Masters by Research - MRes
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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)....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time/Part Time
- Location City South
- Award MRes
- Start date September 2025
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Health Sciences
- Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
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:
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Life Sciences
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Sport and Exercise
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Health
Please note that this is considered a taught course for visa purposes. If you require a student visa, you will not be able to bring dependants to the UK unless you are government sponsored.
Studentship Opportunities
BCU, in partnership with the Youth Charter, is offering two full-time MRes studentships to identify the impact of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
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.
Why Choose Us?
- Campus – Our City South campus has recently been completed with new, state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge resources and equipment to support your research.
- Partnerships – We have unique partnerships in sport, health and life sciences to support your learning and ensure your research has a practice-led, knowledge-applied approach.
- Employment/further study opportunities – This course is the perfect preparation to continue your studies at doctoral level, or pursue employment in a research related role.
- Research community – As part of your course, your research will be aligned to our research centres in order to creating a vibrant and exciting research community.
- Unique modules – We have developed future proof modules to ensure upon graduation you can employ appropriate technology, alongside research management, leadership and enterprise skills to the workplace or further study.
OPEN DAY
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Event: 24 November 2024
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
Entry requirements
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An undergraduate honours degree (2:1) in a relevant discipline will be required. Candidates with suitable work experience and a lower classification (2:2) may also be considered. Both BA and BSc candidates will be considered. |
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Applicants without a 2:1 or above with an equivalent qualification or a professional qualification will be considered on an individual basis. |
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IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 minimum in all bands, or equivalent. |
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2025
Pathway: Health
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £6,180 in 2025/26
- Part Time
- 2 years
- Show fees
- £687 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 100 credits
- Year 2 - 80 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2025
Pathway: Life Sciences
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £6,180 in 2025/26
- Part Time
- 2 years
- Show fees
- £687 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 100 credits
- Year 2 - 80 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2025
Pathway: Sport and Exercise
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £6,180 in 2025/26
- Part Time
- 2 years
- Show fees
- £687 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 100 credits
- Year 2 - 80 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2025
Pathway: Health
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £18,600 in 2025/26
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2025
Pathway: Life Sciences
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £18,600 in 2025/26
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2025
Pathway: Sport and Exercise
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £18,600 in 2025/26
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Course in Depth
Level 7
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all of the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits)
The aim of this module is to provide you with the understanding and key concepts of working in a research setting where dissemination of research to a wide variety of audiences is important. The primary objectives are to ensure that you recognise the importance of engaging your audience and how the dissemination should be adapted accordingly. This will include a traditional academic audience, such as that seen at an academic conference. A focus will be also be placed on society and stakeholders within industry and health care settings, to ensure that you are aware of the different types of audiences you may encounter in research. On completion of this module, you will become competent not only in writing research, but also confident at disseminating knowledge to engage the reader and/or viewer.
This module is designed to provide a deeper and more specialised understanding of research methods, building on the work you will complete during the ‘Advanced Research Methods’ module that covers the broad area of research methods. You will cover areas such as research paradigms, designs and analysis in your specialist area; however, with a focus on your preferred style of research (qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods). A large focus will also be placed on project management, leadership, applying for funding, and enterprise activities. This will prepare you for challenges in the real world and allow you to maximise the impact of your research and practice.
This module enables you to develop and critically reflect on your intended approach to carrying out a research project. On successfully completing the module you will be able to effectively articulate a research project proposal and questions, the methods you intend to employ and anticipated outcomes. This will be demonstrated through a research proposal, which should then be delivered within the ‘Independent Study’ module.
The Independent Study in Health / Life Sciences / Sport and Exercise Science modules are designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a substantial piece of research in your chosen subject or discipline. In this module you will draw on the taught modules and skills developed during your study of the MRes award, and the ‘Advanced Research Methods’ module underpins the module, as you will be executing your proposal from this module. The research project is intended to allow you to demonstrate synthesis of knowledge and research skills that you have developed throughout the duration of the course.
Download course specification
Download nowResearch interests
The course allows for plenty of opportunities to craft the course to your needs, along with the chance to specialise in an area of choice. You will benefit from being able to work within, and study alongside, a multidisciplinary team of experienced researchers and health professionals. The course is suitable for diverse backgrounds including, but not limited to, sports, medicine, nursing, midwifery, allied health professions, social work, social and natural science, where a research focused career in Sport and Exercise, Life Sciences or Health is of interest to you.
The course offers three possible routes:
- Life Sciences
- Sport and Exercise
- Health
For current research topics in all three areas please visit the School Research page.
What is an MRes?
A Masters by Research (MRes) will provide an introduction to research methods in addition to giving a firm foundation for those wishing to pursue a doctoral study in the future. The MRes degree will give you the opportunity to understand the nature and potential of a particular research topic through, for example, understanding the methodologies and ethics of conducting research.
This degree can act as a great link between undergraduate and PhD level research, particularly if you are in the process of streamlining into your research discipline and at the same time are still undecided about committing to a PhD. The MRes will be a school-based programme with strong research engagement being its pillar. In particular routes, industrial partnerships will be encouraged and a focus will also be put on practical and leadership skills, guided by a problem based learning ethos.
Contact us
Contact the Course Leader, Dr Cain Clark (cain.clark@bcu.ac.uk) to find out more about the research opportunities available for this course.
Employability
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.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
We have invested over £400 million in our facilities, including an upgrade to our Skills and Simulation facilities at City South Campus. We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that you may come across in the workplace. These resources are essential in offering you a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice.
Mock Wards
These are set up to look like typical hospital wards, with four-six bays. Depending on the topic in hand, different manikins can be used as patients and relevant equipment is provided to practise clinical skills. Some of the manikins are interactive and can simulate different scenarios e.g. some allow you to cannulate, check pulses, intubate etc, and some can talk to you. One ward is often used as an adult ward, and the other as a child ward.
These rooms also allow for scenarios to be set up for other professions such as dietetics, paramedic science and social work.
The Operating Theatre and Recovery Suites
The operating theatre and recovery suite gives you the sense of what it would be like in a real surgical environment.
These spaces emulate the full surgical journey from anaesthetics, through surgery and into recovery. ODP students can practice a range of skills including gowning, hand washing, preparing instrument trays, and working with a patient. Nurses and midwives may experience a surgical placement and need to go to theatre or be part of the midwifery team involved with caesarean sections. Many other Allied Health Professionals may also see patients in recovery if necessary.
Home Environment Room
This space is used to simulate non-clinical settings, as not everything health professionals deal with is hospital based. This is used for simulations of home visits and home births. It also houses soft matting and a bubble machine that are used by the Learning Disability Nursing team.
Assisted Living Space
This space replicates a flat and is used for scenarios such as home visits. The sitting room area provides a different space to practise skills and simulations and work with service users and other students.
Assisted Kitchen
This specially designed kitchen has different areas where you can practice cooking, cleaning, boiling the kettle etc., with someone who has actual or simulated visual impairments. There are adapted devices to help, and simulation glasses for you to wear to experience visual impairments.
Physiotherapy Room
This is a space for physiotherapy students to use, with various equipment to practise client meetings.
Radiotherapy Planning Computer Suite
Our computers allow you to plan hypothetical treatments, in terms of angles and directions, ensuring that radiotherapy reaches where it is needed on a patient’s body.
Radiography Image Interpretation and Reporting Stations Computer Suite
These facilities allow you to view and analyse x-rays.
VERT - Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training
This room contains 3D technology to view virtual patients and look at trajectories for treatment.
Radiotherapy
This room contains the same bed/couch used when patients are given radiotherapy treatment. While students of course do not administer radiotherapy in this room, it does allow them to practise adjusting the equipment to make sure both it and a patient would be in the correct position to receive treatment.
Telehealth Room
This room allows for small group teaching in a central area (large boardroom type table) with five small telehealth booths down either side. These are to allow all our health professions students to practise delivering healthcare and advice remotely, either over the phone or on a video call. This addition to our teaching reflects moves in the sector to offer more flexible access to healthcare services, particularly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Imaging Academy
This new facility is a larger version of our existing image interpretation computer facilities and forms part of the Midlands Imaging Academy Hub, funded by Health Education England. These expanded facilities will mean we can further develop our courses and expertise in radiography and imaging.
Speech and Language Therapy Resource Room
Our Speech and Language Therapy Team have developed a collection of tools, books and resources to help you learn and understand the implications of a speech or swallowing limitation. You can practise one to one client meetings and clinics and use the video recording equipment to review role play scenarios.
Ultrasound simulation suite
You have access to a wide range of Ultrasound simulation equipment to develop your clinical skills and aid in training. The equipment includes two ultrasound machines with a range of phantoms, scan training stations and eve body works.
Our staff
Dr Cain Clark
Associate Professor (Life Sciences) and MRes Course Leader
Dr Clark is skilled in statistics and data analytics applied to public health, nutrition, and sports and exercise. Dr Clark is an experienced academic with an extensive portfolio of scholarly work, including publications, grant acquisition, and supervision. He has a strong interest in systematic reviews and meta-analyses, cluster analysis,...
More about CainDr Adam Herbert
Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science
Adam has extensive applied experience having worked in both the elite sporting environment and private healthcare for clubs including Port Vale FC and Spire Healthcare based at the National Football Centre, St Georges Park. Adam completed his PhD at Manchester Metropolitan University, and has published in internationally renowned journal articles...
More about AdamDr Lewis Gough
Associate Professor in Nutrition and Physiology
Lewis is part of the Senior Leadership Team in the College of Life Sciences and is the College Academic Lead for REF (Research Excellence Framework). He also holds editorial positions with BMC Nutrition and Frontiers in Sport and Active Living and is known worldwide for his work on sodium bicarbonate supplementation.
More about LewisDr K Louise McKnight
Senior Lecturer in Radiography
Louise is a Diagnostic Radiographer who worked in clinical practice for many years and brings that experience to vocational degree teaching in a higher education setting. Her research interest is the pedagogy of research in radiography, for which she continues to develop her Doctoral work on an innovative qualitative data collection and analysis...
More about K Louise