Master of Literature in Philosophy

at University of Stirling United Kingdom

The Stirling Centre for International Publishing and Communication at the University of Stirling is a world-leading centre for postgraduate publishing studies, offering expertise in contemporary and historical publishing in the UK and beyond.

The MRes Publishing Studies is a research preparation Master’s course that offers students the opportunity for tailor-made Master’s study in the field of publishing studies. It also offers the opportunity to prepare for a PhD through concentrated research with a specialism in publishing.

Why do we behave the way we do, and what drives our behaviour? If you’re interested in the mind, and in human (as well as animal) behaviour, then Psychology is for you.

Our award-winning Psychology course sits at the cutting edge of inter-disciplinary scientific research. We focus on important societal problems such as detection of criminals and improvement of health outcomes. After introducing Psychology to you as a biological and social science, we’ll cover topics as diverse as brain functioning, child development, and social behaviour.

Retailers are having to adapt to a new competitive reality. Actions by governments and the consumer response to the Covid-19 crisis has required retailers to alter how they operate, resulting in a different retail experience.

Our Retail Marketing course provides a solid grounding in the principles of retail business, including store operations, marketing and consumer behaviour. You’ll have the opportunity to develop an understanding of human resource management, international business, logistics and merchandising. Our staff are high-profile academics with excellent international reputations, and our teaching reflects the very latest research and industry thinking. You’ll also benefit from our extensive contacts with leading retailers, which open the door to invaluable field trips and guest lectures.

The challenges of the rapidly-evolving retail sector mean companies covet skilled, knowledgeable managers who can put theory into practice. With a Retail Marketing degree from the University of Stirling, you could be the difference they’re looking for.

If you’re contemplating a future in the world of international politics, you’ll need to understand issues of power, alliances, conflict and peace on a global scale.

The University of Stirling will help you build a confident and well-rounded knowledge of all these issues and more – from the decision-making processes of influential organisations, through to the question of how international society is shaped. You’ll be learning in a research-led environment, where the latest political events are dissected by recognised experts. You’ll also benefit from our career-focused approach, which enables you to pick up the practical and analytical skills employers are looking for.

To further enhance your international outlook, you’ll have a chance to spend a semester abroad studying International Politics at one of our partner institutions. You can also combine International Politics with French or Spanish to add another valuable facet to everything you’re leaning.

Guest lecturers give you real insights into the professional applications of an International Politics degree. Our alumni include a former Secretary of State for Defence and Member of Parliament, and there really is no limit to where in the world a degree in International Politics can take you.

There is an increasing global demand for nations, organisations and communities to increase their resilience to potential crises and disasters. Most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the impact that a global pandemic can have on humanity and the economy. You will acquire the skills to engage with the problems facing those working in disaster interventions, including family reunification, safeguarding children, adults and other vulnerable groups and rebuilding sustainable, resilient communities post disaster. This includes exploring disaster mitigation, preparation and prevention strategies within a community engagement and coproduction framework to create new, long-term responses owned and endorsed by communities.

You will be encouraged to learn from each other and innovate in disaster responses by exploring complex disaster issues in the safety of the classroom using videos, simulations and small group exercises. Your skills will be enhanced further through participation in a field-based learning opportunity involving a period of shadowing practitioners within humanitarian agencies, emergency responders and government departments responsible for deploying emergency personnel. Here, you will learn about agency policy, procedures and practices during deployment.

If you really want to understand the modern world, it’s essential to unlock the patterns of the past. History courses can help you do exactly that – and here at the University of Stirling, we take an innovative approach to guiding you through the major events and periods that have shaped us all.

Our History degree will equip you with a wide range of intellectual and personal skills. You’ll gain an awareness of how different societies across the world have changed over time, by exploring areas such as Scottish, British, European, American and African history. You’ll also engage with different types of history, including political, social, cultural, gender, race, computer and environmental.

History lecturers and staff at Stirling are leaders in their field. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework assessment, 98% of our research in history was classed as world-leading or internationally excellent. That expertise and passion feeds into every aspect of your course to ensure you reach your final year of study functioning as a fully-fledged historian in your own right. Along the way, you’ll enjoy the freedom to not only focus in on specialty areas of history that interest you most, but also to combine your studies with one of 16 other subjects that broaden your professional possibilities – from journalism to teaching, politics and sociology.

Texts are all around us – from books and magazines to TV, email and the internet. The ability to analyse them and their often subtle meanings is a skill that can open doors in a wide range of professional fields.

English Studies at the University of Stirling offers you the perfect chance to dedicate yourself to reading and enjoying a range of great novels, plays and poems from across the world. Your own creative writing can form part of this degree, too – as we believe it aids your understanding of literary style and technique and develops your imagination. You’ll also have the opportunity to take a range of language-based courses which will inform your understanding and appreciation of literary texts. These are just some of the factors that make our BA a little different from other English courses.

You’ll study literary works from the medieval period to the present day, as well as learn about linguistics, creative writing and the history of the English language. Along the way, you’ll benefit from top-rated teaching, visits from outside experts and the annual staging of the Booker Prize Initiative on campus – giving you the opportunity to meet world-renowned contemporary authors and discuss their work.

The Master of Science in Historical Research is a one-year research preparation course intended to prepare postgraduates for a research-based career and enable specialisation in social and/or economic history.

The MSc is designed to:

• train historians in social research methods
• demonstrate your ability to undertake interdisciplinary research to doctoral level at Stirling; or other universities in Britain and overseas
• provide a foundation for applications to research councils (AHRC, ESRC) and doctoral training partnerships (including SGSAH) that fund PhD research
• specifically prepare graduates to apply to the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science for PhD studentship funding in social and economic history (see below under professional accreditation)
• enhance career prospects and career development

These aims are achieved through the completion of independent study modules, taught modules in applied social research, optional study modules appropriate to your field of study, and skills training conducted under supervision. You’ll be allocated an individual supervisor to direct your dissertation and plan your programme.

Our course prepares you for further research by:

• compulsory taught modules in project design, qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• directed independent study in the historiography of a research topic
• skills development in statistical and database packages
• self-directed skills training
• practical experience in applying research methods to interrogate primary sources and datasets in the dissertation
• developing written and verbal critical analysis

Our BSc (Hons) Sport Psychology degree will enable you to develop an in-depth understanding of the diverse, complex, and wide-ranging territory of the disciplines of psychology and sport and exercise psychology. The course will explore academic knowledge and practice associated with sport and exercise psychology, analyse psychological issues across a range of sport and exercise psychology settings (for example, from local communities to high performance settings), examine research evidence associated with sport and exercise psychology, and investigate a myriad of contemporary issues facing practitioners. The course will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to be a successful contributor to the disciplines of psychology, sport psychology, and exercise psychology at local, national, international and global levels. The course will also provide you with:

• Skills and abilities in critical thinking, problem solving and creativity, allowing you to apply these effectively in the sport and exercise psychology sectors.
• The ability to be an independent learner, capable of critical analysis and competent in communicating through a range of mediums to a range of audiences.
• Knowledge and understanding of the value of inclusion and diversity in sport.

Choose a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at the University of Stirling, and we’ll equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to start a career in one of the most rewarding professions.

We’ll prepare you to teach across the whole curriculum and primary age range, and also enable you to develop a specialism in a particular area. You can choose from these subject specialisms:

• Early Years
• The Environment
• Modern Languages
• Inclusive Practice
• Literacy
• Numeracy

You’ll be taught by world-leading academics and outstanding teachers who have strong partnerships with local schools. This ensures you can access cutting-edge practice and research throughout your primary teaching degree. Our pioneering approach of studying education with a subject specialism, gives you the time to excel in teaching, critically reflect and grow in confidence.