The MA in Town and Regional Planning with Advanced Study in Practice is fully modularised. In line with University practice you must gain 180 credits to pass the MA. 60 credits are awarded for the successful completion of the MA Dissertation which forms the final piece of work for the degree. You must take and pass all the modules for the award of an MA. A Diploma in Town and Regional Planning with Advanced Study in Practice may be awarded if the Dissertation is failed but 120 credits are passed in all other modules (including the module ?Advanced Study in Practice?). A Certificate in Town and Regional Planning may also be awarded if at least 60 credits are passed in the Autumn or Spring semesters (this excludes those choosing the Planning in Europe option). The programme runs for two sessions and consists of core modules, a series of Specialised Study Options from which you must choose modules to the value of 30 credits and a period of study in practice. The purpose of the Specialised Study Options is to allow you to explore in depth aspects of town planning which particularly interest you. In addition, they provide a useful means of developing through a structured module specialised skills and knowledge, which may be subsequently developed in the Dissertation. The process of selecting Specialised Study Options and Dissertations starts at the beginning of the first year. At this stage, you will be given guidance on formulating initial thoughts as to specialising study and choosing a dissertation topic. This process is developed through the Autumn Semester before you start on Specialised Study Options in the Spring Semester and more detailed work on your dissertation later in the year.