Chestnut Education Logo 2020
University of Leicester

MRes in Business and Management

Apply Now
Make An Enquiry

At A Glance

Course Title

Master of Research in Business and Management

Course Type

Full Degree

Course Level

Postgraduate

Study Method

Distance Learning

Start Date

October and April

Course Duration

12 months

Awarded & Delivered By

University of Leicester
University of Leicester Logo
Apply Now
Make Enquiry

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.

This 12-month full-time distance-learning programme can be studied from anywhere in the world, offering the flexibility to balance academic pursuits with personal or professional commitments.

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

Foundation Stage to develop Research awareness. Staff will introduce research content to students will understand:
  • 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.
Prepares students to become independent researchers, guiding them through the process of developing and executing their own research projects. In this final module, students apply the skills and knowledge gained from the earlier modules to design and conduct a high-quality, impactful research study.
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. 

Online learning is an important feature of this course, therefore it is essential that you have reliable, regular access to the internet (preferably with a broadband connection) in order to participate. As a distance learning student, you will have access to the University Library’s electronic service, the Leicester Digital Library, which includes a large number of e-journals and e-books. If you live close to Leicester you can, of course, visit the Library in person. For UK-based students who wish to use other libraries, we can issue you with a card which allows you to do so. This is a national scheme which allows distance learning students to borrow material from up to three other participating libraries.

Course Fees

Chestnut Education students are offered a special bursary for their course fees. Please get in touch with us to get the most up-to-date course fee for this programme.
Get Quote

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)
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
Make Enquiry

Enrol Now

This degree programme has intakes in October and April Click the Enrol Now button and share your information so that one of our Academic Advisors will get in touch with you promptly.

Apply Now

Related Courses

Not what you were looking for? Here are some courses from different awarding bodies that may interest you :

Want help picking a programme? Get in touch with our student advisors.

WhatsApp Envelope-open Facebook-f Linkedin-in Facebook-messenger
Chestnut Education Logo 2020
Bringing British Education to Your Doorstep
Golden Cross House,
8 Duncannon Street,
London, WC2N 4JF
+44 (0) 11 5888 1010
+44 (0) 75 3718 3783
marketing@chestnuteducationgroup.com
Facebook-f Linkedin-in Facebook-messenger WhatsApp Map-marker-alt

Quick Links

Contact Us

Application Form

Please fill in your details below

Make An Enquiry

Please fill in your details below

Get A Quote

Please fill in your details below