Program Overview

MRes Educational Research

Overview

This innovative Masters course, recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), prepares students for a career in educational research, whether they plan to go on to a doctorate or take their research in other directions.

Under the expert guidance of our team of leading academics, students will develop a broad range of research skills. They will learn to design and plan research projects and collect, analyse, interpret and report qualitative and quantitative data. By the time they graduate, they will have a deeper understanding of the theoretical, ethical, political and comparative aspects of carrying out educational research.

The course also covers digital methodologies, and students will be involved with cutting-edge research projects currently being carried out by staff in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Top Reasons to Study with Us

• Top 15 in the UK for Education (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)
• 100% of our research impact and environment in Education is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
• 88% overall student satisfaction for Education (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2023)

Course Objectives

This course is designed to equip students for a career in educational research or act as preparation for doctoral study. Students will develop a range of invaluable research skills and engage closely with current research projects underway at the University and beyond.

Professional Accreditation

Our Educational Research course has been recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council as meeting its criteria for postgraduate research training, helping students learn core and transferable research skills and improving their future employability. It also forms part of the recognised pathway in educational research for the Scottish Graduate School in the Social Sciences.

Work Placements

An opportunity to undertake a research placement will be available to students as they work towards their MRes Educational Research.

Flexible Learning

There are part-time and full-time options. Students may, by arrangement, study via a blended optional provision in some of the taught modules. All modules make use of some form of synchronous online and/or face-to-face attendance. There is also the use of a virtual learning environment (Canvas) and most modules have considerable asynchronous participation online. Most of the classes for the initial taught modules are timetabled for synchronous activity (be that face-to-face or other) on Fridays – but check ahead for the semester timetable. Contact the course director for more information and to discuss blended learning options.

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements

A minimum of a second class Honours degree (2:1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.

International Entry Requirements

View the entry requirements for your country.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in reading and writing and 6.0 in speaking and listening.
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with a minimum of 62 in reading and writing and 60 in speaking and listening.
• IBT TOEFL 80 overall with a minimum of 19 in reading, 24 in writing, 21 in speaking and 19 in listening.

Course Details

Grow your expertise through a diverse range of modules covering multiple aspects of educational research, paradigms, practices, methods and methodologies.

It comprises six core taught modules and – for students seeking to earn the full Masters – a dissertation of 15,000 words.

Modules

The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2025. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.

• EDRP001 The Nature of Educational Inquiry
  Eight Friday afternoons: online/some optional face-to-face.
• ASRP002 Qualitative Research Design
  Eight Friday mornings: blended, a mix of online and face-to-face classes.
• ASRP004 Quantitative Data Analysis
  Eight to ten Monday mornings: mostly a face-to-face module. It may be appropriate for some students (with good mathematics/statistics backgrounds) to take the online version of this module: ASRP104. Contact the course director if you want to take this option.
• EDRP002 Theory and Methods of Digital Social Research
  Six to eight Friday afternoons: online with one or two optional face-to-face sessions.
• ASRP001 The Nature of Social Inquiry
  More than five Friday mornings: blended, a mix of online and face-to-face classes.
• ASRP005 Qualitative Data Analysis
  More than five Friday mornings: blended, a mix of online and face-to-face classes.

The course also leads into the production of a dissertation (EDRP009) of 15,000 words under expert supervision by education staff from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Teaching

The course is designed to meet the Economic and Social Research Council’s requirements for broad knowledge, practical skills and both generic and specific competencies in educational research. The taught modules are delivered by education experts from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Assessment

You'll be assessed in each course module through assignments approximately 3,000 words in length but many modules have more than one assignment and take creative approaches to the use of digital, creative, and collaborative assignment production for assessment. The final assignment is the dissertation (EDRP009) of 15,000 words which is completed under expert supervision. Your supervisor may also be well-placed to help you apply for a PhD upon graduating.

Classroom Hours

Full-time students take three modules each semester with each module carrying 20 credits (approximately 200 hours each for study time). Part-time students take one or two modules in a given semester but must take three modules across the academic year. Most part-time students find it easier to have a minimum of a day or two a week (or equivalent if you study in the evenings) to commit to study. You will need considerable time dedicated to study in certain phases to complete assignments and projects. Either way, the commitment is important to realise, with each module carrying 20 credits (approximately 200 hours each for total study time which includes both shared, synchronous and independent research and assignment production).

Fees and Funding

Fees and Costs

University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.

Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.

If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.

If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.

Scholarships and Funding

If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.

Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.

Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans

Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.

English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.

Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.

Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.

International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.

Cost of Living

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

After You Graduate

91% of Education students at the University of Stirling felt their course has enhanced their employability

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2021

Our Masters in Educational Research improves the career prospects of researchers in education, training and related subjects, and professionals who need to understand and commission research in these fields. It’s valuable preparation for doctoral research in education, and is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as meeting its criteria for postgraduate research training that helps students improve their employability while learning core research skills.

The MRes in Educational Research:

• leads to many students to apply successfully for a PhD (usually at Stirling)
• opens up a wide range of future employment possibilities in educational research
• has ESRC accreditation which makes it possible to apply for SGSSS funding for a PhD.

Testimonial Quotes

This masters in research is ideal for those looking to develop their understanding of the role of research in educational settings of all kinds and provides an excellent precursor to the PhD pathway. This course is designed to assist those working in education and training in all kinds of professional settings who wish to learn how to understand, design, enact and employ cutting edge educational research to create desired impacts.

Greg Mannion

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