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The University holds regular events throughout the year, including webinars and the annual on-campus Master’s Expo, all of which offer the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses from our academic and admissions staff.

We also attend a number of education fairs both in the UK and overseas throughout the year.

For more details on how you can meet us, visit out events page: /study/masters/meet-us/

Please submit the following documents with your completed application form:

• copies of English Language Certification, such as IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report;
• copies of official degree certificates and transcripts of your previous study, showing the subjects taken and grades obtained. If these documents are in languages other than English, please provide official translations;
• personal statement as part of your application form in which you should describe and evidence your academic suitability for the course; this should cover why you want to study this course and evidence of relevant course-related knowledge and course-related skills which will help you to succeed on the course;
• your CV.

Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid any delays.

Develop the advanced research skills needed to investigate complex human geography challenges.

MSc Research Methods with Human Geography is a research-intensive master's course designed for students who want to develop advanced methodological expertise alongside specialist knowledge of human geography. Whether you are considering doctoral study, a research career or a role that relies on evidence-based decision-making, the programme provides rigorous training in contemporary social research methods.

You will gain experience in qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research, developing the skills to design, conduct and critically evaluate research projects. Alongside core methodological training, you will explore key themes and debates within human geography, helping you understand how research can be applied to real-world social, economic, political and environmental challenges.

The programme is delivered within an interdisciplinary environment, bringing together students from Human Geography, Education, International Development, and Planning, Property and Environmental Management. This provides opportunities to engage with a wide range of perspectives and research approaches while developing specialist expertise in your chosen area.

Through advanced research training, you will develop highly transferable skills in critical thinking, data collection, analysis, project management and evidence evaluation. These skills are valued across academic, public, private and third-sector organisations and can be applied to a wide range of professional contexts.

The course is particularly well suited to students considering doctoral study or careers in research, policy and analysis, providing both specialist knowledge of human geography and the methodological skills needed to undertake high-quality research.

You will:

• develop as a well-rounded researcher who can access the full range of research in relation to human geography; 
• actively and practically engage with research methods used in the context of human geography; 
• attend introductory PhD research training lectures, seminars and tutorials and get a taste of life as a PhD student.

• Manchester has a range of world-leading methodological expertise, including , , and .
• has been studied at Manchester for more than 125 years, and we're one of Europe's best-equipped universities for the subject.
• We’re home to world-class academics in Geography and other areas of the University contributing to the programme, including the , and the .
• Join the a society run by Geography students for Geography students.
• Benefit from worldwide fieldwork opportunities and strong industry links.
• Manchester is a city where industrial history meets modern innovation - and with three National Parks on your doorstep, it’s an unbeatable base for geographical study and fieldwork.

You will conduct a small-scale piece of empirical research of relevance and use this as the basis for your dissertation. The emphasis of the dissertation will be on the use of methodology in the context of:

• tracing the application of certain methods to the investigation of particular issues;
• discussing how that methodology functioned in practice;
• research reflexivity.

You will be expected to report on the findings of the study, although the scale of the work will necessitate modest aims and outcomes, given that you will require space to provide in-depth methodological critique and potentially also methods development as an outcome of their study.

You'll have the option to choose to undertake a literature-based dissertation, in which case there will be an expectation that a formal review methodology will be used to conduct the review.

The form the dissertation ultimately takes will reflect the particular study conducted, and its structure will be negotiated and agreed with your supervisor. All dissertations undertaken will be required to contribute to meeting the ESRC's research training criteria.

We are one of Europe's best-equipped universities for geography, with numerous laboratories. These include the main teaching laboratory, microscopy laboratory, and sediments and project laboratories.

You can also learn professional skills such as coding and programming specialist, industry-standard software such as image processing, GIS, GPS and cartographic representation.

The University's Main Library is home to the University Map Collection, which comprises about 100,000 map sheets of every part of the world.

For more information visit our  .

Career opportunities

Graduates develop advanced research, analytical and problem-solving skills that are valued across a wide range of sectors. The programme is particularly well suited to students considering PhD study, academic research or research-intensive professional roles.

Potential career paths include:

• Human geography research
• Doctoral study (PhD)
• Academia and higher education
• Social and policy research
• Government and public policy
• Research consultancy
• Think tanks and policy institutes
• Charity and NGO research
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Data analysis and evidence-based decision-making roles

The programme's training in qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research provides a strong foundation for careers requiring advanced analytical and research skills across the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Careers support

This course supports students interested in careers in research, policy, analysis and geography-related professions.

The University has its own dedicated that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .

Careers support for international students

The Careers Service provide specialist resources, advice and events for international students to help with career planning and making the most of your time while studying in Manchester.

Global networks

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is proud to have the largest of any campus-based university in the UK.

International alumni groups are a great way to keep in touch with fellow Manchester graduates in your country and provide an opportunity to build professional and social networks.