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MSc Social Research Methods and Statistics / Course details
Year of entry: 2020
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Course description
My masters degree provides a good foundation of statistical and research methods
and I have really enjoyed the course units on more advanced statistical methods
Emily Buehler / MSc Social Research Methods and Statistics student
The MSc in Social Research Methods and Statistics is designed to be accessible to non-statisticians, yet is more focussed than many other existing master's courses in social research methods.
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 courses are available prior to the MSc start date.
The MSc has a strong connection with the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (CMI), reflecting our commitment to interdisciplinary, integrated research. Research activities within the Social Statistics discipline area are both methodological and substantive. We focus on a wide 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, from whom 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 very 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.
- Gain full access to The Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research .
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;
- Longitudinal Data Analysis;
- Advanced Survey Methods;
- Social Network Analysis;
- Demographic Forecasting.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundational and advanced perspectives on qualitative research | 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 |
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Scholarships and bursaries
We offer a number of scholarships, including:
- the Faculty of Humanities/School of Social Sciences - Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme ;
- the School of Social Sciences - MSc Social Research Methods and Statistics Scholarship - 2019 ;
- the School of Social Sciences - Q-Step Bursary for MSc in Social Research Methods and Statistics (to be confirmed) .
The Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a first-class Bachelors degree and are progressing to a postgraduate taught masters course.
For more information, see fees and funding or search the University's postgraduate funding database .