MRes Business
Embark on an inspirational learning experience enabling you to lead research in your field.
Embark on an inspirational learning experience enabling you to lead research in your field
Work with world-class faculty in a globally recognised research community
Lead research efforts to solve today's major global issues
Course key facts
Qualification
MRes
Duration
1 or 2 years
Start date
September 2026
Study mode
Full-time
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
Master's degree awarded with Merit, and 2:1 undergraduate degree.
Course overview
Are you driven by the key global issues facing us today? Do you want to contribute and develop research that is used to confront these issues?
This one or two-year research Master's course will challenge and advance your thinking, preparing you for doctoral studies and careers in further research.
Through lectures, workshops and seminars, you'll explore themes from digital transformation to sustainable development to financial and institutional resilience. You'll learn the theories, tools and methodologies needed to undertake research to solve critical, real-world issues through attending practical sessions with industry experts and analysing case studies.
You'll complete a research project in an area of your interest, allowing you to execute the research skills taught on the course. You can opt to take a specialist management and entrepeneurship pathway, where you'll deepen your knowledge of this area and use it for the basis of your research project.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
Our one-year MRes course specialises in Analytics, Marketing and Operations.
Core modules
You study all of these core modules:
- Systematic Reviews
- Data Analysis Tools
- Research Project
Optional modules
You choose elective modules from the following:
Research methods modules
- Applied Microeconometrics 1
- Econometrics 1
- Qualitative Methods 1
- Qualitative Methods 2
- Quantitative Methods 1
Specialist Modules
- Consumer Behaviour
- Decision Making Under Uncertainty
- Industrial Organisation
- Machine Learning for Analytics
- Microeconomics 1
- Microeconomics 2
- Stochastic Processes
- Sustainable Behaviour
Other elective modules
- Advanced Topics in Organisational Behaviour
- Asset Pricing Theory
- Corporate Finance
- Corporate Sustainability
- Consumer Behaviour
- Empirical Asset Pricing
- Empirical Corporate Finance
- Entrepreneurship
- Financial Economics of Climate Sustainability
- Foundations of Big Data and Machine Learning in Finance
- Industrial Organisation
- Innovation Management
- Interdisciplinary Research
- Machine Learning for Analytics
- Machine Learning for Economic Analysis
- Macroeconomics
- Macro-Finance
- Micro Development Economics
- Optimisation & Decision Models
- Organisational Behaviour
- Organisation Theory
- Readings in Digital Business
- Readings in Social Networks: Social Capital
- Special Topics in Organisational Theory and Strategy
- Strategy
- Topics in Empirical Banking
- Healthcare and Medical Analytics*
- Logistics and Supply Chain Analytics*
- Optimisation and Decision Models*
- Retail and Marketing Analysis*
*These modules are available subject to capacity and timetabling constraints in other faculties and are differently weighted to the MRes Business electives
There may also be opportunities to choose optional modules from our partner institutions London Business School and Queen Mary University, subject to availability.
If you choose to specialise in Management and Entrepreneurship, you will undertake a two-year research-oriented MRes programme.
Year 1
You will complete the following core modules:
- Applied Microeconometrics
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation Management
- Introduction to the Practice of Research
- Organisational Behaviour
- Organisational Theory
- Strategy
- Qualitative Methods 1
- Quantitative Methods 1
- Research Experience
Year 2
You will complete the core Research Project, plus four elective modules chosen from the list below:
- Advanced Topics in Organisational Behaviour
- Consumer Behaviour
- Corporate Sustainability
- Decision Making Under Certainty
- Econometrics 1
- Empirical Asset Pricing
- Empirical Industrial Organisation
- Financial Economics of Climate and Sustainability
- Industrial Organisation
- Interdisciplinary Research
- Machine Learning for Analytics, Marketing and Operations
- Machine Learning in Economic Analysis
- Macroeconomics
- Macro-Finance
- Microeconomics 1
- Microeconomics 2
- Micro Development Economics
- Optimisation
- Qualitative Methods 2
- Readings in Digital Business
- Readings in Social Networks/Social Capital
- Special Topics in Organisational Theory/Strategy
- Stochastic Processes
- Sustainable Behaviour
- Text Mining for Economics and Finance
- Topics in Empirical Banking
- Topics in Environmental and Resource Economics
- Topics in Health Economics
- Topics in Household Finance
If you choose to specialise in Finance, you will undertake a two-year research-oriented MRes programme.
Year 1
You will complete the following core modules:
- Applied Microeconomics
- Asset Pricing Theory
- Corporate Finance
- Econometrics 1
- Macroeconomics 1
- Macroeconomics 2
- Microeconomics 1
- Research Experience
Year 2
You will complete the core Research Project and Topics in Finance, plus four elective modules chosen from the list below:
- Advanced Financial Statistics
- Asset Allocation and Investment Strategies
- Big Data in Finance
- Consumer Behaviour
- Corporate Sustainability
- Decision Making Under Certainty
- Empirical Asset Pricing
- Empirical Industrial Organisation
- Entrepreneurship
- Financial Economics for Climate Sustainability
- Foundations of Big Data and Machine Learning in Finance
- Industrial Organisation
- Innovation Management
- Machine Learning in Economic Analysis
- Machine Learning for Analytics, Marketing and Operations
- Macroeconomics
- Macro-Finance
- Microeconomics 1
- Microeconomics 2
- Micro Development Economics
- Optimisation
- Organisational Behaviour
- Organisational Theory
- Qualitative Methods I
- Qualitative Methods II
- Quantitative Methods I
- Special Topics in Organisational Theory and Strategy
- Strategy
- Stochastic Processes
- Sustainable Behaviour
- Topics in Empirical Banking
- Topics in Environmental and Resource Economics
- Topics in Household Finance
If you choose to specialise in Economics and Public Policy, you will undertake a two-year research-oriented MRes programme.
Year 1
You will complete the following compulsory modules:
- Applied Microeconometrics
- Econometrics 1
- Empirical Industrial Organisation
- Macroeconomics 1
- Macroeconomics 2
- Microeconomics 1
- Microeconomics 2
- Research Experience
Year 2
You will complete the core Research Project, plus four elective modules chosen from the list below:
- Asset Pricing Theory
- Consumer Behaviour
- Corporate Finance
- Decision Making Under Certainty
- Empirical Asset Pricing
- Entrepreneurship
- Financial Economics of Climate and Sustainability
- Foundations of Big Data and Machine Learning in Finance
- Industrial Organisation
- Innovation Management
- Machine Learning for Analytics, Marketing and Operations
- Machine Learning for Economic Analysis
- Macro-Finance
- Microeconomics 1
- Microeconomics 2
- Micro Development Economics
- Optimisation
- Organisational Behaviour
- Organisational Theory
- Qualitative Methods I
- Qualitative Methods II
- Special Topics in Organisational Theory and Strategy
- Stochastic Processes
- Strategy
- Sustainable Behaviour
- Topics in Empirical Banking
- Topics in Environmental and Resource Economics
- Topics in Finance
- Topics in Health Economics
- Topics in Household Finance
Professional accreditation
We are among a handful of business schools worldwide to achieve triple accreditation:
- Association of MBAs (AMBA)
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS)
We have also been recognised for our work in tackling gender inequality in higher education with a Bronze Athena SWAN award.
Teaching and assessment
This is a general guide to how teaching and learning are usually balanced across this course. The methods used may change based on the modules you take.
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Practical classes and fieldwork
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Equipment/technique demonstrations (e.g. Bloomberg, Datastream)
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Presentations and seminars
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Workshops
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Case studies
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Group work
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Virtual learning environment
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Lecture recordings
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may be different depending on the modules you choose.
Assessment methods
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Continuous assessments
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Essays
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Written exams
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Multiple choice tests
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Formal presentations
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Reports
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Case studies
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Participation
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
If you are applying to the Business School, this course must be submitted as your first choice in your application to be considered.
Visit our Admissions website for details on the application process.
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Personal statement
All applicants will need to complete a personal statement which outlines their motivation for undertaking this MRes and their area of research interest.
Interview
Eligible applicants are invited to interview by two faculty members.
Interviews are assessed on the following criteria:
- Capability: top-level intellectual capacity
- Commitment: demonstration of serious intent and ability to pursue PhD studies on a full-time basis
- Compatibility: research interests that are compatible with those of the research faculty
Applicants may be invited to a second interview if required.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
We offer a funded programme at the Business School. This includes a full tuition fee waiver (Home/EU or Overseas fees) plus a living stipend for up to five years through the Business School Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship.
Find out more about funding for this programme
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
Examine case studies with industry experts and learn the tools, theories, and methodologies of conducting research.
Become familiar with the latest work by internal and external academics, including research that is yet to be published.
Prepare yourself with the necessary training to continue your studies with a PhD, or for a career in a variety of employment sectors.
Potential career paths include working in industries such as business, management, healthcare, and economics.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7589 5111
- Email: business.school@imperial.ac.uk
Visit the Imperial Business School website.
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Join our mailing list
Learn more about our programmes, keep up-to-date with application deadlines and relevant events.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications