The Masters by Research (MRes) course is a flexible research training course designed to provide graduates with a foundation for a career in research, the public/private sector, healthcare or academia (i.e. PhD studies). The purpose is to offer high quality postgraduate training in methods and practice of research and relevant transferable skills that offer a unique learning experience to advance knowledge within your specialist area of:

• Life Sciences

• Sport and Exercise

• Health

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS COURSE?

Throughout the course you will develop a keen understanding of advanced research methods. This will take you on the journey from an initial research idea and proposal, to embedding research philosophy and contemporary methodologies and analysis within your work. This is geared towards producing a piece of research that could be pursued further at doctoral level, for a publication, or display the relevant skills to be competent within industry, healthcare or the public sector.

You will also be provided with the opportunity to specialise within a second area of research, through the contemporary design of our course. This offers a unique opportunity to be specialist in two niche areas upon graduation, thereby meeting the current demands for interdisciplinary research. There is also a focus on providing you with the skills to identify potential sources of funding, how to conduct enterprise activity, as well as project management and leadership. This provides flexibility for you to maximise the specialisms of your work, your career opportunities, and how to operate as a reflective, and evidence-based researcher following graduation.

Given that careers in research are growing, including those in industry, this MRes will also prepare you to be able to disseminate complex research to a wide variety of audiences. In addition, you will gain an understanding of how this can be delivered through technology enhanced learning. This aims to try to bridge the gap between researchers and society when trying to ensure evidence-based research-informed practice occurs. In turn, this will allow you to maximise the impact of research dissemination, whilst also ensuring you foster contemporary approaches to scholarship.

To help build these skills there are opportunities to work in hand with industry through our wide range of industrial, educational, and healthcare partners, something which will enhance your future employability or potential for progression. This will primarily be housed at our recently extended campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, which contains state-of-the-art facilities to support you with your research.

Employability

This course has been designed with creativity and flexibility in mind, therefore allowing you to first learn then apply skills in self-management, leadership and initiative. As a result, this helps you to build the problem-solving skills and interpersonal skills to be an effective employee upon graduation. There are also many areas of reflective practice throughout the course, to ensure you become a lifelong learner and always possess a willingness to learn.

Placements

These are encouraged throughout the course in both short and long term forms. These commonly will entail working with an external partner or being a research assistant internally at BCU, or helping with teaching. The placements will be varied to allow flexibility.