Key information
The MSc Social and Behavioural Research Methods programme at Heriot-Watt University provides you with excellent training in Research Methods in the social and behavioural sciences and prepares you for a career in research, whether you want to work in academia, industry, or government.
- Level
- Postgraduate Taught
- Delivery type
- Full Time
- Degree qualification
- MSc
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 1 year
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September
During the Master’s programme, you will develop advanced research skills and techniques within Social Sciences. You will understand the principles of research design and strategy and be able to formulate research questions which are amenable to empirical investigation. You will be able to understand and apply a broad range of research methods, including quantitative and qualitative, and will use appropriate software for their application.
In semester 1, you will undertake research methods courses which provide you with a foundational understanding on how to do research in the Social Sciences, as well as introducing you to qualitative and quantitative research. In semester 2, you will have the opportunity to choose four optional courses from across the School of Social Sciences within the broad disciplines of Business Management, Accounting and Finance, and Psychology, as well as courses designed to cut across disciplines. Each of these courses will equip you with highly employable expertise and skills in research methods. We strongly encourage you to take an interdisciplinary approach in choosing your optional courses and develop your broad research skills, but you can also choose to follow a specific disciplinary pathway. This will allow you to customise your learning and develop your specific interests. Your dissertation in semester 3 will allow you to engage in an independent in-depth critical examination based on your core interest, whether it is an independent project in Business Management, Accounting and Finance, or Psychology.
You will benefit from the industry relevance of the programme, which will set you up for life after graduation. Upon completion, you will be able to use a significant range of professional skills, techniques and materials to understand the application of good ethical practice across the entire research process. You can go on to Doctoral study after graduation, work in research consultancies, government offices, or charities. The career opportunities are numerous!
Your student experience
Our MSc Social and Behavioural Research Methods is taught by experienced, leading academics who, in many cases, have published the research which shapes their disciplines and written the books which will guide your learning. Many academics balance teaching time with continued professional practice as management consultants, tax and finance specialists, practitioner psychologists, translators, and interpreters. They bring real-world experience to the classroom.
Go Global
With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way. You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.
Inter-Campus Transfer
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Mandatory September
- Research Methods 1 : An Introduction
- Research Methods 2: The Qualitative Researcher
- Research Methods 3: The Quantitative Researcher
Optional January
- Big Data Analytics
- Econometric Methods for Economic Research
- Network Analysis for Business
- Systems Thinking and Analysis
- Applying Psychology in Real-World Contexts
- Research in Action
- Empirical Financial Modelling
- Psychological Interventions
- Advanced Statistics using R
- Discourse Analysis
- Advanced Experimental Design
- Comparative Financial Reporting
- International Accounting Theory
Optional May
- Dissertation
- Accounting, Banking or Finance Dissertation
- Independent Project in Psychology
Fees and funding
| Status | Full Time |
|---|---|
| UK | £10,528 |
| International | £21,192 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Scholarships and bursaries
Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries
We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
A minimum of honours degree at 2:2 or non-UK equivalent in a relevant subject. Suitable degrees include Psychology, Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Languages and Intercultural Studies, Political Sciences and Sociology.
We welcome applications from international students and accept qualifications from around the world. Please refer to the entry requirements for your country for more details.
Why Heriot-Watt
We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.
We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.
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