Teaching and assessment

What are the methods of teaching?

Teaching may include lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials. Lectures are used in most degree programmes to provide an overview of a particular topic. They aim to provide the stimulus and starting point for deeper exploration of the subject through your own 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.

Teaching hours

We offer evening teaching with classes between 6pm and 9pm. Some courses offer teaching during the day often between 2 and 5pm – this will be clearly indicated where it is available.

On our taught courses, you will have scheduled teaching and study sessions. Scheduled teaching sessions may include lectures, seminars, workshops or laboratory work. Depending on the course and on the modules you take, you may also have additional academic activities, such as tutorials, dissertation supervision, practical classes, visits and field trips. On our taught courses, the 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 be required to undertake assessments and independent learning outside of class. The amount of time you need to allocate to study 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 doing practical work, as well as any study support sessions to help you in your learning.

Where a course offers distance-learning with online attendance discussion, collaboration and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students is encouraged and enabled through various learning technologies, which may include HyFlex.

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 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.

What are the methods of 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 guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.