COURSE CURRICULUM

The MRes in Health and Life Sciences at Birmingham City University, Birmingham Campus follows a clear and structured curriculum designed to develop your research skills and enable you to complete a substantial piece of original research over the one‑year period. The curriculum is built around three core components totalling 180 credits, which include key training in research theory and practical research experience. You will start by engaging with foundational research learning through a module that focuses on becoming an effective and impactful researcher, helping you understand how research contributes to social and academic knowledge and how to communicate findings effectively to varied audiences. This is followed by advanced research methods training, where you will deepen your understanding of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, research design, data collection techniques, ethical considerations and analysis strategies that are essential for rigorous investigation in health, life sciences and related fields. These taught elements equip you with the critical thinking, analytical reasoning and methodological competence required to undertake independent research. The bulk of the curriculum is dedicated to your dissertation project, which is the major focus of the program. Under supervision from experienced academic staff, you will develop your own research proposal, conduct extensive literature reviews, design and carry out research, and critically analyse the results. This independent project enables you to apply the research methods you have learned to a topic of your choice within the health domain, demonstrating your ability to contribute new insights to the field and meeting the requirements for the MRes degree. Your dissertation will be evaluated through written submission and, where appropriate, academic presentations. The curriculum’s emphasis on both taught research training and hands‑on research practice ensures that you graduate with a strong portfolio of skills for further academic study or professional research roles.