Graduate School
A Department of Learner Support Services
The MRes programme is also known as the Social Sciences Research Training Programme. It consists of seven double modules (180 credits in total) that are usually taken in part by students in the social science-based areas of the University. Those students registered for the degree of MPhil leading to PhD in the Schools of Management; Social and International Studies; and Lifelong Education and Development come to us automatically for their research training (RT) in the form of the PG Diploma in Research Methods (120 credits). This may be supplemented later with a dissertation to upgrade to the degree of MRes, subject to the regulations of the University, suitable arrangements being in place for supervision, and the agreement of relevant staff.
If you are registered for the degree of MPhil leading to PhD in one of our client Schools, and this RT is required as part of your programme, you do not pay extra fees for the modules, the PG Certificate or the Diploma. However, if you are from another area of the University and you come to The Graduate School to take any of our modules, a charge will be raised for your study with us. If you are from our usual client Schools and take our modules as part of your MPhil leading to PhD programme, and you do not continue to the PhD, or do not complete the PhD, you will be charged the full rate for your study with us in The Graduate School retrospectively.
Those students who are permitted to take the MRes dissertation to "top up" their Diploma to the degree of MRes, will be charged the relevant rate for the dissertation.
There are a number of named pathways through the MRes. These include:
To achieve a qualification with a named pathway, the pathway (and therefore the registration) must be agreed at the outset, and approved by Graduate Registry as well as by The Graduate School and the home department (where relevant). If agreement is not possible, then the generic pathway will be taken.
Registered students from other areas within the University may apply to take some of the SSRTP modules as part of their PG taught or research courses, subject to suitable and appropriate arrangement with their home departments and with Graduate Registry. External prospective students may apply directly to the Graduate School to take some or all of the SSRTP, although we do not usually register successful applicants for the whole MRes in the first instance. It is our usual practice to register successful applicants on the PG Certificate in Research Methods (60 credits) in the first instance, with upgrade to the PG Diploma / MRes possible, subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of suitable and appropriate supervision.
As an ESRC-accredited programme, the MRes is recognised around the world as
a gold-standard research training qualification.