lse phd social research methods

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Social Research Methods

Entry requirements.

The minimum entry requirement for this programme is an upper second class honours (2:1) degree and a merit in an MSc broadly similar to the MSc Social Research Methods, or equivalent.

Months of entry

Course content.

About the MPhil/PhD programme

This programme offers the chance to undertake a substantial piece of original research that is of publishable standard and which makes an original contribution to social science methodology or which applies advanced methodology to a substantive research problem. You will begin on the MPhil, and will need to meet certain requirements to be upgraded to PhD status.

You will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of staff whose disciplinary backgrounds include political science, statistics, sociology, social psychology, anthropology and criminology. There are a variety of advanced-level courses, seminars and workshops in research design, quantitative analysis and qualitative methods available for you to attend.

The Department of Methodology at LSE supports both standalone qualitative and quantitative research, as well as interesting ways of combining them. We encourage applications from candidates who demonstrate an interest in a substantive area of research and particular methodological approach, aiming at a methodological development. This could involve collecting innovative new data, new analytic techniques, method comparison, evaluation or validation, method critique, applying existing methodology in new contexts, or cost-benefit analysis of methodologies.

Department of Methodology

The Department of Methodology is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research and teaching in the area of social science research methodology. The disciplinary backgrounds of the staff include political science, statistics, sociology, social psychology, anthropology and criminology. The Department coordinates and provides a focus for methodological activities at the School, in particular in the areas of graduate student (and staff) training and of methodological research.

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students .

Fees and funding

Every graduate student is charged a fee for their programme. Visit the website for more information about the fees .

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

LSE offers studentships to new PhD students in the form of LSE PhD Studentships, LSE ESRC Studentships, LAHP AHRC Studentships and LSE & III PhD Studentships on Analysing and Challenging Inequalities.

These awards are open to high calibre students of all nationalities studying across all research areas at the School.

Find out more about financial support.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

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MPhil/PhD Sociology

Graduate research
Department of Sociology
Application code L3ZS
Starting 2024
Home full-time: Closed
Overseas full-time: Closed
Location: Houghton Street, London

The MPhil/PhD Sociology programme offers you the chance to undertake a substantial piece of research that is worthy of publication and which makes an original contribution to sociology. You will begin on the MPhil, and will need to meet certain requirements to be upgraded to PhD status.

The Department of Sociology was the first to be created in Britain and has played a key role in establishing and developing the discipline nationally and internationally. Recent UK research evaluations (through the Research Evaluation Framework) have confirmed our position as one of the leading Departments in the UK. We are committed to empirically rich, conceptually sophisticated, research and scholarship addressing topics of social and political urgency. While building upon the traditions of the discipline we play a key role in developing new intellectual areas, and addressing the social problems and ethical dilemmas that face a globalised society.

LSE Sociology embraces a theoretically and methodologically diverse range of approaches. There are five research areas which constitute our strategic priorities and reflect overall a balance between "traditional" sociology and "innovation": economic sociology; politics and human rights; social inequalities; social studies of knowledge, culture and technology; and urban sociology. Our teaching is informed by our commitments and by our active research in these areas. LSE Sociology will provide a learning environment in which you are encouraged to think critically and independently.

Programme details

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for mphil/phd sociology.

Merit (65+) in a taught master's degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline and a 2:1 degree or equivalent in sociology or another social science.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet our minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission.

Due to the large volume of applications, only applicants who select Sociology as their first choice will be considered. Regrettably, we cannot consider applications that list it as a second choice.

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our Information for International Students to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Assessing your application

We welcome applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of members of staff at the School, and we recommend that you investigate staff research interests before applying. You may wish to discuss your suitability with a potential supervisor in the Department before applying – though this is not required.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your:

- academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications) - statement of academic purpose - references - CV - research proposal - sample of written work. See further information on supporting documents

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency. You do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE, but we recommend that you do. See our English language requirements .

When to apply

The application deadline for this programme is 15 January 2024 , which is also the funding deadline. Please ensure that your application, along with all supporting documents and references, is submitted by this date. See the fees and funding section for more details.

Fees and funding

Every research student is charged a fee in line with the fee structure for their programme. The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MPhil/PhD Sociology

Home students: £4,829 for the first year (provisional) Overseas students: £22,632 for the first year

The fee is likely to rise over subsequent years of the programme. The School charges home research students in line with the level of fee that the Research Councils recommend. The fees for overseas students are likely to rise in line with the assumed percentage increase in pay costs (ie, 4 per cent per annum).

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

Fee status

The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay, and any financial support you are eligible for, will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Scholarships, studentships and other funding

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for LSE PhD Studentships , and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding . Selection for the PhD Studentships and ESRC funding is based on receipt of an application for a place – including all ancillary documents, before the funding deadline.

Funding deadline for LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding: 15 January 2024

All applicants who are offered places are automatically considered for funding and are nominated by the Department for School-administered studentships. Competition for funding is very intense and we cannot provide funding to all offer-holders. Accordingly, all applicants are required to explore all potential sources of funding at all stages in their application, including before and during LSE’s funding consideration process.

If you have already secured funding from an external body, or if you secure external funding after your application is submitted, please notify [email protected] as soon as possible.

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas. Find out more about financial support.

External funding

There may be other funding opportunities available through other organisations or governments and we recommend you investigate these options as well.

Further information

Fees and funding opportunities

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body, and we take this international profile seriously in our work.

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students .

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page).

2) Go to the International Students section of our website.

3) Select your country.

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page.

Programme structure and courses

In your first year, you can choose to study a range of methods and specialist courses from a variety of institutes and departments at LSE. You must attend the first year research class for MPhil students SO 500 Aims and Methods. You may also be required or advised by your supervisor to take methods courses and specialist taught courses relevant to your topic.

After the first year, you will spend more time on independent study under the guidance of your supervisors. This will involve the collection, organisation, analysis and writing up of data and ideas. You will also attend regular workshops and seminars related to your interests including a research class for MPhil and PhD students. You will be expected to make an active contribution to these by presenting papers and/or taking part in general discussions.

In addition to progressing with your research, you will be expected to take the listed training and transferable skills courses.

Compulsory (examined)

Aims and Methods Research Class Aims to provide students with a conceptual and practical framework within which to think through planning their research. You may also be required or advised by your supervisor to take methods courses and specialist taught courses relevant to your topic. For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page .

Second year

Compulsory (not examined)

Data Analysis Workshop Provides a forum for MPhil/PhD students to gain data analytics skills by sharing their own PhD data with other students. Each student will present their data and have it analysed by the group. Students will gain confidence in analysing their own data by also analysing other students’ data in a group setting.

Third and Fourth years

Optional (not examined)

Becoming a Professional Sociologist This course provides a workshop environment to discuss key aspects of developing a career as a sociologist. Students will gain a practical understanding of how to pursue the different elements of a sociological career in order to be in a good position in the job market.

For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page .

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s Calendar , or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the updated graduate course and programme information page.

Supervision, progression, and assessment

Supervision.

You will be assigned a lead supervisor and a second supervisor/adviser or two co-supervisors who are specialist in your chosen research field, though not necessarily in your topic. Supervisors guide you through your studies.

Progression and assessment

The time taken to complete any research degree depends on your progress and individual needs and you must remain registered with the School until your thesis has been submitted.

You will register for the MPhil in the first instance. In week 6 of Autumn Term in your second year, you will submit a 10,000-word research proposal for assessment, outlining the aims and methods of your thesis and providing preliminary data collection and analysis. The paper will be read by two members of the Sociology Department, who will conduct the viva voce. Successful completion of this assessment means that you upgrade from MPhil registration to registration as a PhD candidate.

By week 6 of Winter Term in your third year, you will submit two draft chapters, a chapter outline for the thesis, and a schedule for completing the thesis. The submission will be read by two members of the Sociology Department, who will conduct the viva voce. Successful completion of this assessment means that you will be re-registered onto the programme into the fourth and final year.

Your final award will be determined by the completion of an original research thesis and a viva oral examination.

More about programme requirements

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Student stories

Kristina j. kolbe.

MPhil/PhD Sociology The Netherlands

Completing my PhD at LSE Sociology has been a truly inspiring and engaging experience. The PhD not only allowed me to dive into and develop my sociological interests and political passions, but it also opened up the possibility for me to think about 'higher education' as a profession. From learning how to actually conduct research to shaping my own teaching pedagogy, I have benefitted a lot from the course offer at the department and at the LSE more widely. I learnt so much from the faculty at the department, the students I had the pleasure of teaching and my fellow PhDs who, in many occasions, have not only become wonderful colleagues but dear friends. While certainly also being a very challenging process, the overall PhD trajectory at LSE Sociology helped me develop my sociological practice and made it thinkable and feasible for me to pursue an academic career.

Javier Trevino-Rangel

MPhil/PhD Sociology Durango, Mexico

I chose the programme at LSE because its Department of Sociology has played a key role in pioneering, establishing and developing the study of social deviance and social control. Having the opportunity to carry out research with the support of Professors Stanley Cohen, Nikolas Rose or Claire Moon has been invaluable due to their experience in dealing with the sociology of deviance, and the study of political or moral discourses to police them.

As I progress, I am really looking forward to developing my skills and understanding in sociology, and to eventually acquiring professional capacities to efficiently pursue a career in this realm. I intend to use the experience of studying at LSE to expand my research and work so it can influence policies, increase public awareness, and make original contributions to knowledge in different subjects within these fields.

Emma Taylor

I could not have asked for a better department within which to undertake my PhD. I received unwavering support from my supervisor, Professor Mike Savage, throughout the process and was made to feel very much a part of the department despite interrupting my studies twice due to maternity leave.

The doctoral training programme offered is broad and wide-ranging whilst at the same time tailored to the specific needs of students. There are also plenty of opportunities to acquire valuable teaching experience on one or more of the innovative course offered at undergraduate as well as masters level. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of LSE Sociology and I hope to stay in touch with the department as I move on with my academic career.

Preliminary reading

P Dunleavy Authoring a PhD: how to plan, draft, write and finish a doctoral dissertation or thesis (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003)

We recommend you read around your topic and articles in leading sociology journals such as British Journal of Sociology, American Journal of Sociology, Theory and Society, Sociological Review , and Sociology.

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Sociology

Median salary of our PG students 15 months after graduating: £28,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

Government, Public Sector and Policy
Education, Teaching and Research
Health and Social Care
NGOs and Charities
Real Estate, Environment and Energy

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2020-21 were the fourth group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and who were working in full-time employment.

Students who successfully complete the programme often embark on an academic career. Our graduates have also gone on to work in the public sector and government as well as for international agencies.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

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How to apply

Virtual Graduate Open Day

Register your interest

Related programmes, mphil/phd social policy.

Code(s) L4ZA

MPhil/PhD International Relations

Code(s) M1ZR

MRes/PhD Political Science

Code(s) M1ZN

MPhil/PhD Gender

Code(s) Y2ZG

MPhil/PhD Psychological and Behavioural Science

Code(s) L7ZP

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Research proposals

Writing a research proposal requires students to demonstrate a high level of knowledge and analytical thought. Students must choose a specific aspect of the course material to investigate, and ask an original question, which can increase their engagement and interest. This assesses students' understanding of the subject area, their capacity to perform a literature review, their evaluation of possible research tools, and their development of a research question. In addition, the course can require the student to carry out the project they propose, as another assessment task. Assessing the proposal as a separate task earlier in the year ensures the students are on a productive path, helps the students to plan their time, and can also deter academic misconduct by demonstrating authorship. Research-related assessments can support the students' later work on a dissertation. This can be in terms of skills alone or both skills and content the research proposal informs the final-year dissertation.

Advantages of research proposals

Learning through research can lead to more engaged, critical and informed students than teaching by more didactic methods.

Learning about research methods can help students understand other courses more fully, and the 'nuts and bolts' of their discipline.

Becoming 'expert' in an area can increase students sense of autonomy in their learning, and can develop their confidence in articulating original arguments.

Developing a wider variety of types of writing and communication is useful for students' longer-term employability skills.

As a research proposal can be relatively short, it can be combined with peer feedback or presented in a different format such as a poster or an oral presentation.

Can be a good opportunity to introduce group work

Challenges of research proposals

Students more used to exams and essays may find a new format initially confusing.

Students may feel unsure of how to excel in this assessment method.

When students choose their own specific area to investigate, it carries the risk that the area will not be as productive as one pre-determined by their tutor as existing research literature on a topic may be sparse, for example.

How students might experience research proposals

Students may value the autonomy of creating a research proposal, and appreciate the insight it offers into their other courses, but experience anxiety at the novel assessment format. When students have undertaken specific, personal work, they can appreciate the opportunity of sharing their work with peers. LSE students in this situation report a sense of pride in their own and their cohort's work.

Reliability, validity, fairness and inclusivity of research proposals

As with any assessment, the learning outcomes of the course need to be well served by the method - setting clear criteria and communicating them with students. The weighting of the task also requires consideration. An essay may be a more substantial writing task, but a research proposal requires additional time to find relevant readings, and understand and evaluate research tools. If peers are expected to comment on one another's work, guidance on this should also be provided. As the projects will be varied, students may make more use of office hours or other one-to-one guidance from tutors. Students from educational backgrounds which do not prioritise 'original argument' may particularly struggle to understand what is required of them by an open-ended and personalised project. Putting students in contact with their relevant library liaison is another form of support for when they are locating material.

How to maintain and ensure rigour in research proposals

Research proposals should be marked and moderated in accordance with departmental practice. Criteria should be established in advance and shared with students. Research proposals can provide a chance to excel in one area and underperform in others (e.g. a strong original argument combined with weak use of sources) therefore a clear marking system should help keep students (and staff) working (and marking) in line with the expected outcomes. Individual markers should take steps to avoid the problems which affect batch marking, such as the 'halo' effect where one or two positive characteristics of a student overly influence the marker.

How to limit possible misconduct in research proposals

Possible misconduct is comparable to other written assessment methods. The requirement for students to select their own sub-topic to work on means that assistance from previous cohorts will be of less use. As it is a novel form of assessment, students will also be less able to find existing examples online. Requiring students to submit early stages of the project – for example, an area of interest, an early research question - will require students to demonstrate authorship (and also allow tutors to intervene in projects which appear off-topic). Final submissions can make use of Turnitin to check against other student submissions, and against other possible sources (for example, article abstracts).

LSE examples

SO221 Researching London: Methods for Social Research

AN298 Research Methods in Social Anthropology

MY428 Qualitative Text and Discourse Analysis

Further resources

Healey, M. and Jenkins, A. (2009) Developing undergraduate research and inquiry

https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/developing-undergraduate-research-and-inquiry

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Your Programmes

London School of Economics

MPhil/PhD MSc Social Research Methods

Data shown above is for entry in academic year 2021/22 (sources) .

Previous Years

Why are there inexact numbers? For data protection reasons, when the number of applications, offers, or admissions is low for a given course (or in some cases, regardless of the numbers), some universities report only approximate numbers. Based on these, we have computed the range of possible values.

Data sources

FOI Request by Albert Warren. December 2019.
Freedom of Information (FOI) . London School of Economics. October 2022.

The acceptance rate , or offer rate, represents the fraction of applicants who received an offer. Note that this will be generally lower the acceptances rates (acceptances divided by applicants) published by many other sources. This article explains it in more detail. The acceptances generally indicate the number of offer holders who accepted the offer and fulfilled its conditions. For some universities, however, it denotes the number of applicants who accepted the offer, regardless of whether they subsequently met its conditions.

Data Reliability

Unless otherwise noted, the data presented comes from the universities and is generally reliable. However, some of the differences between years and/or courses may be due to different counting methodologies or data gathering errors. This may especially be the case if there is a sharp difference from year to year. If the data does not look right, click the "Report" button located near the top of the page.

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Social Research Methods MSc

London, Bloomsbury

This MSc offers advanced training in social research methods, designed to be flexible to accommodate students arriving with a range of previous methodological training. The core modules provide a good grounding in the research process and in data science and qualitative methods. The optional modules allow students to build on these and develop more advanced skills in particular methods of interest. This degree has ESRC 1+3 training recognition, meaning that it stands alone as an MSc but can also prepare students for doctoral research.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

Applications open

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, in a social science discipline.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

This programme is suitable for international students on a Student visa – study must be full-time, face-to-face, starting October.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

This degree is designed to cover the research methods and data science used in collating evidence for the design, critique and evaluation of substantive issues in the social sciences. Students will gain hands-on experience in a range of methods used to study issues of interest in the real world. Students will be expected to apply their understanding of methodology to critique existing research, design their own research, carry out their own analysis and communicate clearly with academic specialists and non-specialists.

Who this course is for

This programme is aimed at students interested in studying the world around them. It is suitable for those looking to lay the groundwork for further work at PhD level as well as those wishing to seek employment with enhanced knowledge and skills.

Applications are invited from anyone with a suitable undergraduate degree in a social science subject or relevant experience in a related field.

What this course will give you

The UCL Social Research Institute is a research-intensive department with world-leading experts in data science, qualitative methods, and systematic reviews - as well as a broad range of social science substantive subjects. We have a lively community of staff, PhD, MSc, and undergraduate students involved in seminars, workshops, and reading groups in addition to formal teaching.

Our department specialises in applying research methods to inform policy in areas such as education, health, labour markets, human development, and child/adult wellbeing.

The department’s staff have a broad range of interests, which includes expertise in economics, sociology, psychology, social statistics, survey methods and data collection, mixed-methods research, and the techniques of policy evaluation.

The foundation of your career

Graduates with skills in social data science and in qualitative research methods are in demand from a wide range of emplyers government departments, academic institutions, the media, finance and marketing.

Employability

Graduates of this programme are currently working as:

university and college lecturers and researchers
civil servants
third sector employees
journalists
social researchers
market researchers.

MSc SRM candidates study alongside students from other postgraduate programmes at the UCL Social Research Institute . They have the opportunity to collaborate on research projects led by world-leading experts. Furthermore, they can link with an external organisation for the dissertation.

Teaching and learning

The modules are delivered via weekly lectures and seminars. The seminars can be discussion-based, PC based, etc. depending on the module.

When taking this MSc programme, you will normally be assessed by coursework (such as practical assignments and essays), exams, and a 12,000-word dissertation.

Students are expected to work up 150 hours per each 15-credit module. This includes all taught sessions plus office hours.

The first term of the programme introduces a broad range of methodologies. You will study regression techniques, qualitative analysis, systematic review and survey design.

The second term allows you to develop your research interests with a range of advanced optional modules for you to choose both from areas in social data science such as impact evaluation, longitudinal data and analysis, advanced quantitative methods, data management, and from areas based on qualitative methods such as ethnography, thematic/narrative/discourse analysis, advanced methods and applications of systematic reviews. You will also begin work on your final research project - the dissertation.

In the summer term, you will continue work on the dissertation, with a submission date in early September.

The first year of the part-time programme will ask you to choose some of your compulsory modules, followed by some of your optional modules in year 1. In year 2 you must complete your compulsory and optional modules across Terms 1 and 2. And carry out your dissertation in Year 2.

You will have between two and five years in which to complete the programme. The modules are taken in generally the same order as on the part-time route. Following approval by the Programme Leader, module order can be varied.

Compulsory modules

Optional modules.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Social Research Methods.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis .

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

All full-time students are required to pay a fee deposit of £1,000 for this programme. All part-time students are required to pay a fee deposit of £500.

Students should take into account any travel, accommodation and expenses involved in their report or dissertation.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

Applicants may be eligible to apply for funding from the Economic and Social Research Council via the UCL, Bloomsbury and East London Doctoral Training Partnership. The MSc provides master's-level postgraduate training which can constitute the first year of ESRC 1+3 postgraduate PhD studentships. Further information: https://ubel-dtp.ac.uk/

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

IOE-Clarke Scholarships

Deadline: 3 May 2024 Value: Tuition fees, return flights and stipend (1 year) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: EU, Overseas

IOE-ISH Centenary Masters Scholarships

Deadline: 3 May 2024 Value: Tuition fees and accommodation (1 year) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper applications. Further information can be found at Application fees .

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

why you want to study Social Research Methods at graduate level
why you want to study Social Research Methods at UCL
what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

Social Research Institute

[email protected]

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Meet, visit and discover LSE

MRes/PhD in Management - Employment Relations and Human Resources

Graduate research
Department of Management
Application code N2Z1
Starting 2024
Home full-time: Closed
Overseas full-time: Closed
Location: Houghton Street, London

This programme offers you the chance to undertake a substantial piece of work that is worthy of publication and which makes an original contribution to the field of employment relations and human resource management. You will begin on the MRes and will need to meet certain requirements to be upgraded to PhD status.

The MRes/PhD in Management – Employment Relations and Human Resources (ERHR) is part of a rigorous and interdisciplinary graduate training programme. It is designed to stimulate critical thinking and creative ideas and provide you with the analytical skills to design, carry out, report, read and evaluate qualitative and quantitative research.

As a research-led department of management at the heart of LSE’s academic community in central London, we are ranked #5 in the world for social sciences and management

The ERHR group’s investigation and teaching pursue Human Resource Management (HRM) foundational domains (e.g. recruitment and selection, diversity and inclusion, well-being, voice, learning and development, engagement and retention, compensation, performance management), as well as strategic HRM, labour unions and other institutions, corporate social responsibility and value chains, new and emerging employment relationships (e.g. gig economy and zero-hour contracts), digital HRM and people analytics, emerging technology and the future of work.

We aim to produce top-quality social scientists with the ability to engage with the conceptual foundations of employment relations and human resource management – from both an international and comparative perspective – and employ robust methods to produce significant and original research.

You will work closely with international and world-class faculty as part of a vibrant community of doctoral students, all of whom are pursuing varied research in different fields of management. The programme also includes a comprehensive methodological training with the opportunity to specialise in a designated field.

Programme details

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for mres/phd in management - employment relations and human resources.

Upper second class honours (2:1) degree in any discipline, or the equivalent.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet our minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission.

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our Information for International Students to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

GRE/GMAT requirement

The GRE/GMAT is required for all applicants. We do not require a specific GRE/GMAT overall score but the test gives us an indication of your aptitude for our programmes. There is no preference for GMAT or GRE but all applications must submit scores at the time of application. Your score should be less than five years old on 1 October 2024.

Please see LSE information on GRE and GMAT for more detail on our requirements and submission of test scores, including information on LSE’s institution codes.

Find out more about GRE/GMAT

Assessing your application

We welcome applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of members of staff at the School. We recommend that you investigate staff research interests before applying.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your:

Academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications).
Academic statement of purpose ( writing your statement of purpose guidance ).
Academic references ( see guidance on references ).
GMAT/GRE ( how your scores are reviewed ).
Outline research proposal ( writing your research proposal guidance ).
Sample of written work.

LSE Graduate Admissions information on supporting documents

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency. You do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE, but we recommend that you do. See LSE's English language requirements.

When to apply

The application deadline for this programme is 15 January 2024 . See the fees and funding section for more details.

How to apply

To apply online go to the LSE Application System .

We do not require a specific overall score but the test gives us an indication of aptitude for our programmes. A strong GMAT or GRE score will count in your favour, but other information, such as your research interests, your examination results, previous qualifications and references are central to our overall evaluation of your application. We recognise that if your first language is not English, the verbal test will be more demanding and we view your score on that basis.

Applying to both Employment Relations and Human Resource Management (ERHR) and Organisational Behaviour (OB) programmes

Our application process allows candidates to apply to up to two programmes. You can therefore apply to both the Employment Relations and Human Resources (ERHR) and the Organisational Behaviour (OB) programme if you are unsure where your research interest will find the best match. This means Faculty from both groups will review your application, and you may be invited to interview for either one or both programmes.

Although ERHR and OB faculty members focuses on their respective research areas and interests, both faculty groups generally draw from similar disciplines (e.g., psychology, sociology, or economics), theoretical underpinning, and literatures that guide their multi-level (e.g., individual, groups, organisational, and/or institutional) quantitative and qualitative scholarship.

Applicants are encouraged to investigate Faculty interests in both ERHR and OB to discern potential faculty who may have the best fit.

If you would like advice on applying to both programmes or more detailed information on each programme you can talk with a member of our programme team by requesting a consultation .

Fees and funding

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MRes/PhD in Management - Employment Relations and Human Resources

Home students: £4,829 for the first year (provisional) Overseas students: £22,632 for the first year

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

Further information about fee status classification

Scholarships, studentships and other funding

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

Financial Aid and Funding sorted by research degree programme for applicants in the Department of Management.

Funding deadline for LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding: 15 January 2024

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.

Find out more about financial support

External funding

There may be other funding opportunities available through other organisations or governments and we recommend you investigate these options as well.

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK, then take a look at our Information for International students .

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page).

2) Go to the International Students section of our website.

3) Select your country.

Programme structure and courses

Research practicums.

For the duration of your 2-year MRes programme, you will engage in active research, called Research Practicums, with different members of Faculty. The rotation of practicum assignments will include one-to-one training and collaboration that provides you better understanding of the research process, e.g.:

Literature reviews.
Applied research method and practices.
Determining theory-driven, testable hypotheses.
Identifying appropriate methods and samples.
Coding and data analysis.
Evaluating findings and implications.
Writing manuscripts for the academic peer-reviewed process with ultimate goal of publication in top-tier academic journal.

First year (MRes)

Study in the first year includes a doctoral seminar in Employment Relations and Human Resource management and training in quantitative and qualitative methods.

As the Employment Relations and Human Resources domain is multidisciplinary, you will also take an elective course from selected fields including but not limited to:

Management.
Organisational Behaviour.
Employment Relations.
Government.
Other subject areas in agreement with your Supervisor.

All first year doctoral students in the Department of Management will take the seminar course A Social Sciences Perspective of Academic Research in Management.

Courses include:

Employment Relations and Human Resource Management Seminar I

The seminar covers micro-HRM, macro-HRM, the future of work, labour markets, institutional, and comparative employment relations perspectives, and the full range of research methods from across the ERHR field.

Fundamentals of Social Science Research Design

This core course introduces a broad range of design options across quantitative and qualitative research, covering issues of data quality, analysis, reporting and reproducibility. The course is designed to equip you to implement and make arguments defending the methods you use in your PhD theses.

You may choose an alternative course depending on your previous research design training as more specialised options are available.

Quantitative Research Methods

You choose a course in quantitative methods or statistics depending on your previous quantitative methods training and research interests.

Qualitative Research Methods

This core course covers conceptual understandings of current academic debates regarding qualitative methods, and with practical skills to put those methods into practice. Where applicable you can replace this course with alternative advanced qualitative training.

Elective Course in the Social Sciences

You will have the opportunity to select an elective course aligned with your research interests in either Management, Organisational Behaviour, Employment Relations, Law, Gender, Government, or other subject areas in agreement with your supervisor.

A Social Sciences Perspective of Academic Research in Management

Along with all MRes/PhD and MPhil/PhD students from across the Department of Management Research programmes you will participate in a seminar on the nature of scientific enquiry in the Social Sciences. The seminar series is led by members of the Faculty across the Department and provides an interdisciplinary collaborative perspective and the opportunity for students to develop academic presentation skills

Second year (MRes)

In the second year, you will continue to participate in Research Practicums and the Employment Relations and Human Resources Seminar. You will take two elective courses in your area of interest or additional methods depending on your training and intellectual requirements and preferences. You will write a research paper in your field of interest which will form an important element in your upgrade to PhD.

Employment Relations and Human Resource Management Seminar II

Two Elective Courses in areas of research interest or additional methods training

Research Paper in Management (MRes PhD Programmes)

Third, fourth and fifth year (PhD)

Upon successfully completing the MRes and progressing to the PhD, you will work on your research and write your PhD thesis. Throughout the 3-5 year preiod there are regular reviews on your research progress. In the final year you prepare a detailed plan of work for the successful submission of your thesis.

Throughout your PhD you will show the continued development of research ideas for publication, participation in relevant training courses and career development activities.

For the most up-to-date list of courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page .

Supervision, progression and assessment

Supervision.

You do not need to have identified a supervisor prior to application. During your MRes you will be supervised by the PhD Director of the Employment Relations and Human Resources programme.

During the first two years of the programme, you will participate in Research Practicums, working in collaboration with different faculty mentors. Each research practicum will enable you to participate in research activities, understand Faculty research interests, and develop your own research skills. Your PhD supervisors will be appointed when you upgrade to PhD.

Progression and assessment

You will need to meet certain criteria to progress to each subsequent year of the programme, such as achieving certain grades in your coursework and engaging in all aspects of the programme.