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Foundation Research Methods in Education (PGA) (2021 Entry)



  • Course Code
  • P-X9Y6
  • Course Type
  • Postgraduate Taught
  • Qualification
  • PGA
  • Duration
  • Part-time: 1 term
  • Location of Study
  • University of Warwick


The Foundation Research Methods in Education PGA will provide you with an understanding of the theoretical and methodological issues involved in conceptualising and designing educational research. Warwick's Education Studies will provide specialist guidance through your research training.


This award is made up of one module and will provide you with knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological issues involved in conceptualising and designing educational research. It includes general and specific aspects of research training including key dimensions of qualitative and quantitative research, their applications, understanding of relational aspects between them, and appreciation of the politics and ethics of doing educational research. It is designed to contextualise educational research, in terms of its theoretical, epistemological and methodological underpinnings, for a broad cross section of students, enabling you to understand different facets of educational research in an integrated and coherent fashion.


Core Modules

  • Foundation Research Methods in Education (face to face or online)

Depending on which module you select, the course is either delivered entirely online, through a dedicated distance learning portal or face to face over two terms. For the online variant, you will use a mixture of online text extracts and journals, and will undertake regular tasks alongside their end of module assignments. Support will be given via email with your subject tutor. Alternatively the course will be delivered through a variety of teaching methods: lectures, seminars, discussions, presentations and case studies. The assessment on this course supports students to think about their dissertation project and for students taking the face to face route consists of a poster, a 5-10 minute presentation and a reflective account all of which focus on their dissertation research plans.

Skills from this degree

  • Understand the stages in designing and carrying out research in the field of Education
  • Engage critically with the theoretical and methodological grounds on which education research is based
  • Assess the efficiency and effectiveness of educational research from different perspectives and methodologies
  • Gain familiarity with different research practices in relation to a range of empirical investigations within educational settings
  • Be able to identify a topic to research and design and carry out a small scale research project in a field of interest to you
  • Be able to communicate your research to different users

Minimum requirements 2:ii undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject

English language requirements Band B
(IELTS score to 7 overall, two at 6.0/6.5 & rest 7.0+)

International Students
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information please visit the international entry requirements page.


For up-to-date information concerning fees, funding and scholarships for Home, EU and Overseas students please visit Warwick's Fees and Funding webpage. Departmental Funding may also be available, check the scholarships that are available at here.

Additional Course Costs

You may wish to undertake some research with children or young people that may require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or a Certificate of Good Conduct for students from outside of the UK. A DBS check costs around £70 and a Certificate of Good Conduct can vary in price.


Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for employers including: Academy 360; Ark Schools; British Council; Department of Education; E-Act; Oxfordshire County Council; PricewaterhouseCoopers and Royal Academy of Engineering. They have pursued roles such as: actors, entertainers and presenters; business, research and administrative professionals; chief executives and senior officials; education advisers and school inspectors; further education teaching professionals and vocational and industrial trainers and instructors.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

  • Careers in Education
  • Careers with Children and Young People
  • Warwick careers fairs throughout the year

We host bespoke PG visits, where you can talk directly with a member of Education Studies staff and explore our campus through a personalised tour. To find out more about all of these opportunities, visit our Postgraduate Visits page. If you are not in the UK then you are welcome to arrange a phone conversation with the course leader for the programme you are applying for. For this, and to ask any questions you have about your application or studying Education at Warwick, please email educationstudies@warwick.ac.uk