Overview
This innovative Masters course, recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), prepares you for a career in educational research, whether you plan to go on to a doctorate or take your research in other directions.
Under the expert guidance of our team of leading academics, you’ll develop a broad range of research skills. You’ll learn to design and plan research projects and collect, analyse, interpret and report qualitative and quantitative data. By the time you graduate you’ll have a deeper understanding of the theoretical, ethical, political and comparative aspects of carrying out educational research.
The course also covers digital methodologies, and you’ll be involved with cutting-edge research projects currently being carried out by staff in the Faculty of Social Sciences.
This course is designed to equip you for a career in educational research or act as preparation for doctoral study. You’ll develop a range of invaluable research skills and engage closely with current research projects underway at the University and beyond.
Prospective students should also consider applying for the Doctor of Education (EdD) course as this may meet similar needs. Like a traditional PhD, the EdD qualification meets the requirements for the doctorate via the production of a significant, original and rigorous contribution to the field. Similar to the MRes Education Research, the Doctor of Education starts with a taught phase and contains the same six core modules at the outset.
The MRes in Educational Research offers you:
- a structured taught course in educational research offered by staff with international expertise;
- excellent preparation for PhD doctoral study;
- critical engagement with current education and wider social science research projects in the Faculty of Social Sciences;
- the award of a Masters degree specialising in research methods including qualitative and quantitative approaches, theoretical perspectives, and a practical project;
- a course recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC);
- the option of applying for funding via the SGSSS.
Our Educational Research course has been recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council as meeting its criteria for postgraduate research training, helping students learn core and transferable research skills and improving their future employability. It also forms part of the recognised pathway in educational research for the Scottish Graduate School in the Social Sciences.
An opportunity to undertake a research placement will be available to you as you work towards your MRes Educational Research.
There are part-time and full-time options. Students may, by arrangement, study via a blended optional provision in some of the taught modules. All modules make use of some form of synchronous online and/or face-to-face attendance. There is also the use of a virtual learning environment (Canvas) and most modules have considerable asynchronous participation online. Most of the classes for the initial taught modules are timetabled for synchronous activity (be that face-to-face or other) on Fridays – but check ahead for the semester timetable. Contact the course director for more information and to discuss blended learning options.
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
In the Research Excellence Framework 2021, 100% of our research impact and environment in Education was classed as world leading or internationally excellent, placing us in the top 20 in the UK for research impact and research environment.
Our expert teaching team are on hand to introduce you to cutting-edge empirical and theoretical research in a multi-disciplinary and professional environment.
We have a vibrant and collegial research community of students and staff at Stirling. As you can see from our staff listings and publications, we have expertise across many diverse areas of research which can be deployed in supervision.
Entry requirements
A minimum of a second class Honours degree (2:1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
International entry requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in reading and writing and 6.0 in speaking and listening.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with a minimum of 62 in reading and writing and 60 in speaking and listening.
- IBT TOEFL 80 overall with a minimum of 19 in reading, 24 in writing, 21 in speaking and 19 in listening.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
Grow your expertise through a diverse range of modules covering multiple aspects of educational research, paradigms, practices, methods and methodologies.
It comprises six core taught modules and – for students seeking to earn the full Masters – a dissertation of 15,000 words.
Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2024. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
Course Details
The course is designed to meet the Economic and Social Research Council’s requirements for broad knowledge, practical skills and both generic and specific competencies in educational research. The taught modules are delivered by education experts from the Faculty of Social Sciences.
The six core modules are taken full-time across the Autumn and Spring two semesters (and over twice that period for part-time). Approximate days and commitments for scheduled taught components are below. Students should refer to the timetable provided for a given semester for exact dates and times.
- EDRP001 The Nature of Educational Inquiry
Eight Friday afternoons: online/some optional face-to-face. - ASRP002 Qualitative Research Design
Eight Friday mornings: blended, a mix of online and face-to-face classes. - ASRP004 Quantitative Data Analysis
Eight to ten Monday mornings: mostly a face-to-face module. It may be appropriate for some students (with good mathematics/statistics backgrounds) to take the online version of this module: ASRP104. Contact the course director if you want to take this option. - EDRP002 Theory and Methods of Digital Social Research
Six to eight Friday afternoons: online with one or two optional face-to-face sessions. - ASRP001 The Nature of Social Inquiry
More than five Friday mornings: blended, a mix of online and face-to-face classes. - ASRP005 Qualitative Data Analysis
More than five Friday mornings: blended, a mix of online and face-to-face classes.
The course also leads into the production of a dissertation (EDRP009) of 15,000 words under expert supervision by education staff from the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Full-time students complete the Masters in one calendar year inclusive of a dissertation. Part-time students complete in two calendar years inclusive of dissertation. The 60 credit dissertation spans three semesters - Autumn, Spring, Summer - in year 1 for full-time and year 2 for part-time.
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Masters |
Diploma |
Certificate |
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Full-time: |
12 months |
9 months |
4 months |
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Part-time: |
24 months |
21 months |
16 months |
You'll be assessed in each course module through assignments approximately 3,000 words in length but many modules have more than one assignment and take creative approaches to the use of digital, creative, and collaborative assignment production for assessment. The final assignment is the dissertation (EDRP009) of 15,000 words which is completed under expert supervision. Your supervisor may also be well-placed to help you apply for a PhD upon graduating.
Full-time students take three modules each semester with each module carrying 20 credits (approximately 200 hours each for study time). Part-time students take one or two modules in a given semester but must take three modules across the academic year. Most part-time students find it easier to have a minimum of a day or two a week (or equivalent if you study in the evenings) to commit to study. You will need considerable time dedicated to study in certain phases to complete assignments and projects. Either way, the commitment is important to realise, with each module carrying 20 credits (approximately 200 hours each for total study time which includes both shared, synchronous and independent research and assignment production).
In the dissertation phase, we require you to be quite independent when your contact with faculty will be mainly via supervision meetings. Across the faculty, there are many research groups, events and training opportunities that are open to you.
Fees and funding
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Both full-time and part-time options for this course are eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
91% of Education students at the University of Stirling felt their course has enhanced their employability
Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2021
Our Masters in Educational Research improves the career prospects of researchers in education, training and related subjects, and professionals who need to understand and commission research in these fields. It’s valuable preparation for doctoral research in education, and is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as meeting its criteria for postgraduate research training that helps students improve their employability while learning core research skills.
The MRes in Educational Research:
- leads to many students to apply successfully for a PhD (usually at Stirling);
- opens up a wide range of future employment possibilities in educational research;
- has ESRC accreditation which makes it possible to apply for SGSSS funding for a PhD.
This masters in research is ideal for those looking to develop their understanding of the role of research in educational settings of all kinds and provides an excellent precursor to the PhD pathway. This course is designed to assist those working in education and training in all kinds of professional settings who wish to learn how to understand, design, enact and employ cutting edge educational research to create desired impacts.
Greg Mannion
greg.mannion@stir.ac.uk
