Social Research Methods
Postgraduate degree
Start this course in January 2022
A programme for students looking to embark on a career as a researcher or academic. It will help you plan and conduct robust research for your MPhil/PhD.
Start Date:
January 2022
September 2022
Duration:
1 year (full-time)
2 years (part-time)
January start only available as a full-time option.
Degree Type:
MA/PGDip/PGCert
Number of credits:
PGCert 60 credits
PGDip 120 credits
MA 180 credits
School:
Why this course
This programme is suitable for students wishing to complete research within the fields of Business, Education or the Social Sciences.
External assessors recently rated the innovative General Research Skills module very highly and commented favourably on the assessment mix.
The course has 1+3 recognition from the Economic and Social Research Council.
Course and Module Details
Overview:
This programme is designed for students looking to embark on a successful career as a researcher or academic, and provides you with the necessary training as part of your study for your MPhil/PhD.
It's distinctive in providing students with an exciting opportunity to develop expertise in a range of both quantitative and qualitative research methods of data collection and analysis with a focus on their application to real-world issues.
The course has 1+3 recognition from the Economic and Social Research Council. Only three Education Departments in post-92 universities have this prestigious kitemark.
In order to enhance your engagement with the issues to be examined, and to allow flexibility over how you manage your time, the Social Research Methods programme will be delivered through weekly sessions in the Autumn and Spring semesters supplemented by tutorial support available (both face-to-face and electronically). Evening sessions are provided for part-time students.
Course content
The programme introduces the processes and issues involved in designing a quantitative or qualitative research project. You will also undertake modules that will introduce you to the methods of quantitative (including use of SPSS) and qualitative (including use of CAQDAS) research, giving you the skills and confidence to use these approaches to data collection and analysis in your own research.
You will explore the philosophy of social science research where you will examine the relationship between epistemology, ontology and methodology. Furthermore, you will explore concepts that underpin educational and social research including empiricism, rationalism, hermeneutics, feminism, post-modernism and critical realism and critique their relation to objectivity, causation, and validity.
You will also focus on key elements of the Research Councils’ Joint Statement of Skills Training for Research Students. You can then choose to study interpretations of the concept of education - and their implications for research - and the role of values in educational theory and research methodologies, or the basic theoretical concepts in social theory, with a particular emphasis on sociology and social policy.
Students will complete a dissertation in an area of their choosing in the fields of education or the social sciences.
Modules
Indicative Timetable
Teaching is delivered through weekly sessions in the Autumn and Spring semesters supplemented by tutorial support, both face-to-face and online. Evening sessions are provided for part-time students.
Tuition fees and funding
January 2022 entry tuition fees
Year 1 fees.
| UK | EU | International |
| £6,824 (full-time) | £6,824 (full-time) | £14,504 (full-time) |
| £380 per ten credits (part-time) | £380 per ten credits (part-time) | £806 per ten credits (part-time) |
January 2022 funding
September 2022 entry tuition fees
This is the course for those wishing to be employed in the research field of education and/or social sciences and for anyone intending to continue their studies to doctoral level.
How to apply
Postgraduate programmes
You can apply now for any programme starting in Autumn 2021, January or February 2022 or September 2022.
All postgraduate taught applications can be made via our online application form.
- Check our application deadlines
- View our entry requirements for postgraduate programmes
- View our general entry criteria and application FAQs
If you need any help or advice with your application, or just want to ask us a question before you apply, please do not hesitate to contact us.
International students
Please note that most international applicants have to pay a deposit before securing their place.
- See our Finance pages for more details
Postgraduate application process FAQs
How do I apply?
To apply, you need to complete our online application form.
Do I need to complete all of my online application at once?
No, you can save and revisit your application form and can contact us directly at any time if you need advice or assistance.
What are the entry criteria and fees?
We have general entry requirements for postgraduate courses. Many of our courses also have specific entry requirements. You can find details of these, and the fees for individual courses, on our postgraduate course pages.
What is the deadline for postgraduate applications?
If you are a prospective postgraduate student who has home fee status, then you can apply close to the start of the course of study. However, if you have international fee status and require a Tier 4 Visa, then you will normally need to apply much earlier. Please see our application deadlines for postgraduate study.
We encourage all students to apply as early as possible, as some programmes have limited numbers.
Does Roehampton offer financial support for postgraduates?
Yes, we offer a range of scholarships, alongside support on managing your finances while you are with us.
You can find more information on our postgraduate home and postgraduate international financial support pages. There are also other sources of external funding for international students available.
Do you offer student accommodation for postgraduates?
Yes, we have a wide range of high quality and competitively priced on-campus student residences. We are able to offer quiet rooms and can adjust for those with specific access needs.
Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Need help before you apply?
Our Research
To read about the world class research carried out in Roehampton's School of Education, please visit the departmental research pages.
