Master of Research MA (Res)

The Master of Research (MRes) is for those pursuing a career in academic or professional research. It is also suitable for individuals who would like to develop research skills within their professional field as part of their continuing professional development (CPD).

An MRes can give you a competitive edge in a research and evaluation-orientated job market and is a valuable stepping-stone towards a PhD. In this course, you will gain advanced research skills, develop and carry out our own research project and earn an internationally recognised research qualification. You can study for the MRes full-time or part-time.

First-class researchers are much sought after in academia and by commercial and third sector organisations who want to gain an edge in their marketplace.  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.

During the MRes programme you will be supported to:

* complete foundational research training across a range of disciplines and backgrounds;

* produce an in-depth and critical understanding of contemporary research practice;

* develop expert research knowledge within a specific area/ field of research literature;

* engage in research with curiosity, independence, and reflection with regards to your own development and the development of research projects;

* derive and justify a research aim, research question (and where relevant, one or more research hypotheses) and plan a general research approach based on a review of appropriate literature/sources;

* evaluate and synthesise complex problems/concepts/theories in order to formulate arguments and apply knowledge or practice in novel ways;

* plan, explain and undertake advanced methodological skills and knowledge relevant to a specific field and research study; and defend the research processes to be undertaken;

* design a research communication strategy and undertake activity to communicate ideas to different audiences;

* facilitate the critical and empirical exploration an area of research over an extended period;

* develop as a graduate who has acquired the skills and competencies required to carry out all tasks and elements required of a research process;

* engage in research independently; and be able to continue to doctoral studies or develop research within a professional capacity; and

* produce research findings which further knowledge and/or understanding.

You will complete seven modules on the MRes. The three taught modules below are designed to develop your research skills, your ability to review the literature in your chosen field and develop a critical and reflective understanding of the modern research environments.

The three taught modules are:

* Literature Enquiry and Synthesis.

* Research Methods: Problems and Solutions

* Foundations of Research Practice

Using learning from the three modules above, you will study four research  modules (below) where you will  be supported to design, propose and apply advanced research methods in your area of research interest. You then will be guided to develop a research thesis (or other relevant output/piece) and engage in research dissemination activities to specific audiences; a culmination and celebration of the research undertaken during the MRes.

The four research modules are: 

* Research Project Proposal

* Advanced Research Methods for your Research Project

* Delivering your Research Project

* Disseminating your Research Project

Finally, you will be guided to develop a research thesis (or other relevant output/piece) and engage in research dissemination activities to specific audiences; a culmination and celebration of the research undertaken during the MRes.