About

Introduction

In a nutshell

This master’s in Applied Social Research Methods will equip you with the practical skills, academic knowledge, and professional attributes necessary to design and deliver research projects from start to finish. At heart, this course will build your capacity, expertise, and confidence in designing and undertaking research from inception to delivery. Our course is underpinned by academic rigour twinned with a commitment to workplace readiness.

Unlike other courses, we dive straight into designing research projects to help inform the tackling of real-world social problems. Using workshop and activity-based learning, you’ll explore how best to recruit participants and work with stakeholders; you’ll try out different methods to explore their pros and cons; you’ll be introduced to project management tools and supported to think critically about the ethical dimensions of research work.

Each session on the course is scaffolded with academic insight and rigour but delivered in a way that inspires discussion, action, and professional growth. Instead of being lectured at for hours, you’ll be progressing your own projects in an interactive environment. Instead of essays, you’ll be writing research proposals in response to a live social problem. Instead of exams, you’ll submit a portfolio of your own work, based on your direct research and methods experience.

You will:

Develop advanced skills in designing, conducting, analysing, and reporting social research projects, using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Gain a deeper understanding of the philosophical and theoretical foundations of social research and how to appraise these.
Gain a critical understanding of the ethical issues that underpin social research and the ability to reflect on your own positionality and practice as a researcher.
Learn to critically evaluate existing research and evidence and to communicate your findings effectively to different audiences.
Be exposed to diverse perspectives and approaches from different disciplines and cultures and encouraged to collaborate with other researchers and practitioners.
Gain the knowledge and practice base necessary for further study at doctoral level.

International

students accepted

This is for you if...

1.

You want a career in social research in the public sector, civil service, or voluntary sectors.

2.

You want to work in roles where appraising data and thinking critically is fundamental to giving good advice and enabling change (such as in think tanks, political parties, or communications).

3.

You are driven by curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration and want to develop problem-solving, project management, and research leadership skills.

4.

You are currently in a policy or service delivery role but are looking to step up your career by developing expertise and leadership in research.

5.

You have recently completed an undergraduate degree and are committed to understanding a particular social phenomenon – this course will give you the tools to really explore that topic.

6.

You have recently completed an undergraduate degree and are committed to understanding a particular social phenomenon – this course will give you the tools to really explore that topic.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Requirements

What you need to know

Applicant profile

This programme is designed for those who have some research experience and those who have none. For those already in research and policy roles, this course will tighten and deepen your skillset and place it within an intellectual history and context. This sets you up well for PhD study or promotion. For those newer to research, but fascinated by a particular social issue or problem, you will be supported to translate your interests into a workable research plan and supported at each turn to try out methods and analysis.

It is likely that you will have a background in the social sciences or humanities, but this is not essential â the course is designed to support those with the commitment and curiosity needed for research, regardless of their undergraduate study. Open-mindedness, a willingness to give things a go, a self-starter, being curious about the world and how to explore it are the core attributes needed.

Standard entry requirements

Undergraduate degree

A lower second-class (2:2) or above in an undergraduate degree is required.

English Language Requirements

International applicants will be required to show a proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.5 (with no element below 6.0) is proof of this.

If you need to improve your written and spoken English, you might be interested in our Pre-sessional English course.

Alternative entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Learning

We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.

The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.

Two forms of APL may be used for entry: The Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

Career

Employment and stats

What about after uni?

Whilst many master's courses in social research focus on directing students into PhD programmes, our course brings the rigour, methodological curiosity, and philosophical awareness of an academic programme into conversation with real-world social issues and challenges. With that in mind, you will be well-placed for careers in a variety of sectors and organisations that engage with social issues and challenges. Likely future roles include:

Social researchers: Design and conduct social research to improve policy or to examine the effectiveness of existing policy. Social researchers work in research agencies, health organisations, charities, local governments, independent organisations, trade unions, and think tanks.
Government social research officers: Provide high-quality social research, analysis, and advice, to inform the development, implementation, and evaluation of government policies and programmes. As part of the civil service, you can work for various government departments, such as education, health, justice, and transport.
Policy analysts: Research and evaluate the impact of policies and programmes on society and the economy. Policy analysts can work in healthcare, think tanks, consultancy firms, and charitable and private sector bodies.
Project managers: Are responsible for leading, planning, delivering, and evaluating organisational projects. Found in the private and public sectors, they work with stakeholders, lead teams, and coordinate partners to ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
Local government officers: Engaged in research, policy development, and service provision activities. Especially those involved in commissioning, monitoring, and evaluating service provision.
Consultants: Providing expert advice and guidance to clients on specific issues or projects. Consultants can work in various fields, such as management, health, or education. They commonly undertake or commission research on behalf of clients.

Finally, many graduates with high-quality social research knowledge and skills often go on to establish their own research agencies and social enterprises.

Career Links

The teaching team has significant experience in building research capacity within partner and external organisations. Through our work with practitioners on the ground, we are able to bring the real-world conditions of research into the classroom. Our work with external partners shows the demand for highly skilled, responsive, and academically informed researchers in the workplace. You will be introduced to researchers working in the field through classroom experiences, guest sessions, and data.

This course offers you the opportunity to undertake a work placement or do a ‘live authentic’ digital project in your current place of employment. The placement or the project will develop your professional practice, enhance your employability, and/or contribute to your continuing professional development. This course will involve a number of guest speakers from digital industries as well as public and third-sector organisations.

Further study

If this programme develops your passion for social research methods and you want to extend this into doctoral study, the programme team will support you to develop a PhD proposal and explore routes to funding. Visit our Doctoral School page to find out more.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

19,365 / years