Masters by Research in Health and Life Sciences - MRes
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The Masters by Research (MRes) in Health and Life Sciences is a flexible, research-focused postgraduate degree designed to prepare graduates for careers in research, healthcare, industry, the public and private sectors, or further academic study, including PhD programmes....
- Level Postgraduate Research
- Study mode Full Time/Part Time
- Award MRes
- Start date September 2027, January 2028
- Subjects
- Location City South
This course is:
Overview
The Masters by Research (MRes) in Health and Life Sciences is a flexible, research-focused postgraduate degree designed to prepare graduates for careers in research, healthcare, industry, the public and private sectors, or further academic study, including PhD programmes.ÌýThe purpose is to offer high quality postgraduate training in methods and practice of research and relevant transferable skills that offer a unique learning experience to advance knowledge within your specialist area of either Life Sciences, Sport and Exercise, Psychology or Health.
The course allows for plenty of opportunities to craft the course to your needs, along with the chance to specialise in an area of choice. You will benefit from being able to work within, and study alongside, a multidisciplinary team of experienced researchers and health professionals. The course is suitable for diverse backgrounds including, but not limited to, sports, medicine, nursing, midwifery, allied health professions, social work, psychology social and natural science, where a research focussed career in Sport and Exercise, Life Sciences, Psychology or Health is of interest to you.
The course offers four possible routes:
- Life Sciences
- Sport and Exercise
- Health
- Psychology
What's covered in this course?
Throughout the course you will develop a keen understanding of advanced research methods. This will take you on the journey from an initial research idea and proposal, to embedding research philosophy and contemporary methodologies and analysis within your work. This is geared towards producing a piece of research that could be pursued further at doctoral level, for a publication, or display the relevant skills to be competent within industry, healthcare or the public sector.
Given that careers in research are growing, including those in industry, this MRes will prepare you to be able to disseminate complex research to a wide variety of audiences. In addition, you will gain an understanding of how this can be delivered through technology enhanced learning. This aims to try to bridge the gap between researchers and society when trying to ensure evidence-based research-informed practice occurs. In turn, this will allow you to maximise the impact of research dissemination, whilst also ensuring you foster contemporary approaches to scholarship.
To help build these skills there are opportunities to work in hand with industry through our wide range of industrial, educational, and healthcare partners, something which will enhance your future employability or potential for progression. This will primarily be housed at our campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, which contains state-of-the-art facilities to support you with your research.
Why Choose Us?
- Campus – Our City South campus has state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge resources and equipment to support your research.
- Partnerships – We have unique partnerships in sport, health, psychology and life sciences to support your learning and ensure your research has a practice-led, knowledge-applied approach.Ìý
- Employment/further study opportunities – This course is the perfect preparation to continue your studies at doctoral level, or pursue employment in a research related role.
- Research community – As part of your course, your research will be aligned to our research centres in order to create a vibrant and exciting research community.
Open Day
Join us for an Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Event: 21 November 2026
Course in Depth
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This module enables you to develop and critically reflect on your intended approach to carrying out a research project. On successfully completing the module you will be able to effectively articulate a research project proposal and questions, the methods you intend to employ and anticipated outcomes. This will be demonstrated through a research proposal, which should then be delivered within the ‘Independent Study’ module.
The Masters by Research Dissertation is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a substantial piece of research in your chosen subject or discipline.
Download course specification
Download nowResearch Interests
Key areas of academic expertise, that we actively encourage applications in, include:Ìý
Life Science:
- ÌýMolecular and Cell Biology
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýJohn Howl, Loukia Tsaprouni, Irmgard Haussmann, Martin Vreugdenhil, Faizan Ahmad, Mona Salary,ÌýAlexander Robinson
- Microbiology, Infection and Immunology
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýMartin Goldberg, Robert Marshall, Kwabena Duedu, Hora Ejtehadi, Tariq Tahir, Kashif Haq,ÌýManoher Singh
- Biomedical Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýFaizan Ahmad, Mona Salary, John Howl,ÌýHelen Clarke
- Neuroscience and Neurophysiology
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýMartin Vreugdenhil, Tom Graeme-Drury, John Howl,ÌýAlexander Robinson
- Biomedical Research Techniques
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýMartin Goldberg, Kwabena Duedu, Robert Marshall, Hora Ejtehadi, Lidia Maryniak, Alexander Robinson,ÌýTariq Tahir
Sport and Exercise:
- Exercise Physiology and Human Performance
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýNeil Clarke, Adam Herbert, Charlie Roberts, Craig Perrin, Tom Graeme-Drury,ÌýAhmad Alkhatib
- Biomechanics and Movement Analysis
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýHelen Gravestock, Craig Perrin, Adam Herbert,ÌýTom Graeme-Drury
- Nutrition, Dietetics and Metabolism
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýCharlie Roberts, Sean McIntosh, Lynsey Richards, Neil Clarke,ÌýAhmad Alkhatib
- Physical Activity and Public Health
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýKiara Lewis, Simon Cook, Ayazullah Safi, Charlie Roberts, Ahmad Alkhatib,ÌýNatalie Quinn-Walker
- Applied Sport Science
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýCain Clark, Helen Gravestock, Craig Perrin, Tom Graeme-Drury, Simon Cook,ÌýAdam Herbert
Health:
- Public Health and Prevention
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýNatalie Quinn-Walker, Ayazullah Safi, Ahmad Alkhatib, Kiara Lewis,ÌýLynsey Richards
- Rehabilitation and Clinical Practice
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýJodie Bryant, Helen White,ÌýClair Zawada
- Allied Health Professions
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýWouter Jansen, Helen White, Clair Zawada,ÌýJodie Bryant
- Nutrition and Long-Term Conditions
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýLynsey Richards, Sean McIntosh, Charlie Roberts, Neil Clarke, Ahmad Alkhatib,ÌýAyazullah Safi
- Healthcare Education and Leadership
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýNatalie Quinn-Walker, Helen White, Jodie Bryant, Clair Zawada,ÌýWouter Jansen
Psychology:
- Cognitive and Developmental Psychology
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýPáraic Scanlon, Oliver Freestone, Mona Wong, Professor Eirini Mavritsaki, Simon Snape
- Health, Wellbeing and Neurodiversity
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýIris-Anda Ilies, Tanisha Douglas, Nadia Maalin,ÌýMariel Marcano-Olivier, Simon Snape, Professor Eirini Mavritsaki,ÌýAmy Cook
- Social, Educational and Cyber Psychology
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýJosephine Cornell, Chris Fullwood, Mona Wong, Amy Cook, Mariel Marcano-Olivier,ÌýIris-Anda Ilies
- Forensic and Criminal Psychology
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýPáraic Scanlon, Nkansah Anakwah,ÌýSilvia Fraga Dominguez, Antonieta Da Silva Fostier,ÌýNatalie Quinn-Walker
- Psychological Research Methods
Relevant expertise includes:ÌýJosephine Cornell, Deborah Earnshaw, Simon Snape, Oliver Freestone, Jones Akosah, Tanisha Douglas, Chris Fullwood, Natalie Quinn-Walker,ÌýIris-Anda Ilies.
In joining this course, you will be part of the wider research community. You will be encouraged to join at least one of ourÌýresearch clusters, which provide a forum for discussing, progressing, and presenting research through meetings and events.
We have research clusters in:
These ongoing activities support your learning and development as a researcher and provide you with a scholarly network, as well as a sense of belonging to a community, which is particularly important for independent postgraduate researchers.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2027
Pathway: Health
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
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- Part Time
- 24 months
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Award: MRes
Starting: Jan 2028
Pathway: Health
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
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- Part Time
- 24 months
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Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2027
Pathway: Life Sciences
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
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- Part Time
- 24 months
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Award: MRes
Starting: Jan 2028
Pathway: Life Sciences
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
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- Part Time
- 24 months
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Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2027
Pathway: Psychology
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
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TBC
- Part Time
- 24 months
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Award: MRes
Starting: Jan 2028
Pathway: Psychology
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
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TBC
- Part Time
- 24 months
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Award: MRes
Starting: Sep 2027
Pathway: Sport and Exercise
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
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TBC
- Part Time
- 24 months
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TBC
Award: MRes
Starting: Jan 2028
Pathway: Sport and Exercise
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 12 months
-
TBC
- Part Time
- 24 months
-
TBC
International students
Sorry, this course is not available to International students.
Entry requirements
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Minimum 2:1 UK degree or international equivalent in a relevant discipline. |
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You are also required to provide a written personal statement and a project proposal. The project proposal should be no more than one side of A4 and outline what you want to explore in your research project and why; please see guidance below for further details. Please note: we are unable to consider any applications submitted without a personal statement and project proposal. |
Employability
Employability
This course has been designed with creativity and flexibility in mind, therefore allowing you to first learn then apply skills in self-management, leadership and initiative. As a result, this helps you to build the problem-solving skills and interpersonal skills to be an effective employee upon graduation. There are also many areas of reflective practice throughout the course, to ensure you become a lifelong learner and always possess a willingness to learn.
Facilities & Staff
We have invested over £500 million in our facilities, including specialist Skills and Simulation facilities and Biomedical Science labs at City South Campus. We also have Psychology facilities and equipment in our Curzon Building on City Centre Campus, and Sports students have access to our industry-standard equipment at the inspiring Alexander Stadium. Our innovative facilities simulate the real situations that you may come across in the workplace. These resources are essential in offering you a hands-on introduction to research and practice.
Explore our Sport and Life Sciences facilitiesÌýExplore our Psychology facilitiesÌý
Our staff
Dr Charlie Roberts
Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Nutrition
Charlie is the Deputy Course Leader for the Masters by Research in Health and Life Sciences. He leads modules related to nutrition and exercise on the MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition and the BSc Sport and Exercise Science degrees. Charlie is research-active and has interest in areas including occupational health and nutrition, behaviour change in...
More about CharlieNatalie Quinn – Walker
Course Leader for Masters of Research / Module Leader for Masters of Public Health Dissertation, Senior Public Health Lecturer
Natalie Quinn-Walker is a public health professional with a strong background in LGBTQ+ sexual health, particularly within LGBTQ/MSM communities. Her work as a Sexual Health Specialist focused on investigating and responding to the sexual health needs of LGBTQ+ and MSM individuals, delivering tailored health promotion and behavioural change...
More about Natalie