MPhil Applied Social and Economic Research - Applied Social and Economic Research Degree

Program Overview

The University of Essex's MPhil Applied Social and Economic Research program prepares students for advanced research in sociology and other social sciences. Focusing on quantitative analysis with secondary data, the program covers topics like social stratification, behavior, and change. Students are supported by individual supervision, group meetings, and access to the prestigious Institute for Social and Economic Research and UK Longitudinal Studies Centre, enhancing their employability in academic and professional roles.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MPhil Applied Social and Economic Research is a postgraduate research degree offered by the University of Essex. It is a full-time program that typically lasts 2-3 years. The program focuses on quantitative research in sociology and other social sciences, utilizing secondary data to address socially relevant research questions. The program offers supervision in the following areas:

• Social stratification, social class, and other forms of disadvantage
• Social behavior, beliefs, and values
• Occupational choice and mobility
• Migration
• Social change
• Life cycle and biography
• Social group identity
• Sociology of education
• Family and socialization
The program aims to prepare students for academic careers as well as professional roles in government departments, international organizations, and statistical institutions.

Assessment:

The program's assessment is primarily based on the student's thesis. Students are expected to produce a complete draft of a new main chapter by the end of each academic year. The thesis is typically structured in three main chapters, plus an introduction and conclusions. Students are required to attend supervisory board meetings every six months to discuss progress, training needs, and other issues. Any potential issues are considered by the Student Progress Research Committee. Students can enter into completion if, by the end of their third year, they have a complete draft of all thesis chapters (excluding introduction and conclusions) and these are of good quality.

Teaching:

The program is taught through a combination of individual supervision and group meetings. Students are assigned a supervisor who guides them through the different stages of their research degree. In some cases, students may have joint supervision by two members of staff. Regular one-to-one meetings are held to discuss progress on research. The supervisor helps students develop their research topic and plan. Twice a year, students attend a supervisory board meeting to discuss progress and agree on plans for the next six months.

Careers:

The MPhil Applied Social and Economic Research program prepares students for a variety of careers, including:

• Academic positions in universities and research institutions
• Research roles in government departments, international organizations, and statistical institutions
The program has a strong track record of placing graduates in prestigious institutions, including:
• Department of Economics, University of Chicago, USA
• Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia
• Department of Economics and Public Finance, University of Turin, Italy
• Department of Economics, University of Linz, Austria
• Centre for Research on Social Dynamics, Bocconi University, Italy
• Applied Microeconomics Research Unit, University of Minho, Portugal
• World Bank, US
The research conducted at ISER is used by academics and researchers around the world, by policy makers, by politicians, and by journalists involved in ongoing debates about society. The University of Essex has outstanding Research Assessment Exercise ratings for economics and sociology. The ISER is home to the ESRC Research Centre on Micro-Social Change, an interdisciplinary center with a prestigious team of staff who have a wide range of expertise in social science disciplines, including economics, sociology, demography, geography, health research, and statistics. The ISER is also home to the UK Longitudinal Studies Centre (ULSC), funded by the ESRC, which aims to promote longitudinal research. The ULSC runs the British Household Panel Survey and Understanding Society, the world's largest longitudinal survey. Students can also use a variety of longitudinal and panel data sets, including the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and Understanding Society.

Home/UK fee £4,786 per year International fee £18,750 per year Fees will increase for each academic year of study.