The Master of Research (MRes) is a full-time or part-time postgraduate research degree comprising a generic programme of research training and subject specific modules along with an extended project. The structure of the degree provides an excellent opportunity to prepare for doctoral study and provides students with transferable skills that would be useful outside of higher education.
For MRes students, the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods stage provides study in generic research methods consisting of a comprehensive introduction to the broad philosophies, methods and processes involved in undertaking research.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Research Methods, offers students the opportunity to specialise their research training by choosing three modules in consultation with their supervisory team. The assessments are tailored to allow specific engagement with methods appropriate to their disciplinary field.
The Master of Research Methods stage comprises of a focused research methods thesis.
Aims
The Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods is designed to provide:
- a challenging introduction to general issues in research enquiry
- a sound knowledge of research philosophies, paradigms and theoretical perspectives in particular areas
- a range of learning, teaching and assessment practices which emphasises the independent nature of research enquiry as well as the importance of collaboration, peer review and dissemination of research findings
- a supportive educational environment in which to develop appropriate knowledge and skills
- an improved ability to isolate problems and identify gaps in current knowledge and select appropriate methods.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Research Methods builds on these objectives by:
- Offering specialist disciplinary pathways for students
- Providing a wider and more intensive coverage of epistemological themes and research methodologies related to specific subject areas
- Providing the opportunity to explore critically a particular topic in depth and to examine research source materials
The Master of Research builds on these objectives further by enabling students to undertake a thesis, and thus to:
- Develop experience in conducting a sustained piece of individual enquiry
- Identify and evaluate existing literature or methodologies in an individual area of research, and to make critical use of this literature or methodologies
- Undertake an analysis of a particular research topic, which may or may not have an empirical basis, by making use of an appropriate methodology
- Relate the analysis to the context of the literature on the particular research topic, through a process of evaluation
- Draw conclusions about the particular research topic, drawing from both the analysis and the review.