Master of Research (Education) MRes

Why choose this course?

This course is ideal for professionals who work with learners of any age, in settings such as children's centres, nurseries, schools, colleges, universities and hospitals.

You will be encouraged to be a research-informed practitioner, examining the relationships between practice-oriented knowledge, professional identity, institutional priorities and evidence-based practice. You will develop skills as a facilitator coordinator, mediator and leader of research-engaged practice.

This programme is relevant to education professionals who are keen to develop advanced knowledge and understanding of research methods in education. Taught sessions will focus upon deepening your existing understanding of professional practice and critically examine the challenges within your sector allowing you to explore your role, setting, and interprofessional working as a research-informed practitioner.

It helps you acquire the knowledge, confidence and attributes needed to:

  • complete a research project focusing upon your specific area of interest
  • become a research-engaged self-improving education professional
  • undertake, facilitate and lead enquiry in an educational setting
  • progress towards studying for a doctoral degree.
Mode Duration Start date
Part time 2 years April 2024

April entry is ONLY for those applicants who already hold 60 masters-level credits – before making an application please contact the programme administrator educationmasters@kingston.ac.uk.

Main location Kingston Hill

Reasons to choose Kingston University

  • This course is taught on Saturdays through a blended learning approach, which is ideal for balancing study with work.
  • If you already have a postgraduate qualification, such as a PGCE, you may be able to start the course from the third module, in April
  • Kingston has expertise in working with research professionals at masters and doctoral level, ensuring you get the best experience.

What you will study

The MRes has a strong focus on the interface of research, practice and professional learning in education-related fields of enquiry and offers an excellent foundation for the research-engaged professional.

Through a carefully-structured taught programme you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between practice-oriented knowledge, professional identity, institutional priorities and evidence-based practice. You will develop your knowledge and skills of research methods in education and how to conduct research ethically.

The ‘capstone' of the programme involves the undertaking of a research dissertation allowing you to put into practice your developed skills, knowledge and understanding of research. Throughout the programme, you will be encouraged to participate as part of a professional learning community; sharing experiences and ideas in order to contribute to research cultures within and beyond your professional setting.

Modules

Core modules

Perspectives on Policy, Practice and Professionalism

30 credits

This module introduces students to the theoretical perspectives, substantive issues and operational strategies which are relevant to understanding and enhancing professional practice. Tools of analysis will be evaluated to enable students to conceptualise their experiences of professional identity in workplace environments and to consider how a professional becomes research-informed and research-engaged in, and beyond, their 'situatedness' of practice.

Current Issues in Reflective Practice and Interprofessionalism

30 credits

This module introduces students to reflective/reflexive practice through a focus on situations within a variety of professional settings where outcomes for children, young people and families are enhanced through interprofessional partnership. This will enable students to contextualise issues of professional identity within interprofessional practice.

Main features of the module are critical exploration of a range of ethical perspectives relevant to working with children and young people birth to 19 years and adults in relation to policy formulation, practice-orientated knowledge and professional skills and attitudes. Students will develop the collaborative communication skills required for leadership constructs that can facilitate change while supporting and enhancing professional /interprofessional development.

Through completion of a reflective journal during the module students will develop critical reflective practitioner skills to inform peer and colleague discussion within a learning community and challenge practice.

Research Methods for Professional Practice

30 credits

Key methodologies and a range of data collection tools are examined including qualitative, quantitative and mixed method approaches to research design. The necessary skills, knowledge and understanding for professionals to confidently and autonomously understand new knowledge production at the workplace will be emphasised.

Designing a Research Proposal

30 credits

An introduction to the process of designing a research proposal will highlight the value of systematic enquiry in specific practice settings. Identifying and signifying design features such as the questions, rationale, literature to be reviewed, methods of enquiry and data analysis tools will be the focus of this module.

Research Dissertation

60 credits

A research dissertation on a well-defined issue of professional practice will be undertaken to provide direct experience of 'real world' choices and decisions as a researching professional. By 'doing' research, the relationship between policy, professionalism and practice will be engaged. Issues regarding communicating and disseminating the outcomes of the research dissertation will be considered within the context of ethical practice.

Entry requirements

Typical offer

Candidates are normally required to have an honours degree and/or further qualifications relating to working with children, young people and families in a professional or interprofessional setting. Candidates will be able to demonstrate a commitment to professional learning in the fields of children's care or education. Candidates without these requirements may be invited to submit a portfolio for RPL assessment in order to demonstrate possible eligibility for entry.

International

If your first language is not English, you will need to demonstrate a good standard of written and spoken English and have an Academic IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with no element below 6.0.

Please note: if you require a Student Route visa to reside in the UK you will not be able to enrol on a part-time programme at the University.

Teaching and assessment

The programme normally begins in October each year and is currently offered in a part-time (2 years) mode of delivery. In the first year, there are three modules and each module is taught across four Saturday sessions. In the second year, you will undertake the Designing a Research Proposal and Research Dissertation modules over 10 Saturdays across the year.

Learning experiences take the form of Saturday events, involving lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, which are supported by online resources for preparatory and consolidating guidance and tasks.

Each event in the programme is designed to develop a community of learners so that peer-enriched, participative and dialogic experiences can meet individual needs and facilitate a critically supportive cohort identity. This delivery pattern of the programme is designed to meet the needs of practising professionals.

Each taught module is designed as a 'building block' to support you by contextualising, justifying and then implementing a small-scale practice-focused enquiry.

You will access individual tutorial support in each module, between the taught Saturdays, a personal tutor, and a research supervisor in the final module (Research Dissertation).

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group tasks and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS – the online virtual learning platform.

Support for postgraduate students

As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services

Your workload

9% of your time is spent in timetabled learning and teaching activity.

  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 170 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 1630 hours

Contact hours may vary depending on your modules.

How you will be assessed

Assessment typically comprises coursework assignments, including essays, poster and presentation, research proposal and research dissertation. The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows:

  • 100% coursework

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

What our students say

Who teaches this course?

This course is delivered by the Department of Education.

Kingston University's Department of Education is committed to offering relevant, practical and accessible courses, and is consistently ranked among the top education departments in the country.

Fees for this course

2024/25 fees for this course

Home 2024/25

  • Master part time £4,050

International 2024/25

  • Master part time £8,910

2023/24 fees for this course

Home 2023/24

  • Master part time £3,960

International 2023/24

  • Master part time £8,690

Funding

Visit our Fees and funding page to find out about the student funding options available to help you fund your postgraduate studies. 

Postgraduate loans

If you are starting a course at Kingston, you will be able to apply for a loan of up to £10,000 to study for a postgraduate masters degree. 

International students

If you are an international student, find out more about scholarships and bursaries.

Discounts for Kingston University alumni

Kingston University is pleased to offer a 10% discount on full-time and part-time postgraduate degree course tuition fees (including PGCE courses) to our alumni. Visit our Alumni discount page to find out more.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks, this can cost between £50 and £250 per year.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residence. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Travel

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Facilities at Kingston Hill

There is a wide range of facilities at our Kingston Hill campus, where this course is based.

Kingston Hill is a leafy, hillside campus situated about three miles away from Kingston town centre. It is a quiet, secure place to study with easy access to London, meaning it provides the best of all worlds for our students.

Find out more about the Kingston Hill campus in the virtual tour.

Library

One of the highlights of the Kingston Hill campus is the modern library, called the Nightingale Centre after Florence Nightingale, who was a regular visitor to Kingston Hill.

The library provides a spacious and attractive place for students to meet and study and features a cafe, more PCs and zoned study areas. Long opening hours give you plenty of access to specialist education books, journals and online resources.

Find out more about the Nightingale Centre in the virtual tour.

Computer and online facilities

There are many computers (PCs and Macs) available for you to use across the Kingston Hill campus when you need a place to study. Access to the wireless network across the campus means you can also work from your laptop or mobile device.

Using IT to support your studies is crucial. Kingston has an innovative virtual learning environment called Canvas. This allows you to access course materials and contact fellow students and staff while away from the campus.

Extra activities for this course

Keynote events will be an integrated feature of the taught weekends and will be calendared in the Department of Education diary.

The events and lectures in the Department of Education, and the wider University, enhance your studies and add an extra perspective to your learning.

As members of the Department of Education you will receive regular information about seminars, workshops, lectures and other research and teaching activities for and by staff and postgraduate students, including:

  • BERA
  • Erasmus project events
  • European Conference for Educational Research
  • London-based seminar programmes for educators

After you graduate

The role of the researching professional in education is of growing importance. Deputy head teachers, managers of children's centres, research development managers and subject-specific professionals may all use research skills to explore evidence.

Where this course will take you

The MRes (Ed) will help advance your learning, research and practice skills in a wide variety of education-related settings.

This programme helps to develop your employability skills as facilitators, co-ordinators, mediators and leaders of research-engaged professional practice.

It enables you to undertake a role of a researching professional in education-related contexts and practitioner research, and to lead collaborative learning networks for education. Applicants for practitioner research posts will benefit from the programme.

The role of the researching professional and interprofessional lead in education-related contexts is of growing importance in individual organisations and consortium settings. For example, deputy headteachers in schools and managers in children's centres may have responsibility for research projects to support improvements. Research Development managers in larger institutions and subject-specific lead professionals require research skills to explore evidence. Special Interest groups and informal collaborative networks contain research users and research creators.

The MRes (Ed) offers you a preparatory step towards professionally-relevant doctoral study in Education.

Current research in this subject

Many of our staff in the Department of Education are research-active. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies. Education research at Kingston includes work on:

  • Subject pedagogy
  • Curriculum design
  • Planning
  • Assessment
  • Safeguarding
  • SEND and inclusive practice
  • Early Years
  • Educational technologies
  • Supporting more able learners
  • Educational inequalities
  • Policy
  • History of education

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.