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Master of Research

Why study the Master of Research (Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities)?

Studying a Master of Research (MRes) with us will involve one year of research training, and a second year devoted to a thesis (20,000 - 30,000 words in length). The MRes suits students who have just finished their undergraduate degrees but who want the research skills and industry recognition that comes with the MRes. It also suits those returning to study and also students interested in gaining extra research training on the way to a PhD. Bigger than a final Honours year and faster than a PhD, the Master of Research is perfect for students who want in-class training from experts in humanities and social research methods and who also crave the freedom of independent research and writing time.

In the first year, MRes students will do four subjects that provide a comprehensive foundation in humanities and social research methods. There are three core subjects: LHA401/901 The Writer: Critic, Analyst, Voice; LHA402/902: The Researcher: People, Places, Methods; LHA403/903: The Project and the Plan. You will also complete one discipline specific subject from the following areas: History, Indigenous Studies, Philosophy, Politics and International Studies, Languages, Sociology, Science and Technology Studies and Cultural Studies. Details of these discipline-specific subjects are available in the Course Handbook entry.

You will need to submit a Research Proposal as part of your application. Please use this template in writing your proposal: MRes Research Proposal Template.

Core Subject descriptions

ASSH901 The Writer: Critic, Analyst, Voice (12 cp)

Our research is only as ever as good as our capacity to communicate it. Developing skills as a writer is an essential part of learning to be an effective researcher; it's how we convince and persuade our readers, challenge beliefs and advocate for a different viewpoint. The art of persuasion relies heavily on our relationship to words and their capacity to spark the imagination and open up new ways of thinking and new worlds. This subject takes students through key aspects of becoming an academic writer and producing high-quality, well informed and effective research that is based in sound argumentation skills, attention to disciplinary genres, style and the development of an academic voice.

ASSH902: The Researcher: People, Places, Methods (12 cp)

What does it mean to be a 'researcher'? How does the researcher produce data, information and facts in a way that is trustworthy and persuasive? This subject takes students through key aspects of becoming a researcher and producing high-quality, well-informed and effective research. The subject investigates the different types of research methods available to researchers in the Humanities and Social Sciences: for example, interviews, digital archives, ethnographies, focus groups, participant observation, statistics and surveys. It will familiarise students with a variety of research techniques, protocols, integrity and ethics, and provide hands-on experience with different research methods. It will highlight the connection between academic research and the wider community.

ASSH903: The Project and the Plan (12 cp)

This subject offers a combination of coursework and in-class training in thesis planning, as well as the opportunity to complete a preliminary research project. The project is undertaken under with your supervisor and the subject co-ordinator, and will contain elements such as (for example) a literature review or scoping for a major research project to be undertaken in the 2nd year of the MRes.