School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures: AHRC MA Competition Schedule 2007

Note to academic staff: Please read these instructions and dates carefully, even if you have processed many AHRC ma applications before. Details always change from year to year.

Easter vacation dates: 24 March -15 April 2007

SLLC PGT Director is Professor Adrian Armstrong: / Tel. 0161 275 3227

MA Programme Directors are:

Contemporary China: Dr Sam Liang

ELC: Dr Cathy Gelbin

LACS: Professor Joao Cezar de Castro Rocha:

Linguistics:Professor Yaron Matras

(Admissions Officer):Dr Ricardo Bermúdez-Otero

MES: Professor Hoda Elsadda

Translation Studies: Dr Luis Pérez-González

NOTES

Responsibility for overseeing the completion of AHRC application forms for each programme rests with the MA Programme Directors (see list above), working in collaboration with the future dissertation supervisor (if possible and appropriate), the PG Office, and the School PGT Director, Professor Armstrong. Members of staff shouldlet the PG Office know as soon as they begin work on an AHRC application, so that an up-to-date central list can be maintained.

The AHRC administers two MA schemes, the Research Preparation Scheme (for students intending to continue to a PhD) and the Professional Preparation Scheme (for students seeking a career in professional practice: this will concern some, but not all, applicants to the MA in Translation Studies, and possibly applicants to other programmes). Application forms for both these schemes, together with notes on completing the application forms and guides for applicants to each scheme, can be downloaded from:

(Research Preparation)

(Professional Preparation)

Staff and applicants are strongly encouraged to read these documents.

Students intending to study part-time are eligible to apply for awards. From October 2007, for the first time, part-time award holders in the MA schemes will receive amaintenance grant as well as tuition fees; the grant will be equivalent to 50 percent of a full-time award.

Note the recently-revised criteria for EU eligibility for awards. Living in the UK for three years prior to the application for the purposes of being enrolled in Higher Education MAY NOW qualify some EU students, including those from Bulgaria and Romania, to apply for a full award (i.e. fees and maintenance). See sections 46-93 (Research Preparation) or 41-87 (Professional Preparation) of the AHRC Guide for Applicants for all issues relating to residency requirements.

Examples of previously successful AHRC applications will be circulated by the PG Office, to Programme Directors in the first instance.

In preparing the AHRC forms, PLEASE ADHERE STRICTLYto the AHRC word limits, boxes, and page lengths. The AHRC will reject any submissions not presented within their format.

SLLC’s own competition for MA fee bursaries does not require that an AHRC application be made. Only high-quality applicants, deemed to be genuinely strong candidates for an AHRC award, should apply. This decision is left to the academic judgement of the relevant PGT Programme Director and (if possible and appropriate) the future dissertation supervisor. Criteria would be, for example, a first either predicted or already achieved at BA level. NB the deadline for the internal competition is 29 June 2007, so candidates may still apply after the AHRC competition has closed.Further particulars relating to SLLC internal funding competitions for 2007 will be available on the School website in due course.

Internal peer reviewing of students’ cases for support for AHRC awards is strongly advised. This should be conducted within the programme area. The future dissertation supervisor should work in conjunction with the Programme Director in question, who can offer feedback and advice. Professor Armstrong will also check and offer feedback on the applications.

Students who decide to make last-minute AHRC applications, after the SLLC internal deadlines have passed, may still do so, provided that the future dissertation supervisor and/or Programme Director is available and willing to go through the process with the student, chase up academic references, and draft Part III (institutional support and authorisation). The PG Office staff and PGT Director cannot take on these tasks for last-minute AHRC applicants.

who does what for AHRC MA applications

Part I (personal information and proposed study)

To be completed by the student, in collaboration with the future dissertation supervisor, by 5 March 2007. The final signed hard copy of Part I should be given to Ms Rachel Corbishley in the School Postgraduate Office in S3.11 (postal address below).

At the same time,ELECTRONIC COPIES of the full application form, including the completed Part I, should be sent to the two referees who will complete Part II, and also to the relevant MA Programme Director (see list above) who will completePart III.

Part II (referees’ reports)

Once Part I is finalized, the student should send the whole AHRC form as an email attachment, along with the “Notes on completing the Research/Professional Preparation Master’s Scheme application form”, to both referees, and request that they send their final signed hard copies of Part II by 5 April 2007to MsRachel Corbishley, The Postgraduate Office, School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL.

Part III (institutional support and authorisation)

The MA Programme Director should complete Part III, and then submit the final hard copies of Part III to Rachel Corbishley in the SLLC PG Office in S3.11 by 16 April 2007. Programme Directors can consult the references from Part II, held on file in the PG Office, if necessary.

For Part III, the AHRC will not want to see standard, “cut and paste”-type responses; this section should be individually tailoredto the student’s specific situation and environment. Details of the student’s chosen course must be supplied, complementing the applicant’s own statements and indicating how the course relates to her/his longer-term aims. Descriptions of resources and support must depend on the student’s individual case (e.g. scholars and library resources in the field), but the following general descriptions of SLLC postgraduate space, resources, and research progress and training monitoring may be included:

  • An online Postgraduate Skills Audithelps students identify their training needs, which they can then meet by following a Personal Development Plan devised in consultation with academic staff.
  • The SLLC has a dedicated Centre for Graduate Studies, which has ample study space, 30 computers, printing facilities and personal lockers.

Statements should also address how research ethics, plagiarism and misconduct are handled in the School; advice will be supplied at School level in due course.

Comments on the applicant’s preparedness and suitability for the programme must be factual,based on the student’s academic and other relevant experience. They should not be considered a third reference, and should not repeat information from Part II.

Rankings will be established by Programme Directors, in conjunction with Professor Armstrong. It is compulsory to rank students, and their rankings must be realistic. Joint rankings (e.g. equal first out of five) are not permitted. For further information, see the “Notes on completing the Research/Professional Preparation Master’s Scheme application form”.

DR (UK) and DR (Overseas) forms, signing and stamping

The PG Office will collate the full final application, ensuring that DR (UK) and DR (overseas) forms are completed and sent to Faculty for eligibility checks, authorization, signing off and stamping.

Summary of SLLC and Faculty Deadlines

5 March 2007– SLLC deadline for students to complete Part I and send:

  • signed hard copy of Part I to Rachel Corbishley in the Postgraduate Office, S3.11
  • electronic attachment copies of the AHRC form and guidance notes, including the completed Part I to the 2 referees and to the relevant MA Programme Director (see list above).

5 April 2007– SLLC Deadline for Part II; signed hard copies of the references to reach Rachel Corbishley in the Postgraduate Office, S3.11.

16 April 2007 – SLLC Deadline for MA Programme Directorsto submit their finalized hard copies of Part III to Rachel Corbishley in the Postgraduate Office, S3.11.

25 April 2007 – University eligibility checking, stamping and final authorization.

27 April 2007 – Delivery of copied, finalized forms to Faculty for sending to AHRC

AHRC Deadline Dates

Action / Date
The submission date for the statement of research training strategy and provision (if required) / 1 May 2007
The closing date for all applications / 1 May 2007
The submission date for DR and DR(Overseas) forms for students who have completed their undergraduate degree / 1 May 2007
The submission date for DR and DR(Overseas) forms for students who will complete their undergraduate degree in 2007 / As soon as possible, but by 13 July 2007, at the latest

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