As I am writing this I have successfully (by the skin of my teeth) reached the halfway point of my master’s in psychology research. I’ve found myself reflecting on the choices I made a little over a year ago that led me to where I am today, one of the most pivotal being the choice to apply for an MRes over an MSc degree. This choice ultimately led to my future career plans changing and my skillset developing way beyond the realms of what I thought was relevant to Psychology.
My point is that choosing the right master’s degree can change the course of your academic and career life. The University of Manchester has a wealth of MA’s, MSc’s and MRes’ to choose from, all with their individual advantages and disadvantages. This post will explore what I learnt while trying to decide between an MSc and an MRes degree, and hopefully help you to make an informed choice about your next steps.
Master of Science (MSc)
An MSc is typically completed over one-year for full time students, but part-time options are available for some programmes. MSc’s home in on a specialised area of a subject and focus on gaining in-depth knowledge and theory. Teaching will be delivered by experts in your subject area and comment on the most current theories and developments in that area. In some programmes, there is the option to select optional modules so you can tailor your programme to suit your interests.
Assessment is usually done through a range of assignments and some, but not all, MSc’s will include a dissertation component, so it is worth checking the individual programme. Dissertations are important to consider if you also want to gain research experience alongside in-depth theoretical knowledge. Overall, MSc’s are really useful for students who are trying to find an area to specialise and become an expert in.
Master of Research (MRes)
An MRes is also typically a one-year programme for full time students, with some part time options available on certain courses. The key difference between the courses is a focus on research skills rather than theory. The taught modules are focused less on theoretical knowledge and more on how to apply research methods and data analysis to psychological questions.
For example, my course has a whole module on scientific programming where we are learning to analyse data with python, so an interest in stats is essential. The dissertation component is also heavily weighted, mine is worth half of my total credits and the focus is on producing high quality research. This allows us to apply what we’ve been taught to a project of our choosing.
In conclusion, choosing between an MRes and an MSc depends on your academic and career goals. If you are looking to become an expert in a particular field of study, an MSc might be better suited to you. However, if are interested in pursuing a career in academic research or a PHD, an MRes degree might be a better option. My advice is to take your time carefully reading all the programmes you are interested in, think about your goals, and pick something that interests you!