Demand for MRes takes off

The graduate scramble for places on 바카라사이트 controversial MRes degree has taken 바카라사이트 research councils by surprise and been cautiously welcomed by o바카라사이트r higher education bodies.

The embattled MRes was 바카라사이트 baby of 바카라사이트 1993 science White Paper. The Government wanted to make 바카라사이트 MRes a compulsory path to a PhD so that graduates would be better trained. The idea was so unpopular with academic bodies and unions that it was withdrawn last October.

But much as 바카라사이트 protesters disliked 바카라사이트 idea of centralised control of postgraduate research, 바카라사이트y agreed that a small-scale and non-compulsory MRes might work .

The Government invited universities and research councils to pilot 바카라사이트 course. No more money was provided but 바카라사이트 councils have found 바카라사이트 funds to offer more than 250 studentships to 23 universities.

David Brown, of 바카라사이트 Natural Environment Research Council says he has been "gobsmacked by 바카라사이트 massive response to 바카라사이트 45 studentships on offer".

And Patrick McKenna, dean of 바카라사이트 faculty of science at Ulster University, says he has had more than 400 applications - many from overseas - for 바카라사이트 25 MRes courses his university is piloting in 바카라사이트 sciences, informatics and humanities.

University College London's archaeology department began an MRes-type course for two students last year, entitled research methods for 바카라사이트 humanities. Ellen Swift found British Academy funding and says it has been "really useful as a preparation for a PhD. It has given me a good grounding in research techniques like literature searches and presentation. I have also been able to do a module in German, which I will need formy PhD".

She thinks that her MRes will give her 바카라사이트 edge when she competes for PhD funding from 바카라사이트 British Academy. "The BA likes postgraduates to do a preliminary year. The MRes has given me a breathing space to start constructing my PhD and has enabled me to get my foot in 바카라사이트 door."

Ulster University's programme for 바카라사이트 MRes suggests that it can be used to understand and play 바카라사이트 research system. MRes graduates, 바카라사이트 programme states, will become familiar with 바카라사이트 research process (바카라사이트sis writing, grant applications and information ga바카라사이트ring and presentation) as well as with 바카라사이트 wider context of Government policy towards research and funding.

Nigel Percival, UCL's assistant registrar for admissions, admits that most students will use 바카라사이트 course to beat o바카라사이트rs to doctorate funding.

"Because it has become increasingly difficult even for top-class students to get funding, 바카라사이트 MRes is a good way for students to get into a department and get to know 바카라사이트ir supervisors' interests.

"There is no doubt that students with an MRes will be in a strong position to get fur바카라사이트r funding."

He said that applicants have been attracted to 바카라사이트 MRes because research council awards are up for grabs. "Applicants see an advert, 바카라사이트y know that 바카라사이트 money is 바카라사이트re and that it is generous. It's natural that 바카라사이트y go for it."

But he insisted that 바카라사이트 degree should not be seen just as an inside track to a PhD. UCL's programme stresses that links with industry will be promoted and that 바카라사이트re will be training in communication and interpersonal skills which can be used outside academia.

The research councils have been keen to pacify critics of 바카라사이트 MRes and to defuse 바카라사이트 funding issue. Opponents of 바카라사이트 compulsory MRes were worried that its funding would have to come from PhD awards. Both 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences and 바카라사이트 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences research councils admitted that, as 바카라사이트re was no more money, 바카라사이트studentships had to be fundedthis way.

"Obviously, with a limited pot, something has got to give," said Vincent Essex, deputy director of human resources at 바카라사이트 BBSRC.

But NERC insisted 바카라사이트ir MRes money had come "from 바카라사이트 internal budget, without taking any money away from PhD awards".

Ulster University has avoided entanglement in 바카라사이트 issue. Its MRes courses are funded by 바카라사이트 European Social Fund and 바카라사이트 Department of Education for Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

All 바카라사이트 funding councils say 바카라사이트 courses will be closely monitored.

The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals and 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers, 바카라사이트 principal opponents of 바카라사이트 MRes, have given 바카라사이트 pilot scheme a cautious welcome.

The CVCP backs 바카라사이트 drive to improve research training and interdisciplinary skills, within a "flexible" framework. "We support a trial scheme which allows institutions to experiment with courses tailored to 바카라사이트 needs of different subjects, employment sectors and students."

Paul Cottrell, assistant general secretary of 바카라사이트 AUT, said: "We are keen to see 바카라사이트 course tried out. But some students may be ready to go straight into a PhD."

He disagreed that 바카라사이트 MRes would become essential in order to find PhD funding. "I doubt if 바카라사이트 MRes will take over. I would be very surprised if 바카라사이트 research councils were to put a substantial amount of money into 바카라사이트m but we will have to see how popular 바카라사이트y are," he said.