MRS Advanced Certificate (January 2025 intake)

What’s been happening for our newest learners…

We welcomed our newest cohort of MRS Advanced Certificate learners in January and we want to reflect on their journey so far to help you if you are considering the qualification, whether employer or individual, to understand what has happened for them and the main questions and challenges they have had so far. Following their journey will help prepare you as you consider.

Their journey so far…

Signing up and laying the foundations

The research business they are working for offered the opportunity to study the MRS Advanced Certificate to their graduate intake once they had been in their roles for 18 months. It was freely given as an option to help them progress in the company but also to help them progress in the industry if they later chose to move on. As the company were paying for the course then, as you would expect, they built into the agreement the need to stay with the business for a minimum term so that the business could recoup its costs from their added capabilities first.

We met with the managers and potential learners from the business to explain how things work, what would be expected of them, the level of work and a rough outline of the course. It enabled 16 of the team to feel comfortable that they could do it and they signed up and registered with us by the 1st December 2024 ready for an early January start. This date is important as we only run two courses each year because their are only 2 rounds of MRS assessments run each year (January/February and June/July).

As there were 16 of the, we split them into two cohorts of 8 to enable a better learning environment in workshops.

Through December, their tutor met with each of them individually so she could get to meet them before the start and they could meet her. It also enabled their tutor to understand their learning styles and drivers so she could connect with them better and understand the way they would likely need support. This is valuable information for her to refer to before each 1-2-1 meeting going forwards

Starting the learning

At the beginning of January, the first monthly workshop took place. Their employer had already bought the books for each of them (there are lots of suggested reading books but 2 main ones which they need). In that first workshop, their tutor talked them through the exact format of the course, the homework they would receive after each workshop, the date for the exam and submission of their 4000 word “Integrated Assignment”. She talked about how they need to progress to be eligible for sitting the exam in June and that that wouldn’t be a guarantee if they fell behind and weren’t ready. Instead, they would then need to wait until the next round of assessment in January the following year.

The first workshop, as with all subsequent workshops, was a half day session of 4 hours long with lots of breaks! We agreed with their employer that this would work best as it meant that it was least disruptive to the business and the projects they were working on. In reality they are about 3.5 hours long which is plenty but we could have split it into 2 x 2 hour workshops per month instead if that had worked better for them.

Each month

In January and then again in February (this is how far they have got at the time of writing), they had 1 half day workshop, and the opportunity to meet with their tutor 1-2-1 around 2 weeks later once they had had chance to digest the learning, read more, and at least start the set homework. Their tutor has a calendar set up where they can just book time in with her when they want to have their 1-2-1 and they meet for around half an hour which usually increases to an hour as the course progresses. These 1-2-1 meetings aren’t compulsory but are available if they need it. Some want to have that meeting each month, others don’t but we know as they get closer to the exam and IA submission date they will likely all take her up on a meeting each month.

All homework needs to be handed in before the next workshop the following month and they have all done that. Their tutor has marked it to enable them to see what they have done well and where they can improve and this normally then forms part of the discussions in the 1-2-1s. So far, they are all doing really well but also starting to realise that this is a high level and they need to up their levels of critical thinking and knowledge application which is what it is all about, rather than just rote learning information. That’s where reading those books is so important!

Their tutor has now discussed with them that if they start to fall behind then they won’t be removed from the learning sessions but they won’t be put in for the exam either if they are not on track. The exam registration date for this particular round of assessment is 9th May so they will be assessed by their tutor that they are indeed going to be ready.

Their main questions and challenges so far…

For this cohort of learners, the main questions understandably came at the start before they began the course which we were able to answer in our initial meetings to help them decide if this was for them. But, these are the kind of questions they have been asking along the way and the answers we gave them:

Q. What will the workload be like each week?
A. It’s difficult to give you an exact number of hours as it depends on how you work but there are two thick books to read during the 6 month course and, each month, mock exam questions and written work are set so you can apply your knowledge and learning from the workshop. So, perhaps 3-6 hours each week might give you a bit of an idea.

Q. Is the exam open book or closed book?
A. It is closed book and, although the exam is taken online, the invigilators are very thorough to check that you have no notes, screens or any other person in the room with you at any time.

Q. I’m struggling to fit all the reading in, is it really needed?
A. Yes, it is needed and very important. The learning from the workshops will give you the foundations of the curriculum, the books will help you get into the critical thinking headspace you need to adopt in order to be able to apply your knowledge and show good reasoning so as to pass the exam.

Q. I’ve had a really busy few weeks at work and I just haven’t had time to do the homework, can I get an extension?
A. Yes, you can but make sure to catch up otherwise if you keep getting behind, you won’t then be on track to take the exam and if you are still behind by the exam registration date which is about 6 weeks before the real thing then we won’t be able to put you in for the exam and you will need to wait until the next round of assessment 6 months later. Bear in mind that being on track is not just about keeping up with assignments but being on track with your reading and, therefore, obvious knowledge and capability of application to be assessed.

Q. How can I remember everything that is in the books?
A. This is down to revision technique. Read, but make notes as you read in order to record the main points from each chapter of the book. Then when you go back over your notes, they will prompt your memory on what you read and what you need to go back and read again. It’s not about rote learning but about remembering the techniques of application and gathering those critical thinking skills so that they naturally come to mind when you go to apply your knowledge in the assessment.

Q. There’s so little time for each exam question, how can you cover everything needed?
A. Succinctly! Cut out any waffle or other sentences which add nothing but padding. It’s all about getting straight to the point and writing only what is needed in content rich sentences.

Q. If I get a Pass on the exam and a Distinction on the Integrated Assignment, what will be my final grade?
A. You get two grades, one for the exam and one for the Integrated Assignment. so those will be your grades.

We are aware that it is a lot to do and a challenging certificate, but it should be, that’s why employers are so impressed if you have achieved it

What’s still to come for them?

As the months progress, each workshop will build further on the teaching to ensure the curriculum is all covered in time but their level of homework to practice it in their Integrated Assignment, and also to do exam practice, will increase building up to a mock exam 2 weeks before the real thing. It is going to get more intense as the months go on.

How does the MRS Advanced Certificate give you an advantage?

FOR AN INDIVIDUAL:

  1. It is so well respected in the Market Research industry that it will open doors for you to have it on your CV.

  2. It really prepares you to fast track into a management position because the way you learn on the course is by actually doing the job of a manager working with a client to understand the research need and prepare a project plan ready for execution (you don’t actually do it, but you will plan it out).

  3. It is a Level 5 (equivalent to 2 years of a University degree) and, therefore, requires you to study in the same way which tells an employer that you have self-discipline, an interest to learn and commitment to Market Research.

FOR AN EMPLOYER:

  1. It provides a fast track into project management for capable individuals who just need the training and can then take on that level of responsibility.

  2. It shows commitment to your staff that you want to invest in them, which in turn builds that higher bond between your employee and the business, and creates a level of job satisfaction for them where they want to stay with you long term and invest themselves back into your business (this is an absolutely proven team management approach!).

  3. It reduces staff turnover costs, improves efficiency of the team, makes you more productive, versatile and, therefore, able to adapt quickly to higher demand or changes in the market.