Course rating
(3)
Studying an MA at Hope, from my experience at least, has both benefits and drawbacks, The cost of around £5,250 a year is a bargain, but at that price point you soon realise that there is very limited contact time (just one day a week for two lectures) and the remainder of the time is self-directed study, This will appeal to some who may, for instance, feel it supports a better family life (if you have children to care for) or wish to take up any casual employment. However, with limited opportunities for contact with other students, I have not felt part of a critical learning community. The lectures have been delivered well and there are enthusiastic lecturers (I have also had the opportunity to attend a couple of other small conferences arranged by one of the lecturers). But, looking back, over the last 10 months or so, I cannot say that engagement with other students is as I expected it to be. That may, in part, be attributed to the recruitment policy - this is a small cohort (n=6), with a couple of others that joined us in January (I joined in September). 2/3 are international students who, from observation in class and speaking with them, are disconnected with the subject matter (e.g. a module on the Transformation of the UK Welfare State and a Comparative Social Policy course that looked ENTIRELY on the EU financial crisis of 2008 is hardly going to be as engaging for my peers who have come from West Africa and India). Hopefully, the course team will have taken note of the feedback that the course should be more relevant and focus on social policy with a more global content with cross-cutting themes, such as poverty, welfare, wellbeing, citizenship and social justice. The feedback on each of my assessed pieces has been consistently poor (from the perspective that there has been little of value to take forward in terms of learning experience and any lessons we can take forward - it's more of a critique rather than anything of any pedagogical value). I - and others - have felt let down that the programme leadership has not taken on board feedback we have given and seem deaf to concerns that have been raised. That has sullied my experience (in 2022/23) and the feeling that (with enrolments in September and January) the course feels like a treadmill with a cohort of students that seem disengaged and disinterested (e.g. in EACH of the group activities [circa 6-8] I have been involved in, and this is not an exaggeration, very few have bothered to engage with the pre-class reading). Overall, while I have worked hard to get as much out of the course that I can; I think a lot more could have been done to make my experiences a lot better than they have been (esp. in not ignoring constructive feedback, having a more focused/relevant curriculum, building a better learning community, and more valuable feedback in assessments).
Course content: 3.0
Work placements and internships: 1.0
Lecturers and teaching quality: 3.0
Career prospects: 4.0
Tutor contact time: 3.0
Subject facilities: 3.0
University location
(4)
In truth, Hope campus (the main campus) is a little detached from the city centre - but, this is (or can be) a perfect spot. There's just about enough to do on campus, but there is also nearby Allerton Road. The shuttle bus (in term time) connects the main campus with Aigbuth (near trendy Lark Lane) and then goes on to the city centre. I like the leafy, green nature of the campus. Granted, there will be some who will pine for the delights of the city centre but, as stated, it's just a 20 minute bus journey. The best thing in the city from a learning/cultural perspective? The International Slavery museum, Tate Gallery, The World Museum, the bars and cafes on Lark Lane, the magnificent Sefton Park, the Mersey and the Three Graces. Liverpool has something for everyone and the people are super friendly!
Cost of living: 4.0
Safety: 4.0
Public transport: 4.0
Part-time work opportunities: 4.0
Graduate employment opportunities: 4.0
Diversity: 5.0
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