The MSc by Research (Management) develops your ability to pursue original research in a critical and scholarly way.

The programme is designed to train postgraduate researchers in line with ESRC's research training guidelines. It may be taken either as a free-standing MSc or as a stepping stone to PhD study.

Programme overview

  • 12-month degree programme with a September start date
  • In-depth research training (120 credits)
  • Dissertation on a management topic (60 credits)
  • Can be studied as a stepping stone to PhD study

Programme objectives

At the end of the programme, students should have:

  • An in-depth critical understanding of the research techniques used in a broad range of subject areas within Management
  • Practical competence in a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods and tools
  • A critical understanding of the philosophical and epistemological bases of a range of subject areas within Management
  • An in-depth understanding of advanced concepts in the area of research and current research trends and issues in Management

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the programme, students will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate the relationship between empirical research, theory generation and theory testing
  • Critically evaluate the different forms of sampling, sampling error and potential biases in the interpretation of research findings
  • Explain and apply advanced levels of competence in quantitative and qualitative methods of research
  • Discuss with critical awareness discipline-based concepts and approaches to analyse contemporary management issues
  • Describe and evaluate the key philosophical and ethical debates underpinning social science research
  • Describe and evaluate current research themes across diverse areas of management research

Graduate attributes

By the end of the programme, students will be able to:

  • Explain and apply the principles of research design and strategy in the field of management and its sub-disciplines
  • Explain and apply the principal research methods and tools used in the social sciences
  • Define and formulate research problems and questions in order to engage with current disciplinary issues
  • Exercise informed independent thought and critical judgement
  • Critically analyse and synthesize information to support research themes in management and its sub-disciplines
  • Explain and apply the ethical and legal issues pertaining to research
  • Complete a major work that shows evidence of independent learning
  • Communicate complex information and critical evaluation orally and in writing
  • Apply research management and team-working skills
  • Demonstrate independent action and initiative
  • Demonstrate an ability to manage tasks and deadlines
  • Follow an independent programme of study through to completion

Courses

Course Code Course Name Semester Credits
Compulsory
PGSP11016 Research Skills in the Social Sciences: Data Collection 1 20
PGSP11208 Research Design 2 20
CMSE11525 Supervised Reading 2 20
CMSE11003 MRes Dissertation Summer 60
Recommended optional courses
CMSE11443 Supervised Reading: Methods 1 Flexible 20
CMSE11444 Supervised Reading: Methods 2 Flexible 20
CMSE11388 Foundations of Econometrics 1 20
CMSE11389 Applications of Econometrics 2 20
CMSE11618 Theories and Philosophies in Research on Business and Management 1 20
BUST11231 Supervised Reading: Literature Review 1 20
CMSE11620 Supervised Reading: Reflecting on Research 2 20
CMSE11524 Quantitative Methods for Business Scholars 2 20
SCIL11009 Core Quantitative Data Analysis 1 and 2 1 20
PGSP11188 Qualitative Methods and Ethnographic Fieldwork 2 20
CMSE11312 Qualitative Research 2 20

Full programme details can be found on the University Degree Programme Tables website.

MSc by Research (Management) Programme Table