Skip to main content

Education (MA by Research)

2026-27 (also available for 2024-25, 2025-26)

How to apply Order a prospectusPostgraduate Open Days
{{menu.previous.name}}
{{menu.center.name}}
{{menu.next.name}}
This course is eligible for Master's loan funding. Find out more.

Start date

1 October 2026

11 January 2027

19 April 2027

Duration

The maximum duration for an MA by Research is 1 year (12 months) full-time or 2 years (24 months) part-time with an optional submission pending (writing-up) period of 4 months.

Sometimes it may be possible to mix periods of both full-time and part-time study.

If studying on a part-time basis, you must establish close links with the University and spend normally not less than an average of 10 working days per year in the university, excluding participation in activities associated with enrolment, re-registration and progression monitoring. You are also expected to dedicate 17.5 hours per week to the research.

Application deadlines

Specifically for DBA, DPA and EdD For September 2026

12 June 2026 for International and Scholarship Students

03 July 2026 for Home Students

For all other PGRs For October 2026

12 June 2026 for International and Scholarship Students

03 July 2026 for Home Students

For January 2027

16 October 2026 for International and Scholarship Students

13 November 2026 for Home Students

For April 2027

22 January 2027 for International and Scholarship Students

19 February 2027 for Home Students

About the research degree

Reasons to study

  1. 98.4% of our postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating.
  2. Tailor your studies to suit your particular areas of interest or future career goals.
  3. You'll be part of a supportive and vibrant research environment for postgraduate researchers.

A Master's by Research (MA) allows you to undertake a one year full-time or two years part-time research degree. It contains little or no formal taught component. This type of study gives you the chance to explore a research topic over a shorter time than a more in-depth doctoral programme, but it still requires independent study.

Research Master's students choose a specific project to work on and have a greater degree of independence in their work than is the case with a taught Master’s course.

You are expected to work to an approved programme of work which you will develop within the first few months of commencement of study, in conjunction with your supervisor. Whilst undertaking the research project, under the supervision of the supervisor, you will also develop your research skills.

At the end of the project you write up your findings in the form of a short thesis of around 25,000 words and this will then be examined.

You will be appointed a main supervisor who will advise and support you on your project.

On successful completion, you will be awarded your degree and if you have enjoyed this taste of research you may then decide to apply for the full research doctoral degree (PhD).

Course detail

As a minimum you can expect to meet with your supervisors at least once a month (once every two months for part-time students). In practice you may meet with your supervisors more frequently. This time should include at least an hour of one-to-one supervision with each student.

Self-directed study is to be agreed in liaison with you and your supervisor. Self-directed study and supervision time should equate to 35 hours per week (for full-time research degrees).

Teaching

A research degree has no compulsory taught element, the study period is for 52 weeks a year with a 35-day annual leave allowance. You are expected to study for at least 35 hours a week for full-time study.

Variation for Professional doctorates - For professional doctorates there is a taught element, and you are required to attend and pass a core programme in research methods in the first 16 Months of study. Progression at the end of Module 4 will be dependent upon attendance and successful completion of these modules.

Feedback

Feedback, normally written, is provided on all assessments following submission. Submission and feedback dates will be provided to you upon enrolment.

Progression

You may progress to the next stage of your course or research degree, subject to meeting University assessment criteria and professional, statutory, or regulatory body guidelines.

Entry requirements

The normal entry requirements for enrolment on a MA by Research is an Honours degree (2:1 or above) from a UK university or an equivalent in a discipline appropriate to that of the proposed programme to be followed.

A research proposal will be needed of between 500-700 words (plus bibliography) delineating your proposed area of research. Don't choose something too broad; your research must be achievable in the time. This detail will be reviewed in conjunction with your online research degree application to identify academic supervision providing the necessary expertise and knowledge to guide you through your research degree.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

What can I research?

You can apply by: 1) Proposing your own research topic. Explore the skills of our supervisors and/or at the Huddersfield Centre for Research in Education and Society (HudCRES) to see if we have the expertise to support your topic. 2) Applying for one of the research topics listed in this section or for a specific research area within the School.

Places are always subject to eligibility, a review of your proposal and supervisory capacity.

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Researcher Environment

Our postgraduate researchers contribute to our thriving research culture at Huddersfield, in return we provide an experience that enhances your potential and inspires you to think big and become a globally competitive researcher.

Join our community of like-minded people who are passionate for research and gain access to world-leading facilities, advanced research skills training, and expert careers advice.

World-leading

We are in the top 50 UK universities for research power, and nearly two thirds of our research environment is classified as world leading and internationally excellent (REF2021).

As a researcher, you’ll gain access to our bespoke training programmes which are delivered in a variety of ways to take advantage of online platforms as well as face-to-face workshops and courses. You can access a range of tailored training opportunities available at each stage of your journey, including: * sessions on PhD thesis writing, publications and journals, post-doctoral opportunities, poster and conference presentations, networking, and international travel opportunities * opportunity to work and study abroad via the Turing Scheme through The Graduate School * externally accredited training programme with Advance HE (HEA) and CMI * online research training support accessed through a dedicated researcher module in Brightspace, the University’s Virtual Learning Environment * We also hold a series of PGR focussed events such as 3 Minute Thesis * PGR led research conference * informal events throughout the year.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

When you are offered a place on a research degree, your offer will include confirmation of your supervisory team, and the topic you will be researching and will be governed by our terms & Conditions, student handbook and relevant policies. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Whilst the University will use reasonable efforts to ensure your supervisory team remains the same, sometimes it may be necessary to make changes to your team for reasons outside the University’s control, for example if your supervisor leaves the University, or suffers from long term illness. Where this is the case, we will discuss these difficulties with you and seek to either put in place a new supervisory team, or help you to transfer to another research facility, in accordance with our Student Protection Plan.

Changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, for example the University being unable to access it’s buildings due to fire, flood or pandemic, or the University no longer being able to provide specialist equipment. Where this is the case, we will discuss these issues with you and agree any necessary changes.

Your research project is likely to evolve as you work on it and these minor changes are a natural and expected part of your study. However, we may need to make more significant changes to your topic of research during the course of your studies, either because your area of interest has changed, or because we can no longer support your research for reasons outside the University’s control. If this is the case, we will discuss any changes in topic with you and agree these in writing. If you are an international student, changing topics may affect your visa or ATAS clearance and if this is the case we will discuss this with you before any changes are made.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.