MRes Degrees - Your Ultimate Guide to a Master of Research

A Master of Research (MRes) is a common research-based Masters degree. The emphasis is on independent research over taught instruction. Your main focus will be completing an independent research project. You will still complete some taught units on an MRes. These will normally focus on practical topics such as research techniques and methodological principles. An MRes exists to train researchers, either for professional work or in preparation for a PhD.

Do you often catch yourself asking why things work the way they do? Do you find yourself wondering what is beneath the surface of a problem? Do you find yourself not being able to leave a question unanswered? If so, there’s a researcher in you waiting to be unleashed!

But, how can you hone your research skills without jumping in the deep end (doing a PhD!)? You might want to apply for an MRes!

In this guide I’ve explained what an MRes is, including information on the typical length, content and the difference between an MRes and taught Masters.

How long is an MRes?

In the UK, an MRes usually requires at least one year of full-time study. Some courses can be longer. A part-time degree will normally last two years.

MRes degrees are much less common in Europe. Those that are available are likely to be longer — lasting up to two years.

Dedicated research Masters are also rare in other parts of the world. Most countries prefer to focus on taught instruction at Masters level, leaving advanced research for MPhil and PhD programmes.

How many credits is an MRes worth?

An MRes is normally worth 180 UK credits.

Most of these will be earned through research. A typical MRes might involve around 160 credits of research work (in the form of multiple projects, or a single large dissertation). This will be supplemented by around 20 credits of training.

What are MRes research projects like?

In some ways the research you’ll do for an MRes is a lot like the final dissertation required for an MA or MSc.

You’ll select a topic, be assigned a supervisor and conduct an independent investigation before presenting a thesis of your findings.

As you’d expect, however, the research required by an MRes is much more extensive. (The degree is called a Masters of Research, after all!).

This might mean that you’ll be expected to complete multiple research projects. This is more likely for technical or professional subjects that require training in different types of research.

Or, you might simply complete one large project. If so, you can expect this to be much longer than the dissertation for a taught degree. Whereas an MA, for example, will usually require a dissertation of 15-20,000 words, an equivalent MRes project will be closer to 35,000 words (or more!).

The academic scope of your research may also be more demanding. You won’t be judged by PhD standards (for which a substantial original contribution to knowledge is required). But you may be expected to be closer to this level than an equivalent MA or MSc dissertation.

The advantage of this is that an MRes really does provide a full academic research experience. Whereas the dissertation is a single (but significant) part of a taught Masters, your work on an MRes will make you a proficient and professional researcher.

After that, taking the step up to PhD level may be surprisingly easy.

Is an MRes ‘worth’ more than a ‘taught’ Masters degree?

Like the MA or MSc, the MRes is still a ‘second cycle’ degree, following undergraduate study, but preceding doctoral-level research.

However, an MRes course may be more valuable to students following an academic career path, for whom the additional research training and experience is valuable.

An MRes may also be a useful final degree if you plan to work in a commercial or industrial career where some research experience is valuable, but a full PhD is not required.

What's the difference between an MRes and an MPhil?

The MRes is a self-contained qualification. This distinguishes it from other research Masters such as the MPhil (Master of Philosophy) which is normally a precursor to a PhD.

It’s simplest to think of the MRes as a research training qualification. The MPhil on the other hand, is a single research project. An MRes degree can prepare you for a PhD, whereas an MPhil may actually be part of one.

Some universities do award an MRes to PhD students who exit their programme early, but this is quite rare. Others award the MRes within a longer ‘1+3’ PhD programme.

The Master of Research qualification is available to international students in the same way as a taught Masters.

This means you'll need to apply for a student route visa to study an MRes in the UK, just as you would with any other Masters degree.

What about dependent visas?

UK MRes and MA/MSc degrees can sometimes differ in terms of the conditions of your student route visa. It isn't normally possible to bring dependents to the UK with you on a student route visa to study a taught Masters (or Bachelors).

However, some MRes degrees are classified as 'research' qualifications. If so, you may be able to bring dependent family members to the UK with you whilst you study.

Despite the name, many Masters of Research degrees are actually defined as 'taught' courses so check with your university before you apply. Remember, as I've explained throughout this page, taught and research Masters are very different programmes. A UK MRes isn't simply a Masters with (potentially) different visa options. Make sure you're picking the right degree for you, for the right reasons.

Like higher research degrees, the MRes isn’t specific to a particular academic discipline. You can study an MRes in any subject, provided it offers enough scope for research training.

Some universities do distinguish between different types of MRes, mirroring the distinction between taught MA or MSc programmes:

• An MRes in Arts and Humanities subjects may be referred to as a ‘Master of Arts by Research’, commonly abbreviated to MARes or MA (Res).
• An MRes in Science and Technology subjects may be referred to as a ‘Master of Science by Research’, commonly abbreviated to MScRes or MSc (Res).

There isn’t a consistent distinction between these specific qualifications and more ‘generic’ MRes programmes. Some universities may use ‘MA by Research’ or ‘MSc by Research’ (etc) to describe a programme with more taught components and subject-specific focus.

The MRes is ideal if your main goal is to acquire research training.

This might be because you want to prepare for a PhD. Though an MA or MSc includes a dissertation, the MRes offers much more research experience. It also provides more extensive research training, allowing you to really hit the ground running when you begin a PhD.

Alternatively, you may actually study an MRes because you don’t want to do a PhD. Many professions value research skills, but a full three-year PhD may not be necessary. An MRes offers a shorter, more focussed, route to research training.

Remember though, an MRes might present a more challenging transition from undergraduate to postgraduate study. You’ll still have some guidance and support (and won’t simply be thrown in at the deep end!) but there will be a more rapid emphasis on independent work.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also like...