Applied Market and Social Research: University of Westminster

Introduction

This course provides professional training in the social and market research fields designed around the needs of research professionals to build a career in research or wishing to develop their existing knowledge and skills.

The The MA/MSc aims to provide an integrated academic understanding of the interlocking nature of research design contexts and is one of only four Masters in the UK accredited by the Market Research Society. The accreditation allows successful students with a minimum of two years research experience to become full members of the MRS and to be exempted from the qualifying MRS exams (both the Advanced Certificate and the Diploma in Market and Social Research Practice).

The course has been designed to enable those with some experience in market or social research, in both the commercial and non-commercial sectors, to examine thoroughly the principles underlying a wide range of research practice, and to design and evaluate research practice based on a firm understanding of those principles. The course takes students beyond the stage of simply using research tools and requires them to make clearly justified and appropriate choices in a wide variety of contexts across the research process.

The course allows students to opt for a postgraduate qualification with a qualitative focus (the MA) or a quantitative focus (the MSc).

Course Content

The course focuses on issues and skills that are fundamental to becoming a well-rounded researcher or research manager in a wide variety of contexts. To gain the 180 credits necessary for the Masters award you will need to successfully pass the following modules:

• Applied Social and Market Research in Context
• Research Design, Ethics and Management
• Introduction to Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
• Qualitative Research Methods and Data Analysis
• Quantitative Research Methods and Data Analysis
• Research Practice and Assessment
• Dissertation

Associated Careers

The course retains strong links with the research industry. Past students work for organisations such as MORI, Research International, BMRB, Government research departments, the BBC and CNN. These organisations also send students requiring further research training to the course. Students often undertake industry placements when conducting research for their dissertations at the end of the course.

Entry Requirements

• Normally, you will be expected to possess at least a second class Honours degree from a UK university or equivalent. Preference will be given to those with an Honours degree in the humanities or social sciences with a quantitative or marketing element.
• You must also be numerate and willing to undertake a numeracy test should this be necessary. Attainment of at least IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 600 must be demonstrated in terms of written English language ability.
• It is their policy to accept those who lack standard qualifications. Non-standard applicants will be required to convince the selection panel (course leader and admissions tutor) that they have had a significant amount of relevant working experience and have the academic potential to study effectively at Masters level.