External summary

'Management' encompasses the various processes, procedures and practices for effective leadership and management of organisations. It includes theories, models, frameworks, tasks and roles of management together with rational analysis and other processes of decision making within organisations and in relation to the external context. It also includes the critical application of theory to the advancement of management practice.  'Organisations' should be interpreted to include a wide range of different types including, for example, public, private and not-for-profit, together with a comprehensive range of sizes and structures of organisations.

A research degree from Edinburgh is a unique opportunity to experience one of Europe's leading universities in one of the world’s most iconic cities.  We have a long tradition of excellence in the field and have developed a wealth of knowledge across some of the most important research areas in business and management today.

The programme aims to develop:

• knowledge and understanding of management theories, concepts, research paradigms and research findings
• research skills, including statistical and other data analysis skills, which will equip students to contribute to management knowledge
• an awareness of applications and implications of management theories and research
• the ability to think critically and creatively about theoretical, empirical and applied issues and their inter-relationships
• an appreciation of the diverse, wide-ranging nature of management and an ability to make links between different areas of the discipline

Educational aims of programme

The MSc by Research (Management) offers participants in-depth training in research methods and introduces key research themes and current research areas across a range of management disciplines. The degree aims to develop the participants’ ability to pursue original research in a critical and scholarly way. The programme is designed to train students in research skills in line with the ESRC’s postgraduate training framework available at:

(http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/guidance/postgraduates/ptframework.aspx).

While the programme serves as a stand-alone Masters degree, most students continue with doctoral studies after successful completion of their studies.

At the end of the session all students taking the programme should

• have an in depth critical understanding of the research techniques used in a broad range of subject areas within Management;
• have practical competence in a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods and tools;
• have a critical understanding of the philosophical and epistemological bases of a range of subject areas within Management; and
• have an in depth understanding of advanced concepts in the area of their research and current research trends and issues in Management.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

In the context of management studies and its sub-disciplines, by the end of the programme students will be able to:

• Critically evaluate the relationship between empirical research, theory generation and theory testing
• Critically evaluate the different forms of sampling, sampling error and potential biases in the interpretation of research findings
• Explain and apply advanced levels of competence in quantitative and qualitative methods of research
• Discuss with critical awareness discipline-based concepts and approaches to analyse contemporary management issues
• Describe and evaluate the key philosophical and ethical debates underpinning social science research
• Describe and  evaluate current research themes across diverse areas of management research

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in research and enquiry

By the end of the programme students will be able to:

• Explain and apply the principles of research design and strategy in the field of management and its sub-disciplines
• Explain and apply the principal research methods and tools used in the social sciences
• Define and formulate research problems and questions in order to engage with current disciplinary issues
• Exercise informed independent thought and critical judgement
• Critically analyse and synthesize information to support research themes in management and its sub-disciplines

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal and intellectual autonomy

By the end of the programme students will be expected to:

• Explain and apply the ethical and legal issues pertaining to research
• Complete a major work that shows evidence of independent learning

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

By the end of the programme students will be able to:

• Communicate complex information and critical evaluation orally and in writing

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in personal effectiveness

By the end of the programme students will be expected to:

• Apply research management and team-working skills
• Demonstrate independent action and initiative
• Demonstrate an ability to manage tasks and deadlines
• Follow an independent programme of study through to completion

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

These skills are covered under the headings above.

Programme structure and features

Degree Criteria

The degree is available to take full-time (12 months) or part time (24 months) and the normal residency requirements of the University apply.  However, most of the classes in the taught courses are held during normal working hours, so some flexibility is expected on the part of the student studying part-time in order to attend these classes.  To achieve the degree students much obtain 120 credits from taught courses and 60 credits from the research dissertation.  Diploma is full-time for 9 months, 120 credits from taught courses.

Programme Structure

Core Courses

Optional Courses
Select exactly 40 credits from the following list of courses as available.

Elective Courses
Select a minimum of 15 credits and maximum of 20 credits from the following list of courses as available.

NB:  The above are all courses provided on Business School taught Masters programmes.  Some may not be available to PGR students.

The list is not exclusive. It may be possible to substitute another postgraduate course for one or more of the above courses, if the student has already passed a similar course.  Such a substitution must be agreed in advance by the Director of the Doctoral Programme and the relevant course organiser.  Examples of appropriate courses include appropriate Masters level courses taught within the Business School or courses offered through the Graduate School of Social and Political Studies.

Supervised Assignments/and Masters levels courses

A major element of the programme consists of research-based assignment of 5,000 words which may be supported by either a supervised reading course or a taught Masters level course. The nature of the assignment is agreed between student and supervisor. The submission date is to be agreed with the supervisor and should not normally be later than the end of the second semester, to allow the student to focus on the MSc dissertation during June, July, and August.

Progression and Exit Awards

Progression to the dissertation is conditional upon satisfactory completion of the 120 credits of assessment detailed above, and the standard University regulations apply.  If progression is not approved the Diploma may be awarded subject to meeting the standard University requirements.

Award of the MSc

For the award of MSc, a student normally requires a minimum mark of at least 50% for each unit of assessment and at least 50% for the dissertation.  A student whose dissertation is judged to be marginally below the required standard may be given the chance to make minor amendments.  If the dissertation is still not awarded at least 50%, or is not considered redeemable through minor amendments in the first place, the student will be considered for the award of Diploma by Research (Management).

Further information on assessment procedures can be found in the University's Code of Practice for Taught Postgraduate Programmes to be found at:

http://www.postgrad.ed.ac.uk/mascode/default.htm

The University's degrees and other academic awards are given in recognition of the candidate's personal achievement.  In this context, please note the guidance on avoiding plagiarism in section 9 of this handbook.

MSc with Distinction

To be awarded the MSc with Distinction, students normally require marks of:
1. at least 70% for the dissertation;
2. at least 70% for two or more of the units of assessment; and
3. at least 60% for the remaining units.

Research  Dissertation

The final element of the degree programme is the dissertation. The dissertation focuses on a subject chosen in agreement with the supervisor.  Work on the dissertation should begin at the end of the second semester or earlier.  University regulations require full-time postgraduate students to be in Edinburgh for the duration of the programme, unless specifically granted leave of absence.

In general the aims of the dissertation are:

• to give you the opportunity to practise and gain confidence in the use of skills which you have acquired in the courses;
• to deepen your understanding of the research methods used in your field of study 
• (if you intend to complete a PhD) to complete some preparatory work for your doctoral thesis.  For example you may critically survey literature and then carry out an empirical pilot study using a smaller sample than would be undertaken in the subsequent doctoral research;
• (if you intend to complete a PhD) to enable you to try out or evaluate a methodology to be used in your doctoral thesis.

Teaching and learning methods and strategies

The Business School's strategy in learning and teaching is to deliver a dynamic, engaged, classroom experience that exposes our students to both practical and theoretical perspectives on business issues in ways that stretch and challenge them. The graduate attributes listed above are met through a teaching and learning framework (detailed below) which is appropriate to the level and content of the course.

Teaching and Learning Activities

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Workshops
• Seminars
• Field work/data collection
• Dissertation
• One to one meetings with supervisors

This MSc is a research degree and accordingly all students are assigned a supervisor from the outset of their studies.  The role of the supervisor is to:

• Guide the student in focusing the study and in drawing up a plan and outline for the dissertation to ensure that a manageable piece of work is envisaged;
• Advise the student on relevant literature.  The supervisor will also give advice on the subject area, methodology, and structure of dissertation;
• Monitor progress;
• Read and comment on draft chapters.  It is up to the supervisor's professional judgement as to how much of the dissertation s/he is willing to read.  Clearly a supervisor cannot examine a dissertation before it is formally submitted and any comments which s/he makes on a draft are provisional in that the Board of Examiners may come to a view which differs from that of the supervisor.  The responsibility for the quality and content of a dissertation is entirely that of the student.  

Assessment methods and strategies

Courses can be assessed by a diverse range of methods and often take the form of formative work which provides the student with on-going feedback as well as summative assessment which is submitted for credit. Methods applied are:

• Essays
• Research Project
• Supervised Assignments/and Masters levels courses

Research Skills in the Social Sciences:  Data Collection is assessed by a course paper of 4000 words which also requires students to carry out a short practical exercise.  This is an integral part of the course, giving the opportunity to demonstrate and reflect on all their learning in lectures and workshops and through independent study.

Research Design is assessed by one 3000-4000 word course paper detailing and defending all or part of the research design the student intends to use in their research project.

A major element of the programme consists of research-based assignment of 5,000 words (the ‘supervised reading’ course’). The primary objective of the course is to encourage the student to both demonstrate familiarity with current research themes across a focused area of management research but also a critical awareness of discipline-based concepts and literature. Whilst the supervised reading will aim to encourage  informed independent thought and critical judgement, the exact nature and boundaries of the assignment is agreed between the student and supervisor beforehand. The supervisor will provide verbal or written feedback at regular stages throughout the process. The submission date is to be agreed with the supervisor and should not normally be later than the end of the second semester, to allow the student to focus on the MSc dissertation during June, July, and August.

Career opportunities

The MSc by Research in many cases serves as entry qualification to our PhD programme. Of recent years, three graduates have chosen this model. Otherwise graduates generally move to other institutions to take up academic positions.

Other items

The programme encourages and supports training in transferable skills and personal development. While the development of such skills is an integral element of the courses offered through the programme, the School and the wider University provide numerous additional opportunities. Optional courses and learning opportunities in transferable skills are available and details will be provided at the start of the programme.

All students are required to take note of the School’s Research Ethics Guidelines at the beginning of their studies and sign a form agreeing to abide by these guidelines, regardless of how much such issues may pertain to their own research.

Course teaching will mainly be based in the University of Edinburgh Business School, 29 Buccleuch Place. In addition to 8 lecture rooms of varying size, the School offers sixteen syndicate rooms all with a dedicated PC and laptop hook-up and equipped with Smartboards or large LCD displays. Syndicate rooms are accessed by proximity card, are bookable in advance and have audio enhancement for hearing impaired. We offer two computing rooms and a computer teaching laboratory. The School hosts its own library and business information resources centre (The Hub), open from 07.00 ??? 24.00. The associated website supports all the postgraduate courses taught at the School and provides extensive access to a wide range of electronic business information, business research databases and on-line journals. Access to the vast majority of these services is also available to students and staff from their place of work for part-time students and at home world-wide. The portal gives access through the intranet to a comprehensive collection of electronic links, including many specialized subscribed databases (e.g. Datastream, Thomson Research, Thompson One Banker, London Share Price Database, Center for Research Security Prices (CRSP), Compustat, WRDS), to support teaching and learning. MSc students have 24-hour access to the labs in 29 Buccleuch Place.  An in depth training session in the use of the Hub and its resources is provided as part of the induction programme.