Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM148: Brexit: Causes, interpretation, and implications

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Aims

This module familiarizes you with the relationship the UK has traditionally entertained with the EU before addressing in detail the different steps of the separation process now known under ‘Brexit’. It aims at providing you with the skills and knowledge to critically engage in the ongoing debate about Brexit, to evaluate and explain its different components as well as to develop a well-founded position yourself. To do so, it will look at relevant theories which help making sense of European integration in general, and the different aspects of leaving the EU in particular, for instance the economy, immigration, the Union, sovereignty and democratic control. The module is set up in such way that it supports the development of a variety of skills – analytical, methods, team skills as well as individual writing and presentation skills. Overall, it aims to enthuse you and help you position yourself in the defining British debate and development for years to come.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of why there was a United Kingdom referendum about EU-membership in 2016; 2. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the uncertain implications of exiting the EU, both for the UK and the EU; 3. Critically engage with the legitimacy of the referendum and its interpretation by political leaders since 23 June 2016;
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. Critically engage with one of the most important political events of our time; 5. Construct rigorous arguments which show an understanding of key theories; 6. Deploy theoretical arguments and apply them to empirical case studies;
Personal and Key Skills	7. Critically evaluate ideas and debates; 8. Write clearly and coherently; 9. Work independently and in collaboration with peers. 10. Communicate clearly and deliver presentations to peers.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

What is the EU about?
UK’s history with the EU
The referendum campaign(s)
Result and interpretation
The negotiations: Legal basis, domestic priorities and EU priorities
Domestic implications: Economy and immigration
Domestic implications: Democracy, sovereignty and the Union
Domestic implications: Rights and standards
European implications: Which future for the EU?
Field studies: which local citizen support for Brexit?

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	278

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	22	11 x two-hour seminars. These will be a mix of lectures led by the module convenor, student presentations, and group work. The emphasis is on weekly seminar presentations and active seminar participation.
Guided Independent Study	70	Reading and preparing for seminars, including in reading groups.
Guided Independent Study	30	Preparation of presentation
Guided Independent Study	50	Preparation of and implementation of field work
Guided Independent Study	128	Preparation and writing of assessment

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).