University of Portsmouth Open Day
4 Jul 2026, 07:30
Portsmouth
Overview
If you work in the social sciences or humanities and want to improve your career prospects or prepare for a PhD, this flexible MRes degree – a postgraduate taught course, featuring a large research project – is the perfect way to achieve your ambitions.
On this course, you'll choose to study within any of the faculty's schools: the School of Education and Sociology (SES), the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics (SLAL) and the School of Area Studies, History, Politics, and Literature (SASHPL).
You'll have the flexibility to choose your learning methods, set your own timetable and specialise in your chosen field. You'll develop your research skills alongside specialist staff, and get a Master's degree without needing to sacrifice your job.
This degree is perfect for progressing your career, and can help you to pursue ambitious new roles, or seek promotion opportunities.
You can choose to study this course over 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time as a campus-based learner or by distance learning.
What you'll experience
On this course you'll:
Focus your research interest in the humanities and social sciences field
Learn to translate your learning into research, such as submitting peer reviewed publications and presentations
Access the University's respected research centres, including CEISR (Centre for European and International Studies Research) and ICJS, one of the UK's largest centres in criminology and criminal justice studies
Benefit from the professional training and supervision of our Graduate School
Access all the books and material you'll need in our library, along with electronic resources, including thousands of online ejournals and newspapers
Depending on your chosen speciality, you'll graduate from the course with one of the following awards:
MRes African Studies
MRes American Studies
MRes Applied Linguistics
MRes Childhood Studies
MRes Communication
MRes Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies
MRes Development Studies
MRes Education
MRes European Politics
MRes Forensic Investigation
MRes Gender Studies
MRes History
MRes International Relations
MRes Literary Studies
MRes Mental Health and Wellbeing
MRes Politics
MRes Public Administration
MRes Security Risk Management
MRes Security Studies
MRes Sociology
MRes TESOL
MRes Translation
Careers and opportunities
You'll graduate from the MRes Humanities and Social Science degree course with knowledge of research methods, training and skills relevant to your current and future employment, and which will aid your future career progression. You can also choose to continue your academic studies with PhD research.
The University of Portsmouth is passionate about creating career-focused modules that do more than support your studies, they empower your academic journey and prepare you for what comes next.
We design modules that have:
• Clear themes and skills development as you progress through each year
• Assessments that feel meaningful, often based on real-world tasks rather than isolated exams
• Career-enhancing opportunities such as placements, live projects, enterprise and volunteering
For a full list of the modules you will study on this course, please visit the link to the course page.
https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduate-taught/mres-humanities-and-social-sciences#modules
A minimum of an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed subject specialism. Please check the course details online for information about subject specialisms that can be supported. You will be asked to write a short research proposal upon receipt of your application. Applicants to the Forensic Investigation area of supervision will be invited to attend an interview.
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 5.5. | |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 91 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing. | |
| PTE Academic | An overall score of 65 with a minimum of 59 in each skill. | |
| Cambridge English Advanced | Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 176 with no component score less than 162. | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | Cambridge English: Advanced (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 176 with no component score less than 162. |
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Postgraduate fees for 2027 entry will be available shortly.
For further fee information please see the corresponding University of Portsmouth course page or visit https://www.port.ac.uk/study/masters-and-postgraduate-taught/fees-and-funding
Email:admissions@port.ac.uk
Phone:023 9284 5566
University of Portsmouth
Mercantile House
Hampshire Terrace
Portsmouth
PO1 2EG
At University of Portsmouth