Business MRes

On this course you'll develop skills, practices, methodologies and techniques of research linked to business and management. This degree prepare you to become a successful researcher in business subjects, such as leadership, management, marketing or tourism.  It also provides you with routes towards further studies, such as a doctoral degree, or careers in research within businesses, public services, or academia.

You'll learn from academic staff who are internationally regarded researchers and inter-disciplinary practitioners. York Business School has a thriving research culture and infrastructure, and MRes students are central to this ethos and supportive framework, through a range of tailored postgraduate research activities and School seminar series.

You'll work closely with a supervisor who will oversee your learning and developing knowledge in contemporary business challenges. This will enable you to create your own original research project. Through this you'll develop into a thoughtful researcher who understands the complexities and assumptions in research, as well as its strengths and weaknesses. You will gain skills in a wide range of research techniques that you can apply to different business situations.

How you will study

You can study this postgraduate course full time or part time. The course will take 1 year to complete full time and 2 years part time.

You will study 2 modules worth 30 credits each, as well as 1 module worth 120 credits.

You can find out which modules are available in each term in the course specifications.

Modules

Teaching and learning

You will be allocated an academic tutor in your first week of study. Work with them to develop a supportive relationship whilst also creating a set programme of personal, academic and professional development.

Independent research is a key component of this course. Guided by your tutor, you will develop and enhance your skills in investigating resources to find the information relevant to your chosen topic. In essence, this is self-guided learning. Throughout, you will have access to the University's resource library but will be encouraged to find your own research materials.

We keep our group sizes small so we can get to know your creative personality and support your aspirations. You will learn through:

• Interactive presentations and workshops
• Guided research tasks
• Dissertation supervision

Your learning will be informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. Our academic teams are constantly investigating, interrogating and contributing to their respective fields. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.

Assessment

You'll be required to demonstrate your research and increasing knowledge through different assessed mediums. These are the research skills portfolio and written research proposals and reports, including the thesis.

A significant proportion of your time will be dedicated to the completion of your thesis, which is an independent research project. This will be supervised by academic staff members, who are nationally and internationally recognised for research excellence. Your thesis makes up the majority of your final grade.

Qualifications

Qualifications

If your first degree is not in Business but you have covered sufficient levels of business studies and research methods, we will consider your application. Applications such as this will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Other requirements

You may be required to attend an invited interview with academic specialists.

International students

If you are an international student, you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.

Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.

If English is not your first language, you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.5 (with at least 6.5 in the writing component) or equivalent.

International entry requirements

Terms and conditions

Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.

UK 2025 - 2026 entry

The tuition fee for 2025 entry to the Business MRes is:

• £7,000 for full time study
• £3,500 per year for part time study

These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.

Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

Funding opportunities

International 2025 - 2026 entry

The tuition fee for 2025 entry to the Business MRes is:

• £11,800 for full time study

These costs apply to all students living outside the UK.

Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.

Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

International Fees and Funding

Tuition fees

Alumni Scholarships

If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.

Scholarships for alumni

Additional costs and financial support

Course-related costs

While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.

Accommodation and living costs

View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.

Where could Business MRes take you?

This degree will help to prepare you for a successful future in academia. You might want to go into teaching, or continue in your journey towards a PhD. The skills, knowledge and competencies learned are desirable to employers across a range of sectors. These include:

• Employment and recruitment
• Management and human resources
• Blockchain and emerging technologies

Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study.

Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £8,000 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree. (Department For Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2019)

Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:

• Employer events
• LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
• Workshops on application writing and interview skills
• Work experience and volunteering opportunities
• Personalised career advice

This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.