STA Student Handbook (Taught Programmes) 2025/26

You will find your MA modules challenging and demanding, but also rewarding, especially if you commit to preparing as fully as possible and making the most of the excellent range of libraries and archives that London has to offer.

Seminar Teaching

Your seminar leaders will explain how they want the seminar to run, but student presentations, discussion and the exchange of ideas are central to the seminar experience. Consequently, full attendance at seminars and active participation in discussions are expected.

Practical Teaching

Your module tutors will explain how they want the workshop to run, but student presentations of practical work, experimentation, discussion and the exchange of ideas are central to the workshop experience. Consequently, full attendance at workshops and active participation in practical exercises and discussions are expected.  It is also vital that you participate fully in any student-led practice sessions or technical rehearsals if these form part of your MA programme.

Placement modules

Some modules have placements. It is important that you engage fully in the advertised processes for establishing a placement, attend all scheduled placement opportunities and advise your module tutor of any difficulties as soon as possible, should they arise.

Libraries

A postgraduate degree in the humanities requires advanced library skills and you are expected to make use of the extremely wide range of libraries on London.  All students should be familiar with the QMUL Library, the University of London Library at Senate House, and the British Library. Admission to all of these is free. For QMUL library and Senate House, admission can be gained with your QMUL student card. You will need to register separately at the British Library for a Reader's Pass. As graduate students of the University of London, MA students have reading rights in the University’s specialist libraries. In addition, there are a large number of specialist libraries and archives in London, including the British Film Institute, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, the Institute for Historical Research, the National Art Library, the National Archives, the London Metropolitan Archives, the Live Art Development Agency, the Victoria & Albert Museum's Theatre and Performance Collections and the Warburg Institute.

All students are welcome to attend any of the various research seminars organised by the School of the Arts. Details of these events will be circulated via email and displayed on the School's events and departmental webpages.

Institute of Modern Languages Research (IMLR)
The IMLR offers workshops on Saturdays as part of their research training programme. The Institute is part of the School of Advanced Study of the University of London, and the workshops take place in Senate House. These workshops are open to all postgraduate students (masters and research) in the Romance field in London and beyond; and are offered free of charge to graduate students in departments subscribing to the IMLR Departmental Scheme (which includes the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film).

These workshops may be beneficial for students taking any postgraduate programme within the School. Further information and a programme is available from the IMLR website.

Other Institutions
All students are entitled to attend lectures, seminars and conferences at the research institutes of the University. Events at the Institute of Modern Languages Research, School of Slavonic and East European Studies and the English Institute (all in Senate House) are likely to be of particular interest. Announcements will be circulated via email.

BFI Reuben Library

Screen Studies Group