At A Glance
Course Title
Master of Research in Business and Management
Course Type
Course Level
Study Method
Start Date
October and April
Course Duration
Awarded By
Course Description
The MRes in Business and Management is designed to help you develop the critical thinking and analytical skills needed to generate evidence-based insights and solutions—skills that are increasingly in demand across industries.
Throughout the course, you will gain a solid foundation in research methodologies, data analysis, and critical evaluation, with a focus on the business and management context. Whether you’re planning to pursue a PhD, enter a research-intensive career, or enhance your strategic impact in the workplace, this programme prepares you for the next step.
You’ll explore the tools and techniques needed to assess business problems, identify opportunities, and support innovation through research. The course is particularly well-suited to those aiming for roles in academia, consultancy, or corporate research and strategy.
An MRes from the University of Leicester equips you with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. It strengthens your analytical and problem-solving capabilities, while also deepening your understanding of the strategic principles behind business decision-making.
Course Content
- Research Paradigms – Demonstrate knowledge of key research philosophies (positivism, interpretivism, critical realism) and their relevance in business and management studies.
- Fundamentals of Research Design – Identify and differentiate between qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches in business research.
This module offers a thorough understanding of the key theories, practices, and challenges of management research, providing students with the foundational knowledge required to complete a comprehensive Literature Review.
Builds on the foundational knowledge gained in Module 1 by offering rigorous training in both qualitative and quantitative
research methodologies. This is an Exploration Stage to explore existing knowledge
applied via Business Research Methods. Staff will prompt students to:
- Critical Engagement with Literature – Synthesize and critically evaluate
academic literature to identify research gaps and construct a research
problem. - Data Collection and Management – Understand various data collection
techniques (surveys, interviews, case studies, experiments) and their ethical considerations.
In this module research-led teaching will engage students with current Business andmanagement debates in order to provide them with:
- Advanced Analytical Skills – Apply appropriate statistical and qualitative
data analysis techniques using software tools (e.g., SPSS, NVivo, R, or
Python). - In-depth understanding of Contemporary Business Issues – Demonstrate
knowledge of cutting-edge research in areas like digital business,
sustainability, and innovation.
During the Independent project, student will be able to:
- Develop a Research Proposal – Formulate a research question, select an appropriate methodology, and justify the research design.
- Demonstrate Ethical Research Practice – Demonstrate awareness of ethical considerations, including bias, data privacy, and responsible dissemination of findings.
- Contribute to Knowledge – Evaluate how original research can advance theory and practice in business and management.
Together, these modules provide a progressive, comprehensive learning journey where each stage builds on the previous one, ensuring that students gain the intellectual depth, research skills, and confidence to succeed as independent researchers or in professional roles.
Study Method
With the Leicester MRes in Business and Management you can study fully online and can supplement your studies with residential learning. Your online study will include viewing recorded lectures, taking part in live online seminars and workshops, interacting with tutors and fellow students in online discussion boards and learning from our online study guides.
All teaching is delivered by School of Business staff who combine cutting-edge teaching techniques with innovative and forward-thinking research to help you develop your expertise.
Why Choose University of Leicester?
The University of Leicester is a leading UK university committed to international excellence through the creation of world changing research and high quality, inspirational teaching. Celebrating diversity among our staff and students; widening participation in higher education; engaging with local, national and international communities – all of these are part of what we do and who we are.
Leicester is currently ranked in the Top 25 in the UK universities in the UK and Top 170 in the world, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2021. The University was awarded Silver by the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for graduate employment, student retention, student satisfaction, subject mix, entry qualifications and ethnicity.
The University of Leicester has won Times Higher Awards in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2018. Leicester has been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education on three occasions – the highest form of national recognition open to a UK academic or vocational institution.
Course Fees
Entry Requirements
You will need to have at least one of the following academic qualifications:
- First or second class honours degree from a UK university, or
- Equivalent degree from a non-UK university or academic institution, or
- Postgraduate degree or diploma from a recognised institution, or
- Higher Education diploma with a minimum of three years’ appropriate and relevant work experience (defined as having worked in a supervisory, managerial or professional role)
Progression
Apply Now
Click Apply Now to start your application for the MRes in Business and Management programme today.
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