MRes - Masters by Research

Algal Biotechnology, Biology and Ecology (MABBE)

Based at SAMS

The research programme provides the underpinning knowledge and skills needed by algal biotechnologists, biologists and ecologists and is delivered by a team of research-active scientists with extensive expertise in the field, including researchers from the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP), one of the world’s largest collections of algae.

You will gain knowledge of isolation, culturing & enumeration of algae, protistan physiology, microbial biodiversity, state-of-the-art molecular biological skills and bioinformatics, statistics and experimental design as well as critical management and communication skills.

The programme is based at SAMS, an internationally recognised centre of expertise in marine environmental science.

For further information, please contact: Dr David Green: david.green@sams.ac.uk

Research profile of Dr David Green

Archaeology

Based at UHI Orkney, UHI North West and Hebrides and UHI Shetland

The MRes (Archaeology) degree offers students the opportunity to develop their interests in a wide range of archaeological topics from prehistory through to Viking, later Medieval and Contemporary archaeology, including those within the area of archaeological science, and incorporates the study of a credit-bearing and assessed taught module ‘Research and Dissertation Skills’.

It is designed for students who wish to develop research topics and specific skills sets in preparation for PhD research, as well as those who wish to enhance their existing research skills and experience through a substantial piece of independent research.

Students will have access to specialist laboratories and equipment to undertake and develop research in marine, coastal and environmental archaeology with archaeological fieldwork benefiting from a wide range of excavation and survey equipment and state-of-the-art geophysics equipment and software.

For further information, please contact Dr Ingrid Mainland: Ingrid.Mainland@uhi.ac.uk

Research profile of Dr Ingrid Mainland

Biomedical Sciences

Based at the Institute of Health Research and Innovation, Centre for Health Science, Inverness

The MRes (Biomedical Sciences) degree provides an excellent platform for those wishing to advance their career by pursuing a doctorate degree or employment in industry. By working on a research project of your choosing you can specialise in a sub-discipline (e.g., redox biology) and gain theoretical, practical and analytical expertise in Biomedical Sciences. You will also gain transferrable communication, project-management and problem-solving skills along with valuable practical experience and bespoke training on a wide range of state-of-the-art biomedical equipment.

Your supervisory team will be composed of expert Biomedical Sciences researchers who will mentor you and provide academic and practical support, culminating in the submission of a written thesis.

For further information, please contact Dr James Cobley: James.Cobley@uhi.ac.uk

Research profile of Dr James Cobley

Creative Practice

Based at UHI Shetland

This programme is tailored to the needs of the creative practitioner across Scotland, the UK and internationally, who wishes to develop key aspects of their practice in a research-driven, academic context.

Working in their own studio and personal work space, students will have the opportunity to analyse their practice and to develop an appropriate research focus, artistic questions and a significant area for interrogation in a structured and supported way.

Interests may involve art and design; composition and performance in music; film and digital media developments in creativity and new creative directions including the development of professional creative events and installations.

With a network of arts organisations and centres of excellence now established across the Highlands and Islands, artists and creative makers working in rural or urban isolation can engage with other artists and creative makers through the Centre for Island Creativity. Based in UHI Shetland, the Centre undertakes interdisciplinary research and acts as a focal point for the university’s engagement with the creative industries.

For further information, please contact: Dr Andrew Jennings - Andrew.jennings@uhi.ac.uk

Research profile of Dr Andrew Jennings

Digital Health

Based at the Institute of Health Research and Innovation, Centre for Health Science, Inverness

Digital Health is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. The global digital health market is set to exceed £773 billion by 2024, due to increasing demand for remote monitoring services, as well as favourable government initiatives and funding for adoption of digital systems. The UK digital health market was valued at £3.1 billion in 2017 with the early adoption of telecare services, large central government programmes and a strong existing base of hardware – as well as increasing prevalence of smartphones and apps – and is forecasted to reach £22.1 billion by 2025.

The MRes (Digital Health) bridges the gap from undergraduate level for those who need the requisite research skills before progressing onto PhD or going into research and development in industry. Working on a research project of your choosing, you will be supported by a supervisory team of expert researchers who will provide academic and practical support on wide range of topics, including genomics, population health data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital arts therapies. There may also be opportunities to access a wider digital health research and innovations infrastructure across Scotland, including the NHS, SMEs and third sector organisations.

The programme is available as online study, full or part-time.

For further information, please contact Dr Mark Grindle: Mark.Grindle@uhi.ac.uk

Research profile of Dr Mark Grindle

Engineering

Environmental Science

Based at the Environmental Research Institute, UHI North West and Hebrides, Thurso and the Institute for Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation, UHI Inverness

The Highlands and Islands of Scotland offers unprecedented access to unique environments and the Universities Environmental Research Institute and Rivers and Lochs Institute are committed to addressing contemporary environmental issues and advancing the understanding of the sustainable use of the earth’s natural resources.

MRes students can develop their interests and research an individual project from a wide range of topics. Your location of study will depend on your chosen subject area - Renewable Energy and the Environment; Carbon, Water and Climate; Environmental Contamination and Ecological Health (Environmental Research Institute, Thurso) and Fish and Fisheries Genetics; Biodiversity Monitoring; Catchment Management; Aquaculture-Environmental Interactions and Biodiversity Management and Socioecology (Rivers and Lochs Institute, Inverness).

Your MRes studies will be undertaken in the field and in our well-equipped laboratories where you will have access to state-of-the-art instrumentation and learn from experienced researchers in order to gain experience of carrying out research, culminating in the submission of a written thesis.

Environmental Research Instutute - for further information please contact: Dr Kenneth Boyd: Kenneth.Boyd@uhi.ac.uk

Research profile of Dr Kenneth Boyd

Institute for Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation - for further information, please contact: Doctor Bernd Haenfling, bernd.haenfling.ic@uhi.ac.uk

Research profile of Doctor Bernd Haenfling

Exercise Physiology, Training and Nutrition

Based at the Institute of Health Research and Innovation, Centre for Health Science, Inverness

The MRes (Exercise Physiology, Training and Nutrition) degree provides excellent grounding from which to pursue further study or enhance career prospects. By working on an individual research project, you will acquire specialist theoretical knowledge and analytical skills and gain valuable practical experience. Projects may be laboratory- and/or field-based, include qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies, and students may study full-time or part-time, in-person or remotely. Furthermore, we have strong working relationships with a variety of organisations, including sportscotland.

You will work within a flexible and stimulating learning environment, gaining transferrable communication, project-management and problem-solving skills. A supervisory team composed of expert Exercise Science researchers will mentor you and provide academic and practical support, culminating in the submission of a written thesis. A supervisory team composed of researchers with interests in Exercise Science, Active Health and Nutrition will mentor you and provide academic and practical support, culminating in the submission of a written thesis.

For further information, please contact Dr Daniel Crabtree: Daniel.Crabtree@uhi.ac.uk

Research profile of Daniel Crabtree

Information on the Active Health Exercise Lab

Forestry

Based at UHI Inverness

The Highlands and Islands of Scotland offers access a landscape that hosts a range of relevant forestry-based industries providing a unique and interactive learning environment.

Working with key partners such as the Scottish School of Forestry, sector relevant universities and other land-based organisations - our internationally-recognised research includes topics such as:

• silviculture and forest management;
• social dimensions of forestry;
• timber technology & supply chains,
• forest health,
• forest landscape and wildlife ecology.

The MRes Forestry offers you the opportunity to gain experience of carrying out original research as part of one of our research groups with access to state-of-the-art facilities and a wide-reaching forestry network.

For further information, please contact: Dr Euan Bowditch Euan.Bowditch.ic@uhi.ac.uk

Research profile of Dr Euan Bowditch

Sustainable landscapes and technology in the built environment

Freshwater Biodiversity and Conservation

Freshwater Science

Based at UHI Inverness

The Highlands and Islands of Scotland offers unprecedented access to unique freshwater environments and we are committed to developing our understanding of these environments.

Working with key partners in relevant sectors, the MRes Freshwater Science offers students the opportunity to develop their interests in the area by researching an individual project. Studies will be undertaken in the field and in our well-equipped laboratories where you will learn from experienced researchers in order to gain experience of carrying out research, culminating in the submission of a written thesis.

Based within the internationally-recognised Rivers and Lochs Institute, located at the Inverness College UHI campus, you will have access to state-of-the-art instrumentation and associated fieldwork based facilities.

For further information, please contact: Dr Bernd Haenfling: - Bernd.Haenfling.ic@uhi.ac.uk

Research profile of Dr Bernd Hänfling

Gaelic and Celtic Studies

Based at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (SMO) is the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture. The College offers under-and post-graduate degrees, including those of MRes and PhD. SMO is a Gaelic-speaking academic community which is situated in Skye, where many people of all ages speak Gaelic in their daily lives.

The MRes Gaelic and Celtic Studies offers students the opportunity to pursue their research interests and skills in areas including Gaelic literature, folklore, media studies, socio-linguistics, development studies, traditional music, Gaelic education and linguistics. Students on the College campus are expected to use Gaelic as their daily spoken language, while students who are off-campus can study through the medium of Gaelic or English.

The degree is designed to appeal to those wishing to undertake a postgraduate qualification as evidence of e.g. continuing professional development, or those who view the MRes as a first step towards PhD research.

You will be supported by a supervisory team who are involved in academic research, and you will have access, in person or remotely, to your supervisors, student services and support, and to the College specialist library collections of Gaelic, Celtic and Highland-related materials.

For further information, please contact: iarrtas@smo.uhi.ac.uk or phone 01471-888-304

History

Literature

Northern Studies

Based at the Institute for Northern Studies

The MRes Northern Studies degree offers you the opportunity to undertake research within the Institute of Northern Studies - Scotland’s most northerly research centre that recognises community participation and engagement as a core aspect of its mission.

Supported by an experienced supervisory team, you may work remotely by distance learning or be based at campuses in Orkney, Shetland or Perth. Wherever your location you will explore the culture, history, archaeology, literature, languages and area studies of the North Atlantic areas and develop your interest in these areas by researching an individual project, culminating in the submission of a written thesis.

For further information, please contact Dr Alexandra Sanmark: Alexandra.Sanmark@uhi.ac.uk

Research profile of Dr Alexandra Sanmark

Rural Health

Based at the Division of Rural Health and Wellbeing, UHI Institute of Health Research

Rural Health is the interdisciplinary study of health, wellbeing, healthcare and wellbeing enhancement in rural environments. More than half the world’s population live in rural areas and there is a need for robust research to understand the health and wellbeing of rural populations, the facilitators and barriers to maintaining health in rural environments, the social determinants of health in rural areas and the experience of (ill)health for rural residents. 

The MRes (Rural Health) provides a unique opportunity to combine post-graduate training in research methods with a specialism in rural health research. Students will undertake training through two taught modules in research methods and one taught module in a subject area relevant to rural health, culminating in the submission of a research project on the topic of their choosing.

The programme will leave students equipped with research skills and knowledge transferable to several career trajectories, e.g., a foundation for further study at PhD level in rural health or other areas of health studies and social science. Those currently engaged in careers in medicine, nursing and the allied health professions may wish to undertake a dissertation on a topic related to their current practice, or see it as a route to move into academic research or teaching. The MRes is also relevant to career development in other areas such as social work, health policy, international aid and community development.

For further information, please contact: Professor Sarah-Anne Munoz – sarah-anne.munoz@uhi.ac.uk

Research profile of Prof Sarah-Anne Munoz

Theology

Based at Highland Theological College UHI

Overview

Highland Theological College UHI provides opportunities to study theology in a vibrant, non-denominational context - specifically, the MRes (Theology) enables students to pursue their research interests and skills in any of the major strands of theology: Biblical Studies (OT, NT and Biblical Theology); Systematic, Historical and Philosophical Theology or Practical and Pastoral Theology.

The MRes would appeal to practitioners working in ministry who wish to upgrade their skills and qualifications to Master’s degree level by research or those who see this as a first step towards PhD research. Training will be offered in research methods and theological methodologies and you will be supported by an experienced and dedicated supervisory team.

Course content

Your research will culminate in the submission of a 40,000 word thesis which will be assessed by viva voce examination. The research and study experience is similar to that of the PhD degree and, while the MRes (Theology) is a postgraduate qualification in its own right, it can also prove to be a good precursor for studying at PhD level, if that is a future goal.

Course structure

Under supervision from our academics, you will devise your own research project and undertake original investigation from any of the main theological disciplines (Biblical Studies, Dogmatics, Church History, Philosophical Theology etc.).

Learning and Teaching

At HTC our academic staff have range of specialisms and have supervised Masters and PhDs covering a wide range of theological areas.

Visit HTC's faculty page to find out more about our teaching staff

Career support

Over the course of your lives you will make frequent career decisions. Your career journey, alongside many other areas of your life, will be subject to constant change and the influences of unplanned events and unexpected opportunities. As a student or graduate of UHI you can meet with us anytime for a career conversation, personalised CV and application form support, interview preparation and job searching. You can also access career development workshops and events and a range of career and employability information. For further information contact: careers@uhi.ac.uk

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of a 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the chosen course.
• Previous relevant work experience to an equivalent level may also be considered

Fees

Funding support: further information can be found at SAAS

For further information, please contact Kathryn Stewart: kathryn.stewart@uhi.ac.uk