MRes Education

Programme

Qualifications and durations

• Full-time MRes Education (1 year)
• Part-time MRes Education (2 years)

Overview

The Master of Research is a Faculty wide, cross-disciplinary research training course with an Education strand. It provides high quality training to potential doctoral students as well as a stand-alone qualification to train social science researchers.

Depending on your research interests you will be placed within a research group within the Department of Education, which will have seminar and reading group activities that you can join.

You will also spend a small period of time shadowing an experienced researcher.

The programme aims to:

• teach you to systematically review alternative approaches, methodologies and paradigms of research in social and educational enquiry
• enable you to critically evaluate the application of these approaches in the specific areas of social and educational enquiry in which students are specialising
• support you within an active research community, in identifying and investigating your own original research questions
• equip you with the skills to contribute to research projects using any of the main methodologies of the social sciences.

South West Doctoral Training Centre

This MRes is accredited by the Economics & Social Research Council (ESRC), specifically, as part of the larger South West Doctoral Training Centre (SWDTC). It forms part of the Education Discipline-specific Pathway.

The MRes can be taken as a course in its own right, or as part of the 1 + 3 (MRes + PhD) pathway, where successful graduates could proceed onto an MPhil or PhD in the Department of Education.

If applying for an MRes + PhD (the 1 + 3 programme) you should indicate on the Application Form, your preferred PhD route.

Progression from the MRes to the MPhil or PhD stage is dependent on achieving an acceptable level of achievement (typically an overall average of 60% on at least the taught component of the MRes).

Programme structure

Semester one

• Contemporary Issues in Educational Research 1 : Critical Users
• Principles and Skills of Social Research
• Qualitative Methods 1
• Quantitative Methods 1: introduction to quantitative methods
• Short Research Apprenticeship Project

Semester two

• Contemporary issues in educational research 2: competent producers
• Quantitative methods 2 or Qualitative methods 2
• Independent research essay
• Long research apprenticeship project

You will also complete a 15,000 word Dissertation.

View Programme & Unit Catalogue for further information.

Please note:

• The programme catalogue and units listed above are applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only and should be treated as an example of the programme content. Students beginning or continuing their studies in 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that later years of a programme will be in the format displayed here.
• Programmes and Units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
• Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.

Learning and teaching

Our programmes are modular, consisting of self-contained units, taught and assessed on a semester basis. As you progress through each semester and successfully pass the examinations, you will receive credit for the units, thus providing you with a clear indication of your academic progress.

Teaching takes the form of lectures, seminars and workshops. Lectures are quite formal, whereas seminars involve interaction between the lecturer and a small number of students for study skills and discussion. Additionally, you will work independently with a supervisor to develop and put into practice your research ideas.

Core teaching staff

Teaching staff are drawn from across the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, enabling you to benefit from a broad range of social science research.

Methods of assessment

Assessment consists of a combination of coursework essays, group work, projects, oral presentations.

During the course of the programme you will devise and carry out a piece of empirical research.

We also place strong emphasis on developing presentation and discussion/communication skills, which in many units is part of the assessed work.

Careers

Graduates of this programme are well placed to apply for research posts within the education, government and voluntary sector. You will also be well prepared for further PhD study.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• First or 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject, from a recognised university.

English Language requirements

Certificates must be dated to within two years of the start of the programme of study.

• IELTS 7.0 (with not less than 6.5 in each of the four components)
• TOEFL 600 (paper-based test) or 250 (computer-based test) with a score of not less than 4 in TWE or 100 (internet-based test) with not less than 24 in each of the components.

If you wish to improve your English proficiency before commencing your studies, pre-sessional language training can be arranged through the English Language Centre.

References

• Two references are required. At least one of these must be an academic reference.

Read details for how to apply to study.

Financial information

Costs

• Tuition Fees
• Estimated Living Expenses including a Sample Budget Guide

Potential sources of funding

• ESRC funding will not be available for 2013/14 - details for 2014/15 will follow.
• Studentships and Scholarships

Deadlines

• January 2013 for students wishing to be considered for a studentship.
• July 2013 for International Students (who need to apply for a UK Visa).
• August 2013 for Home/EU students.
• Funding deadlines for Studentships and Scholarships

Contact

Admissions Officer
Email: education-pgt-admissions@bath.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 38 6545

Related links

• Department of Education
• Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Graduate School 
• Programme brochure

Our Research

Main areas of research

Our research is focussed around three main areas of educational enquiry: Educational Policy, Globalisation and Organisation, Learning as Cultural and Social Practice, and Education and Sustainability. Within these, staff research interests lie in such areas as: economic globalisation, skill and inequality; higher education; international education, citizenship and globalisation; educational management and school improvement; learning and identity in practice; discourse; childhood and youth studies; special educational needs; learning assessment and professional development; environmental education; international development; philosophy of education; English language teaching; learning and teaching and sports coaching.

The Department hosts four leading Research Centres:

• The Centre for the study of Education in an International Context (CEIC)
• The Centre for Research in Education and the Environment (CREE)
• The Centre for Sociocultural and Activity Theory Research (CSAT)
• The International Centre for Higher Education Management (ICHEM).

About the Department

Introduction

The Department of Education is a thriving, largely postgraduate community which has links with a wide range of educational institutions, schools, colleges, universities, local authorities and government departments, not only locally, but also in other parts of the UK and around the world.

In all three of the most recent national research assessment exercises the Department was awarded the highest numerical rating (5) for the excellence of its research. In 2001 an official external inspection of the Department’s teaching by the QAA awarded an ‘excellent’ score of 23 out of 24.

Notable features of the Department include: wide ranging experience and expertise of lecturers and research staff in the development of research projects, both nationally and internationally; a research environment which encourages students on all courses to focus on research activities; access for postgraduate students to seminars and research activities; strong links with schools locally, nationally and internationally; dynamic relationships with a range of other organisations, nationally and internationally.

Facilities and equipment

The Department has excellent modern facilities for learning and teaching. Full-time research students have a fully-equipped room reserved for their use within the Department.

International and industrial links

The Department has strong links with the International Baccalaureate Organisation, with many schools in the UK and overseas, and with a range of official bodies and government Departments.

Careers information

The Department’s students come from a wide range of backgrounds in teaching, educational management, policymaking, sports coaching and other related fields.