MSc Social Research Methods and Statistics / Course details
Year of entry: 2025
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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 focused than many other existing master's courses in social research methods.
The MSc includes training in:
- survey design;
- statistics;
- how to analyse data;
- how to use statistical analysis software such as R, SPSS and Stata.
The MSc modules are taught with an emphasis on hands-on training in the application of methods and software.
Modules include:
- Statistical Foundations;
- Introduction to Statistical Modelling;
- Survey Research;
- Demographic Forecasting;
- Social Network Analysis;
- Longitudinal Data Analysis.
You will 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.
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) which may include:
- Methodology and Research Design;
- Introduction to Statistical Modelling;
- Statistical Foundations;
- Qualitative Research Methods;
- Survey Research Methods;
- Longitudinal Data Analysis;
- Complex Survey Design and Analysis;
- Statistical Models for Social Networks;
- Demographic Forecasting;
- Strucutral Equation and Latent Variable Modelling;
- Qualitative Evaluation of Policies, Interventions and Experiments;
- Topological Data Analysis (first time roll out 23/34).
All students proceeding to MSc must complete a research dissertation. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | SOCY60231 | 15 | 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 | SOST70520 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Topological Data Analysis | DATA70302 | 15 | Optional |
| Sociology Study Skills support | SOCY70000 | 0 | Optional |
| Longitudinal Data Analysis | SOST70022 | 15 | Optional |
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Scholarships and bursaries
The School offers a number of awards for students applying for master's study.
To find our more, please visit our master's funding opportunity search page.