Research Practicum

Throughout the first 2 years of their programme students will be required to participate in Research Practicums where they are assigned to a member of Faculty to jointly explore research collaborations. These interactions are intended to allow students to explore in-depth research topics and shape research projects besides their main dissertation (MG598) in Year 2.

Research proposal

At the end of Year 1 students submit an initial "research proposal". Students will be expected to start work on developing this proposal over the summer period.

Training Course

Compulsory (not examined)

MG5A1 A Social Sciences Perspective of Academic Research in Management (0.0)

Paper 1

MG518 Employment Relations and Human Resource Management Seminar I (0.5) or

MG519 Employment Relations and Human Resource Management Seminar II (0.5)  (not available 2024/25)

Paper 2

MY500 Fundamentals of Social Science Research Design (0.5)

If an MRes student enters the programme with a previous research design training; alternative, advanced research design courses can be taken, such as MY556 Survey Methodology (0.5) with supervisor ad PhD Programme Director permission, timetable permitting.

Paper 3

MY521A Qualitative Research Methods (0.5) or

MY521W Qualitative Research Methods (0.5)

If an MRes student enters the programme with previous qualitative methods training; alternative advanced qualitative methods courses such as: MY526 Doing Ethnography (0.5); MY527 Qualitative Research with Non-Traditional Data (0.5); MY528 Qualitative Text Analysis (0.5), can be taken with Supervisor permission, timetable permitting

Paper 4

One course to the value of 0.5 units from the following:

MY551A Introduction to Quantitative Analysis (0.5)

MY551W Introduction to Quantitative Analysis (0.5)

MY552A Applied Regression Analysis (0.5) ^#

MY552W Applied Regression Analysis (0.5) ^#

MY555 Multivariate Analysis and Measurement (0.5) ^#

Or
If an MRes student enters the programme with previous quantitative methods training; alternative, advanced quantitative methods courses can be taken, with Supervisor permission, timetable permitting. Some examples are as follows:

MY557 Causal Inference for Observational and Experimental Studies (0.5) ^#

MY559 Quantitative Text Analysis (0.5) ^#

MY561 Social Network Analysis (0.5)

ST452 Probability and Mathematical Statistics I (0.5)

ST501 Multilevel Modelling (0.5) ^#

Paper 5

One course to the value of 0.5 units from the following list:

EU443 European Models of Capitalism (0.5)

EU477 Labour Markets and the Political Economy of Employment in Europe (0.5) ^#

GI409 Conceptual Foundations in Gender, Development and Globalization (0.5)

GI418 Feminist Economics and Policy: An Introduction (0.5) ^#

GV517 Comparative Political Economy: New Approaches and Issues in CPE (0.5)  (not available 2024/25)

LL4H8 Employment Law (0.5)

LL4H9 Human Rights in the Workplace (0.5)

MG475 Organisational Theory and Practice (0.5)

MG476 Corporate Social Responsibility and International Labour Standards (0.5) ^#

MG4B7 Leading Organisational Change (0.5)

MG4C2 Organisational Behaviour (0.5)

MG4D2 International Employment Relations (0.5) ^#

MG4D3 The Dark Side of the Organisation (0.5) ^#  (not available 2024/25)

MG4D4 Cross Cultural Management (0.5) ^#  (not available 2024/25)

MY523 Interview Methods for Social Science Research (0.5) ^#

Given the ER/HR domain is multidisciplinary, the student can take an equivalent, appropriate MSc or PhD level course that is aligned with the student's dissertation and research interest from within the Department of Management or from another department, with Supervisor permission, timetable permitting.

Paper 6

MG518 Employment Relations and Human Resource Management Seminar I (0.5) or

MG519 Employment Relations and Human Resource Management Seminar II (0.5)  (not available 2024/25)

Paper 7

For Paper 7, students are expected to take MG527 and courses to the value of 1.0 unit(s) from the elective course list for Paper 5. Student may also take appropriate MSc or PhD level courses from within the Department of Management or from another department as agreed with their Supervisor and subject to timetabling constraints. For example, the supervisor and student may determine that the student requires further, advanced methods courses to successfully analyse dissertation data. Or, the supervisor and student may determine that theoretically based courses are required for the student.

MG527 Advanced Quantitative Analysis for Research in Management (0.0) ^#

And courses to the value of 1.0 unit(s) from:

Paper 5 elective list

Paper 8

MG598 Research Paper in Management (MRes PhD Programmes) (1.0)

Annual Progress Reviews

In order to progress unconditionally from the first to the second year of MRes registration students are required to achieve pass marks of 60% in 2.5 units (5 classifications marks). Students that do not attain this standard may still be able to progress as follows, subject to approval by the Department of Management (DoM) PhD Committee:

Students may fall short of this requirement by up to 1 unit of marks; which may consist of up to a maximum of 0.5 unit mark of fail and/or a 0.5 unit mark of between 50-59. Students will resit at the next available opportunity. Where a student is resitting a course they have passed in order to meet the progression requirements the new mark will not show on the transcript or be used to calculate the award of the degree.

There will be regular student progress reviews each term by the DoM PhD committee. An Annual Progress review for Years 1 and 2 of the MRes/PhD programme will take place between May and July. The review will monitor academic progress and include feedback from the Programme Director, Faculty group and student. All final progression decisions are reviewed and approved by the DoM PhD Committee.

End of Year 1: The APR in Year 1 will consider attendance in MY5A1, participation in the Research Practicums, supervision attendance, supervisor(s) progress reports and available scores on the MRes papers.  Re-registration for the following year will be approved by the DoM PhD Committee, and on the expectation of the student will achieve the marks required in any resit exams.

End of Year 2:  The APR in Year 2 will review 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 the student will achieve the marks required in any resit exams.

End of Year 3: Recommendation for registration in year 4 by the DoM PhD Committee will be based on students achieving the required grades in any resit exams and successfully passing the PhD review process.

For the PhD Review the student submits 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 he Department’s PhD Committee at the next opportunity.

Year 4:  Re-registration in year 5 will be based on continued satisfactory progress and the approval by the Programme Director and the DoM PhD Committee.

Award of the MRes in Management – Employment Relations and Human Relations

The award and classification of the MRes degree will be subject to the normal application of the School's Scheme for the Award of a five-unit Taught Master's Degree.

Progression to PhD registration

In order to progress and upgrade to PhD registration students must have taken and passed all 5 units (10 classification marks) with a grade of 60% or higher by the end of the programme. Students can compensate by achieving an aggregate of 600 marks (with no failed papers) which must include a grade of 60% in their core seminar.

Students registered for the PhD remain subject to the relevant MRes regulations for any courses or examinations they are completing. Students missing the overall progression requirement by 0.5 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. Students failing to meet this standard will have their PhD registration discontinued.

The final decision to register to the PhD Programme is taken by the DoM PhD Committee and is based on successful completion of the MRes requirements as specified above as well as satisfactory progress in their research activities and approval of the MG598 Research Proposal.

In Year 3 students must also pass the PhD Review process by the end of the ST. This will be reported on to the DoM PhD Committee at the end of Year 3 along with any results from resits taken in that year.

Students will have the opportunity to submit and defend their PhD Review proposal in the MT and the LT during year 3. If the student does not pass the PhD Review by the end of the ST, they will be given the opportunity to revise and resubmit their proposal by the following September on a specific date before registration for the progression to year 4.

Years 3-5

From Year 3, students are expected to meet regularly with their Supervisor(s) each term throughout Year 3-5. After their 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.