Research Practicums
For the duration of your 2-year MRes programme, you will engage in active research, called Research Practicums, with different members of Faculty. The rotation of practicum assignments will include one-to-one training and collaboration that provides you better understanding of the research process, e.g.:
- Literature reviews.
- Applied research method and practices.
- Determining theory-driven, testable hypotheses.
- Identifying appropriate methods and samples.
- Coding and data analysis.
- Evaluating findings and implications.
- Writing manuscripts for the academic peer-reviewed process with ultimate goal of publication in top-tier academic journal.
First year (MRes)
Study in the first year includes a doctoral seminar in Employment Relations and Human Resource management and training in quantitative and qualitative methods.
As the Employment Relations and Human Resources domain is multidisciplinary, you will also take an elective course from selected fields including but not limited to:
- Management.
- Organisational Behaviour.
- Employment Relations.
- Law.
- Gender.
- Government.
- Other subject areas in agreement with your Supervisor.
All first year doctoral students in the Department of Management will take the seminar course A Social Sciences Perspective of Academic Research in Management.
Courses include:
Employment Relations and Human Resource Management Seminar I
The seminar covers micro-HRM, macro-HRM, the future of work, labour markets, institutional, and comparative employment relations perspectives, and the full range of research methods from across the ERHR field.
Fundamentals of Social Science Research Design
This core course introduces a broad range of design options across quantitative and qualitative research, covering issues of data quality, analysis, reporting and reproducibility. The course is designed to equip you to implement and make arguments defending the methods you use in your PhD theses.
You may choose an alternative course depending on your previous research design training as more specialised options are available.
Quantitative Research Methods
You choose a course in quantitative methods or statistics depending on your previous quantitative methods training and research interests.
Qualitative Research Methods
This core course covers conceptual understandings of current academic debates regarding qualitative methods, and with practical skills to put those methods into practice. Where applicable you can replace this course with alternative advanced qualitative training.
Elective Course in the Social Sciences
You will have the opportunity to select an elective course aligned with your research interests in either Management, Organisational Behaviour, Employment Relations, Law, Gender, Government, or other subject areas in agreement with your supervisor.
A Social Sciences Perspective of Academic Research in Management
Along with all MRes/PhD and MPhil/PhD students from across the Department of Management Research programmes you will participate in a seminar on the nature of scientific enquiry in the Social Sciences. The seminar series is led by members of the Faculty across the Department and provides an interdisciplinary collaborative perspective and the opportunity for students to develop academic presentation skills
Second year (MRes)
In the second year, you will continue to participate in Research Practicums and the Employment Relations and Human Resources Seminar. You will take two elective courses in your area of interest or additional methods depending on your training and intellectual requirements and preferences. You will write a research paper in your field of interest which will form an important element in your upgrade to PhD.
Courses include:
Employment Relations and Human Resource Management Seminar II (suspended in 2024/25)
Advanced Quantitative Analysis for Research in Management
Two Elective Courses in areas of research interest or additional methods training
Research Paper in Management (MRes PhD Programmes)
Third, fourth and fifth year (PhD)
Upon successfully completing the MRes and progressing to the PhD, you will work on your research and write your PhD thesis. Throughout the 3-5 year preiod there are regular reviews on your research progress. In the final year you prepare a detailed plan of work for the successful submission of your thesis.
Throughout your PhD you will show the continued development of research ideas for publication, participation in relevant training courses and career development activities.
For the most up-to-date list of courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page.
You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.
You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the updated graduate course and programme information page.