We offer complete flexibility. You can start a course whenever you want to, and take as long as you need to complete it. Your personal tutor will be with you all the way to guide you through your studies. We’ll agree a tailored timetable with you when you start your studies but we can adjust this as we go along. No weekly commitments, no pressure – studying is meant to be fun, not a chore!
All of our tutors have many years of tutoring experience, and all are market research specialists in their own right.
As well as personal tutoring we offer invaluable study materials to accompany the set textbook – a Study Guide containing the key learning points of each chapter, quizzes and example exam questions; a Question Bank to help with exam revision; and guides to self-studying and sitting exams. Students are given the opportunity to sit mock exams and get detailed feedback and suggestions for improving performance.
We offer two approaches to tutoring for the Advanced Certificate – a fully tutored approach (Premium) and a partially tutored approach for those with more experience (Essentials).
Both the MRS Advanced Certificate and the MRS Diploma will increase your understanding of Market Research and your ability to conduct or commission it effectively. Have a look at what some of our past students have said about the qualifications:
MRS Advanced Certificate
"I found the MRS Advanced Certificate really interesting and challenging; it helped me understand the research process much better and I often use elements of what I’ve learned in my day-to-day work. It is definitely worth the time and effort, and I have no doubt that my career will be furthered as a result".
(Marketing Analyst – Financial Services)
"Completing the Advanced Certificate in Social and Market Research was a very straight-forward and enjoyable process. I hadn’t done any studying since university days (over 20 years earlier) so it was great to have Virginia’s support as my online tutor with writing my assignment and following the course materials leading up to the exam. The content of the course has been very useful to me, both helping me fulfil the responsibilities of my current position in consumer market research and in giving me a broad grounding and understanding of the wider research arena. I would definitely recommend getting this qualification if you intend to spend any part of your career in the research industry".
(Research Executive - Research Agency)
"Studying for the MRS Advanced Certificate has proved to be invaluable in improving the quality of the surveys and questionnaires our organisation instigates. We are now getting good quality data and can perform meaningful analysis".
(Research Officer - Local Government)
"I completed the ‘MRS Advanced Certificate in Social and Market research’ course in 2018. The course has overall helped me in my professional life by getting a broader understanding of the market research industry, resulting in making me more confident to answer client briefs and support my suggested research methodologies and sampling requests".
(Senior Research Executive – Research Agency)
"The Advanced Certificate provided me with a greater overall understanding of Market Research and the process was made a lot easier with the invaluable help and advice I received from my tutor, Hilary Birt".
(Research Executive – Research Agency)
"Taking the step towards completing the MRS Advanced Certificate was scaring me for a long time, but I cannot explain how happy I am for taking it. I’ve learned a lot about the research process, but more importantly it gave me the confidence to speak to my stakeholders about best practices and research methods. I believe that completing the course has opened a lot of doors in my career and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in pursuing a market/customer research career".
(Research Manager - Business Information Provider)
MRS Diploma
"Having the MRS Diploma has opened up so many more career opportunities, and without it I am sure I would not be in the senior management position I am in today. Having the Diploma demonstrates commitment and interest in the field of research, as well as ability and knowledge. I use the knowledge gained during the qualification almost every day in my role as Head of Research for an investment platform, and my colleagues respect my opinions and direction partly due to experience but mostly due to the formal qualifications which prove my ability.
The modules of the Diploma build upon your learning as you work through them which I found made the experience of studying much more manageable. With any qualification, it can feel as if you are learning lots of theory but with the Diploma, the course turns much of this into practical examples and case studies, and I particularly enjoyed holding my own focus group as part of a piece of course work. I would recommend anyone working in the research industry to consider the Diploma as whilst it is not easy, it is a rewarding experience and you will learn a huge amount from it which is applicable throughout your future career".
(Head of Insight – Financial Services)
"The MRS Diploma has really helped me to advance my career and has definitely made me a more competent and credible researcher. Doing the Diploma gave me a broad and deep understanding of the entire market research process which I fall back on to this day. By the end of the course I certainly had more confidence about my knowledge of the whole research process. Once I had achieved the qualification and was job hunting, it helped me to stand out against others who were applying for the same position. It is also something which I promote in my CV and which goes into all the proposals submitted to clients and potential clients".
(Head of Quantitative Research – Research Agency)
"The MRS Diploma has helped me tremendously as I have been able to apply what I learnt during the course in my day to day role, working on the client slide. My job involves managing research projects and this course has helped me to ask those very challenging questions at the start of the project which enable me to really understand the business problems and define the research objectives. It has also helped in how I evaluate proposals I received from external agencies".
(Research Manager – Professional Services)
"The MRS Diploma in Market and Social Research is a really worthwhile qualification to take if you want an in-depth understanding of the skills needed in the market research industry. Studying this Diploma gave us a qualification from the recognised and highly respected Market Research Society which would set us apart from the rest in the workplace. On the whole, it was enjoyable and we are able to bring the skills and knowledge we have learnt back into our day-to-day market research job and sets us up to progress further in our career".
(Research Mangers - Financial Services)
"I studied for the MRS Diploma over a period of two years, and enjoyed the experience very much. It gave me a good insight into many different research techniques, some of which were new to me and which I’ve been able to start using in my job as a result. Achieving the Diploma has given me greater confidence and credibility. I would certainly recommend the Diploma to others working in a research role".
(Associate Director - Research Agency)
