
Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Science (MSc)
- Duration
- 1 year (full-time); 2 years (part-time)
- Entry requirements
-
An Upper Second class honours degree, or the overseas equivalent in a social science discipline.
When assessing your academic record we take into account your grades, your academic references, and the standing of the institution where you studied.
- How to apply
- Apply online
Course options
Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | Y | Y | N | N |
PGDip | Y | Y | N | N |
Course overview
- Benefit from a thorough training in advanced quantitative methods taught within an applied social science framework.
- Learn methods of data analysis, including advanced statistics for complex data.
- Study a skills-based course with practical training that is highly regarded for future employment within government, the private and voluntary sectors and academia.
Open days
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2021, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MSc (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £12,500
International, including EU, students (per annum): £22,000 -
MSc (part-time)
UK students (per annum): £6,250
International, including EU, students (per annum): £11,000 -
PGDip (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £8,333
International, including EU, students (per annum): £14,666 -
PGDip (part-time)
UK students (per annum): £4,166
International, including EU, students (per annum): £7,333
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
- Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan (CSFP) General Scholarship
- School of Social Sciences - Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme - 2021 entry
- School of Social Sciences - MSc Social Research Methods and Statistics Scholarship - 2021 - TO BE CONFIRMED
- School of Social Sciences - Q-Step Bursary for MSc in Social Research Methods and Statistics - 2021 - TO BE CONFIRMED
- School of Social Sciences - Manchester Master's Bursary - 2021 - TO BE CONFIRMED
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Social Sciences
- Contact name
- Debra Hau
- pg-soss@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/social-statistics/
- School/Faculty
-
See: School Subjects
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
An Upper Second class honours degree, or the overseas equivalent in a social science discipline.
When assessing your academic record we take into account your grades, your academic references, and the standing of the institution where you studied.
English language
- IELTS - overall score of 7, including 7 in writing with no further component score below 6.5;
- TOEFL IBT 103 with 28 in writing and no further score below 25 in each section. TOEFL code for Manchester is 0757.
- Pearson - overall 73 with 73 in writing and no further score below 66
- Other English tests are also considered. Please contact us for further information - pg-soss@manchester.ac.uk
Scores are valid for 2 years.
Please note that CAS statements are issued only when all conditions of the offer have been satisfied, PDF copy of passport received and the offer accepted.
Applicants from certain countries may be exempt from having to provide an IELTS or TOEFL score. For further advice please email pg-soss@manchester.ac.uk
Pre-Sessional English Courses
If you are eligible to do a pre-sessional English course (either 6 weeks or 10 weeks, depending on your English score), you will need to successfully complete the course at the required level before you are permitted to register on your academic course.
English language test validity
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Due to high demand for this course, we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year, as follows:
- 1 November (decision by 8 December; accept offer by 15 January);
- 7 January (decision by 14 February, accept offer by 16 March);
- 2 March (decision by 8 April, accept offer by 8 May);
- 1 May (decision by 1 June, accept offer by 1 July).
If we make you an offer, you will have approximately 4 weeks to accept. Any offers not accepted by the deadline will be withdrawn so that an offer can be made to another candidate.
All conditional offer holders will have until 1 August to satisfy the conditions of their offer.
You need to ensure that you submit your supporting documents with your online application as it may delay us processing your application.
Whilst we aim to give you a decision on your application by the decision date, in some instances it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date. If this is the case we will let you know after the deadline date.
We can accept your application before you complete your undergraduate studies; please submit your latest transcripts with your online application.
Please note:
- All places are subject to availability and if you apply for one of the later dates, some courses may already be closed, we recommend that you apply early in the cycle.
- Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an offer.
- If you are a current undergraduate student at The University of Manchester, you may be eligible to apply via the 'Fast-Track' scheme, email pg-soss@manchester.ac.uk for further information.
For a copy of the postgraduate prospectus, email pg-soss@manchester.ac.uk.
How your application is considered
All applicants must submit:
- an online application form;
- supporting statement;
- transcripts of degree;
- two references.
Overseas applicants will need to submit a satisfactory IELTS certificate (or equivalent) at the time of application. A minimum IELTS overall score of 6.0, with 6.0 in each component.
Applications will not be considered if documents are missing.
Course details
Course description
You'll need a base level of knowledge in undergraduate research methods which you will build on throughout the course, to gain comprehensive statistical and analytical skills. A series of pre-sessional training materials are available prior to the MSc start date.
The MSc has a strong connection with the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research , reflecting our commitment to interdisciplinary, integrated research. Research activities within the discipline area are both methodological and substantive. We focus on a range of subject areas including social inequalities, population dynamics and survey methodology.
The course is recognised by both the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the North West Doctoral Training Centre, where we receive a large number of Advanced Quantitative methods (AQM) and CASE awards each year.
We develop future social scientists who will have a thorough grounding in research, and are equipped with the tools for collecting and analysing statistical data.
Special features
- Join one of the few social statistics groupings in the UK.
- We focus on effective collaboration, working closely with our colleagues in data science, sociology, health, geography and mathematics.
- Linked with The Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research .
You are provided with a personal tutor and job application support.
Course unit details
This course provides a thorough grounding in advanced quantitative methods, taught within an applied social science framework.
Whilst the training focuses on advanced quantitative methods, the course is designed to be accessible to students coming from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds and with varying levels of prior statistical knowledge.
The course is available full-time over one year or part-time over two-years, and may be studied as either an MSc or a Postgraduate Diploma.
All students take course units totalling 120 credits (eight 15-credit course units) over the year (or two years).
Course units typically include:
- Methodology and Research Design;
- Introduction to Statistical Modelling;
- Statistical Foundations;
- Qualitative Research Methods;
- Survey Research;
- Multilevel Modelling;
- Longitudinal Data Analysis;
- Advanced Survey Methods;
- Social Network Analysis;
- Introduction to Demography;
- Structural Equation Modelling.
All students proceeding to MSc must complete a research dissertation of up to 15,000 words. Those on the Postgraduate Diploma may upgrade to the full MSc, subject to satisfactory course performance.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Qualitative Research Methods | SOCY60230 | 0 | Mandatory |
Foundational and advanced perspectives on qualitative research | SOCY60231 | 10 | Mandatory |
Survey Research Methods | SOST60421 | 15 | Mandatory |
Dissertation | SOST65000 | 60 | Mandatory |
Introduction to Statistical Modelling | SOST70011 | 15 | Mandatory |
Complex Survey Designs and Analysis | SOST70032 | 15 | Mandatory |
Statistical Foundations | SOST70151 | 15 | Mandatory |
Methodology and Research Design | SOST70521 | 15 | Mandatory |
Using Documents in Social Research | POLI60252 | 5 | Optional |
Focus Groups | POLI60421 | 5 | Optional |
Displaying 10 of 20 course units | |||
Display all course units |
Scholarships and bursaries
For more information, see fees and funding or search the University's postgraduate funding database .
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
There is an increasing need for well-trained social scientists who are able to apply advanced methods of analysis to complex data.
You will gain relevant marketable skills that will put you in a good position to obtain jobs in:
- the academic sector;
- central and local government;
- commercial consultancy;
- voluntary research sector.
We have excellent links with ONS and government departments, local authorities and many commercial organisations and we are well placed to assist you in finding jobs.
A number of our students already hold research positions (typically in local government or overseas) taking the MSc as part of a career development programme. The course is ideal preparation if you wish to pursue doctoral study, and is a formal component of our 1+3 PhD training model. You are offered support to apply for PhD funding.