Why learn with us?

We’ve done our homework on what works best for busy people studying part-time for professional qualifications.

Why learn with us? Research Academy
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Structure and flexibility
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Structure and flexibility

Our carefully structured curriculum keeps you on track, with enough flexibility to fit around work and family life.

Small-group learning
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Small-group learning

Learn with a small group of highly motivated peers who work in research agencies, small and large businesses, and the public sector.

Online learning suite
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Online learning suite

Everything you need is at your fingertips, from bite-sized video lessons and catch-up recordings to our friendly 24/7 chat forum.

Personal attention
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Personal attention

You'll have a named personal tutor who's experienced and passionate about research. They'll support you by email and in video calls.

Personalised feedback
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Personalised feedback

You'll get clear and constructive feedback on your coursework drafts, followed by a call with your personal tutor.

Extensive exam prep
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Extensive exam prep

Get ready with our exam tutorials, video briefings, a live mock exam and debrief, and tons of mock exam tasks with answer guides and sample answers.

Research-active tutors
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Research-active tutors

Our tutors all work in market or social research, with clients ranging from government bodies and charities to high street brands.

Evidence-based teaching
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Evidence-based teaching

Our unique approach is based on research with our students, literature on adult pedagogy, and the latest in e-learning technology.

Award-winning students
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Award-winning students

Our students have won the coveted MRS Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research Practice Award. With our support, you too can aim high!

Accredited by the MRS
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Accredited by the MRS

We meet rigorous standards set by the Market Research Society (MRS) for our MRS Advanced Certificate and MRS Diploma courses.

Why learn with us? Research Academy
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Structure and flexibility
Small-group learning
Online learning suite
Personal attention
Personalised feedback
Extensive exam prep
Research-active tutors
Evidence-based teaching
Award-winning students
Accredited by the MRS
Why learn with us? Research Academy
Why learn with us? Research Academy

Real student stories

Studying for a professional qualification is tough, but worthwhile. Our students to tell it like it is.

Why learn with us? Research Academy

I feel that I really learned a lot

I did the Diploma with Research Academy and found them so helpful and supportive. The tutors were always willing to go the extra mile to give very detailed and helpful feedback, and to answer all of my questions. I feel that I really learned a lot. Thanks to Research Academy I am now a Certified MRS member!

Eve O'Callaghan

Manager of national and international projects - Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, de l'Enfance et de la Jeunesse
MRS Diploma 2019-21
Why learn with us? Research Academy

Big challenge, big rewards

I was thrown right into the deep end with the MRS Advanced Certificate. Having just graduated and landed my first full-time job in market research, I was sponsored by my company to complete this qualification almost straight away.

At the start I found it very difficult to put what I was learning into context and this came across in my coursework. The task of writing a proposal to recommend a programme of research was daunting. However, Mia and Siavush couldn’t have done any more for me (and I know that sounds cliché but it’s true). The feedback they gave was difficult to swallow at first, because I could see I had a lot more work to do, but they gave me exactly the right direction that I needed. Mia even phoned me up and talked me through everything, making sure I knew what I needed to do. The course leaders really motivate you… and it clearly works because I ended up getting a Merit!

As the course went on, things started to parallel with what I was doing at work, and with a little more experience I could see where all this research theory would come into play. This helped in the lead up to the exam. This required a lot of dedication, and I was lucky that my company gave me the time and space to prepare. The course support is really good here too!

Overall, this course involves time and motivation, especially if, like me, you’re starting it with little experience. But the challenge is worth it and the support that I was given was amazing! The course leaders don’t just provide really good academic teaching, but they show that they actually care. For someone who struggled to get to grips with it, this was so important.

Another great thing about this course is that I’m using the theory every day! Unlike some courses where you feel half of the content you won’t use ever again, this really opens your eyes to the field of research, and makes you appreciate it and proud to be part of it.

Lucy Anstie

Market Research & Information Analyst - Thatcham Research
MRS Advanced Certificate 2013-14
Why learn with us? Research Academy

They push you to aim for a Distinction

I really enjoyed studying with Research Academy. You need to commit to the course and invest enough time to do the required reading, attend the webinars and do the weekly tasks. I wasn’t the best at this in the first few weeks, but once I caught up it was fairly easy to keep on top of things.

The tutors push you to work towards achieving a Distinction rather than scraping a Pass so some of their feedback seemed a bit harsh at first and made me doubt how ready I was for the exam. When we spoke however, they were able to reassure me that I’d be able to succeed, which I did!

Anonymous

Customer Insight Manager - Home Office
MRS Advanced Certificate 2014-15
Why learn with us? Research Academy

The course helped me improve my professional practice

Studying with the Research Academy has been great. It’s immensely encouraging to work with such a knowledgeable, enthusiastic team, who are clearly committed to high-quality research. Fitting the course in around work was challenging – the Research Academy expect a lot from their students in terms of self-directed study, preparation and participation. Ultimately though, their programme definitely helped me get the most from the Diploma, and to improve my professional practice.

Rebecca Green

Consultant - Morris Hargreaves McIntyre
MRS Diploma 2015-17
Why learn with us? Research Academy

My personal tutor was proactive in helping me

The team at the Research Academy was wholly supportive throughout my time studying to obtain the MRS Advanced Certificate. As someone with little exposure to traditional research practice, I found the coursework assignment especially challenging. I had little idea about how research was commissioned and what a proposal should look like. My personal tutor Mia noticed that I found this challenging, and proactively approached me with suggestions about how I could improve the design of the research outlined in my assignment. Having listened to her ideas, I reworked the assignment. This process of revisiting the work, with my tutor’s suggestions in mind, really helped to cement my understanding of the research design process. Thanks to the help from Mia and the rest of the Research Academy Team, I was able to obtain a Merit for the coursework component!

I thoroughly enjoyed studying with the Research Academy. The course content was diverse and well-delivered, and I felt fully supported at every turn. The course imparted essential technical knowledge which I will carry with me throughout my research career.

Kloe Fowler

Research Officer - Defence/Government sector
MRS Advanced Certificate 2015-16
Why learn with us? Research Academy

An online course was a great advantage for me

I decided to take this course thanks to the support of my employer, Rare. Although the company is in London, I work and live overseas, so the simple fact that it was an online course was a great advantage for me. I only had to travel to UK to take the exam… twice. Yes, I failed in my first attempt. The Research Academy team were very helpful, always following my evolution through all the exam preparations, and helping me improve.

In the beginning I was scared of the idea of having to attend online live classes due to my poor English. It is true that it was difficult, but I found a really considerate and very kind team, always keen to help. They were very, very patient teachers when correcting the assignment drafts. Their recommendations were all accurate and led me to hit the target. I think the results would be very different without so many corrections and suggestions. And it helped me to improve my English at the same time, as well!

Javier Amor

Research Analyst - Rare: Training & Consulting
MRS Advanced Certificate 2018-19

Employer views

Most of our students are funded by their employers. Here’s why employers think it’s a good idea!

Why learn with us? Research Academy

The Research Academy has a good track record

We’re delighted that all four of our employees who undertook the MRS Advanced Certificate qualification in the 2015/16 academic year passed both elements of the assessment (exam and coursework). As a company we are thrilled to achieve a 100% pass rate! Our specialist support partner, the Research Academy, has been instrumental in making this happen, along with our in-house mentoring system. We chose the Research Academy as they have a good track record in this area. They provide personal tutors who have worked in market research at a senior level, and they have a good face-to-face and webinar training programme on key topics.

Graham Craigmile

Vertical Head – Experience Division - Future Thinking
February 2017
Why learn with us? Research Academy

The expertise of the tutors played a pivotal role in our transformation

As Head of Citizen Engagement, my team and I support Welsh Parliament committees by facilitating primary research projects with those with lived experience, service users and front-line staff. The MRS Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research Practice has proved to be essential training for the team. It has further improved our skills to conduct high-quality social research with reliable insights for committee inquiries. The training has bolstered our ability to deliver an excellent parliamentary service and provide internal and external stakeholders (including Welsh Parliament Members) with necessary assurance on the qualifications and expertise of our work.

I must commend the Research Academy and the remarkable lecturers for their invaluable contribution to our journey. Successfully completing the course whilst also delivering on the day job can be demanding, but the dedication and support from our tutors ensured success. Moreover, the fantastic learning materials and expertise of our tutors played a pivotal role in our transformation and learning, and we are immensely grateful for their guidance and support.

From application, to help with exam preparation, the Research Academy team gave my team all the support, guidance and expert teaching needed to reach their potential.

Rhayna Mann

Head of Citizen Engagement - Senedd Cymru / Welsh Parliament
December 2020
Why learn with us? Research Academy

I particularly appreciate the personal engagement from Mia and her team

BDRC’s researchers have taken the MRS Advanced Certificate under the guidance of the Research Academy for two years now, and we have three researchers on the course this semester. We use the online tutoring sessions, which work really well for students who work full time and find face-to-face sessions less convenient. The Research Academy provides great quality, interactive tutoring, which is truly invaluable.

I particularly appreciate the personal engagement from Mia and her team. They keep me up to date with the course content, help arrange enrolments and are quick to resolve any queries we have. The team has worked hard to accommodate the needs of our students.

It is clear that Research Academy staff care about providing a genuinely useful course, not only helping students gain the MRS qualification but also imparting skills they will use throughout their research careers.

Rebecca Joyner

Director - BDRC Continental
February 2016
Scroll to Top