MSc Research in Human Geography

Our Research in Human Geography MSc combines expertise from Geography with Political Science, International Studies, Sociology and Social Policy; allowing you to gain a unique breadth of academic research, teaching and key transferable skills.

The MRes Research in Human Geography is a research training Masters degree. It can provide a useful foundation for undertaking a PhD in Human Geography, or is ideal for those who want to acquire rigorous research skills more generally.

The programme combines interdisciplinary expertise from Geography, Political Science and International Studies, and is truly multidisciplinary. Students will interact with other MSc students from across the social sciences and thereby gain a unique breadth of academic research, teaching and key transferable skills.

In addition to exposing individuals to cutting-edge debates in human geography, environmental science and related fields, the programme provides research training in theoretical, philosophical and methodological issues relevant to human geography and social science research. These include debates concerning social theory and epistemology, qualitative and quantitative techniques and their application to human geography, and research design, ethics and presentation.

In essence, the MSc provides rigorous research skills with a broad human geography focus, but can also be combined with a number of optional modules concerned with environmental management and decision-making and urban resilience.

The Aims of the Programme are as follows:

• To develop a deeper understanding of advanced level theoretical, philosophical and methodological debates in contemporary human geographies and related social sciences;
• To provide advanced training in social science research methodologies and their application in social research in general and human geography in particular;
• To develop a student's ability to communicate ideas and research effectively; and
• To develop specialist research-grounded expertise (for example, environmental management and/or urban resilience)

Employability

Former students taking this Masters degree programme have developed successful academic, business and policy-based careers (for example, in policy development, international finance and accountancy, economic development and consultancy, journalism and market research for a range of public, private and voluntary organisations). Other graduates of the course have continued to PhD research in the School and elsewhere, such as Oxford. Given the increasing competition for graduate jobs, many students are now deciding to read for an MSc to enhance their CVs.