MSc Social and Behavioural Research Methods
The course
- Delivery
- Full-time
- Course type
- Taught
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Entry date
- September
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Contact
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Contact our enquiries team.
Overview
The MSc Social and Behavioural Research Methods provides a rigorous programme of methodological training suitable for students who wish to pursue a research career, whether in academia or beyond. Designed to meet the Economic & Social Research Council’s (ESRC) criteria for accreditation*, the programme is the ideal preparation for students looking to pursue a PhD. Built upon a core set of compulsory courses and featuring tailored pathways across our areas of expertise in Psychology, Business Management, Finance and Accounting, it enables students to select a pathway through the programme that is appropriate to their own needs and interests.
*Programme pending accreditation
Go Global
Some of our Postgraduate Taught Masters Programmes are eligible for Inter-Campus Transfer. Please contact goglobal@hw.ac.uk for further information.
Course content
Year 1
The full-time programme features a common set of introductory research methods courses in semester 1, delivered through a combination of online learning materials and teaching sessions (60 credits). This is followed by a range of specialist optional courses, delivered through a series of weekly face-to-face sessions in semester 2 (60 credits), with a dissertation in the Spring/Summer (60 credits).
In semesters 1 and 2, students will have the opportunity to attend regular Q&A sessions focussed on the preparation of their MSc dissertation approval.
Mandatory courses
- Research Methods 1: An Introduction to Research Methods
- Research Methods 2: The Qualitative Researcher
- Research Methods 3: The Quantitative Researcher
Optional courses
Students select four optional courses from the list below:
- Big Data Analytics
- Network Analysis for Business
- Systems Thinking and Analysis
- Econometric Methods for Economic Research
- Comparative Financial Reporting
- International Accounting Theory
- Empirical Financial Modelling
- Psychological Interventions
- Research with Impact
- Research Experience Placement
- Coding for Social Science Applications in Python
- Discourse Analysis*
- Advanced Statistics*
- Experimental Design*
*Course titles to be confirmed
Dissertation
Students can choose the appropriate dissertation course based on their chosen pathway.
- Business Management
- Accounting, Banking or Finance
- Independent Project in Psychology
Entry requirements
For MSc entry, students will typically have a good honours degree (first or 2:1), or its non-UK equivalent, in a relevant subject area from a recognised British or overseas university.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, or your first degree was not taught in English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum requirement for English language is IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. Please view our English language requirements.
We offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement prior to starting your masters programme:
20 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with no skill lower than 4.5)
14 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.0 with minimum of 5.0 in writing and no skill lower than 4.5)
10 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.0)
6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5 with no skill lower than 5.5)
Fees
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.
View our full range of postgraduate scholarships.