Research Methods (PG Cert)

This course assists you and your supervisor in devising a training programme that meets your own very particular needs; gives you vital information about University processes and procedures; and helps you to understand your research work in its professional and academic context.

Also, this course provides the opportunity for all Mres/MPhil/PhD/Professional Doctoral students to meet and work together for a short period. Research work can sometimes be rather lonely and your discussions and debates are mostly with your own supervisor or immediate team. The opportunity to learn from others with a totally different perspective or even to link up with others struggling with the same agenda as yourself can make a major contribution.

Since 1991 there have been a series of reports from Government Departments, Research Councils, Quality Agencies and Independent committees, all of which have argued for the inclusion of formal research training within the PhD programme at UK universities.

Initial research degrees training is now a requirement insisted upon by HEFCE, QAA and all funding councils. Obtaining the PhD is not only the highest level of qualification for your scholarship, but also recognition of your all round capability as a professional researcher. Over the past ten years all Universities have introduced some elements of formal training and most programmes, like this one, involve formal accreditation and recognition of your achievements.

The taught portion of this course is a single day workshop, run twice yearly for your convenience.

In common with the majority of higher education institutions the University has adopted a Credit System, which is based upon an estimate of the total time involved in the study of a module, including all of your own reading and assessment. As a guide, a single credit point approximates to 10 hours of study. This is a rough approximation for the average participant. The Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods is a 60-credit award consisting of 30 credits of core modules and 30 credits of negotiated study. Keep in mind, though, that much of the work you will be doing for this award is also work that you would be doing anyway (background work in your subject, self-evaluation of your skills and knowledge, investigation of methods, preparation of a research proposal, etc.).

The majority of the students wishing to take the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods will be enrolled at the University for either an MPhil, a PhD or (in some instances) a Professional Doctorate programme. It is assumed that research students will be working towards registration of their research proposal and the completion of the formal proposal for the University's Research Degrees Sub Committee. 


Other students may wish to undertake the programme out of personal interest in which case it is expected that the students will have a first degree or its equivalent or can demonstrate that through prior learning or experience, they can successfully meet the challenges of the programme.

Yes. First of all, some programmes here at the University run their own in-house research training that has been designed to earn you an exemption from the PgCert.  Second, you might already have considerable research experience, in which case you can apply for an exemption to the University Research Degrees Committee.

Please keep in mind, however, that most research students will have completed some other taught Masters Award (MA, MSc, MBA etc) which has included research methods training. However, the types of skills required of a research degree are generally qualitatively distinct from those required at masters level. Thus, simply having a Masters degree is not normally considered sufficient reason for exemption.

However, it is possible that on your masters award you achieved some of the specific outcomes of this award. There is a process within the PgCert (on the ‘learning contract’) for taking this into account, and giving you credit for knowledge and skills that you already possess.

There are two fundamental regulatory requirements.

First, you must have successfully passed the entire award prior to the formal assessment of your MPhil/PhD/Professional Doctorate. 

Second, you must complete the PgCert within three years of first enrolling on it.

It is strongly recommended that you start the PgCert as early as possible in your PhD studies, since part of its purpose is to give you advice and guidance concerning the early stages of your work.  

The award is for all students: part time, full time as well as those students who study predominantly at a distance. You and your supervisor will decide the pace at which you will undertake the award. It will be determined by a combination of your own needs and the practicality of the availability of training opportunities.

For more information on this award, please contact Professor Douglas Burnham on 01782 294665 or h.d.burnham@staffs.ac.uk

• PG Cert Research Methods Programme Specification (PDF, file size: 101.01KB)