MRes Business

Attendance

Full-time, Part-time

Full-time – one year
Part-time – typically three years
Depending on your route and starting time in the year (September or February), classes run in the evenings and/or in blocks of study during the day. Please contact us for more details.

At a glance

About this course

This social science research methods course for business and management introduces you to a range of methods and strategies, and the underpinning theories and philosophies. You gain the skills you need to carry out research in a variety of areas using qualitative or quantitative research methods.

The course
• meets your research training needs in social science and business research methodologies
• provides a vocationally relevant qualification for research oriented work
• enables established researchers to upgrade specific skills

It is ideal if you have a degree in business and management or other related discipline and you plan to work in, or conduct research in business and management or related subject areas.

Through designing and conducting research in your specialised area, you gain technical competence in research and evaluation. You develop your knowledge and critical understanding of research theories and methods and the ethical issues involved. This course also equips you to carry out further research as part of a PhD programme of study.

Modules are taught by staff within applied social sciences in the Faculty of Development and Society Graduate School and by staff in our Sheffield Business School. In some modules, you have the opportunity to meet and discuss research issues with students from other MRes Social Sciences routes.

All staff teaching and supervising are research active. Research areas include • business operations • financial information systems • facilities management • financial services • banking • financial accounting • management accounting • marketing • organisational behaviour • human resources • strategic management • food • hospitality management • international business • languages • leisure management • tourism • corporate social responsibility/sustainable development • social enterprise and mutuals.

Approaches and methods used during the course include biographical research • case study • ethnography • experimental design • media analysis • survey design and analysis.

You can take individual modules as short courses or combine them towards a PgDip/PgCert Research Methods in Business.

Associated careers

This course gives you the skills to carry out independent research. You learn to consider the research problem and associated ethical issues and select a suitable approach. The skills and knowledge you gain are in demand by many organisations.

Course content

• 60 credits for the postgraduate certificate
• 120 credits for the postgraduate diploma
• 180 credits for the MRes

You chose up to 120 credits from
• qualitative methodologies and interviewing skills
• qualitative research designs
• discourse and linguistic theory and analysis
• quantitative research
• multivariate statistical analysis
• survey design
• advanced design and statistics for psychology
• philosophies of business and management research
• research design and execution for organisation and business

You may substitute up to 30 credits from another course in our MRes programme.

To gain the MRes Business, you must present a 60 credit research-based dissertation, supervised by staff in an area of your choice. This piece of work is intended to display the skills you have learned and your understanding of the research process and underlying philosophies. You can use this work as a pilot study towards a PhD.

Assessment

• essays • projects • presentations

Entry requirements

Normally an honours degree, or equivalent, in a suitable subject.

If your first language is not English, you need to have achieved IELTS 6.5 overall and 6.5 in writing skills with a minimum of 5.5 in all other skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

If you have suitable qualifications or experience you may seek exemption from some modules.

Fees

Home and EU students

2013/14 academic year

Typically £5,355 for the course

International students

2013/14 academic year

Typically £10,980 for the course

2014/15 academic year

Typically £11,250 for the course

How to apply

Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form

Contact details

For an informal discussion or to find out more about this course, please contact Christine Gilligan on 0114 225 5258 or email c.k.gilligan@shu.ac.uk