Evidence Based Practice MRes

Duration

1 Year

2 Years

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Use your skills as a professional researcher to make a real impact on policing, criminal justice or investigatory practice. You will be planning, running and using action-based research to produce evidence of what works on the ground. It could relate to an aspect of work within your own organisation or wider issues facing policing.

As the degree is delivered 100% online, you can study at a time and place that suits you. Whether you work for a police force, as an investigator for another body, or in justice and security, it’s ideal for professional development.

You can choose a research question to investigate and will be supervised by our Institute of Policing. Our experts include former senior police officers and specialists in forensic investigation, psychology and criminology.

Previous student research has covered a range of evidence-based policing topics, from the use of tasers through to restorative justice interventions and innovation in policing. It’s a chance to help shape policy and practice and reach a wider audience with your research.

As the degree is delivered 100% online, you can study at a time and place that suits you. Whether you work for a police force, as an investigator for another body, or in justice and security, it’s ideal for professional development.

You can choose a research question to investigate and will be supervised by our Institute of Policing. Our experts include former senior police officers and specialists in forensic investigation, psychology and criminology.

Previous student research has covered a range of evidence-based policing topics, from the use of tasers through to restorative justice interventions and innovation in policing. It’s a chance to help shape policy and practice and reach a wider audience with your research.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MRes Evidence Based Practice

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MRes Evidence Based Practice

Course content

Our MRes in Evidence-Based Practice is split into three modules. The main module is your research project, which you will lead under supervision from an academic. Designed with real-world impact in mind, the research will be expected to address a topic relevant to policing, criminal justice or wider investigatory roles.

You will also complete a module exploring evidence-based research and social science research methods.

The third module will look at how to communicate your research, including how to publish the work, explore funding opportunities, gain ‘buy in’ from stakeholders, and track the 

Our MRes in Evidence-Based Practice is split into three modules. The main module is your research project, which you will lead under supervision from an academic. Designed with real-world impact in mind, the research will be expected to address a topic relevant to policing, criminal justice or wider investigatory roles.

You will also complete a module exploring evidence-based research and social science research methods.

The third module will look at how to communicate your research, including how to publish the work, explore funding opportunities, gain ‘buy in’ from stakeholders, and track the 

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Communicating Research 20 credits
Evidence Based Research 40 credits
Research Project 120 credits

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Evidence Based Research 40 credits
Research Project 120 credits
Year 2 compulsory modules
Communicating Research 20 credits

Entry requirements

A 2:2 honours degree or equivalent or significant appropriate research experience.

A 2:2 honours degree or equivalent or significant appropriate research experience.

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

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Facilities

Support for distance learners

Studying remotely doesn't mean that you will be left to study alone. Which is why we ensure that however you study with us, you'll still be able to access the same services as our on-campus students. Read more

However you study with us, or wherever in the world you’re based, you’ll still be able to access the same services as our on-campus students, including IT and study support, online library, careers and wellbeing service. We’ll help to connect with other online learners to help you get the most out of your learning experience and feel a part of the community. Find out more: Support for distance learners

Off-campus library services

Distance learners benefit from a range of services including access to e-books, postal loans of physical books, online support from subject librarians and more. Read more

Library services and learning resources

We offer an extensive range of library services to our off-campus students and help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our comprehensive online catalogue of eResources are available for you to search for and access material such as eBooks, journals and databases. Our team of librarians can help you find your way around the electronic resources and library catalogues, or if there’s something specific you need, they can help you to source it.

Our LibGuides provide information and advice on using our online resources, with specific pages for each subject area, and can help you search for quality-assured websites. 

Find out more: Library Resources

Blackboard (VLE)

Blackboard is a virtual learning environment which houses your learning content. It enables online teaching/learning, provides spaces to build online communities and knowledge sharing.

Careers

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

As a distance learning student you will be expected to study independently with support and supervision from experts within the Institute of Policing. 

Our teaching is delivered through our Virtual Learning Environments. This means you can access a range of materials to support your studies wherever you are and whenever works for your. This includes notes, recorded presentations, activities and discussion forums, where you can debate subjects with your tutors and fellow students.

As a distance learning student you will be expected to study independently with support and supervision from experts within the Institute of Policing. 

Our teaching is delivered through our Virtual Learning Environments. This means you can access a range of materials to support your studies wherever you are and whenever works for your. This includes notes, recorded presentations, activities and discussion forums, where you can debate subjects with your tutors and fellow students.

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

  • Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
  • Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
  • Academic writing (including how to reference)
  • Research skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Inclusion Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Feedback

We know that feedback is very important for you to be able to gauge your progress and to enable you to achieve your potential. To ensure that you can benefit from regular feedback, your tutors will provide a combination of written and verbal feedback, on both an individual and general assessment level.

We usually give you feedback on your formative assessments within 20 working days, but the format for the feedback will vary for each module.

We know that feedback is very important for you to be able to gauge your progress and to enable you to achieve your potential. To ensure that you can benefit from regular feedback, your tutors will provide a combination of written and verbal feedback, on both an individual and general assessment level.

We usually give you feedback on your formative assessments within 20 working days, but the format for the feedback will vary for each module.

Staff

We are a research-active department with internationally recognised expertise. This provides our students not only with world-class subject experts, but with considerable levels of research-informed teaching and pedagogical experience as well. 

Dr John Lamb

Senior Lecturer

John's research expertise focuses on areas including counter terrorism, radicalization, intelligence services and use of force by state officials. His PhD examined policing, national security and the implementation of PREVENT in the West Midlands.

John's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 27 January 2025 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £8,900 per course £8,900 per course

For the course starting on 27 January 2025 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands
Part-time £8,865 per course

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Alumni discount

If you've previously completed a University of Staffordshire undergraduate degree (excluding HND and foundation degrees) you may be entitled to a discount of up to 25% off your course fees for any subsequent postgraduate taught course (terms apply, see the alumni discount page for details). If you have any questions about how this relates to you, please contact feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk.

Not included in the fees:
  • Text books are available from the library and online resources, but some students choose to purchase their own copies.
  • Printing
  • Travel costs
  • Any optional field trips
  • Text books are available from the library and online resources, but some students choose to purchase their own copies.
  • Printing
  • Travel costs
  • Any optional field trips
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,570 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options; part-time, full-time and distance learning. 

For more information and how to apply visit masters loan.

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date
Stoke-on-Trent campus MRes Full-time, distance learning, January start 27 January 2025 Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations. 

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Have you considered?

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021