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MRes Degree – What Is It, and Is an MRes Worth It?
Written by Morgan James
An MRes (Master of Research) is a postgraduate qualification focused on building research skills. There’s more to it than that—the question is, what do you want to know?
If you’re mostly in the dark about an MRes, start with general information on the MRes, including which universities have one, how long it is and other useful info.
If instead you already know the basics and your question is whether it’s worth it to study one, check out the ‘Is an MRes degree worth it?’ section, including the typical cost and career prospects.
Does MRes have taught modules?
Yes, despite being a research degree, an MRes has taught modules. These modules are based around teaching research practices, but the majority of the programme is focussed on an independent research project.
Is an MRes higher than other Masters?
An MRes is a level 7 qualification, putting it on par with other Masters degrees. The major difference between this and taught programmes is the research focus, which may be ‘worth more’ depending on what your ambitions are. See our guide on taught vs research Masters for more information.
Is an MRes equal to a PhD?
No, it’s not. A PhD is a level 8 qualification, putting it a level above the MRes, and you won’t be a doctor at the end. However, an MRes is a common stepping stone towards completing a PhD, though that isn’t the only reason people complete an MRes.
Where can I study an MRes?
Currently, we have over 90 UK institutions in our database listing an MRes with us. However, that’s not to say they all list the same amount of MRes courses—as you might expect, you’ll typically find MRes more common at research-intensive institutions like the Russel Group.
If you’d like to filter by subject (and other useful properties), I’d recommend visiting our MRes course listings. Alternatively, you can find a preview of our listings in the widget below.
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Is an MRes degree worth it?
The answer to this question will depend a lot on your personal circumstances and expectations. Of course, what people usually mean when they ask this question is: “Does an MRes give a return on investment?”.
To answer that question, let’s go through the cost, followed by a few examples.
How much does an MRes cost in the UK?
The exact cost varies by institution and tends to form a range. Home fees are typically between £5,000 and £20,000 a year for home students, while international students pay somewhere between £10,000 and £40,000 a year. If your MRes requires lab work, your fees will usually be towards the higher end of the scale.
The above assumes you’re studying full time. If you’re studying part time, fees are lower per year but spread over a longer period. Since you need more maintenance (food, rent), that typically means it will be more expensive in the long run.
If you’re a home student, you may find the fees outstrip the UK postgraduate loan, which is £13,206. In this case, you’ll need to cover the rest yourself, which makes a return on investment more complex. I would recommend reading our UK funding guide for information on the kind of funding you can draw on.
What careers can you get with an MRes?
This depends a lot on your MRes subject, but some sample careers include:
- Researcher
- Research analyst
- Market researcher
- Historian
- Economist
If you’re aiming for one of these, you should give extra care as to whether an MRes will suit the requirements. Consider searching through sites like Indeed to see if these positions list a PhD as a requirement as well—if so, you’ll need to factor that into your return on investment.
Also, while not the only important factor, consider the salary these positions have against the cost of your programme. If the salary is on the lower end but the university you’re looking at has very high fees, you may wish to reconsider either the course or the university.
Typical MRes circumstances
#1: You’re preparing to complete a PhD
Going straight from a Bachelors degree to a PhD is a considerable jump, so completing an MRes in between is an excellent way to prepare. If you’re aiming for an occupation where a PhD is required (such as an academic lecturer or an advanced researcher), completing an MRes is likely to give you a strong return on investment.
That being said, you should keep in mind the job market ahead. At present, roles in academia are harder and harder to come by, and that’s not a trend likely to reverse in the near future. Research in industry may be a safer bet but be sure to do your research ahead of time (not the academic kind).
#2: You’re using an MRes to pursue research roles and you aren’t interested in a PhD
While it’s a common path for completing the MRes, not everyone wants (or needs) to complete a PhD. Industry research roles can be a fine goal to work towards and an MRes may be a good choice for pursuing these.
However, keep in mind that requirements by industry differ. Some industries only recruit or give considerable preference to PhDs, and in these cases, the MRes won’t provide a full return on your investment without completing a PhD afterwards. For others, they may only want research experience, for which an MRes is a fine choice. As mentioned previously, I would recommend searching job sites to see whether a PhD will be required for the roles you’re aiming for.
#3: You have no direct plans on the occupation front, you just want to research an interest subject
Learning for learning’s sake is a different goal which greatly changes the return on investment question. In your case, it’s less about having a clear plan for the kind of role you’d like afterwards and more feeling that you had the opportunity to research a subject and topic you’re passionate about in the best way you could.
In this case, you’ll find a greater return on investment by being very particular about the institution and courses you apply for. Depending on your priorities, you may find you’d like to learn research methodologies from top researchers in your field—in which case, university ranking tables like ARWU may be helpful in making your choice.
What next?
If you’d like to know more before committing to a search, we also have articles on other Masters degree types and UK Masters funding.
Alternatively, if you’re ready to start looking for MRes degrees, why not check out our MRes course listings? You can filter by lots of useful properties, including country, subject, institution, and many more.
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