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MA in Social Research and Social Change

Key information

Duration of programme: Full-time: 12 months, part-time: up to five years. Part-time students are able to undertake the taught elements of this programme in one day per week, over two years.

Start date(s): October
Distance learning available: Distance learning is not available for this course. 

Intake: Approximately 5-20 per year

Fees:
UK/EU students: £3,630 (2010 fee)   
International students: £10,700 (2010 fee)

Part-time students pay a pro-rata version of full-time fees

Application & contact:
Apply for this course online

LSS Postgraduate Admissions
Tel: +44 (0) 121 204 3762
Fax: +44 (0) 121 204 3766
Email: lss_pgadmissions@aston.ac.uk


An Open Evening for this programme and associated programmes will take place on the 7th July. Please contact Dr Anneliese Dodds (a.dodds@aston.ac.uk) if you would like to attend.

Programme outline and modules

Students having tutorial on ABS floor of main building

Aston University’s increasingly popular MA in Social Research and Social Change provides you with a detailed knowledge of approaches to the study of contemporary society. It also familiarises you, in a practical way, with the research methods which can be applied to this area of intellectual inquiry, and allows you to make critical use of these research methods. You will develop an understanding of how social, political and cultural changes manifest themselves and what their causes are. This degree enables you to progress to a range of postgraduate research opportunities at doctoral level, or to work in the private, voluntary or public sectors. Students take a number of taught modules and write a 15,000 word dissertation.

Modules for 2011/2012 include:

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Entry requirements
Learning, teaching & assessment
Professional accreditation
Career opportunities

Personal development
Facilities & equipment

Course director
Teaching staff

Entry requirements

  • Normally, at least a 2.1 honours classification in a degree taken in an appropriate subject at a British or Irish university, or an equivalent qualification on the completion of appropriate tertiary-level studies elsewhere.
International students whose native language is not English and have not completed a full degree programme taught in English, will also need to obtain:
  •  An IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 7 in writing and minimum of 6 in speaking, listening and reading.
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Learning, teaching and assessment

  • The programme is delivered using a combination of lectures, tutorials and seminars
  • There is a mix of individual and group work
  • You will be assessed through examinations, continuous assessment through coursework, and a dissertation.
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Career opportunities

This degree gives you generic skills that are attractive to employers in the private, public and voluntary sectors.
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Personal development

This course helps you to develop team working skills, presentation and communication skills, as well as research and report writing skills. Your IT skills will also benefit from use of our newly refurbished IT Facilities.

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Facilities & equipment

You will have access to:
  • Modern lecture and tutorial rooms
  • Our Virtual Learning Environment – Blackboard – to support your studies, including Blackboard discussion groups
  • The University Library, including over 25,000 books and a wide range of electronic journals.  The library has special provision in place to help part time and distance learning students access their resources: www.aston.ac.uk/lis/studentinfo/parttime
  • University wide facilities such as the Careers Service, Students’ Advice Centre, Students’ Jobshop, Counselling Service, Sports Facilities, and Chaplaincy.
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Course director

Dr Anneliese Dodds - email a.dodds@aston.ac.uk

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