• to familiarize students with narrative theories
• to train students in a range of narrative research methodologies
• to give students experience in applying their theoretical and methodological skills in narrative to concrete research issues
• to enable students to conduct an original and substantial piece of independent research in the MA thesis
• to teach a high level of transferable research skills including theoretical and empirical review, comparison and criticism; the planning, implementation and analysis of research; and individual and team research working

Main topics of study

Through a range of theoretical and methodological perspectives, the programme will address a number of questions including:

• How do we decide on a research question in narrative analysis?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of different modes of narrative inquiry?
• What are the benefits and difficulties of a range of methods of narrative analysis?
• What are the possibilities and limitations of narrative research for drawing conclusions of theoretical and practical significance?
• How do people come to see themselves as distinct subjects about whom a story can be told?
• What role do memory and ideology play in people's accounts of their lives?
• How do class, ethnicity, gender and other social characteristics shape the stories people tell?
• What is the relationship between the stories people tell about their lives, and the political framework which forms the context for those stories?
• How does culture intervene in the way narratives are produced?

Narrative research is growing in popularity within academic social science and applied social policy areas. Within cultural studies, too, there are increasing numbers of researchers and students who use narrative analysis. Other fields where this work is becoming more significant include health studies, computer studies (particularly in the development and theorization of narratively-based games), and biographically-based art work.

Within established social science research MAs, students rarely receive enough specific training to adopt a narrative methodological approach. This absence is even more pronounced within MAs in other areas. Narrative studies are however methodologically and theoretically very diverse, and students require academic experience in the area in order to be able to use them effectively.

No programme exists in the UK covering the area proposed. Internationally, while there are individual programmes which cover some of the same ground as some in the proposed MA, in particular in the US, Australia and Scandinavia, full MAs in the area do not exist. This MA would thus offer a unique student opportunity, both nationally and internationally.

Applicants should normally hold a first class or second class honours degree. This degree should be in a relevant field of study. Applicants holding an honours degree in a field of study which is not of obvious relevance may also be considered. Applicants who are not graduates but who have relevant research or professional experience may also be considered. All applicants with appropriate qualifications will be invited for an interview. In lieu of the interview overseas students may be asked to supply detailed written evidence of their interest in Narrative Research, together with evidence of research or writing or other work of a standard sufficient for successful postgraduate study.

Core modules – Narrative Research, Narrative Practice
Options: Life-course narratives; Subjects in Culture; Psychosocial Analysis of Forced Migration;
Genealogical Research Strategies; Political Narratives; Feminist Postcolonialism; Orientalism; Gender; Sexuality

You will begin the Dissertation during Semester B and submit in September
An alternative route is to take the dissertation in Semester A of the following year

The programme uses a combination of lectures, workshops, small-group discussions, student presentations, and tutorials.

Assessment is by coursework and dissertation. Assessed coursework may include essays, seminar presentations, and reports, where appropriate.

All students pursuing an MA degree undertake a supervised research project in an area of their own interest. The dissertation may be developed from a proposal undertaken in the Narrative analysis module.

The Dissertation should:

• be of approximately 15,000 words or in an equivalent audio/visual format;
• show evidence of understanding of theories and methodological approaches covered in Core Modules 1 and 2, and in the option modules.
• show evidence that primary source material has been mobilised in the course of research;
• show evidence of independent critical and evaluative abilities appropriate to the postgraduate level of study.

Using and applying narratives is a growing career field including amongst others: academic social science and cultural studies, applied social policy areas, health services, computer career pathways (particularly in the development and theorization of narratively-based games) and biographically-based art work.

Lectures identify key issues and debates and set out frameworks within which students may pursue specific topics.

Workshops are organised around skills exercises and group work, giving students an opportunity to think through specific research problems and to develop practical skills by means of hands-on experience. They are used to develop ideas encountered in lectures and in students’ own reading and research. They encourage critical thinking and communicative abilities, and advance skills in group work.

Student presentations are based upon verbal presentation of an agreed topic. Students are encouraged to use audio-visual aids and to combine media. Presentations encourage development of independent thinking, collaborative and general inter-personal skills, and familiarity with specific media and with multi-media techniques.

Tutorials are conducted one-to-one or in small groups. They deal with specific issues including skills deficiencies identified by staff or by students

In addition students are invited to public seminars and research workshops organised by the Centre for Narrative Research in the Social Sciences. These seminars are open to academics, students, professionals and practitioners in the narrative field. Here students are enabled to place research techniques and findings in the context of the complex and often competing demands of the academic environment and statutory and voluntary bodies.

East London environment offers unrivalled access to the most important creative resources, as well as good transport links and cheapest accommodation in London. There are also regular visits from important professionals who live and work locally.