalent to ten hours of learning time. Modules are usually in 15, 30 or 60 credit units. A 15-credit module will mean around 150 hours of learning, including taught sessions and independent study or group work. This is spread out over the whole period of that module and includes the time you spend on any assessments, including in examinations, preparing and writing assessments or engaged in practical work as well as any study support sessions to help you in your learning.

    On our distance-learning and blended-learning courses, discussion, collaboration and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students is encouraged and enabled through various learning technologies.

    Timetables

    Timetables are usually available from September onwards and you can access your personalised timetable via your My Birkbeck Profile online (if you have been invited to enrol).

    Indicative class size

    Class sizes vary, depending on your course, the module you are undertaking, and the method of teaching. For example, lectures are presented to larger groups, whereas seminars usually consist of small, interactive groups led by a tutor.

    Independent learning

    On our taught courses, much of your time outside of class will be spent on self-directed, independent learning, including preparing for classes and following up afterwards. This will usually include, but is not limited to, reading books and journal articles, undertaking research, working on coursework and assignments, and preparing for presentations and assessments.

    Independent learning is absolutely vital to your success as a student. Everyone is different, and the study time required varies topic by topic, but, as a guide, expect to schedule up to five hours of self-study for each hour of teaching.

    Study skills and additional support

    Birkbeck offers study and learning support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed. Our Learning Development Service can help you in the following areas:

    • academic skills (including planning your workload, research, writing, exam preparation and writing a dissertation)
    • written English (including structure, punctuation and grammar)
    • numerical skills (basic mathematics and statistics).

    Our Disability and Dyslexia Service can support you if you have additional learning needs resulting from a disability or from dyslexia.

    Our Counselling Service can support you if you are struggling with emotional or psychological difficulties during your studies.

    Our Mental Health Advisory Service can support you if you are experiencing short- or long-term mental health difficulties during your studies.

    Assessment

    Assessment is an integral part of your university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations, although this will vary from course to course - on some of our courses, assessment is entirely by coursework. The methods of assessment on this course are specified below under 'Methods of assessment on this course'. You will need to allow time to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

    Where a course has unseen written examinations, these may be held termly, but, on the majority of our courses, exams are usually taken in the Summer term, during May to June. Exams may be held at other times of the year as well. In most cases, exams are held during the day on a weekday - if you have daytime commitments, you will need to make arrangements for daytime attendance - but some exams are held in the evening. Exam timetables are published online.

    Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

    Methods of assessment on this course

    MA: one 4000-word essay per core module, and a 10,000-12,000-word dissertation or a dissertation in another medium such as film or an exhibition with a 6000-word accompanying essay.

    PG Cert and PG Dip: one 4000-word essay per core module. 

    Assessment for option modules may vary. 

    Only some politics option modules offered are assessed by examinations. 

  • Careers and employability Careers and employability

    Careers and employability

    Graduates have pursued careers as: 

    • filmmakers, journalists, teachers, curators, architects, novelists, poets, musicians and activists
    • lecturers and researchers in the subject areas of history, postcolonial studies, cultural studies, urban studies, psychosocial studies and sociology
    • psychoanalysts, psychotherapists and psychiatrists; barristers and solicitors.

    Graduates can also pursue career paths in organisations and charities concerned with: 

    • criminalisation and policing 
    • domestic violence
    • refugees and asylum
    • human rights
    • homelessness
    • imprisonment
    • addiction
    • youth and community work.

    There are currently several graduates undertaking doctoral research in this subject area.

    We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

  • How to apply How to apply

    How to apply

    You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

    You will need to prove your identity when you apply - read more about suitable forms of identification.

    When to apply

    You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places on your chosen course and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

    You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

    You will also receive information about subject-specific induction sessions over the summer.

    Help and advice with your application

    Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

    Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

    Apply for your course

    Apply for your course using the apply now button in the key information section.

Course structure

Course structure listing

Course structure and modules for Culture, Diaspora, Ethnicity MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2024

You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

  • two core modules (30 credits each)
  • two option modules (30 credits each)
  • an independent research module: either a written dissertation or a dissertation in another medium such as a film or an exhibition with an accompanying essay (60 credits).

The core modules introduce you to important historical and political debates and theoretical frameworks while the special subject option modules focus on particular subject areas and are taught by academics across the College.

Core modules
Criminology option modules
English, theatre and creative writing option modules
Film, media and cultural studies option modules
Geography option modules
History, classics and archaeology option modules
Law option modules
Philosophy option modules
Politics option modules
Psychosocial studies option modules
Independent research module

Course structure and modules for Culture, Diaspora, Ethnicity PG Cert: 1 year part-time, on campus, starting October 2024

You must complete modules worth a total of 60 credits, consisting of:

  • two core modules (30 credits each) or
  • one core and one option module (30 credits each).

The core modules introduce you to important historical and political debates and theoretical frameworks while the special subject option modules focus on particular subject areas and are taught by academics across the College. 

Core modules
Criminology option modules
English, theatre and creative writing option modules
Film, media and cultural studies option modules
Geography option modules
History, classics and archaeology option modules
Law option modules
Philosophy option modules
Politics option modules
Psychosocial studies option modules

Course structure and modules for Culture, Diaspora, Ethnicity PG Dip: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2024

You must complete modules worth a total of 120 credits, consisting of:

  • two core modules (30 credits each)
  • two option modules (30 credits each).

The core modules introduce you to important historical and political debates and theoretical frameworks, while the special subject option modules focus on particular subject areas. Option modules are taught by academics across the College. 

    Core modules
    Criminology option modules
    English, theatre and creative writing option modules
    Film, media and cultural studies option modules
    Geography option modules
    History, classics and archaeology option modules
    Law option modules
    Philosophy option modules
    Politics option modules
    Psychosocial studies option modules