Master of Research ( MRes )
In this flexible course that can be taken online , you ’ ll develop professional-standard research skills in the subject of your choice . An MRes can give you a competitive edge in the researcher job market , and is also a valuable stepping stone towards a PhD .
If you are thinking about a career in academic or professional research , our MRes is an internationally recognised research qualification that you can complete flexibly and without the commitment of a full PhD . This course is also ideal if you want to expand your research knowledge as part of your continuing professional development ( CPD ).
First-class researchers are much sought after in academia and by commercial and third sector organisations that want to gain an edge in their marketplace . But , this can be a hard field to break into . On this course , you will develop advanced research skills that are transferrable to almost any field . You will also learn how to apply your research techniques to real-world problems to make you more valuable to prospective employers .
On the Research Methods module you will develop advanced research and analytical skills . The module on Communicating Research is important in a different way : here you will learn to think about how your research will be read , used and applied in the real world . Your approach will move beyond ‘ how do I do this piece of research ?’ to ‘ what can this research do for people ?’
With this thorough grounding in research techniques and their relevance , you will move on to complete your own Research Project . You will comprehensively review the literature in your field , and then produce a final output , this could be either a research paper , a consultancy report or a briefing paper . Whatever forms it takes , your project is a major piece of work and is your chance to show the academic , scientific or commercial world exactly what you can do .
The topic that you choose to research is up to you , as long as it ’ s in a subject that we teach . Past MRes students have researched topics as varied as eyewitness identification , molecular biology , the experience of living with type-2 diabetes , food bank use , and microbusinesses in Mexico . So you will have the freedom to explore what fascinates you when developing a portfolio of research and analytical techniques .
You can choose to specify the subject of your study in the title of degree . This ‘ post-nominal ’ award can be very useful when showing academic and professional organisations at a glance where your research expertise lies . Please see the ‘ Structure ’ section for a full list of the post-nominal awards that we now offer .
The MRes is flexible in terms of attendance and you can fit your visits to campus around your current work commitments . However you structure your work , you will enjoy close support throughout your studies from our academic team , and will be mentored by a specific supervisor who is expert in your area . It is also possible to study fully online , as long as your research , or chosen optional module , does not require access to materials or facilities that are only available on campus .
Structure
You can study for the full MRes or you can also register as an associate student to complete a single module for CPD .
You can study for a post-nominal award where the specific subject of your degree is named in its title . The subjects that we currently offer are :
• MRes ( Business Administration )
• MRes ( Cultural Leadership )
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• MRes ( Cultural Practice )
• MRes ( Clinical Science )
• MRes ( Education )
• MRes ( Global Health and Development )
• MRes ( Person-centred Practice )
• MRes ( Psychology )
• MRes ( Public Administration )
• MRes ( Public Sociology )
• MRes ( Rehabilitation Sciences )
• MRes ( Sociology )
• MRes ( Speech , Language and Hearing )
• MRes **
** The option of not specifying a subject remains open to all students
Teaching , learning and assessment
There are two compulsory taught modules ( Research Methods and Applied Research ) designed to develop skills in , and awareness of , the modern research environment . These are delivered via online learning . There may be opportunities to attend additional tutorials on campus . Students also take an optional module which you can choose to complement your research focus or develop particular skills . A major component of this course is the Research Project , which offers you the opportunity to carry out an extensive piece of research , with the expectation of an output suitable for submission to the peer-review process for potential publication , or useful for the student ’ s future career in other ways . You will be assigned a supervisor with expertise in your area who will work closely with you on your Research Project . Please take some time to browse our full website and consider staff members in the relevant