About the course

The MSc Education (Research Design and Methodology) introduces you to the range of tools and concepts that are necessary in educational research and provides you with the knowledge and skills to undertake your own research and to evaluate the research of others.

The course covers a range of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and data analysis, and introduces you to the challenges of carrying out social research in the field of education.

The MSc programme is offered on both a full time (one year) and part time (two year) basis (note. prospective students must apply specifically to either the full time course or the part time course). The degree and expectations for both modes of study are equally rigorous. part time students attend classes with full time students, but these are spread over two years to balance with work and personal circumstances. Part time students attend classes one day per week during term time and are encouraged to spend at least one further day a week working in Oxford libraries and participating in relevant research seminars and research events or taking non-assessed courses.

Assessment

The six taught modules are each assessed through written assignments. In addition, students complete a research dissertation of up to 20,000 words.

Graduate destinations

The most recent Oxford University Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey made contact with 635 master's course students who graduated from the Department of Education between 2012 and 2014. Over 90% of alumni were in work and 5.8% in further study with only 2.0% looking for work, ranking the department in the best 3 of the 20 departments in Oxford's Social Sciences Division.

Many past students who successfully completed the MSc Education (Research Design & Methodology) course have gone on to DPhil or PhD study, and several have proceeded to take up academic posts in leading UK universities (including associate professorships in the Oxford University Department of Education).