Programme summary for MRes Sports Science

In recent years, research and knowledge exchange in the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience has developed significantly, largely due to the success in Research Assessment Exercise 2008 and our revised Research and Knowledge Exchange strategy bringing together our core research themes. Research is carried out at national and international levels, undertaken with a variety of partners including the NHS, industry and other UK and overseas universities. Research is concentrated in research groups, including the internationally recognised Institute for Health and Human Development. Other research groups in the School focus on Medicines Development, Human Motor Performance, Infection and Immunity and Applied Sports Science.

This programme has been designed to allow students to gain a Masters award primarily through completion of a substantial research project and will appeal to students hoping to pursue a career in scientific research. Research projects are undertaken within the established research groups providing an opportunity to participate in, and contribute to, ongoing projects.

About the programmes

This programme is designed to deliver the skills needed to become an effective researcher in Sports Science and includes a taught research skills component. It is specifically aimed at postgraduate students hoping to pursue a career in scientific research.

Opportunities for research training at PhD level are becoming increasingly competitive and selection processes more rigorous. This programme enables students to clearly demonstrate their research potential, and a wide range of relevant transferable skills, which will significantly enhance their CVs both in the competitive research studentship marketplace and in a wide range of alternative employment.

The programme focuses on all aspects of scientific research from formulation of an initial project proposal through literature review, ethics, planning, methodology, data analysis and interpretation to production of a final written report. An optional module allows for expansion of subject knowledge or further enhancement of specific research skills.

If you are considering a career in research, this programme will give you a strong foundation. Working as part of a team will ensure you are well supported and have opportunities to network. Participating in existing research projects ensures that all the necessary facilities for your research are available and increases the likelihood of publishable outputs.

Programme structure

The programme has one core module ‘Essential Research Skills’ which must be completed during your first semester of study and a second optional module which may be selected from a wide ranging list of more specialised research skills or subject specific modules. Each of these modules is worth 30 M level credits. The remainder of the programme (120 M level credits) consists of a research project undertaken within one of the existing research groups in the School. Successful completion of the programme depends on passing the two taught modules, production of a written report of the project and defence of the report in a viva voce examination.

Students may commence the programme in either September (semester A) or February (semester B).

Career opportunities

Here you will develop a range of transferable skills which are highly valued by many employers and professions and the range of career opportunities you may pursue is quite diverse. The programme has however been designed to give students a head start in a research-oriented career and would be particularly suitable for students looking towards careers in research and development or considering further study to Doctoral level.

Admission

Entry requirements:

An undergraduate honours degree from a UK University in a relevant discipline with a minimum 2.2 classification (or equivalent).
A written application (of no more than 1500 words) outlining academic and professional background, career objectives and reasons for choosing the programme.
In considering applicants we will look for evidence of ability and background knowledge in relation to the proposed field of study.
Two supporting references, one of which is preferably academic.
In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required.

International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes. Successful recent completion of relevant study in a UK Higher Education Institution may be accepted as sufficient proof of English ability.

Students that apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption. Prior credit can only be requested for the taught part of the programme.

Students who meet the requisite entry criteria will be sent details of available research projects and asked to select which project(s) they would be interested in working on. Students will be required to submit a short written justification for their selection of project, relating it to their existing experience and interests, and will be interviewed before a final offer is made.