MRes Health Research (Online)
Study online and boost your health research career with a Masters degree in Health Research from the University of Stirling.
Key facts
- Award Masters / MRes, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate
- Start date September 2021
- Duration MRes full-time: 12 months, MRes part-time: 24 to 36 months
- Mode of study Online, Part-time, Full-time, Stand-alone modules
Changes at Stirling
Find out about important changes including how you'll be taught, start dates and how we're making campus safer.
Overview
The health and social care sectors are constantly changing in order to provide better treatment and access to care. Improving health and social care services would not be possible without the work of well-trained researchers.
Our Health Research Masters degree equips you to conduct high quality, rigorous research. You’ll benefit from our strong emphasis on both theoretical and practical skills and you'll be supported by a multidisciplinary team of experienced researchers and health professionals.
The course is suitable for diverse backgrounds including medicine, nursing, midwifery, allied health, social work, social and natural sciences. It's for anyone wishing to pursue a career in health research.
The course is entirely online, giving you the freedom to work towards a Masters around your personal and professional commitments.
Course objectives
The aim of our MRes Health Research programme is to develop skilled and knowledgeable researchers, able to understand and apply a full range of research methods and approaches to conducting research in health. We focus on equipping you with a combination of skills and experience, as well as placing an emphasis on developing confidence in both independent study and working as part of a team.
This MRes has been designed to be suitable for both novice and experienced researchers. No matter what your level of expertise may be, we will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to prepare for a career in research or to study for a PhD.
Professional accreditation
This course meets the requirements for the ESRC 1+3 awards, which means prospective students are eligible to apply for a studentship providing funding for a one-year research training Masters linked to a three-year PhD. Prospective applicants should apply approximately one year in advance of their intended start date.
Read more at the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science website.
Work placements
The Research in Practice module will give you experience of working within a research team. Students are allocated to research projects and these can also be completed remotely. Some students opt to spend some time on campus to benefit from the full experience.
Flexible learning
Most of the modules on our MRes Health Research are available to study individually as part of your continuing professional development (CPD). UK/EU and overseas students can study a 20-credit module for £667.
For further information see the modules on the course details section or visit the MRes Health Research CPD page.
If you’re interested in studying one or more of them you can also email graduate.admissions@stir.ac.uk to discuss your course of study.
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Research overview
Our Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport was ranked 1st in Scotland for Health Sciences in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2014) – highlighting our commitment to producing world-leading research that improves healthcare and reduces health inequalities on a global and local scale.
Entry requirements
Course details
Fees and funding
After you graduate
What our students said

Kuwait
MRes Health Research (Online)
Read Grace's storyI live out in Kuwait and work as a podiatrist, so when I decided to take on a Masters I knew I needed a distance learning degree that was fully online. The course at Stirling has been fantastic for me.
Scotland
MRes in Health Research
Read Jonathan's storyThe beauty of the programme is that it works for a whole range of backgrounds. That actually helps with your learning as you meet people from other backgrounds who can give you insight into their work and you learn a lot from each other.