Program start date | Application deadline |
2023-09-18 | - |
Program Overview
Why this course?
The course offers you the opportunity to improve your knowledge and understanding of the factors which shape social needs and the ways in which different societies have responded to these. This will enhance your research skills and enable you to undertake an independent research project on a topic of your choice.
The research training on this MSc has been approved by the ESRC (via the Scottish Graduate School in Social Sciences) as suitable for undertaking a PhD in the social sciences.
Who's it for?
The research methods course is aimed at the following groups:
Interested in postgraduate study?
At the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, our friendly and knowledgeable team will be available to provide you with all the information you need to kick-start your postgraduate journey at the University of Strathclyde. Register for upcoming events below:
What you'll study
The course includes a combination of research methods classes, core disciplinary training and optional classes. Classes in research design, quantitative methods and qualitative methods provide a platform to enable you to proceed to the MSc stage of the programme to undertake a research-based dissertation on a topic of your own choosing.
You'll also take compulsory classes in Welfare concepts and ideas and Approaches to welfare: past, present and future and a choice of optional classes which reflect the specialist research interests of our social policy staff.
Alternatively you can choose optional classes from other Masters programme offered across the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences.
Staff research interests include such issues as:
To complete the MSc, you'll undertake a 15,000-work dissertation on a topic of your choice, supervised by a member of staff.
Program Outline
Course content
Semester 1
Semester 2
MSc Dissertation
Compulsory classes
Perspectives on Social Research
The most important skill students should develop in graduate education is how to design research projects that withstand critical scrutiny. This module is designed to develop this skill at MSc level.
The class introduces students to the theoretical and practical issues they will need to address when designing and conducting research in social and public policy and related areas. During this module students will critically evaluate empirical research, develop an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different research designs, and build a foundation for their research projects and master theses.
Quantitative Methods I
This course introduces students to the use of quantitative methods in social research. Like qualitative methods, quantitative methods are tools in the social scientist’s toolkit. Learning when and how to use them will make you a better social researcher, open new scope for Masters or doctoral dissertation work, and improve your job prospects.
Welfare concepts & ideas
This class introduces students to some of the most important concepts which have shaped our understanding of social policy as an academic discipline, including such concepts as need, citizenship and entitlement, equality and justice, and happiness and wellbeing.
It also looks at issues surrounding the governance and implementation of social policy and the variety of ways in which our needs for welfare provision can be addressed. We also look at some of the main theoretical perspectives which have informed the development of social policy, such as social democracy, liberalism, conservatism, feminism, environmentalism, Marxism and the New Right.
The final part of the class looks at some of the main challenges facing social policy-makers today.
Compulsory classes
Qualitative Methods
This class provides an overview of the ever-expanding field of qualitative methods in social science. This includes the examination of a wide variety of approaches, including case studies, small-N comparisons, ethnographies, historical research, and discourse analysis.
It also includes the study of a range of data collection and data analysis techniques such as observation, document analysis, elite interviews, and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA).
Approaches to welfare: past, present and future
This class examines the ways in which different societies have sought to address welfare needs at different points in time.
It takes a broad view of the ‘field’ of social policy, examining issues associated not only with poverty but also health, housing and education. It explores the ways in which policies in these areas have developed in different countries and under different policy regimes over the last 200 years. It then looks at the varieties of social policy response in contemporary societies and examines the challenges to traditional social policy which are posed by population movements and the development of transnational welfare institutions.
Optional classes
Advanced project module
The aim of this class is to provide students with the opportunity to undertake an individual research project in one of our specialist research areas. Our staff have a wide range of interests, including such topics as:
Students will have the opportunity to review the literature in their chosen area, formulate their own research questions, develop their presentational skills and prepare their own projects.
This class will provide a particularly useful foundation for those students who wish to undertake a dissertation or go on to more advanced research.
Comparative Public Policy
This class revolves around the different aims for conducting comparative policy analysis such as explaining the variation of policy output and outcome across different institutional, economic, social and cultural settings, generalising a given theory of policy process in different geographical contexts and by taking time into consideration, as well as capturing the interdependence of countries. Units of analysis include countries, states/regions, local governments, and international organisations. Students will be introduced to concepts, research design and methods.
International Institutions and Regimes
International organisations (IOs), like the World Trade Organisation, the United Nations, NATO, or the European Union have become common place in how governments govern their international relations. IOs are often seen as the solution to international cooperation problems, be it in areas of conflict, trade, human rights, or the global environment. Whether IOs can live up to this promise and can indeed change national governments' behaviour to solve global cooperation problems will be the central question this course addresses. Specifically, we will examine why IOs differ in their rules and decision-making processes and how this variation translates into different policy outputs and outcomes. The first part of the class builds the theoretical and analytical foundation to address these key questions in a principled manner across different policy domains, while the second part applies these insights to specific IOs. We will discuss prominent IOs, such as the World Bank, IMF, or NATO together with newer forms of transnational governance as well as international courts.
Other approved classes
The Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences offers a large number of other MSc programmes, including programmes in Education, Government & Public Policy, History, Journalism, Law, Psychological Sciences & Health, and Social Work. Many of these programmes include classes which are directly relevant to Social Policy. You'll have the opportunity to complete your programme by selecting a class from one of these programmes, subject to availability.
Dissertation
In order to complete the MSc, all students will be required to undertake a 15,000-word dissertation on a topic of their choice.
The dissertation will be supervised by a member of staff but is intended to provide students with the opportunity to develop their skills as independent researchers.
Learning & teaching
The majority of classes will be taught in weekly sessions of two hours. The formats of these sessions will include lectures, seminars, small-group discussions and practical sessions
The Advanced Project module will include a combination of individual and group meetings.
Assessment
Your work will be assessed in a variety of ways. Some classes, including the classes in the Principles of Research Design, Quantitative Methods and Qualitative Methods, are assessed by coursework and exams.
Welfare concepts and ideas is assessed by two essays of 2,500 words each. Approaches to welfare: past, present and future and the Advanced project module will be assessed by means of a single 5,000-word essay.
The dissertation is 15,000 words in length.
Careers
Social Policy graduates are employed in a wide range of occupations, including:
The course has been designed to enable you to update and extend your knowledge of a wide range of social and welfare issues while also developing your practical research skills.
It will be particularly well-suited to individuals who wish to develop their methodological expertise in order to undertake research within the social and welfare services or to pursue opportunities for further postgraduate study.
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Life in Glasgow
Overview:
- Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
- Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
- Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
- Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
- Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)
Student Life:
- Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
- 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
- Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
- Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union
Academics:
- Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
- Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
- Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
- Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
- Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world
Top Reasons to Study Here:
- Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
- Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
- Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
- Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
- Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city
Services:
- Counseling and mental health support
- Health center with a range of medical services
- Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
- Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
- Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
- Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation
Entry requirements
Academic requirements |
First or upper second-class Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in Social Policy or a related discipline. |
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English language requirements |
You're required to have a suitable minimum level of competency in the English language if your first language is not English or if you have not been educated wholly or mainly in the medium of English. For postgraduate studies, the University of Strathclyde requires a minimum overall score of IELTS 6.5 (with no score below 6.0 ) or equivalent. Tests are valid for two years.Pre-sessional courses in English are available. If you’re a national of an English speaking country recognised by UK Visas and Immigration (please check most up-to-date list on the Home Office website) or you have successfully completed an academic qualification (at least equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree) in any of these countries, then you do not need to present any additional evidence. If you are from a country not recognised as an English speaking country by the United Kingdom Visa and Immigrations (UKVI), please check our English requirements before making your application. |
Pre-Masters preparation course
The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course held at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre, for international students (non EU/UK) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for a Masters degree at University of Strathclyde. The Pre-Masters programme provides progression to a number of degree options.
Upon successful completion, you'll be able to progress to this degree course at the University of Strathclyde.
Chat to a student ambassador
If you want to know more about what it’s like to be a Humanities & Social Sciences student at the University of Strathclyde, a selection of our current students are here to help!
Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you might have about courses and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into their experiences of life in Glasgow and Scotland.
Chat to a student ambassador
Strathclyde’s School of Social Work and Social Policy features more than 30 academics, many of whom have experience of working in policy and practice; all of whom are committed to research informed teaching and learning. I hope you will find, like me, that this is a really friendly and welcoming School, where people are keen to engage in ideas and hear about different experiences.
Katherine SmithProgramme leader
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 100 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
Visit our international students' section
Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Scholarships
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