Overview
Summary
The Master of Research Programme (MRes) offered by the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences provides a one year foundation to research suitable for those who wish to proceed to enrol for a PhD programme, but at the same time allows those who decide not
to proceed to obtain a qualification recognised in its own right.
The overall educational aim of the MRes programme is to provide graduate students with knowledge and understanding of research methods, training in appropriate technical skills and scholarship skills, such as critical thinking and the capacity to write in the style of their discipline, along with advanced study in areas of their discipline.
The function of this programme is to provide students with a range of research-related skills and the capacity to proceed to PhD programmes. Undergraduate programmes do not necessarily provide enough of these skills, and there is a national and an international trend towards requiring completion of a Masters degree prior to entry to PhD programmes.
About
The Master of Research Programme (MRes) offered by the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences provides a one year foundation to research suitable for those who wish to proceed to enrol for a PhD programme, but at the same time allows those who decide not
to proceed to obtain a qualification recognised in its own right.
The overall educational aim of the MRes programme is to provide graduate students with knowledge and understanding of research methods, training in appropriate technical skills and scholarship skills, such as critical thinking and the capacity to write in the style of their discipline, along with advanced study in areas of their discipline.
The function of this programme is to provide students with a range of research-related skills and the capacity to proceed to PhD programmes. Undergraduate programmes do not necessarily provide enough of these skills, and there is a national and an international trend towards requiring completion of a Masters degree prior to entry to PhD programmes.
The overall structure consists of five related elements. These are:
Advanced study in discipline:
30 credit points (through one or two modules) are completed that are appropriate to the discipline and planned research project topic. These are normally selected from MSc modules taught on the campus where the student and planned project are located.
Advanced research methods:
30 credit points (through one or two modules) are completed that are appropriate to the discipline and planned research project methodology. These are normally selected from MSc modules taught on the campus where the student and planned project are
located.
Scholarship skills:
This is a 30-credit module taken by blended learning, usually in Semester 2. It covers critical thinking skills and scholarly writing skills and is focussed on materials from the students discipline area.
Research project preparation:
30 credit points. The student is in contact with the project supervisory team throughout the year. Usually in Semester 2, directed training to develop specific skills for the conduct of the research project is undertaken and assessed.
Completion of research project and dissertation:
Work on the project may begin in Semester 2 (or even earlier) but is completed and assessed through dissertation submission in Semester 3, the summer period. Projects undertaken are typically in similar areas to those being undertaken by PhD students in the research group to which the supervisors are attached, but they are of a scope and level
appropriate for the MRes.
The programme is administered by the Research Graduate School. A leader is appointed from the relevant research institute for each named pathway. For each student, the pathway leader ensures that the assessment load is appropriately distributed across the three semesters.