MA Applied Social Research: The University of Manchester

Course description

The aims of this programme are to:

provide advanced study of and practical experience in the design, commission and evaluation of applied social research

provide a broad-based appreciation of methodological issues and perspectives through examining an extensive range of research methods, primary and secondary, qualitative and quantitative

provide students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in collecting, manipulating and analysing social research data and in the interpretation of research results

produce sociologically insightful and technically skilled social researchers for employment in the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Module details

You will take five compulsory course units in research design, data analysis, survey research and qualitative research methods and select three optional course units. Examples of optional course units include: Politics and Culture; Protest and Progress: Understanding Movements for Social and Political Change; Cultures of Digital Play; New Developments in Theories of Gender and Sexuality; Introduction to Quantitative Methods; Methodological Issues in Social Research. Students may also explore the possibility of taking an Independent Studies course unit, linked to their particular research interests, subject to a suitable academic supervisor being available. Students registered for the MA (or who upgrade from the PG Diploma) complete a 12,000 word dissertation, on a research topic of their choice, in addition to the eight taught course units.

Career opportunities

Students who complete this programme are suitably skilled to pursue social research careers in the public, private and voluntary sectors (academia, government departments and agencies, local authorities, health trusts, market research and consultancy companies). Some of our students are already employed in such fields and take this programme as a route to promotion and career advancement. Graduates who do not pursue a social research career typically follow a career route in which research management or evaluation is involved, or enter a wide range of graduate level occupations.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview:

• First degree at 2:1 level  (or overseas equivalent) in Sociology or a Social Science subject for direct Masters entry.
• 2:2 (or overseas equivalent) in a Social Science subject for Postgraduate Diploma route entry.

English language: Applicants whose first language is not English must attain one of the following:

• IELTS - Overall 7, writing score  7
• TOEFL - Overall 623, TWE 5 (PBT)
• TOEFL - Overall 263, TWE 5 (CBT).  This test is no longer available but results less than 2 years old can be submitted.
• TOEFL  - Overall 100, with 25 in each of the 4 sections (IBT)

Applicants with scores below our requirements may be eligible to attend one of their pre-sessional English courses.  Duration will be confirmed when an official result has been received.