Other training
Regularly run training courses
A number of high quality educational and professional training courses in research methods
and data analysis are offered by a range of organisations across the UK.
Below are a selection of courses, listed alphabetically, run on a regular basis:
AQMeN events and workshopsLocation: various
Applied Quantitative Methods Network (AQMeN)is a network of people who have a shared interest in quantitative methods and who wish to refresh their existing knowledge or learn a range of new skills. Its activities are aimed primarily at Scottish postgraduate students and academics of all levels.
British Library postgraduate training days and research visitsLocation: British Library, London
Research postgraduates from across the UK are invited to attend a specially tailored day of talks, workshops and networking opportunities at the British Library, focusing on their research subjects.
CAQDAS Introductory Workshops and SeminarsLocation: University of Surrey, Guildford
The Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software
(CAQDAS) Networking Group provides courses and workshops on the use and applications of software programs designed to assist qualitative data analysis.
CCSR Short Course ProgrammeLocation: University of Manchester
The Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research (CCSR) offers a wide range of short course training in quantative research methods and data analysis. Courses are offered at introductory, intermediate and advanced level.
Centre for Microdata Methods and PracticeLocation: University College London
The courses cater particularly for civil servants, social scientists and those in industry who want to enhance their understanding of how microeconometrics and microdata can be used to inform policy making.
Courses in Social Research Skills via e-learningLocation: University of Ulster
The School of Policy Studies at the University of Ulster has developed a range of flexible options for people with Bachelor’s degrees who wish to develop the skills to: carry out research projects from the design to write-up stage;
critically appraise published and commissioned research; commission appropriate research and evaluation studies. The courses are delivered through e-learning on a part-time basis.
Data Management through e-Social Science (DAMES) Node workshopsLocation: various
One of the objectives of the DAMES Node is to raise capacity in data management for social survey research. They host a variety of training workshops on features of the data management process at various locations.
Day Courses in Social ResearchLocation: University of Surrey, Guildford
These are one-day courses for social researchers held in Spring and Autumn. Skills can be updated and new techniques learnt with one or more of these intensive, practical high quality courses, taught by staff from the leading social research methods academic centre in the UK.
Department of Social Medicine short course programme Location: University of Bristol
The short course programme is designed to offer training in the basic disciplines of epidemiology and health services research for healthcare practitioners and researchers. A number of courses include data analysis practicals.
ECHP Training SessionLocation: Various
The research training session is designed to familiarise new users with the use of the European Community Household Panel data for longitudinal analysis.
ESRC National Centre for Research Methods Training EventsLocation: Various
ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) offers a wide range of training opportunities within the Social Sciences across the UK, with a focus on research methods.
ESRC Oxford Spring School in Quantitative Methods for Social ResearchLocation: University of Oxford
The ESRC Oxford Spring School, hosted by the University of Oxford's Department of Politics and International Relations is a week of events targeted at Political and Social Science researchers, who already have training in and experience of quantitative research, and are seeking to extend and broaden their skills.
ESRC Survey Skills Programme Location: Various throughout UK
The Survey Skills programme provides an opportunity for social researchers to gain a first-hand insight into the survey process in the 'real world' and to improve their skills in survey research methods. Workshops are run throughout the year across the UK. All participants will have further opportunities to explore the issues presented by shadowing those working in a real survey team.
ESRC Teaching and Learning Research Programme Research Capacity Building Network (RCBN)Location: Cardiff University School of Social Sciences
The RCBN provides a range of activities, including workshops, conferences, seminars, and any other material for educational researchers for the continued development of their research expertise.
Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis and CollectionLocation: University of Essex, Colchester
The Summer School, in July and August each year, has one to two week courses designed to develop training in various aspects of statistical, mathematical and other technical skills. Most courses deal with techniques of data collection, analysis, and model building. The Summer School also offers some courses on non-statistical but innovative approaches to social science.
Health Experiences Research Group Courses Location: University of Oxford
A range of courses in qualitative research methods including: an introduction to qualitative interviewing; analysing qualitative interviews; and an introduction to focus groups. The courses are aimed at health professionals, researchers and postgraduate students.
Longitudinal Data Analysis for Social Science Researchers Location: Stirling and London
The project organises an annual programme of one-day seminars and five-day workshops on longitudinal data analysis using large-scale secondary surveys. The five-day workshops get researchers started and develop basic skills and competence with longitudinal data. Participants are introduced to different sources of longitudinal data and various approaches to their analysis.
Mass Observation ArchiveLocation: University of Sussex
Courses are run in relation to the Mass Observation Archive and students are given the opportunity to use Mass Observation material.
NatCen LearningLocation: Various
NatCen Learning offers formal training, facilitated workshops and can provide tailored training, advice and guidance around specific research issues to organisations and individuals. Each year NatCen Learning runs a series of open training modules focused on key aspects of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Netskills workshopsLocation: Various
Netskills provides quality Internet training services to facilitate the effective use of Internet and Intranet technologies for teaching and learning, research, administration, marketing and other activities. Netskills also provide workshops on the statistical package SPSS.
Oral History Society Training CoursesLocation: Various
The Oral History Society, in conjunction with the British Library National Sound Archive, holds one-day oral history training courses.
Postgraduate Statistics Centre Short Course ProgrammeLocation: University of Lancaster
The Postgraduate Statistics Centre Short Course Programme at Lancaster University is presenting a series of short courses in using statistical methods and software. Courses include Mathematics for Statistics, Excel for Statistics, Questionnaire Design, Visual C++.
Practical Exemplars on the Analysis of SurveysLocation: Online
Practical Exemplars and Survey Analysis (PEAS), supported by the ESRC Research Methods programme, aims to show social researchers: how to analyze complex surveys using different packages; why this is important by looking at the theory behind the methods; what are the practical consequences for real examples; how to make allowance for survey non-response using weighting or imputation.
Qualiti - Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences: Innovation, Integration and ImpactLocation: Various
Provide a forum for interdisciplinary debate and discussion about the present use of, and future directions for qualitative research within the social sciences. The series focuses on current and future contexts for qualitative research, and the ways in which qualitative data are used to inform scholars, practitioners and policy makers.
Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences (QMSS 2)Location: Various
The seminars arranged under QMSS 2 provide a focal point where specialists from different disciplines and different countries share their experience and discuss cutting-edge methodological developments. These seminars also provide an oportunity for more junior researchers, particularly those who have attended QMSS summer schools, to share their research and maintain networks.
Realities, part of the ESRC National Centre for Research MethodsLocation: Various
Realities who are part of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods
run a programme of one day training workshops in the use of 'real life' qualitative and multidimensional research and data.
RSS Professional Development CentreLocation: Royal Statistical Society, London
The Royal Statistical Society Professional Development Centre provides courses for statisticians and users of statistics. They offer courses in statistical, consultancy and management training; open courses across the UK and overseas; bespoke courses; and training needs analysis.
Short course in Systematic Research SynthesisLocation: Institute of Education, University of London
The Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Coordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre) offers a short course in Systematic Research Synthesis. This course, along with the EPPI-Centre's methods and tools, is designed to be flexible and include quantitative and qualitative synthesis of all public policy research questions in, for example, social welfare, education, crime and justice, transport, health and health promotion, and housing.
Short courses associated with a modular MSc in Official StatisticsLocation: Southampton and London
The different instructional units of the MSc in Official Statistics may be taken as one-off courses, with or without assessment, in order to update or refresh statistical skills in a particular area.
Short Courses on Social Survey MethodsLocation: University of Southampton
Courses in Applied Social Surveys (CASS) offers an annual programme of short courses on social survey methods, covering all aspects of the quantitative survey process from design to data collection and data analysis. The courses have an applied emphasis and aim particularly to provide advice and guidance to researchers who face practical decision-making in surveys.
Social Research MethodsLocation: University of West of England
These workshops are on a wide range of methods including Thematic Analysis, Grounded Theory, Qualitative Interviewing, Conversation Analysis, and Publishing and Presenting Qualitative Research. They are run by the Department of Psychology at the University of West of England in Bristol for academics and researchers in any discipline.
SPSS Courses Location: Imperial College London
These hands-on, computer-based, training courses are designed for people who need to perform data or statistical analysis using SPSS for Windows. Examples are taken from medical and health related research but are not of a specialised nature. The courses are aimed at participants from any subject area. An online course is also available.
SRA Training DaysLocation: London Voluntary Sector Resource Centre, London
The Social Research Association (SRA) runs an extensive training programme which includes courses on: sampling; questionnaire design; quantitative analysis; qualitative methods; qualitative analysis; report writing and presentations; commissioning and managing research.
Statistical Advisory ServiceLocation: Imperial College London
Training courses at the Statistical Advisory Service are designed for people who need to perform data or statistical analysis using various statistical software. All courses are hands-on computer-based courses. Some knowledge of the Windows environment is assumed. The courses are aimed at participants from any subject area.
Statistical Services and Consultancy UnitLocation: University of Herfordshire
The Statistical Services and Consultancy Unit provides consultancy and contract research in a wide range of areas of application. It also offers a range of short courses in statistics and research methods.
Survey Skills WorkshopsLocation: Various
Survey Skills workshops are open to researchers and others in research-related posts across a wide range of sectors. Workshops are presented by leading academics and professional researchers from a range of organisations involved in developing and delivering high quality survey research. Each workshop involves a mixture of taught sessions, interactive exercises and group work.
Technical Advisory Service for Images Location: Range of venues
Technical Advisory Service for Images (TASI) runs a successful programme of training workshops aimed at those involved in image digitisation projects, those who wish to capture images and those who wish to use digital images in learning and teaching.
Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD)Location: various
WISERD is jointly funded by the Welsh Assembly Government (HEFCW) and the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to draw together and build upon the existing expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods and methodologies at Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Glamorgan and Swansea Universities. They organise regular workshops and seminars on both qualitative and quantitative research.
If you know of other relevant regular training courses that researchers may find useful,
please email
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