Master of Science in Disaster Interventions and Humanitarian Aid

at University of Stirling United Kingdom

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.

You will join a multinational network, and benefit from being taught by professionals who have experience of living and teaching all over the world. The course offers an excellent balance between theory and practice using a range of cutting-edge, innovative teaching methods. It also draws on best practice from across the TESOL sector, focusing on the development of advanced professional capabilities and knowledge in language learning and teaching.

As a TESOL student at the University of Stirling, you'll also have an opportunity to apply for a placement at one of our partner universities in  Japan, Germany, Hungary or our partner institution in France, and put your learning into practice

Bringing together theory and practice, our Film and Media course draws from the University of Stirling’s legacy as a pioneer in Film and Media research and teaching.

This course not only ensures you’re well-versed in theoretical and critical aspects of the subject area, but also have the opportunity to become fully trained in practicalities such as audio production, video editing, screenwriting and more. Our emphasis on all-round training means you’ll graduate ready to follow in the footsteps of previous Stirling students who have forged successful careers in a range of media roles – from broadcasting and publishing, to advertising and public relations.

You’ll study in a stimulating environment marked by world-class teaching and invaluable opportunities to be part of our campus television, filmmaking and radio stations. There are also regular visits from members of our professional advisory board – who are experts able to bring crucial insights from the front-line of industry directly to you.

If you’re planning a career in accountancy or the financial sector, studying at the University of Stirling is the perfect starting point. Stirling ranks among the top 20 institutions to study Accountancy and Finance in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022), boasting top class teaching and multiple industry accreditation.

Studying Accountancy and Finance gives you the capability to prepare, present and interpret financial information for a wide range of organisations, and the skills you learn will enable investors, lenders, management and others to make key decisions based on financial details. Our combined Accountancy and Finance course includes content specifically geared towards entering the banking and investment industries.   

The ideal path to a career in accountancy combines a university degree with recognised professional qualifications. The BAcc Hons Accountancy and Finance at Stirling has been created with this in mind, and successful completion of the course will result in many professional bodies giving you significant exemptions from their exams.

From a basic understanding of how to analyse financial statements, through to an in-depth knowledge of economics, taxation and reporting, our Accountancy and Finance degree covers everything you’ll need to know to join the thousands of Stirling graduates who have successfully transitioned from this course into the professional world.

By aligning the course with the FRM curriculum, rigorous academic learning is coupled with practitioner-driven insight and certification. Through this combination, students are better prepared to succeed in the challenging field of risk management.

As you study you’ll acquire a broad knowledge of finance, financial theory and the practical methods used to analyse financial data. Further specialist knowledge and analytical skills are developed in financial risk management, including how to identify, measure and manage a broad range of financial risk types including operational risk, foreign exchange risk, liquidity risk and market risk.

You’ll have access to professional financial databases including Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters Eikon, Datastream and S&P Capital IQ. There’s also an opportunity to attend our series of guest lectures by professionals from the industry. All these features help to enhance employability, increase participation, improve learning, and play a part in a world-leading student experience.

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

Humans share this planet with other animals and our interactions are at the core of our everyday lives. We farm and eat animals, we keep them as companions and for work, as models for humans in laboratory research, in animal-assisted interventions for positive behaviour change, and in education, entertainment and ecotourism. Depending upon our perceptions and attitudes towards animals, and in relation to the impact they have on us and the environment, we may actively attempt to conserve them, domesticate them or eradicate them.

In this Masters in Human-Animal Interaction you will learn interdisciplinary approaches and a diverse range of methods used to research our relationships with other species. The Masters covers a broad range of topics and looks at human–animal interactions across a wide range of contexts – from pet owning to animal-assisted interventions, zoos, farms and conservation.

You'll learn about the importance of both human and animal behaviour in shaping human animal interaction, and the associated ethical issues, as well as learning to critically evaluate methods for measuring attitudes, interactions and their outcomes.

You'll carry out a practical placement and research project to get direct experience tailored to your individual career goals. You will also learn from our recognised experts in human–animal interaction, whose specialisms include:

• The study of animal behaviour and animal welfare
• Animal-assisted activities and interventions
• Human and animal coexistence

Equip yourself with a rich breadth of knowledge in business and management with our flexible Business Studies course.

When you choose Business Studies at Stirling, you won’t just be stepping into a leading UK business school – you’ll also open the door to a world of opportunities with the freedom to access subjects from all over the University and, if you wish, combine your degree with one of 17 different subjects. From Spanish to Sports Studies, Psychology to Law, Computing to Accountancy, our flexibility is your strength as you pair your passion with an in-depth grounding in business.

This course will grow your managerial expertise and put foundations in place to ensure you continue developing through your professional life. You’ll also learn how organisations are structured, and gain insight into what makes them function best. Speakers from industry visit regularly to complement our own research-led teaching – giving you real-world and rounded knowledge of business and the tools needed to succeed in it.

On this Masters course, you’ll learn to produce fine, nuanced writing and a body of work in either poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction. We combine intensive writers’ workshops, technique-focused classes and one-to-one tuition by distinguished writers, along with fascinating and useful visits from authors, agents and publishers to help you on your creative journey.

The course is designed to develop your writing talent. It allows you to intensively focus on a project while engaging with a range of genres and working practices that draw upon our rich expertise in contemporary literature, publishing, film, media and journalism. You’ll also develop skills in listening, editing and peer feedback.

Our course is open to all, whether you’re already well established in your career, starting out on your creative journey or want to take our MLitt later in life to enhance your skills and explore new creative prospects.

The field of Data Science has seen rapid growth in recent years, with vast amounts of data now being generated by major companies and service providers.

Yet, there is a recognised shortage of qualified analysts, both in the UK and globally, to make the most of this data and to meet the demands of industry. In particular, the demand is for graduates who can both manage the data (the computing skills), and analyse the data to extract patterns, build models and make predictions (the mathematics skills). It is only with these analytical skills can the full value of data be extracted.

Launching in 2018, our MSc is one of the first courses to link these two key areas, making it uniquely positioned to help you meet this demand. The course focusses on the application rather than pure theory of mathematics and is assessed primarily through coursework, developing those skills which are in high demand by the data industry.

The course will provide you with a strong foundation in the mathematical analysis of data-driven systems and help you develop your computing skills, from programming Python and R, to advanced techniques including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, to applying the techniques you learn on a large scale. You will learn the techniques used to approach data and build models using computational analysis and understand the mathematics underpinning these techniques.