Programme Structure - MRes

Programme code: TMRESECMG

Department: Management

For students starting this programme of study in 2024/25

Guidelines for interpreting programme regulations

Prerequisite Requirements and Mutually Exclusive Options

# means there may be prerequisites for this course. Please view the course guide for more information.

Programme Structure - PhD

Programme code: RPECMG2

Prerequisite Requirements and Mutually Exclusive Options

# means there may be prerequisites for this course. Please view the course guide for more information.

Progression

To progress unconditionally to registration on the Year 2 of MRes in Economics and Management students are required to achieve pass marks of 50% or higher in Papers 1, 2 and 3. With the agreement of the Department of Economics and the Programme Director, a student missing this requirement by one paper may be allowed to resit.  Students are restricted to sitting a maximum of four exams, including resits and MG598 in Year 2.  Students missing the progression requirement by more than one paper are required to pass those papers to the necessary standard before progression to the second year can be permitted

Award (students take 6 units of papers but the award is calculated on papers 1-5):

At the end of the second year of the MRes, students may be awarded the classification of the MRes degree consistent with the School's Scheme for the Award of a five-unit Taught Master's Degree. This mirrors the requirements of an award of MRes in Economics, that is students are required to achieve a pass mark of 50% in Papers 1, 2, 3, 4 and Paper 5. The marks in these papers will be used to calculate the overall award.

A fail in one of these five classification papers (but not a bad fail of 29% or less) can be compensated by a mark of 60% or higher in another paper, or an aggregate mark of 440 in the non-failed papers. If compensated, a fail shall result in a drop in the overall award classification where a Distinction or Merit would otherwise have been awarded. It shall have no further impact where a Pass is to be awarded.

Progression to PhD registration

To progress to PhD registration, students are required to achieve four marks of 60% or higher and two marks of 50% or higher in MRes Papers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ,6 with at least two of the 60% or higher marks achieved in the MRes core Papers 1, 2 and 3. For Paper 6 if two half units are taken to fulfil the one unit requirement, then students must achieve a mark of 50% or higher in each 0.5 unit. For progression, the average of the two 0.5 unit course marks will be taken for Paper 6 will be used as the achieved mark.

Condoning marks: A mark between 55-59% in one of the Papers 1, 2 or 3 can be condoned by a mark of +70% in either Papers 1, 2 or 3. A mark between 50 - 59% in one of the Papers 1, 2 or 3 can be condoned by a mark of +70% in the MG598 research paper.

Students missing the overall progression requirement by one paper are permitted to progress to PhD registration, but will subsequently need to re-sit and pass the paper to the necessary standard to continue their PhD registration within one year of the original examination. In exceptional circumstances, the Graduate Studies Sub-Committee can grant permission to a candidate to resit a paper at the next available opportunity. Students can resit each paper only once.

At the end of Year 2 there will be an Annual Progress Review to confirm the successful completion of second year course work with marks meeting the required standards, the quality and contribution of MG598 paper and satisfaction with progress and participation in the programme. Recommendation for registration to the PhD programme by the DoM PhD Committee for the following year will be based on the successful completion of the previous year, and on the expectation of the student will achieve the marks required in any resit exams.

PhD Progression

In the first year of the PhD programme (Year 3 of registration) students must complete courses to the value of one unit in either Economics or Management (Paper 7). They must achieve a grade of 50% in this 1 unit or both 0.5 units.

Students must also pass the PhD Review, during Year 3 of registration and defend their research design in viva voce. The students submit a research proposal that includes:

1) the research question(s);
2) a concise literature review through which the significance of the proposed research is articulated;
3) a discussion of research methodology;
4) a draft timeline of activity;
5) preliminary data collection and analysis or a ‘pilot’ study; and
6) discussion of research ethics and risks.

This material is evaluated by the academic assessors in two independently written reports submitted prior to a viva voce with the supervisor(s). The outcome of the review will be reported to the Department’s PhD Committee at the next opportunity.

PhD progression, completion and submission

After passing the PhD Review students are expected to focus on the research and writing of their thesis, the continued development of research ideas for publication, participation in relevant training courses and career development activities. Each year the PhD progression will be on the recommendation of the annual review panel and agreed by the Department’s PhD committee.

Rules for the composition and content of theses within this programme

There are two formats of PhD Examination in the Department of Management. These align with those set out in Regulation 48 of the Regulations for Research Degrees that provide for two different formats of PhD submission/examination to be followed, as appropriate, according to the normal practice in your field.

The two formats approved by the Department of Management and applicable to this programme are:

1. A monographic thesis addressing a single subject in an integrated way.

OR

2. A set of publishable papers on a set of related topics within the context framed by an introductory and concluding chapter, and adhering to the following guidance: 

• An introduction to explain the justification for the research question and articulate the links between the papers.
• Papers may be written with others/co-authored. Candidates may find it helpful to use CRediT taxonomy to define their contribution and evaluate if their contribution to a paper is sufficient to warrant inclusion in their thesis.
• The candidate must solely write the introduction, all linking material and the discussion.
• A minimum of 3 papers. This is a standard number in the paper by thesis format, but it is up to the candidate to decide how many papers to include, considering the advice of their supervisor and the normal practice in their field of study.

Within Management the norms between fields are variable, and therefore it is important to understand this and discuss the practices and examination norms and how best to meet the expectations and requirements of the job market in your field with your supervisor and the Programme Director. The composition of your thesis should be discussed and agreed with your supervisor and the Programme Director.

Award of the PhD in Economics and Management

Award of the PhD is contingent on progression requirements within the PhD and on the completion and defence of an original research thesis, in accordance with LSE regulations.

Note for prospective students: 
For changes to graduate course and programme information for the next academic session, please see the graduate summary page for prospective students. Changes to course and programme information for future academic sessions can be found on the graduate summary page for future students.