The MPhil introduces students to contemporary theories and research methods on the intersection of sociology and demography. This advanced 21-month programme takes a life-course and multilevel approach, aiming to integrate micro and macro issues in analysing social problems and the causes and consequences of population change.

The MPhil will provide you with a solid foundation for a wide range of careers, including those in academia, preparing you for doctoral work in sociology and demography and research-intense jobs.

The curriculum emphasises:

• population-level analysis and demographic measures
• a life course approach
• sociological analysis as the key approach to explanation
• advanced quantitative methods.

This emphasis is reflected in the compulsory papers. Optional papers and the thesis will reflect either a more specialised topic (eg gender, family and fertility, migration and integration of migrants, health and mortality, intergenerational relationships) or methodological work.

The MPhil programme has the following components:

• Sociological Analysis paper taught in the first year through lectures and seminars
• Demographic Analysis paper taught in the first year through lectures, seminars and computer labs
• Life Course Research paper taught in the first year through lectures, seminars and computer labs
• Statistical Methods paper taught in the first year through lectures and computer labs
• Research Design paper taught in the first year through lectures
• two option papers over both years of the MPhil, normally taught through eight weekly classes/seminars for each paper
• Replication project in the second year, comprising a combination of individual and group work
• MPhil thesis, a new and substantial analysis of up to 30,000 words on a sociological and/or demographic topic, to be submitted by the end of the second year.