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Diplomatosis

Masters in Health Research (MRes)

Authors: Srimathy Vijayan, K Tyler

Publication date:  21 Jan 2009

What is the MRes?

This is a masters degree offered to postgraduate health professionals,
including doctors and intercalating medical students. In broad terms, the MRes
can be considered to parallel an MPhil, but whereas the MPhil is usually the
first year of a PhD, the MRes is a standalone one year postgraduate masters
degree. It allows candidates the opportunity to experience and learn about
research within the fields of human health.

Why do the degree?

Modern day medical practice is based on strong evidence, underpinned by high
quality research. This allows doctors, with the involvement of their patients,
to make optimum decisions about patient care. Doing research enhances a doctor’s
career profile, and in an increasingly competitive world those who have done
something beyond the usual requirements stand out. It is therefore important
that all individuals involved with or working in the healthcare set-up
understand the process of research: from the initial concept through to the
analysis of its output, and, where possible, try to take part in it. It can,
however, be difficult to find time to take part in a relatively large research
project, on top of the many other work commitments a doctor has, and some
individuals may not be inclined to undertake higher research degrees (MD or PhD)
for this purpose. The MRes offers the prospect of doing an important piece of
medical research in a single year. The degree introduces candidates to the
realms of research by allowing them to understand the nature of the research
environment, enabling them to do a research project of their own from scratch
under expert supervision.

Who is it for?

Anyone interested in gaining an understanding of research and research
methods, particularly those embarking on research for the first time and those
contemplating higher level research degrees (MD or PhD) or entering academic
career paths.

What does it entail?

Given this is primarily a research degree, the main component is a written
dissertation which accounts for at least 50% of the total marks—that is, the
majority of the marks. This dissertation is the research project you have chosen
to do for the year, and accordingly most of the time spent throughout the degree
is directly on the research project—setting it up and executing it. While the
main emphasis is on doing research, it is hoped that candidates will acquire
insight and develop a range of transferrable academic skills in the paradigms of
scientific method for research design; collection, evaluation, and reporting of
data; and financing of research; all of which are applicable throughout
research. Thus the University of East Anglia has some taught components or
modules that cover these aspects, including doing systematic reviews and
applying for and successfully obtaining grant proposals for starting research.
Each module usually has an assignment at the end which you must complete. There
are no other exams as part of this course.

How long does it take?

The degree is a one year full time course in most institutes, but some run it
over two years part time. You can check these details on the institute’s
website.

Who offers an MRes?

The University of Liverpool was first to do so, but it was quickly followed
by the universities of East Anglia, Manchester, and Keele. Several other
institutes are now following suit. Currently only the universities of East
Anglia, Liverpool, and Manchester offer the MRes degree as a one year
intercalation to medical students.

How much does it cost?

As a masters equivalent degree the fees are the same as those of other
masters degrees and currently stand at about £4300. However, with advanced
planning it may be possible to obtain a studentship at some institutes to fund
part, if not all, of the cost. It is worthwhile contacting the relevant course
directors.

Is it worth doing?

Pursuing this degree taught me the fundamental concepts of successfully
setting up and implementing a research project. For example, I learnt how to
apply for the required approvals (ethical and research governance), often one of
the most challenging parts of doing research in the present era. Given the
flexibility of the research degree, I was able to select a research area of my
interest, allowing for an increased knowledge in this field. The additional
teaching units served to introduce other important aspects related to the
research climate, such as information on funding bodies. At the University of
East Anglia I did other postgraduate teaching modules the institute offers (for
example, a quantitative research methods module), and I am now more confident
with the analysis of quantitative data generated from research. These additional
opportunities and the time available allowed me to select and cater for my own
learning needs.

The MRes offers a strong theoretical and practical introduction to the field
of health related research, and for those who are unsure about whether they want
to pursue a research orientated career, the MRes is an excellent way to find
out. Overall I feel the skills and knowledge I have gained from doing the MRes
are likely to help not only in any future research in which I become involved
but also in the current climate, where I increasingly need to understand and
critically appraise the research base surrounding health care.

Competing interests: None declared.

Srimathy Vijayan past MRes student and final year
medical student
K Tyler MRes course
director University of East Anglia, Norwich

[email-masked]

Cite this as BMJ
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