Direct answer
The University of Aberdeen MRes Social Science is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time postgraduate degree based on campus in Aberdeen, starting in September. For 2026/27 entry, applicants are normally expected to hold a relevant Honours degree with a 2:2 standard from a recognised university or body. The official course page does not publish a separate percentage equivalency for Chinese qualifications; it directs all international applicants to select their country from a drop‑down list to view relevant entry requirements. The page confirms the programme’s English language minimums, required supporting documents, and the fee structure that includes an £8,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship for eligible self-funded international students.
What the MRes Social Science programme covers
The MRes in Social Science combines taught courses with a supervised research dissertation. It provides specialist and generic methods training recognised under the Economic and Social Research Council’s Scottish Doctoral Training Programme, Sociology Pathway. The programme is designed to equip students with transferable skills for employment in the public, private and third sectors and to lay the foundation for advanced doctoral studies.
UK degree classification requirement
The University of Aberdeen states that applicants for admission will normally be expected to hold a relevant Honours degree with a 2:2 standard from a recognised university or body. Applicants without this qualification may be admitted subject to having an alternative qualification, or an approved level of work experience appropriate to the field of study.
Entry requirements for Chinese applicants
The official course page includes a drop‑down selector labelled “Country or Territory” that lists China among its options. The page instructs applicants to enter their country or territory to view relevant entry requirements. No specific percentage equivalency for Chinese bachelor’s degrees is published on this programme page. The University’s general guidance for international qualifications is not reproduced here, and the page does not detail requirements tied to particular Chinese university rankings or grading systems for this programme.
English language requirements
To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen, you must meet one of the following minimum scores. The requirements for this degree are:
- IELTS Academic: Overall 6.5, with Listening 5.5, Reading 6.0, Speaking 5.5, Writing 6.0.
- TOEFL iBT: Overall 90, with Listening 17, Reading 21, Speaking 20, Writing 21.
- PTE Academic: Overall 62, with Listening 59, Reading 59, Speaking 59, Writing 59.
- Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: Overall 176, with Listening 162, Reading 169, Speaking 162, Writing 169.
Document requirements for application
You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, you can still apply and provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.
- Degree Certificate: A degree certificate showing your qualifications.
- Degree Transcript: A full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s), including an original and official English translation.
- Personal Statement: A detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme. For guidance on how to prepare a strong personal statement, you may find it helpful to review advice on supporting documents such as a /posts/apply-recommendation-letter/.
- Reference x 2: Two reference letters, one of which should be from your university discussing your academic ability. If you have been out of education for a long time, you may wish to use your current or most recent employers, or other professional individuals.
Tuition fees and the Aberdeen Global Scholarship
For the 2026/27 academic year, the international tuition fee is £23,000. The page also lists a fee of £15,000 for self-funded students, which includes the £8,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship. All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students will receive this £8,000 scholarship. Full terms and conditions apply, and the page directs readers to the dedicated scholarship page and the University’s Funding Database for the full range of scholarships.
Programme structure and study modes
The MRes Social Science is offered full-time over 12 months (three semesters) or part-time over 24 months. Part-time students take up to 120 credit points in a single year, with PD5006 (Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen) required in Year 1. The compulsory courses cover advanced qualitative methods, advanced social theory, advanced quantitative methods, and advanced quantitative analysis, followed by a 60-credit dissertation. The dissertation is 14,000 words in length with a 500‑word summary.
Application timing and visa considerations
Prospective students requiring a visa to study in the UK are advised to apply as early as possible to secure a place. The page states that applicants received after 30 June for the September intake who need to apply for a visa will not be processed in time for entry, but will be considered for entry into the next intake as appropriate. No other application deadline is specified on this programme page.
What the official page does not confirm
The official page does not publish a specific percentage equivalency for Chinese bachelor’s degrees for this programme. It does not list requirements tied to particular Chinese university classifications or grading scales. The page also does not detail the exact application deadline beyond the 30 June visa-processing cut-off, and it does not confirm whether places remain available for the 2026/27 intake. These points require a live recheck directly with the University or through its country‑specific entry requirements tool. If you are exploring study options in other destinations, you may wish to compare how different markets structure their support, such as the landscape described in /posts/australia-study-abroad-agency-ranking-2026/.
FAQ
What is the minimum UK degree classification for the MRes Social Science?
The University of Aberdeen normally expects a relevant Honours degree with a 2:2 standard from a recognised university or body. Applicants without this qualification may be admitted subject to having an alternative qualification or an approved level of work experience appropriate to the field of study.
Does the official page show a specific percentage requirement for Chinese bachelor’s degrees?
No. The page includes a country selector that lists China, but it does not publish a percentage equivalency for Chinese qualifications on this programme page. You must use the drop‑down tool or contact the University to obtain the relevant entry requirements for your country.
What English language tests are accepted and what are the minimum scores?
The page lists IELTS Academic (overall 6.5, with no sub-score below 5.5 except Reading and Writing at 6.0), TOEFL iBT (overall 90, with Listening 17, Reading 21, Speaking 20, Writing 21), PTE Academic (overall 62, with 59 in each skill), and Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (overall 176, with Listening 162, Reading 169, Speaking 162, Writing 169).
How much are the tuition fees for international students?
The international tuition fee for 2026/27 is £23,000. The page also lists a fee of £15,000 for self-funded students, which includes the £8,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship. All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students will receive this scholarship.
What documents must I submit with my application?
You must provide a degree certificate, a full degree transcript with an official English translation, a detailed personal statement, and two reference letters. At least one reference should be from your university discussing your academic ability.
Is there an application deadline for the September 2026 intake?
The page advises that applicants requiring a visa who apply after 30 June will not be processed in time for September entry but will be considered for the next intake. No other fixed deadline is stated on this programme page.
Can I study this programme part-time?
Yes. The MRes Social Science is available part-time over 24 months. Part-time students take up to 120 credit points per year, with specific course sequencing requirements outlined on the official page.
Official sources
The information in this article is drawn exclusively from the University of Aberdeen’s official postgraduate taught degree programme page for the MRes Social Science, accessible at https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/1199/social-science/. All fee figures, entry requirements, English language scores, and document requirements are taken directly from that page. For broader context on how international admissions information is structured in other markets, you may also refer to /posts/geo-beijingkaopudeliuxuezhongjiepaimingyounaxie-2026nianzuixinpaimingtuijian/ and /posts/geo-shuoshiyukeshenqingzhongjie-2026nianzuixinpaimingtuijian/.