Programme Specification
MRes in Management Studies
School: YSJU London
Subject area: Management Studies
Entry from academic year: 2025-26
in the month(s) of September and February
Awarding institution: York St John University
Teaching institution: York St John University
Delivery location: YSJU London
Programme/s accredited by: Not applicable
Exit awards: Postgraduate Certificate in Management Studies
UCAS code / GTTR / other: Not applicable
Joint Honours combinations: Not applicable
QAA subject benchmark Subject Benchmark Statement for Business and Management
statement(s): (Masters, 2023)
Master’s Degree Characteristics (February 2020)
Mode/s of study: Full time (12 months)
Language of study: English
Paired with Foundation Year No
Study abroad opportunities: No
Opt-in YSJU Placement Year No
opportunity:
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Introduction and Special Features
The primary objective of the MRes in Management Studies (MSR) programme is to offer you
the opportunity to build, grow and enhance your personal and professional scientific skills. The
programme will facilitate an environment for future researchers to rigorously explore, through
research, interaction with established academics and industry professionals, and via their
independent study, the contemporary and pressing issues in social sciences. This will range
from the various domains of management and business in public and private organisations,
domestically, regionally, and globally.
The programme combines fundamentals and cutting-edge principles, theories, and data
analysis techniques aligned with the scope of Management Studies. It has a focused taught
component (one-third), and a subsequent research component (two-thirds). Generally, this
programme is designed to equip future researchers with the essential aspects of scientific
inquiry, to provoke and enthuse their reflective capabilities, critically contrive on a wider range
of philosophical approaches, and employ and analyse different data sources to formulate their
strategy in studying a phenomenon of interest. While the programme is divided into three core
modules, five profound aspects are highly embedded.
In the programme's first module, you will be equipped with the skills, knowledge and theory
from the module “Critical and Reflective Thinking on Philosophies and Methodologies of
Social Inquiry”. In this module, the first aspect of the programme emerges to allow students
to expound, expose, and critically evaluate the different schools of thought ranging from the
dominant positivistic stances of scientific inquiry to social constructionism, conventionalism,
and post-modernism stances. Ideally, this aspect will allow you to reflect on ‘how and why’
ideas and concepts are born. Another compelling aim is to prepare you, who will be by then a
new researcher, to have a significant grasp over the different links between matching and
varying philosophical and methodological perspectives paving the way to prepare a rigorous
methodology for your thesis. The second aspect that emerges through this module aims to
train you on the various methods of data collection and analysis techniques. Throughout the
programme, you will be able to identify challenges in today’s world and ways to create concepts
around them. Hence, this second aspect of the programme will allow you to provoke your
thinking and start forming the strategy and direction of your research. The content of this aspect
will expose a range of techniques that will help you in collecting and analysing data
corresponding to the nature of your research, triangled from the views of the researcher (the
candidate), the researched (the phenomenon of interest), and the research participants (data
source).
In the second module of this programme, you will study “Analysing Contemporary
Challenges and Knowledge in Organisations and Management”. In this module, the third
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aspect of the programme unfolds allowing you to review, discuss and reflect on various
contemporary challenges in different domains of organisations, management, and businesses,
focusing on today’s societal, environmental, and economic issues on both individual and
collective levels. This aspect aims to allow you to cast a deeper light on some of the pressing
matters that face societies and organisations. Following this aim, the fourth aspect of the
programme emerges through this module which entails training you in designing the analysis
of your literature review. The target here is to answer the question of: How can I identify the
gap in knowledge of the phenomenon I will explore? You will be ready to dig deeper into the
recent knowledge in your areas of interest, and to do so you need to be aware of various
scientific ways of reviewing current and previous research, synthesis concepts, and building
theoretical, practical, and conceptual frameworks that you can explore and drive practical
and/or conceptual findings and recommendations. This aspect aims to identify the different
ways of reviewing the literature of your areas: ranging from systematic to narrative literature
review strategies.
Finally, emerges the fifth and last aspect of the programme. This aspect constitutes the full
content of the third module “Thesis”, which marks the research component of the programme,
and your independent research and study stage. This module runs throughout the two
semesters where the University will assign experienced academics coupled with, in some
instances, industry-based advisors as part of your supervisory team who will assist and
supervise you in writing and completing your research. Whether full-time or part-time, you will
start working on the research topic with your assigned supervisor(s) starting from your first
semester. Each student will also be provided an industry-based advisor depending on
availability and where necessary. Supported by a supervisory team of academics, you will
develop a research thesis alongside an innovative mindset to gain a competitive advantage in
the global market and possess the skillset necessary for further development in terms of
academic progression. The curriculum for this module, and the programme, is designed to
serve the overarching ethical and sustainable guidelines of the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals, without compromising the conventional nature and speciality of its
modules. As part of your academic journey, you will be allocated a coach plus a tutor and
supported by the well-being services to ensure a successful outcome of the programme. This
will enable you to succeed during your research and in skills refinement and development to
become an effective researcher today.
You will interact throughout your studies with highly qualified academic members of staff who
possess solid international experience and have a range of research expertise that matches
the research interests of students. YSJU will provide you with an interesting research and
development environment with its academic support facilities to help you nurture your skills.
Upon the successful completion of this programme, you will be equipped with the knowledge,
analytical, and research skills that will prepare you to pursue the highest level of academic and
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executive education on a doctoral level (PhD/DBA). This will be achieved through applying the
acquired skills to explore and review various domains of business and management pertaining
to the modules you have learned. With the assistance of our established academics, the review
of such domains coupled with your learning of distinct research methodologies and methods,
you will be able to analyse, research, and write academically and professionally with a critical
lens on areas that need further investigation on a master’s level.
Additionally, your exposure and application to various knowledge and methodologies through
your research will allow you to master practice-based concepts, and be subject-matter-experts,
to pursue careers relevant to your area of interest. In pursuing industry careers, the knowledge
and skills gained through the modules will be portrayed by your ability to critically reflect,
assess, and write various professional reports that link theoretical frameworks with practice,
and address contemporary issues in various business and management settings on the
challenges facing organisations in various disciplines and contexts. Whatever career you
choose to pursue, whichever sector you intend to work in, there will be a requirement to apply
your knowledge ethically and responsibly and to disseminate your research and practice-
based knowledge to benefit your communities and organisations. Thus, generating ideas,
establishing new ways of thinking and working, finding solutions, or accessing new networks
to gather data, and produce new opportunities for your organisation.
Admissions Criteria
Students must meet the University’s general entry criteria for postgraduate study. In addition,
students must have:
1. A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, in a relevant subject field achieved at Class 2:2 or
above (or GPA 3 out of 4 – or above, or GPA 4 out of 5 – or above) from an approved university
or institution, or criteria 2, and a must for criteria 3.
2. A Master’s degree, in a relevant subject field achieved at a MERIT award, or equivalent
to Class of 2:2 or above (or GPA 3 out of 4 or above, or GPA 4 out of 5 or above) from an
approved university or an international institution and:
3. An IELTS (International English Language Testing System: Academic) with a score 6.5
overall, and 6.0 in all components: Writing, listening, Reading, and Speaking from an approved
institution and:
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4. As a part of your application, you are required to submit a short proposal that must NOT
exceed 1500 words. This proposal must be aligned with the research themes that you are
interested in carrying on for your thesis.
5. Candidates may be required to pass an invited screening interview with a panel of
academic/s from the field. The panel will convene twice a year for one month each round to
conduct interviews with selected prospective students.
If your first language is not English, you need to take an IELTS test or an equivalent
qualification accepted by the University (see https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/international/how-to-
apply/english-language-requirements/).
If you do not have traditional qualifications, you may be eligible for entry based on Recognition
of prior learning (RPL). We also consider applications for entry with advanced standing.
Programme Aim(s)
The MRes in Management Studies is a specialist degree of research that aims to equip
students with the skills that will enable them to contribute to the academic literature and/or
contemporary management practice. It will provide students with approaches of a research-
led teaching environment that will enable them to acquire the transferable skills they need to
progress efficiently and effectively in the world of organisations and management. It will provide
them with the essential knowledge of research philosophies, methodologies, and recent skills
for literature analysis, and academic writing.
The programme aims to build students’ analytical skills enabling them to foster in both
academic and industry settings. Finally, this programme also aims to prepare those who wish
to undertake a DBA / PhD in management and business within its broader branch of social
sciences. It will allow students to understand the research mechanism by working closely with
senior academics.
Programme Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the programme, students will be able to:
7.1 Demonstration of critical reflectivity and evaluation significant to the type of literature review
adopted and justification of selection of materials that scope their work.
7.2 Make informed judgements that involve a synthesis of relevant fields of management
studies and their associated theories to develop a deep knowledge of their
organisational/professional situation.
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7.3 Exploration and evaluation of literature in relation to the research area and the implications
for their chosen field/research problem.
7.4 Identify, explore, inculcate, and interpret the various approaches of philosophical and
methodological issues pertaining to contemporary research methods and techniques that are
at the forefront of management and/or organisation research and theory.
7.5 Demonstration of critical development of arguments, justification of research approach and
contribution to your chosen field/research problem.
7.6 Application of critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the identification of the changing
environmental issues and how that may affect their chosen field/research problem.
7.7 Critically expand their awareness of the modes of engagement a researcher deploys in
undertaking management studies research in various and ambiguous situations and their
ethical implications.
7.8 Demonstrate the academic skills appropriate to level 7, including the development of
standards of oral and written presentation to sustain arguments, and the presentation of
original questions to peers in professional and academic domains, as part of an international
community of reflective practitioners.
7.9 Develop an interpretation of the research life cycle, as the basis to produce novel and
independent research.
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Programme structure
Full-Time Programme Structure (12 months)
Module status
non-
compensatable
compulsory (C)
(NC) or
or optional (O)
Semester
compensatable
Credits
Level
Code Title (X)
Critical and Reflective
Thinking on Philosophies
MSR7001M 7 1 30 C NC
and Methodologies of
Social Inquiry
Analysing Contemporary
MSR7002M Challenges and
1 Knowledge in 30 C NC
7
Organisations and
Management
MSR7003R 7 2&3 Thesis 120 C NC
Critical and Reflective
Thinking on Philosophies
and Methodologies of
Social Inquiry
Candidate Entry Point for MRes.
MRes. Management
Selection Thesis Studies
Management Module Award
Process Studies
Analysing Contemporary
Challenges and Knowledge
in Organisations and
Management
Postgraduate
Certificate
Management Studies
(Exit awards: for
students not
progressing to the
Thesis stage)
Learning, Teaching and Assessment
The learning, teaching and assessment approach is based on the principles of learner-driven
pedagogy, integrative curriculum design, and sustainable assessment, to develop the
innovative professional and reflective practitioner. The programme is focused on developing
an array of desirable graduate attributes, through inclusive and equitable teaching, learning
and assessment practices, that prioritise students’ experiences, cultures, and potential leaders
of tomorrow. As a result, several tenets underpin the programme’s design including:
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• The use of active learning approaches, which are practical, authentic, and experiential
in nature.
• Develop levels of responsibility, accountability, and autonomy over time
• Focusing on holistic competence, as well as programme content
• Encouraging reflection as an aid to learning
The programme recognises that students are likely to bring significant experience and
knowledge, that can be shared, and subsequently shape the learning environment. Therefore,
the programme’s pedagogy is divergent, and rooted in research-based and inquiry-led
learning. You may not have engaged in conventional education for some time or may never
have formally studied a Master of Research at a postgraduate level. Thus, support with study
skills, conventions of academic analysis and scholarly writing will be available throughout the
programme.
All modules are designed and delivered utilising a range of teaching, learning and assessment
techniques, including (online and/or video) lectures, workshops, seminars, debates, discussion
forums and tutorials. By utilising a range of assessment practices, the programme will ensure
an inclusive and individualised experience, through mechanisms such as portfolios,
presentations, vivas, and project-based research. Academics will provide formative
assessment opportunities and feedback/forward, to inform your work before submission. You
will benefit from a variety of feedback modes (as appropriate to the method of assessment),
encompassing verbal/audio, written/rubric, live/in-person and via individual and/or group
techniques. Feedback received will detail how you can develop areas of research, subject
knowledge, and professional practice.
Progression and graduation requirements
The University’s regulations for research awards apply to this programme. Any modules that
must be passed for progression or award are indicated in the Programme Structure section as
non-compensatable.
Internal and external reference points
This programme specification was formulated with reference to:
• University mission and values
• University 2026 Strategy
• QAA subject benchmark statements
• Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications
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• YSJU Research Degrees Regulations 2023-24
Date written/revised: 3 July 2025 (revised)
Programme originally approved:
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