Messages and viewpoints are all around us, in public spaces, at all times. Political parties, public and governmental institutions, pressure groups, charities and NGOs shape messages in particular ways, advocating viewpoints and constructing campaigns to influence public opinion, specific audiences and policymakers. Our MA in International Public and Political Communication (IPPC) teaches you to be an expert in both the analysis and development of such messages.
Join us on the degree and you'll learn about media relations, political marketing and the scope and significance of political communication. You'll develop skills in communicating with the media (including media training) and using different media outlets to promote ideas through advocacy and lobbying. Our teaching offers a deep and critical understanding of key debates around intersection of the media and public and political communication internationally.
The IPPC course combines a rigorous academic foundation with strong practical content. Taught by both research-active staff and practitioners who are proven experts in their field, our students analyse public and political communication activities both internationally and historically – and then put their findings to practical use, developing their own political and public communication campaigns or marketing tools.
After completing the course you'll be a media and communication expert who can analyse, manage and design campaigns, market and communicate ideas, and undertake effective media relations and lobbying. If you're looking for a career in national or local government, international agencies, NGOs, trade unions, political parties, charities, media organisations and lobbying, it's ideal preparation. The degree also offers a route into further academic study.
This degree offers students an advanced understanding of cutting-edge debates concerning media, power and democracy both nationally and internationally.
Rooted in our ground-breaking academic research, and offering practical, hands-on experience of political communication, this masters programme offers a route into PhD study and a solid foundation for careers in lobbying, journalism, public relations and more.
The International Public and Political Communication masters provides a solid grounding for those wishing to pursue research at PhD level and careers in political or public communications, marketing, lobbying, public relations, political campaigning, NGO work with development and advocacy – and, of course, journalism.
Recent graduates are working in media and public organisations across Europe and Asia in particular. Roles include media relations analyst, lecturer, journalist, website and media manager, and political reporter. Employers include the European Commission and European Parliament, South China Morning Post, the Pakistan government, the Tokyo Foundation and University of Sulaimani.
Our teaching staff are professionals who have worked at the highest level in newspaper, magazine, radio, television and online journalism. This is a great place to learn practical skills. Three quarters of our research is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. The discussion of ideas about journalism, its past, present and future, is part of all our courses.
We have strong links with the industry. We send our masters students on a three-day field trip to London, visiting national news organisations for briefings on current developments with senior editors and meeting politicians and political journalists.
Guests from the media industries, regulators, campaigning groups and research institutes give lectures in the department. Broadcast editors run radio and television newsdays, and print and online production editors bring their expertise to newspaper, web and magazine exercises.
All our applied postgraduate courses are accredited by the main professional bodies representing the media industries: the National Council for the Training of Journalists, the Broadcast Journalism Training Council and the Professional Publishers Association. Our International Public and Political Communication and Global Journalism programmes are not accredited and have limited practical content.
The University has invested £3 million in a superb new home for the department in 2014, with four large newsrooms designed to simulate a real working environment. The print newsroom is equipped with 30 PCs, all of which have access to the latest print production software such as Adobe Indesign, Incopy and Photoshop. You’ll also have access to a Press Association newsfeed, telephones, daily newspapers and Sky TV.
The broadcast newsroom is equipped with industry-standard software for radio production. We have a state-of-the-art radio studio and digital audio recorders. Students on the applied MA courses learn how to create packages, put together live news bulletins, shoot professional news pieces on HD TV cameras, and use Apple Final Cut X to cut rushes together. They acquire the skills needed to prepare text, audio and video content for publication online. These degrees also show how to use audio recorders, video and stills cameras to gather content. In the web newsroom, students use audio, video and image editing software to create their own sites.
Postgraduate student loans are available for UK and EU students to a current value of £10,280.
Several scholarship funding awards are also available to MA International Public and Political Communication students. These include the following.
Please see the Department of Journalism Studies' taught postgraduate funding page for more general details on the above, including an overview of deadlines.
Other sources of funding may be available – please see the University's postgraduate funding pages to investigate.
We teach through lectures, seminars, workshops and research exercises. You’re assessed by essays, examinations and a dissertation.
This newly developed programme is based on our popular and successful courses in Communication, Advertising and Public Relations, Political Lobbying and Public Affairs, and Health Communication. We have updated and re-structured the course to ensure that it reflects the latest trends in contemporary theory and practice. The innovative new design incorporates a ‘Communication and Public Relations’ core with opportunities for you to specialise and study streams in advertising, political lobbying or healthcare. This means that all students will study four core modules plus two taught modules in your particular specialism. This model:
This programme is a linked Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and Master's (MSc). The PGDip comprises six modules. Full-time students will take three modules per semester begining each september and finishing the PGDip components by May the following year.
For an MSc award you will also undertake an individual dissertation (12,000-15,000 words). Each student is allocated a supervisor who will support thier individual research project.
Each module is weighted with credit points indicating the amount of student effort required. Full-time students are required to complete 60 credits per semester (1 credit point equates to approximately 10 student effort hours).
Full-time students normally attend classes on 2 or 3 days per week. Part-time students normally attend classes on 1 or 2 days per week. The specific timetable will vary depending on your specialism. Classes are usually held during the day and full-time and part-time students share the same classes. Exact times vary, but each module generally involves 2-3 hours per week of class time that may be divided between lectures and seminars/workshops/practicals. Outside of this, you will also be expected to spend considerable time in independent study and you may also be involved in meetings with staff or with your fellow students on group projects.
Recognised by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).
Staff delivering the course are actively engaged in research supporting the academic content of the course. In addition, as well as maintaining close relationships and active engagement with professional organisations, staff frequently contribute professional expertise to a range of organisations. Staff are engaged on a day to day basis withthe leaders within the communication industry.
Due to the breadth of the course, you have a range of options upon graduation across the public, private and non-profit sectors, in communication, public relations, advertising, marketing, political lobbying and internal communication. While some previous graduates choose to specialise in a particular area, our students are equipped to be communication ‘all-rounders’ able to incorporate an integrated approach to communication management. Further PhD research study is also an option.
This course is designed for recent graduates with little or no public relations (PR) experience, who want to pursue a career in an exciting and expanding sector. It is also ideal if you are a public relations practitioner with one or two years of experience, looking to develop your strategic and analytical skills whilst gaining a broader understanding of the PR industry.
The course combines academic learning and professional practice with a hands-on approach. Key areas of study include
You learn the latest techniques to succeed in the fast changing world of communications, and gain the analytical, strategic, management and organisational skills to succeed at the highest levels in PR. You develop your ability to
During the course you put important PR campaigns under the spotlight and work on live briefs to develop your professional skills in real-life situations. You learn how to work with bloggers and journalists, to meet their needs and develop your organsiation's reputation, and bring new ideas into the public sphere. You also develop an understanding of how academic research helps us understand the practice and development of public relations across the world.
You gain practical skills in • content creation and curation • writing news releases • organising events • researching and creating strategic PR campaigns • dealing with the media • blogger relations • crisis management • creative use of online and social media • advocacy approaches to engage with hard-to-reach audiences.
We give you the skills you need to communicate with key audiences across different media channels including print, broadcast, social media and online. It is not about ‘spin’, but great writing and verbal skills, critical and creative thinking, and understanding how the media works. You are encouraged to think about an organisation's aims and objectives and how PR knowledge can be used to achieve or question them.
The course is delivered by a team that includes award winning PR industry specialists with national and international experience across TV, health, charity, public and private sectors.
Public Relations Consultants Association
This course also benefits from Partner University status with the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA). A limited number of Universities are endorsed by the PRCA for offering excellent courses which are intellectually rigorous and esteemed by employers.
Our students gain automatic free student membership of the PRCA and all the benefits that come with it, including • exclusive access to work placements • internships • graduate schemes and entry level jobs • free and unlimited online training • free access to the industry recognised PRCA Online Certificate.
This course is recognised by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).
When you enrol on a course recognised by the CIPR you are eligible for CIPR Student Membership. This gives you access to the members area of the CIPR website, where they have a dedicated student area which offers help and advice on getting into the PR industry.
Postgraduate certificate – core modules
Postgraduate certificate – optional modules
Postgraduate diploma – core modules
Postgraduate diploma – optional modules
MA modules
Organisations are increasingly recognising the value of PR and the importance of effective communication. As more media platforms are launched, and the communication mix becomes more complex, the demand for honest, ethical and skilled PR practitioners continues to grow.
The course gives you the knowledge and skills to work as a public relations officer or executive in • public and private sector organisations • PR agencies • charities • pressure groups • the voluntary sector.
It also prepares you for work • as a campaigns director • in public affairs or lobbying • as an account manager or director making the headlines for your creative campaigns.
Many of our students also move into marketing and social media roles.
The skills from the course are transferrable to a range of other professions as you gain competencies in writing, communicating, presenting ideas and working in a team.
The CIPR Public Affairs Diploma is designed for public relations or public affairs practitioners who want to develop relevant theoretical knowledge and to strengthen their practical skills in order to become more effective and better placed to take on more senior roles.
The CIPR Diploma in Public Affairs Practice focuses on the process of policy formation and the wider corporate communications and reputational context in which public affairs operates. This qualification is firmly rooted in practice – with senior PA practitioners involved in its development – and is also grounded in the latest academic thinking.
The Public Affairs Diploma covers topics including:
Twenty hours of on campus teaching comprises a variety of approaches including lectures, workshops, group work and input from senior practitioners and QMU academics. Work is set and contact maintained between teaching blocks through online discussions. Students also receive supervision support with their assignment. CIPR Diploma in Public Affairs students learn alongside and MSc Strategic Communications and Public Relations students ensuring that you benefit from sharing experiences and developing a network of colleagues. Assessment is through submission of a 6,000 word research project. Support is offered with research project preparation.
Further information is available on the CIPR website at http://www.cipr.co.uk/content/ qualifications/public-affairs-diploma.
Teaching is normally delivered in one or two day blocks three/ four times a year. Links with industry/professional bodies Students on the course are eligible for student membership of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and, on graduation, can upgrade their membership to full or associate status depending on professional experience.
The Political Landscape, Trends and Challenges/ The Art and Science of Lobbying and Campaigning/ Public Affairs in the Context of Reputation Management/ Research Project
CIPR qualifications are recognised as the benchmark for professional practice in public relations by employers in the private and public sectors.
Studying for the CIPR Diploma in Public Affairs Practice counts towards the CIPR’s CPD programme and becoming a CIPR Accredited Practitioner – the hallmark of your commitment to professional development.
This variant of our established MSc Strategic Public Relations & Communication Management course is delivered jointly with our partner Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain. This course provides students with a solid international perspective on strategic communication and provides an opportunity to study in both Stirling, UK, and Barcelona, Spain.
The MSc Strategic Communication & Public Relations is an interdisciplinary, advanced level course taught by established academics and practitioners. It offers a hands-on approach while at the same time providing you with the theoretical foundations necessary to practise public relations at a managerial level.
You will be offered the opportunity to attend a Public Affairs and Lobbying seminar series in Brussels, which includes visits to the European Parliament, the European Commission as well as specialist industry seminars with leading public affairs and public relations experts in Brussels.
This course is taught completely in English and students will obtain a joint MSc degree from the University of Stirling and Pompeu Fabra University. Students spend the Semester 1 at the University of Stirling and then move to Pompeu Fabra University for Semester 2. Students then decide if they would like to have their dissertation supervised by Stirling or Pompeu Fabra.
Link to MSc Strategic Communication and Public Relations at Pompeu Fabra University http://www.upf.edu/masterpublicrelations/en/
- Degree type: MSc, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma
- Study methods: Full-time
- Duration: 12 months (Stirling in semester 1 - Barcelona in semester 2 - Stirling dissertation period) 16 months (Stirling in semester 1 Barcelona in semester 2 - Barcelona dissertation period)
- Start date: September
- Course Director: Dr Alenka Jelen-Sanchez
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS: 6.5 with 6.0 minimum in each skill
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): Grade C
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): Grade B
- Pearson Test of English (Academic): 60 with 56 in each component
- IBT TOEFL: 90 with no subtest less than 20
For more information go to English language requirements https://www.stir.ac.uk/study-in-the-uk/entry-requirements/english/
If you don’t meet the required score you may be able to register for one of our pre-sessional English courses. To register you must hold a conditional offer for your course and have an IELTS score 0.5 or 1.0 below the required standard. View the range of pre-sessional courses http://www.intohigher.com/uk/en-gb/our-centres/into-university-of-stirling/studying/our-courses/course-list/pre-sessional-english.aspx .
Students spend Semester 1 at the University of Stirling and then go to Pompeu Fabra University for Semester 2. Students then can decide to have their dissertation supervision at the University of Stirling or Pompeu Fabra University.
The course covers a range of modules including public relations and communication management theory, strategic public relations planning, public diplomacy and strategic communication, media relations, digital media, public affairs and advocacy, and research methods.
Delivery methods include lecture, workshops and seminars.
Methods of assessment include case studies, timed assignments, essays, presentations and reports. Students also complete a 12,000-word dissertation.
- REF2014
In REF2014 Stirling was placed 6th in Scotland and 45th in the UK with almost three quarters of research activity rated either world-leading or internationally excellent.
- Rating
Research within Communications, Media and Culture had 70 percent of its research rated as either ‘World-leading’ or ‘Internationally Excellent’ in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. Pompeu Fabra staff are also research active and publish internationally.
Strengths
- Academic strengths
This course provides a unique multicultural and intercultural experience for students as well as an innovative and challenging curriculum that is regularly updated. Students will develop a solid theoretical foundation as well as learn practical skills necessary for working within the public relations industry.
Students benefit from the experience and expertise of the academic research active team at Stirling and Pompeu Fabra; students are able to study in both northern and southern Europe (Scotland and Spain) and will develop an international outlook.
Students are able to attend a two-day Public Affairs and Lobbying seminar series delivered in Brussels (additional cost).
This course prepares students for careers in public relations and related areas in consultancies and private sector companies, (in-house positions, such as communications officer/manager, public relations officer/manager, press officer, internal communications officer/manager) NGOS, international organisations (such as the EU, UN etc.).
New degree course, to be approved by the Italian Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Research
The course is aimed at providing students with conceptual, analytical and methodological tools which will enable them to understand political, social and cultural processes and develop and manage projects at the European and global level.
The programme is articulated as follows. The first year is organised around a common track, which is based on courses aimed at providing multidisciplinary knowledge and competences regarding globalisation, Europeanisation, public management and transnational history developments. Courses offered in the common track will cover the fields of history of ideas, political philosophy, political science, law, economics, sociology and linguistics. The two specific tracks will maintain a common pedagogic vision, but will be specifically dedicated to European and Global policies. The European track will be devoted to the multidisciplinary analysis of the main policy and governance challenges that the European Union is facing, whereas the Global track will be centred more on the multidisciplinary analysis of policy, governance and communication challenges that global organisations are facing.
European Policies Track
Global Policies Track
The University of Padova, the Veneto Region and other organisations offer various scholarship schemes to support students. Below is a list of the funding opportunities that are most often used by international students in Padova.
You can find more information below and on our website here: http://www.unipd.it/en/studying-padova/funding-and-fees/scholarships
You can find more information on fee waivers here: http://www.unipd.it/en/fee-waivers
Step up to new career challenges—now and in the future—with a master’s degree in communication from Walden. One of the first of its kind, this online program can give you a professional edge in an industry that’s ever-changing.
Featuring coursework grounded in the latest communication practices and theories, the online MS in Communication program prepares you to craft compelling messages for local, national, and global audiences and translate that messaging into different media. Real-world scenarios and projects enable you to learn how to effectively develop, execute, and measure integrated communication strategies using both traditional and innovative channels.
Whether you’re looking to advance in your current role or explore exciting new career opportunities in marketing, public relations, digital media, social media, or corporate communication, earning your master’s degree in communication from Walden can help you get there.
Walden’s online master’s degree in communication program offers an embedded Graduate Certificate in Communication, which you are eligible for after the first four courses.
Graduates of the master’s in communication program will be able to:
Find detailed information for this program, including possible occupations, completion rate, program costs, and median student loan debt.
Earning an MS in Communication from Walden can prepare you to advance your career in a variety of challenging and rewarding fields, including:
On the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law), you will be exposed to the law and theory on child and family law in Ireland and internationally. At the same time you will get a rare insight into various aspects of the law in action by engaging with social workers, legal professionals and others.
You will work with scholars who have a track record of outstanding scholarship on legal issues relating to children and the family.
You will have the opportunity to become involved in UCC’s innovative Child Law Clinic where you can provide research assistance to lawyers on real cases, helping to make a contribution to the quality of advocacy on children’s issues, and lobbying for the reform of child law and children’s rights.
Applicants for the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law) Degree also have the option of registering for a Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Children's Rights and Family Law). Students take 60 credits of taught masters’ modules from those on offer for the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law). The Postgraduate Diploma can be completed over 9 months full-time or 18 months part-time. Those who wish to apply for the Diploma should contact [email protected] for application details.
This shorter programme may be attractive to legal professionals and others who may prefer not to make an initial commitment to a full master’s programme. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma may further progress their studies by completing a 15,000 word research dissertation and graduating with a Masters in Law (LLM).
Please visit the School of Law website here for up to date information on the programme.
Programme regulations are available in the College Calendar
Please see the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of programme modules.
Additional Teaching Mode Information
The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.
Course Practicalities
LLM classes are in seminar format. This participative and interactive format of teaching is suitable for postgraduate level. You will receive advance reading lists and/or materials for each seminar. Seminars take place in two-hour blocks between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. 10 credit modules run for 12 weeks and 5 credit modules run for 6 weeks. Arrangements are made for courtroom observation in the family courts.
Assessment
You will be examined by continuous assessment throughout the year and your dissertation must be submitted in September. To view individual module assessments in the Book of Modules
Who teaches this course
The School of Law has many committed lecturers with expertise across a wide range of areas, and has particular strengths in the area of child and family law. For a full list of School members, including details of research interests, publications and postgraduate supervision, see link http://www.ucc.ie/en/lawsite/about/people/
The LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law) is the first course of its kind in Ireland and it builds on the School’s wide range of expertise and knowledge in the area of child and family law. From this course, you will gain a unique specialisation in legal issues relating to children and the family, including family property, children’s rights and juvenile justice. You will also have the opportunity to work on real cases and to lobby for reform through the Child Law Clinic, which allows you to make contacts and gain practical experience. You can follow the work of the Child Law Clinic on Facebook and @childlawucc.
Skills and Careers Information
As the only qualification of its kind in Ireland, graduates are uniquely qualified in the areas of child law and family law. As well as allowing legal professionals to specialise in these areas of legal practice, graduates of this degree are well equipped to work anywhere in the children’s sector – with government departments and agencies (in education, child protection, youth justice etc.), with non-governmental organisations (both nationally and internationally), or other bodies who work with children. Few statutory or children’s organisations have staff with legal expertise in the child and family law area and this is a significant gap in the sector.
The new MA in International Relations and Security Studies explores themes of peace and conflict studies, including:
You will develop an advanced academic and policy relevant understanding of international relations and security, along with analytical skills that are in high demand within institutional politics, NGO and lobbying organisations.
You will have the opportunity to take specialist pathways, including specialising in selected regions (Europe, Africa, MENA, Asia, or Latin America and the Caribbean), with opportunities for selected study visits, or take thematic specialisms including international governance, modern diplomacy, security studies, or political violence and terrorism.
The programme is delivered by the Division of Peace Studies and International Development, which maintains an international reputation as a centre for excellence in research, teaching, training and policy engagement (in particular in the fields of disarmament and arms control). This means your teaching will not only be research-informed but also delivered by staff well-positioned to facilitate policy and practitioner engagement.
Core Modules
Option Modules
The programme will deploy a wide range of teaching, learning and assessment methods to enable you to understand and develop skills for engagement and employment with important policy and practitioner communities (International organisations, governments, NGOs, business associations, etc). You will have opportunities to engage through simulation exercises and training workshops, as well as facilitated contacts with practitioners.
The programme emphasises and develops skills required by employers such as conflict analysis, leadership and decision-making.
The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.
Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.
Our MA Cybercrime and Terrorism will expose you to the constantly changing nature of online crimes and criminal behaviour in order to understand the threats, trends, issues and responses in terrorism and cybersecurity as well as the crucial ethical questions.
Our MA Cybercrime and Terrorism offers students the opportunity to:
This programme focuses on the changing nature of online crime and criminal behaviour in order to understand the threats, trends, issues, responses and ethical questions associated with, for example, terrorism or security. The programme will examine issues related to the cyber-realm from an interdisciplinary and multi-dimensional perspective, offering a unique look at a range of challenges.
The programme benefits from strong relationships with national and international partners (e.g. policy-makers, government and industrial security practitioners, military organisations, communities, and more). Students will have opportunities to engage directly with stakeholders who can provide insights and up-to-the-minute knowledge of the subject area.
If you’re passionate about countering Cybercrime and terrorism, we want to hear from you!
This programme will be of interest to those who are interested in both cybercrime and cybersecurity more generally as well as those seeking specialist study of terrorism. It will be useful for students who have undertaken an undergraduate degree in anything from Criminology or Law to Computer Science and Psychology and who are looking to specialise in this important area. Continuing, mature, international and part-time students would all be welcome for this programme of study.
The quickest and most efficient way to apply for one of our postgraduate programmes is to apply online at: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/applyonline. This way, you can also track your application at each stage of the process and print off a copy of your decision letter.
For more information about the programme, contact Dr Lella Nouri, Programme Director via +44 (0)1792 602268 or [email protected]
Public Sector
Both cybercrime and online terrorist activities are key areas of priority for government at all levels.
You'll gain: Knowledge, understanding and skills applicable to law and policy development, programmatic action, the conduct of government (and industry) through regulation, and the arrangement and provision of public services.
Potential graduate destinations: Civil service, regional, national and sub-national government, local authorities and other public bodies, and, political and policy advice work.
Private sector
Cybercrimes and online terrorism are increasingly the concern of the private sector especially those conducting business in digital space.
You'll gain: skills to work for social media companies as well an array of global businesses conducting work in cyberspace.
NGO sector
Non-governmental agencies are well-established stakeholders in cybersecurity and counter-terrorism. Policy advocacy and lobbying, campaigns, and on the ground intervention are all facets of the NGO sector globally, regionally, nationally and locally.
You'll gain: knowledge, understanding and skills applicable to the breadth of work undertaken by the NGO sector in combatting cybercrime and terrorism.
Potential graduate destinations: International NGOs; regional or local level NGOs.
Research and academia
Research on cybercrime and online terrorism is a growing concern for academia. Students graduating from the programme will be at the cutting-edge of these issues globally, regionally and nationally.
You'll gain: The potential to continue to study at PhD level and the knowledge, understanding and skills applicable to teaching and research in the field.
Potential graduate destinations: law enforcement, policy ‘think-tanks’ and HEIs.
Social Work (Research Methods) offers students with an interest in social work research the opportunity to learn about key issues in this area while they develop the skills required to carry out their own research, at an advanced level.
The course offers an attractive Masters qualification and individual modules will offer a Continued Professional Development option for social work practitioners who wish to critically evaluate their own practice. A social work qualification is not necessary to take this programme. Students will benefit from a vibrant learning environment that draws on a range of professional expertise.
The programme is offered on a full time (12 months) and part time (24 months basis) and students will complete six modules and a dissertation. The first three modules are offered on a faculty wide basis, hence students will benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach and will share learning with students from a range of backgrounds.
Students will complete a 12,000-word dissertation in an area of their choice that relates to social work research. Assessments in other modules will prepare students to undertake the dissertation by requiring them to think in-depth about a range of methodological and ethical issues.
Students will be matched with a supervisor who has expertise in their chosen area. Supervisors will support students to develop a range of strategic links across relevant organisations including government departments, local authorities and third sector organisations.
This course is taught by staff with expertise in undertaking social work research with a range of service user groups including children and families, those with mental health problems and learning disabilities and criminal justice service users. Guest lectures will be given by 'users' of social work research including policy makers, service managers, social workers and people who use social work services.
The course will be delivered primarily using a lecture and workshop format. Where relevant, there will also be a range of field trips to visit key stakeholders in social work research.
Each module will be assessed using a range of methods including essays, case studies and projects. Assignments are tailored to allow students to develop expertise around particular areas of interest. Assignments will allow students to develop knowledge that will contribute directly to their 12,000-word dissertation.
Graduates with a Masters degree in Social Work (Research Methods) will be able to choose between two distinct career paths:
Given that this programme fulfils ESRC training requirements for subject specific research training, it is also likely that many graduates will use this qualification as a platform to PhD study.
