Young woman hands showing heart gesture against sunset light in field.Young woman hands showing heart gesture against sunset light in field.

Course Summary

The two taught modules on this course aim to provide you with postgraduate-level research methodologies and skills, as well as highlighting contemporary debates on 'gender' as a broadly defined field. With expert guidance, for the third module you will produce a 28,000-word dissertation on a gender-related topic.

The University of Chester’s Institute of Gender Studies is an exciting research hub for students and staff, and regular seminars also involve the wider community, as well as international speakers. While studying for an MRes in Gender Studies, you will be working with leading researchers who have taught and published extensively in the field.

Our course will encourage you to develop an interdisciplinary and intersectional approach to your studies, finding connections between, for example, English, Sociology, Media Studies, or Religious Studies.

The extended dissertation will allow contact time to be largely directed by you, as you explore in depth a topic of particular interest to you.


What you’llStudy

In Advanced Research Methods in Gender Studies, you’ll be introduced to the entire research process. In Consensus and Dissent: Contemporary Debates in Gender Studies, you’ll examine the theoretical, conceptual and practical debates that have characterised, and continue to inform, feminist, women’s and gender studies. You’ll also complete a Research Dissertation.

Module content:

This module introduces students to the entire research process from initial literature reviewing through to presentation of findings. It critically examines the role and use of research in producing knowledge on gender and society through academic, political and public domains. It will do this first by locating the ontological and epistemological positions associated with gender studies paradigms and their significance. Second, a broad range of methodology and methods will be explored which might include sociological, textual, or literary approaches. Research design issues concerned with each of these will be examined. The module offers students the opportunity to engage with generic and specific theories and methods relating to postgraduate study with an emphasis on feminist practices in the research process (such as reflexivity and subjectivity). Finally, the role of power and ethics in research will be evaluated. The module explores the impact power in research has upon the role of the researcher and of the researched in relation to, for example, rapport, claims to expertise, and knowledge production. The content of this module is also designed to prepare students on the MRes in Gender Studies for their dissertation.


Module aims:

  • To highlight the role of research in producing knowledge within Gender Studies and to consider technical arguments alongside epistemological concerns when deciding on research designs.
  • To develop students’ critical awareness of the potential uses and limitations of a range of research methods.
  • To encourage a critical awareness of the role of feminism and gender in research paradigms and to consider the impact this has had in relation to research relations and knowledge construction.
  • To facilitate the construction of a realistic, well designed and ethical postgraduate research project.

Module content:

This module has been designed to introduce MRes Gender Studies students to the theoretical, conceptual, and practical debates that have characterised, and continue to inform, feminist, women's, and gender studies. The module examines how 'gender' both constructs, and is constructed by, socio-cultural forces in significant areas of the lives of individuals and communities. The module will include consideration of some of these issues: notions of women’s experiences ('use of experience' approaches), and essentialism; 'generational' feminism; black and critical race theory; sexuality; queer theory; technologies; postcolonial theory; psychoanalytical approaches; affect and embodiment; intersectionality.


Module aims:

  • To highlight the theoretical, conceptual, and practical debates that have characterised, and continue to inform, feminist, women's, and gender studies.
  • To develop students’ critical awareness of contemporary debates in gender studies.
  • To encourage a critical awareness of the role of feminism and gender in significant areas of the lives of individuals and communities .
  • To enable students to position their own critical voices in the broader field of gender studies and debates.

Module content:

Each student researches and writes a 28,000-word dissertation or equivalent. The topic and title are negotiated between the student and the supervising tutor; the tutor's approval of these is an essential requirement. The research dissertation in gender studies is based on guided, but largely independent, research. It can be a practice-led project – a piece of creative writing, or a performance piece, for example – theorised in a reflective critical commentary of no fewer than 10,000 words.


Module aims:

  • To enable students enrolled on the MRes in Gender Studies to pursue selected topics in depth via independent research;
  • To familiarise these students with the range of texts available for the study of their selected dissertation topic;
  • To facilitate students' exploration and critical examination of the nature and characteristics of their chosen topic;
  • To develop students' specialist knowledge in one or more areas of the broader field of interdisciplinary gender studies.

Who you’ll Learn from

Prof Emma Rees

Professor of Literature and Gender Studies; Programme Leader, MRes Gender Studies
Prof Emma Rees

How you'll Learn

Teaching

For the taught modules, you will meet weekly with a highly experienced and published lecturer to discuss a specific topic or piece of reading. These sessions will typically last for two hours and are scheduled to take place in the evening. For the dissertation, you will work with your supervisor to design and complete your research project. 

Assessment

Assessment modes are designed to dovetail with your specific learning styles and strengths – from seminar presentations to book reviews, conventional essays to essays designed by you – and, of course, to the dissertation.

Entry Requirements

2:1 honours degree

A 2:1 honours degree in any relevant discipline or an equivalent qualification is required. Credit exemption may be given for appropriate certificated or experiential learning undertaken or completed within the previous five years. Consideration may be given to those who hold a lower classification who can demonstrate they are capable of performing at the level required to complete the course successfully. Admission to the MRes course is by written application (including a research proposal) and interview.

2:1 honours degree

A 2:1 honours degree in any relevant discipline or an equivalent qualification is required. Credit exemption may be given for appropriate certificated or experiential learning undertaken or completed within the previous five years. Consideration may be given to those who hold a lower classification who can demonstrate they are capable of performing at the level required to complete the course successfully. Admission to the MRes course is by written application (including a research proposal) and interview.

English Language Requirements

For more information on our English Language requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

Where you'll Study Exton Park, Chester

Fees and Funding

£4,786 per year (2024/25)

The tuition fees for home students studying Postgraduate Research Programmes (Classroom) in the academic year 2024/25 are £4,786 per year.

£14,644 per year (2024/25)

The tuition fees for international students studying Postgraduate Research Programmes (Classroom) in the academic year 2024/25 are £14,644 per year.

The tuition fees for international students studying Postgraduate Research Programmes (Laboratory) in the academic year 2024/25 are £18,574 per year.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees. 

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees & Finance section of our website.

Your future Career

Job prospects

The MRes Gender Studies course is ideal preparation for PhD study, but the research skills developed in the programme are also transferrable to a wide range of other careers. 

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs .