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Foundation Research Methods in Education (PGA)

Students as part of the Foundation Research Methods in Education course in conversation.

Postgraduate Taught

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Find out more about our Research Methods in Education PGA course.

This award is made up of one module that will help you understand, design and carry out research in the field of Education. It is suitable for anyone who is interested in researching any aspect of Education – whether you are a practitioner who is looking to apply research to practice or someone who is interested in researching Education from a more theoretical perspective.


Course overview

The Postgraduate Award in Research Methods in Education 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. The module 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.

The aim of the assessment method is to lead to research design and dissertation planning. In addition, practical skills are built into the module, through workshops, seminars and tutorials, designed to develop library, software, web and applied IT search skills, and research skills relevant to your needs and interests.

Skills from this course

  • 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

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:2 undergraduate degree (or equivalent).


English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

  • Band B
  • IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.


Academic References

We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses.

You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.

View our guide to academic references.Link opens in a new window


Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules


Teaching

Depending on which module you select, the course is either delivered entirely online, through a dedicated distance learning portal over one term, 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 the end of module assignments. Support will be given via email and/or face-to-face with your subject tutor, depending on the delivery mode chosen for the module chosen. For the face-to-face variant, the course will be delivered through a variety of teaching methods: lectures, seminars, discussions, presentations and case studies etc. 


Typical contact hours

Support will be given via email with your subject tutor.


Assessment

The assessment on this course supports students to think about their dissertation project. Assessments include a research proposal (either a poster and presentation or written proposal document if completing the module online) and a critical reflective essay.


Reading lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform.  

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue.   

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.  


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 Certificate of Good Conduct can vary in price.

Please contact your academic department for information about department specific costs, which should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:

  • Core text books
  • Printer credits
  • Dissertation binding
  • Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Find out more about our additional course costs.


Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you when you join us.

Your career

This Programme will provide students with a solid foundation in how to design and carry out a research project in the field of Education. It will be useful for those who need to engage with research in Education as part of their job as well as those who would like to develop their skills in carrying out a project of their own.

Helping you find the right career

Your career path is unique to you. Our university careers team offer personalised support to help you develop your skills, plan your career path, and get experience at any point during your time at Warwick, and after graduation. The dedicated, professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant we work with offers 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
  • Meet Your Alumni: real-life career stories from the Department of Education Studies Alumni

Discover more about postgraduate careers support at Warwick.

Education Studies at Warwick

Education Studies is an interdisciplinary department committed to high quality, rigorous interdisciplinary research, scholarship and teaching in the broad and diverse field of Education.

What does it mean to study and research Education?

Education provides us with an essential foundation for a fulfilling life in a thriving and equitable society – it underpins how we act and see the world and is the engine of social and cultural change and reproduction.

Education gives the basis for innovation in thought, culture and technology; it nurtures a sense of citizenship and social participation; it underpins our political and economic robustness; and is the foundation of the knowledge and skills that society shares.

Education is fundamentally about human development, knowledge and social justice. Education is something that everyone experiences: it is life-long and society wide; it is local as well as global; it takes place in the home, in prisons, in refugee centres, in places of worship, in the workplace, on the sports field, in the theatre, in the pub as well as in the classroom.

Education is inherently interdisciplinary – it is an applied field of study which draws on a range of disciplines including: sociology, psychology, history and philosophy. It is necessarily pluralist and eclectic, drawing upon a range of theoretical, conceptual and methodological perspectives.

Therefore, in studying and researching Education we work to understand the fundamental questions about why we educate, how we educate, who we educate and what purpose education serves.

Find out more about us on our websiteLink opens in a new window


Our Postgraduate Taught courses


Our Postgraduate Research courses

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. This course is part of the Education Studies department which follows a non-standard fee structure. Full fee details are listed via the 'find your course fees' button. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your course fees


Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status


Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

  • Core text books
  • Printer credits
  • Dissertation binding
  • Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

How to apply checklist

Our how to apply checklist helps you prepare for your application.

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Learn more about the Applicant Portal.

Application deadlines

Applications for courses starting in September and October 2026 are now open.

Applications close on 2 August 2026 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

Explore ways to connect with us

We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

  • Warwick hosted events
  • Postgraduate Fairs
  • Live chats
  • Talk and Tours
  • Department events

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