MSc Sociological Research: The University of Manchester

Course description

This programme aims to educate and train students to give them the requisite skills and knowledge to become an effective professional sociological researcher. This entails teaching them:

• the philosophical underpinnings of sociology
• key issues and questions in sociology
• key sociological theories
• key issues in selected substantive areas of sociology (students are offered a range of options of such substantive areas)
• principles of research design
• techniques and principles of quantitative analysis
• techniques and principles of qualitative analysis.

This is a recognised 1+3 entry route for ESRC PhD training.

Module details

You take six course units in Research Design, Social Theory; Cultural Identity; Methodological Issues; Quantitative Methods, and Qualitative Methods, and two 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. Students may also negotiate an Independent Studies course unit, linked to their particular research interests, subject to a suitable academic supervisor being available. Students 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 MSc are suitably placed to pursue a PhD. In addition they are skilled to pursue social research careers in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Graduates who do not pursue a research career typically 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)