29Oct
BusinessCourse summary
Independent researcher who wants to move on to a PhD? Just interested in what further study might look like? Take a first step towards doctoral study: explore your area of interest in depth, test out a research topic, and learn the skills of longer scholarly writing and film production. You'll be supervised one-to-one, and then assessed entirely on your research dissertation. Along with your one-to-one supervisions, you'll take part in an interdisciplinary course in critical theory and methodologies. There, you'll learn about the key thinkers in the field, and the critical approaches you'll need for your dissertation. The course is ideal if: you're living outside the UK, or have a job that keeps you from undertaking a taught Masters programme. you're wanting to move into independent research, beyond the challenge of a traditional taught MA..
Modules
Mandatory modules include: Critical Theory and Methodologies; Dissertation (40,000 words)
Assessment method
The MA is assessed entirely on the research dissertation (maximum 40,000 words), which is supervised one-to-one. It is intended to give you scope to explore your area of interest in depth, test out a possible research topic, and learn the skills of extended scholarly writing and/or film production.
Entry requirements
A minimum of a 2.1 UK honours degree or overseas equivalent, usually in a relevant subject area. Relevant professional qualifications and relevant experience in an associated area. If English is not your first language we require IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in all other sub-scores.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Channel Islands | £5006* | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £5006* | Year 1 |
| EU | £22300 | Year 1 |
| International | £22300 | Year 1 |
| England | £5006* | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £5006* | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £5006* | Year 1 |
| Wales | £5006* | Year 1 |
*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £5,006
EU and International students tuition fee per year**: £22,300
* This figure is the fee for the academic year 2025/26 and is shown as a guide.Please note that for research courses, we adopt the minimum fee level recommended by the UK Research Councils for the Home tuition fee. Each year, the fee level is adjusted in line with inflation (currently, the measure used is the Treasury GDP deflator). Fees displayed here are therefore subject to change and are usually confirmed in the spring of the year of entry. For more information on the Research Council Indicative Fee please see the UKRI website.
** This figure is the fee for EU and international students enrolled on a full-time basis in the academic year 2026/27.
Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase fees for all students annually. For further information see fees and funding.
Provider information
Royal Holloway, University of London
Egham
TW20 0EX