The first of its kind in the UK, this new course — delivered part time over two years — provides an exciting opportunity for post graduate research training. As a Masters by Research, approximately 60% of the course is assessed by a practical research project, supervised by senior academics in the Division of Mental Health at St George’s, University of London.The project is supported by core taught modules focused on research methodology, project management and applied mental health research.
The overall aim of the course is to provide a focused programme of practical and academic study to enable students with an appropriate undergraduate degree and relevant experience to acquire the necessary research skills as a basis for future careers in mental health research, including doctoral degrees and relevant areas of employment.
MRes Mental Health application form 2009-10
Course objectives
Specific aims are to:
Course structure
The course offers 180 credits at level seven which is made up of five taught modules (75 credits) and a research project (105 credits). The five compulsory modules share some teaching with other postgraduate courses:
Teaching for the taught modules is concentrated in the autumn term of the first year. The research project is then completed from January in year one until September in year two.
Teaching and Assessment
The course assumes that students will have good academic skills based on their first degree achievements. Students will be expected to undertake self-directed study and wide reading as well as group and individual practical work to meet the learning outcomes.
Taught modules will be delivered as a mixture of large group lectures shared with other postgraduate students, course-specific seminars and small group sessions.
Assessments for the taught modules are designed to help students with preparation of the dissertation element of the research project and will enable students to develop scientific presentation skills.
Students will carry out their research projects individually, but will also have opportunities to work within established research teams. Supervision will be provided by academic staff active at the cutting edge of research in their own fields.
St George’s is a research-led institution specialising in medical, biological, health and social care sciences. It has 200 research students and 210 taught postgraduate students. Recent Research Assessment Exercise results indicate that 5% of its research is world-leading and 38% internationally excellent. There are also opportunities for collaborative research work with our two partner institutions, Royal Holloway, University of London and Kingston University, within the South West London Academic Network.
Modules
1. Core compulsory modules
Research Methods
This module will familiarise students with different approaches to research and will enable them to select appropriate methods when conducting their own research. The module includes development of high-level IT skills including advanced literature searching techniques. The advantages and disadvantages of different types of study design and approaches to collecting, recording and interpreting data will be discussed. Participants will prepare a research protocol for their research project as part of this module.
Critical Appraisal
This module will introduce the principles of critical appraisal and enable students to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of published papers and assess their relative contributions to the current state of research in mental health. Students will work through papers in small groups using a series of structured tools to develop their critical appraisal skills and lay the basis for the literature review section of the dissertation.
Statistics
This module will enable students to analyse their own data and to critically assess the statistical analyses presented in published papers. Lectures presenting statistical concepts will be complemented by small group work to develop practical skills. There will be a short examination at the end of the module which tests ability to apply the concepts covered in the module to real data.
Research Project Planning and Management
This module supports work undertaken on the project and covers key issues related to planning, managing and writing up research. It will familiarise students with research governance, funding, legislative frameworks and the team working and communication skills required to complete research work successfully. Learning outcomes are based on the generic skills outcomes for research students set by UK Research Councils. Students will have the opportunity to discuss the development of their own research and will be required to give a presentation as part of the assessment.
Applied Research in Mental Health
This module is designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to make informed and critical decisions about how to undertake a piece of applied research in an area of mental health reflecting their interests and expertise. The module offers clear rationale for making decisions about using qualitative, quantitative and mixed method study designs, sample sizes and approaches to analysis.These decisions are illustrated using recent papers describing important applied research across a wide range of mental health subject areas.The key issues of ethics, the involvement of people who use mental health services in the research process and statistics in mental health research are given a special focus. The module will firmly locate learning from other core modules comprising the MRes in the field of applied mental health research. The module is assessed by a critical literature review which will enable students to develop familiarity with the background to their research projects.
2. Research project
A range of topics are available. Potential students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with research activity within the Division and consider possible project areas of interest. Students will have an opportunity at the beginning of the first term to meet potential supervisors, and identify an appropriate project on which to work. Examples of projects areas include:
Entry requirements
Applicants should normally have, or expect to obtain before commencement of their studies, an appropriate undergraduate degree (with a minimum classification of second class or an equivalent overseas qualification). Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate satisfactory ability to undertake an academic course in English (usually an IELTS qualification with a score of at least 6.5).
Fees
Fees for 2009/10 will be £2,625 (part time) for home and EU students and £4,774 (part time) for overseas students. Invoices will be issued for the whole amount at the start of the course but arrangements for payment by termly installments may be negotiated during the induction week.
Admissions process
Applicants who are interested in applying for the course are encouraged as part of the application process to make email contact with Course Director in order to discuss the potential for research projects. Contact details are as follows:
Dr Steve Gillard
Enquiries about the course can also be addressed to the Dean for Postgraduate Studies:
Prof Paul Andrews
MRes Mental Health application form 2009-10
Completed forms should be returned to:
Caroline Dacey
Assistant Registrar
St George’s, University of London
Cranmer Terrace
London SW17 0RE
T: 020 8725 2630/2629