MSc in Social Research

These postgraduate programmes aim to create highly sought-after researchers who are ready to apply their advanced knowledge and practical skills in the workplace or on further research.

You will learn how to collect, analyse and interpret social data and become skilled in interview techniques, surveys, problem-solving, communication skills and the latest industry software.

Students examine issues from across the social sciences and are introduced to both quantitative and qualitative research methods before having the option of specialising.

During the programme, you will research real world issues, for example evaluating local health care services, predicting voting behaviour during elections or researching the impact of Hull’s year as the 2017 UK City of Culture on local people.

Taught by experienced researchers who are experts in their fields, the interesting and varied curriculum will be delivered through an enquiry-based approach to teaching including small-group work, tutorials, workshops and independent study.

It was designed with input from industry experts, former students and leading academics to ensure that it meets the demands of the modern social research industry.

Students will be provided with a high level of academic support across the programme.

There are two variants:

Both MSc variants comply with the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) requirements for Masters level training which is a pre-requisite for their +3 PhD funding across universities in the UK. Students on the two variants achieve the same number of credits (180 credits) for modules taken. The main difference is that the Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) pathway replaces some of the specialist research methods modules with discipline-specific research training and dissertation and involves you with the ESRC White Rose Social Sciences DTP, e.g. for the teaching of the ‘Working Beyond Disciplines’ module and in other ways.

The MSc Social Research - Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) pathway is specifically designed for students taking the MSc in preparation for PhD in one of the three units in Hull that are part of the ESRC White Rose DTP. The three subject areas (i.e. Human Geography, History and Psychology) are members of the ESRC-funded DTP, which offers both ‘1+3’ and ‘+3’ funding. All DTP students are linked to one of these three units and receive discipline-specific research training in Human Geography, History or Psychology. The DTP pathway caters for both ESRC-funded and non-funded (i.e self-funded) students.

For all other students taking the MSc in preparation for PhD in the wider social sciences, or to gain valuable transferrable skills for the job market, then the MSc Social Research is recommended.