Program Overview
The Social Research Methods (Social Policy) at Durham University is a MA programme in Social Sciences over 12 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of social sciences. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the Social Research Methods (Social Policy) programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across United Kingdom and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 12 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: On-campus
- English requirement: IELTS 6.5
- Tuition: GBP 16,500 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 6,900 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
- Location: Durham, United Kingdom
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Social Research Methods (Social Policy) programme are prepared for diverse careers in social sciences:
- Policy Analyst
- NGO Programme Manager
- Researcher
- Social Worker
- Diplomat
- Development Consultant
Program Curriculum
Course Structure
- Introduction to social scientific research
- Establishing cause and interpreting meaning in social sciences
- Essentials of quantitative and qualitative research in the social sciences.
- Spreadsheets and data analysis
- Populations, sample data and sampling distributions
- Point estimates and confidence intervals
- Significance tests, cress-tabulations, and Chi-Square tests
- Correlation and linear regression.
- Formulating research questions
- Evaluating and developing a research proposal
- Reviewing relevant literature
- Experimental vs. observational studies
- Sampling and selecting respondents
- Measurement.
- Introduction to theory and research practice in qualitative methods
- Ethnography and grounded theory
- Group discussions
- Data analysis and management processes.
- Sampling and sample design, questionnaire design
- Numerical taxonomy and cluster analysis in practice
- Methods for representing complex systems
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
You need the following GPA score:
Applicants for graduate programs must have the equivalent of a bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s degree with a minimum GPA equivalent to Upper Second Class on the UK Honour scale. Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of or better on the UK Honour scale. No exam grade should be lower than 4.5 (European grade scale) or D (American grade scale).
Your GPA (Grade Point Average) is calculated using the grades that you received in each course, and is determined by the points assigned to each grade (e.g. for the US grading scale from A-F).
- Normally an upper second class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent.
- However, applications from candidates with a 2.2 degree (or below) who have approved professional qualifications, for example in Social Work, together with experience, will be actively considered for admission.\xc2\xa0
English Proficiency: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 16,500 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 6,900 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
Tuition fees: GBP 16,500 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 6,900 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
IELTS requirement: 6.5
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Contact Durham University directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.
About Durham University
Durham University
Durham, United Kingdom
Durham University is a prestigious public research university in Durham, England, UK, founded in 1832, making it the third oldest university in England after Oxford and Cambridge. It enrolls...
University Profile- Start Date 2017-10-02
- Language English
- Duration 12 months