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Social Research – (M.A.)
University of Birmingham
School of Social Sciences
| Application Deadline: | None, but early application advised | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 5,313 - ≈ € 14,088 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | Birmingham / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 12 months | Start Date: | September |
| Educational Form: |
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| Education Variants: |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of University of Birmingham
The College of Social Sciences welcomes all postgraduates to the recently redesigned MA in Social Research programme which continues to enjoy full RT (research training) recognition by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
This programme aims to provide students with a sound background in social research design and the most up-to-date training in methods of data collection and analysis. The combination of core modules and short courses on more advanced topics provides maximum flexibility for taught postgraduate and research students throughout their study.
The core elements of the programme are delivered by staff across the entire College, many of whom are engaged in cutting-edge research in their own fields. Students will benefit by undertaking the modules with others from different departments within the School of Government and Society, eg, Political Science and International Studies; the Centre for Russian and East European Studies; the Institute for Applied Social Studies; and within the wider College.
Students will also receive training on more discipline-specific research elements, as well as dissertation supervision, provided by individual departments. On completion of this MA, many students continue their PhD studies or pursue a career in research in the public, private or voluntary sector.
Key facts
Type of Course: Taught
Duration: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
Start date: September/October 2011
Careers
Many students go on to do a PhD after completing this MA. Others have followed a career in local authorities, government departments, health authorities, management consultancy, media, the voluntary sector and so on.
Contents
Term 1:
* Introduction to Social Research (20)
* Research Design (20)
* Thesis-related preparation
* Information Skills for Social Sciences
* University Programme of Skills Training (as necessary)
* Dissertation-related preparation
Term 2:
* Social Research Methods I (20)
* Social Research Methods II (20)
* Thesis-related preparation
Summer Term:
* Four Short courses (10)
* Dissertation (60)
All students registered on the MA in Social Research will take:
1) Four core modules:
* Introduction to Social Science Research (20 credits)
* Research Design (20 credits)
* Social Research Methods I (20 credits)
* Social Research Methods II (20 credits)
2) Four elective modules (10 credits each) from the short course programme below
3) A 14,000 word dissertation (60 credits)
Skills and attributes gained
Students will have acquired a solid foundation of a broad range of research methods that are widely used in the social sciences and will have developed:
* A sound understanding of the methodological debates
* An overview of the philosophy of social science and how this informs research design, methods chosen of data collection and analysis
* An ability to use a range of research techniques appropriate to their subject area
* Competence in the representation and presentation of information and data
* An ability to communicate research findings effectively to a wider range of audiences
* An appreciation of the potential use and impact of their research within and beyond academia
* An ability to engage with relevant users at all points in the research process, from devising and shaping research questions through to enhancing practice
Learning and teaching
Students are expected to engage in high-level discussion during all sessions. Teaching will be delivered by a combination of lectures, seminars and computer workshops. Some fieldwork involving primary data collection is required where appropriate.
Assessment
All core modules are assessed by a 4000-word essay or report. On most short courses, a 3000-report is usually required. The dissertation length is 14,000 words and students are expected to utilise the knowledge and skills they learned from the taught elements in this programme.
IELTS
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
Take testRequirements
* Entry to our postgraduate programmes usually require a good Honours degree, or equivalent if you were educated outside the UK.
* IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band.
* TOEFL IBT 93 with no less than 20 in any band
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 6.0 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | Grade A (Score: 80) |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 93 |
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