Most states claim to be democratic. This module looks at the theory of democracy, including foundational questions about political inclusion, participation, and equality. As a result, students will develop a greater understanding of what democracy requires and why we might value it, an understanding that will enable them to reflect critically on claims about democracy.
This module provides you with a foundation of knowledge on demographic change and population ageing in a cross-cultural, global perspective. The module views ageing through an international development lens, focusing on less economically developed countries (LEDCs) and on linkages between different regions of the world. You will gain an understanding of the implications of contemporary demographic and health changes for the welfare of individuals, families and societies; and an awareness of how, with globalisation, demographic, social and economic change in one part of the world impacts upon trends in another. The module takes an intergenerational and lifecourse approach by stressing the close interaction between generations, and between older and younger selves, in the production of care, risk, and welfare in later life. You will be introduced to examples from around the world, including Southeast, East and South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America.
This Module provides an introduction to the technical basis of demography. It focuses on concepts and methods underpinning demographic analysis and provides a practical introduction for those professionally engaged with demographic work (in government departments, for example) as well as for MSc and doctoral students in a wide range of cognate disciplines. The module is numerical but not highly mathematical so that some prior familiarity with quantitative methods is an advantage but not required. This module is run as a 3-day short course.
The module will cover a range of more advanced methods of demographic analysis, including multiple decrement life tables, health expectancies, an introduction to event history analysis, the use of type 1 and type 2 rates in demography and sources of bias in event history data, parity-specific measurement, empirical and relational model life tables, models for age patterns, stable population theory, the cohort-component method and other selected topics in population projections, selected topics in migration, as well as elements of linear algebra and matrix models of population dynamics.
This Module provides an introduction to the technical basis of demography. It focuses on concepts and methods underpinning demographic analysis and provides a practical introduction for those professionally engaged with demographic work (in government departments, for example) as well as for MSc and doctoral students in a wide range of cognate disciplines. The module is numerical but not highly mathematical so that some prior familiarity with quantitative methods is an advantage but not required. Extensive use is made of Excel worksheets. Pre-requisite for DEMO6016 One of the pre-requisites for DEMO6022
This module explores the key concepts and theories of financial derivatives. The focus is mainly on futures and options whose underlying asset is a financial asset (e.g., stock index options). Students will learn how to price these derivatives with the use of suitable pricing models. Additionally, they will learn how to use them to implement various risk management strategies. Overall, this module will enable students to possess a solid knowledge on derivatives and will give them the foundation to read further in the area and at a more advanced level (e.g., high quality journals).
Derivatives Trading Book Management with Programming is a practically focused advanced course in the market-making of derivatives products using computational modelling. Students will get a bird's eye view of the derivatives industry, and the roles of the major buy- and sell-side players, across all underlying asset classes. They will learn how to use the main 'vanilla' products - forwards, swaps, options, caps and floors - to structure bespoke features and exotic contracts for prospective clients. Using Python, students will create their own Monte Carlo engine and use it in the practice of market making: pricing, dynamic hedging, and risk management. Finally, students will learn about the role and social impact of financial market regulations.
Some of the biggest uncertainties in climate change predictions come from our lack of understanding of the impact of some of the smallest airborne dust particles. These dust particles are transported between continents from some of the hottest and most unpopulated regions on our planet, and potentially end up fertilising tropical rain forests or ocean algal blooms. Yet, even in the harshest of desert environments, vegetation or bacteria may still exist, and help to shape the windy landscapes that they reside in. Landscapes where wind-blown sand forms some of the most exquisite, self-organised patterns visible on satellite images and recognisable on other planets.
Conventional laboratory experiments are useful mainly to assist understanding or analysis. Because they are of necessity stereotyped, they are of limited usefulness when a circuit or system must be designed to meet a given specification. The majority of engineering tasks fall into this latter category, and therefore require design or synthesis skills, in addition to the understanding of underlying engineering principles. This module includes individual and team design exercises devised to provide a bridge between 'conventional' experiments and the project work in the third and fourth years, (which in turn provide a bridge to 'real' projects in industry). The exercise has real deadlines and concrete deliverables and students are encouraged to be creative, develop imaginative solutions and to make mistakes. Exercises share common characteristics: • Customer orientated rather than proscriptive specifications are given • Design work carried out, bringing academic knowledge to bear on practical problems • Laboratory sessions are used for development/ construction/ verification of designs • Allow students to demonstrate their communication skills in writing individual and group reports/presentations.
This module is suitable for students who are planning to conduct an empirical project for their dissertation, those who work in clinical and health research settings and those who wish to develop their knowledge and understanding of design and methods for clinical and health research. It forms a basis for other research modules comprising the MRes programme. Learning is shared with the doctoral training programme. Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to: LO1.Critically appraise and integrate a wide range of literature related to your area of research, both from a scientific and a pragmatic perspective, and in the context of a health care environment LO2.Identify questions or topics relating to your area of practice and carry out a comprehensive literature search LO3.Demonstrate an understanding of relevant research design and methods through critical appraisal of selected literature LO4.Critically evaluate relevant research evidence and synthesise recommendations for your area of research or practice LO5.Identify and justify appropriate and feasible research question(s).
