Health Science
Apply onlineOur MRes in Health Science will provide you with a challenging and stimulating programme of taught and independent study in a discipline of Health and/or Wellbeing of your choice.
Course overview
This dynamic course aims to provide you with a robust and flexible health science research training programme. Our distance learning programme is aimed at people with an interest in clinical research, allied health professions, social prescribing, social work, health studies, mental health practice and healthy communities.
The programme consists of 180 credits including 60 credits of taught content. The taught content will be delivered in two 30 credit modules and will focus on: i) understanding the application and analysis of different research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) and research designs for a variety of healthcare professions, and ii) undertaking a detailed scientific literature review or quantitatively-focused systematic review.
The remaining 120 credits are aligned with an Extended Research Project where you will complete a piece of empirical research into a specific question or topic of your choice. This project runs for the entire duration of your MRes programme. With appropriate guidance from academic staff from the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, and by extending the knowledge gained from your taught content, the Extended Research Project includes the submission of a research proposal, opportunities to critically self-reflect your research experiences, and disseminate your empirical study findings in the form of a journal article.
The programme will be distance learning with all taught content provided on the learning platform Canvas. However, you are able to use university resources, such as the physiology, biomechanics and psychology laboratories to collect data, if you are based locally.
You can complete the programme as either full-time (one year of study) or part-time (two years of study) making it a flexible option. It serves as an excellent prelude to doctoral studies, and/or will help you develop skills that will assist your application of research into your own personal health field of work or interest.
What you need to know
Course start date
September
Location
Distance learning only
Course length
- 1 year full-time
- 2 years part-time
Apply
Apply online
Typical offer
A first or second-class honours degree
Fees
From £9,250 pa
Course features
- Learn how to carry out an in-depth research project
- Benefit from expert guidance from academic staff in the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing
- Develop skills that will assist your application of research into your own personal health field of work or interest
- Take a more flexible option and follow the programme over two years of study
Course details
Learning and teaching
Start date:
September
Distance learning available:
This course is offered as distance learning only
Assessment
A wide variety of assessment types are used. These include written assignments (including essays and case studies); presentations (including oral and poster presentations); portfolios (a flexible combination of assessment types which usually include providing evidence of acquired skills/competencies and critical reflection on personal development); projects; and research proposals. Students also complete a substantial independent research project.
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes.
Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found by attending an open evening or contacting our teaching staff.
Feedback
We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.
Further information
For more information about our regulations for this course, please see our Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures section
Modules
Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions
Modules
This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to undertake a substantial independent research project. The module requires the student to plan, design, organise and conduct research drawing upon the research methods and skills, and ethical considerations, that the student has developed in the earlier part of the programme. A secondary purpose of the module is to prepare students to undertake a more substantial research investigation at doctoral level.
The students will work closely with an academic supervisor to define the aims and objectives of the research and to develop a detailed proposal and plan. Supervisors will provide critical advice and guidance on the application of the methods, the interpretation of the data and the communication of the research in the form of a journal article submission, oral presentation and critical reflection of the student’s research experience.
This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to undertake an in-depth review of current knowledge and understanding in a subject linked to their proposed extended research project. The student, in negotiation with the module leader, will agree a chosen area of interest for the completion of the review. The student will be required to adopt a systematic approach to the review of literature and to be able to comprehensively summarise current understanding in their chosen field. Students will robustly engage in processes aligned with searching for articles through different online databases, how to identify relevant sources, screening and data extraction, reporting guidelines, risk of bias and quality scores, and study write-up. Students will also be introduced to meta-analyses and qualitative considerations including qualitative data synthesis.
This module provides a broad overview of the conception, design and implementation of research in the sport, exercise and health sciences. The module will explore a range of ontological, epistemological and methodological perspectives relevant to various sport, exercise and health science domains by studying and critically evaluating peer-reviewed journal articles. Specific computer-based sessions will be delivered using IBM SPSS (statistical analysis package) to enhance students’ understanding of statistical data analysis, while various forms of qualitative data analysis will also be incorporated in the module (e.g., interpretive phenomenological analysis).
Entry requirements
Normally a first or second-class Honours degree or professional experience in the area of study.
If English is not your first language: IELTS 6.0 (including 5.5 in academic writing) or equivalent.
Personal computing requirements
Due to the Distance Learning deliverance of the course there are minimum personal computing requirements. Please see the Distance Learning Policy.
Normally a first or second-class Honours degree or professional experience in the area of study.
If English is not your first language: IELTS 6.0 (including 5.5 in academic writing) or equivalent.
Personal computing requirements
Due to the Distance Learning deliverance of the course there are minimum personal computing requirements. Please see the Distance Learning Policy.
Course enquiries and applications
How to Apply
If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by emailing our International Recruitment Team at International@winchester.ac.uk.
Late applications can be accepted throughout the remainder of the application year, for more information see our Send us a message section.
2025/2026 Course Tuition Fees
| UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland |
International |
|
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,250 | £11,820 |
| Part-time | £4,625 | £5,910 |
| Total | £9,250 | £11,820 |
Additional tuition fee information
If you are a UK student starting your degree in January / September 2025, the first year will cost you £9,250**.
If finance is a worry for you, we are here to help. Take a look at the range of support we have on offer. This is a great investment you are making in your future, so make sure you know what is on offer to support you.
**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.
Additional costs
As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.
There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights the mandatory and optional costs for this course:
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS
We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards section.
CAREER PROSPECTS
Graduates of the MRes will have the research and project management skills to be able to engage in a wide range of opportunities in clinical, industry or academic research settings. This might be developing your existing career in a research environment, providing the opportunity for a career move or you may wish to continue your research at PhD level.
OUR CAREERS SERVICE
“I love the flexibility of distance learning on this course and how it allows me to connect with students from a broad range of backgrounds”
