COURSE CURRICULUM

The MSc in Social Research Methods at Sussex combines core modules with a range of optional courses to provide students with comprehensive training in both qualitative and quantitative research techniques. Core modules give all students a strong foundation, with autumn teaching covering Introduction to Qualitative Methods and Introduction to Quantitative Methods. In the spring term, students study Research Design and Ethics, preparing them for independent research, while the summer term focuses on Advanced Methods in Social Research and the dissertation, enabling students to apply their skills to a substantial research project. Alongside the core curriculum, students can choose from a variety of optional modules to tailor their learning to their interests. Autumn options include Critical Debates in Development Theory, Gender Politics and Social Research, International Relations Theory, Migrants and Society: Global Transformations, and Thinking Like an Anthropologist. Spring options cover Action Research, Discourse Analysis, Ethnographic Methods of Data Collection, and Researching Childhood and Youth, while summer options include Effective Research Data Management, Evaluation of Policy and Professional Practice, and Researching Hidden and Hard-to-Reach Populations. By combining core methodological training with flexible options, the program equips students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to design, conduct, and evaluate rigorous social research, preparing them for careers in academia, policy, international organizations, and the private sector.