What is a research programme and what do we mean by research University?
Research is defined by the process of careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or problem, using a variety of methods which are mostly scientific. Research at university level is no different but focuses more on carrying out original research, usually under the guidance of a few supervisors, which has the intention to broaden and expand knowledge in the chosen field.
A research-intensive university, as the name suggests, is an institution where the main focus is on the research of professors and research staff and students. They are aiming to produce new and exciting research which changes the way we perceive or understand things, as well as finding new solutions to problems we face today. To do this, much research-led universities have state of the art research facilities to conduct new research and have a variety of different research strands. This allows these types of universities to develop worldwide international reputation for people to come study or partake in research activities to further that goal.
Research Universities can be both public or private institutions and provide master’s and doctoral degrees along with bachelor’s degrees. It’s important to note that any student can benefit from going to a research university because they usually offer a larger variety of programmes at all levels.
Types of Research programmes?
When discussing research programmes, it’s important to understand that research degrees are split into two types of programmes. The first is Research Master’s degrees, which are again split between MPhil (Master of Philosophy) and MRes (Master of Research). The second is doctoral degrees, and again these are then further split between PhD (Doctor in Philosophy and other professional doctorates.
What is an MPhil?
MPhil, Master of Philosophy, is an award, similar to the PhD, but differs in the final word length which is usually shorter as it’s a limit of 60,000 words, which is awarded for the successful completion of a significant amount of research investigation. It is a shorter version of a PhD due to the time it takes you to usually complete (two years if its full time).
What is an MRes?
MRes, A Master of Research, is a research-led postgraduate degree which is awarded to any academic programme that offers enough scope for research training. It allows you to develop high level research skills and complete a focused original piece of research which is centred around your chosen topic. It is usually 12 months if its full time.
What is a PhD?
A PhD, Doctor In Philosophy, is the highest level of postgraduate qualification level that can be awarded in an academic study. It is heavily research based and involves a lot of independent research time and some study depending on the chosen programme. A typical PhD programme will take three to four years to complete when doing it full time and could take up to six part time. The word limit for the final thesis is limited to 100,000 words.
