Course overview

Aston Business School’s MRes Business and Management is a research-orientated programme, designed to equip those who already hold an undergraduate degree in a business and management discipline with the advanced research skills, training, and experience to progress onto further doctoral study and/or research careers within private, public, and academic sectors.

Please note your application will not be reviewed/progressed further unless the research proposal is provided as part of your application.

Why Business and Management MRes at Aston University?

Recognised for quality

Aston Business School is proud to be among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation

Research active staff

Our research environment is driven by our dedication to deliver positive impact through our teaching and research, for the benefit of our students, industry, commerce and the wider community.

Top 100 in Europe

Aston Business School ranked 15th in the UK and 90th in Europe (Financial Times European Business Schools ranking 2025)

Top 5% in the world

Top 5% of global evaluated institutions (QS World University Rankings 2026)

Discover our research highlights

Learn more about how our academics are impacting the world around us.

Course description

Business and Management MRes

Our Business and Management MRes programme offers you the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research projects and collaborate with passionate, research-active faculty members in areas such as strategy, innovation, organisational behaviour, and international business.

What we will provide
First-class teaching and project supervision in the UK’s second-largest city, delivered by a diverse array of staff who will inspire and excite you. You will benefit from applied learning, research-informed teaching, experienced discipline-specific project supervision, and constructive assessment.

What you will provide
As a postgraduate MRes student, you will be required to work both independently and collaboratively - under the supervision of an academic subject expert - to design, deliver and communicate a meaningful and impactful piece of scholarly research. Through the taught part of the programme, you will be expected to engage with online teaching materials and academic literatures, while also contributing effectively to in-person lecture and seminar sessions. We strongly encourage all our postgraduate students to adopt a growth mindset to their studies: demonstrating critical thinking, application, resilience, ambition and a drive to excel.

What skills we teach
We will provide you with advanced research methods, critical analysis, and project design skills. The programme also supports the development of your academic writing, communication, and professional development abilities, helping to prepare you for doctoral study or research careers in business, consultancy, and academia.

Career prospects
The MRes Business and Management equips you with the advanced research training, skills, application, and experience to prepare you for further doctoral study and/or research careers in business, the public sector, consultancy, and academia.

How you will learn

During your time at Aston University you will learn through a range of assessment methods including research proposals, ethics applications, thesis writing, portfolios and presentations. Assessment methods will balance academic learning activities with assessment designs that reflect real-world research challenges.

You’ll complete a core curriculum of three taught modules which will provide you with a detailed understanding and critical analysis of the contemporary research and analysis methods used in Business and Management.

You will access theoretical learning materials for general study, revision and assessment through our virtual learning platform blackboard. This platform allows you to access a comprehensive range of study materials, recorded lectures, online tutorials, scientific journals, e-journals, databases and much more.

What you will learn

The programme provides you with the opportunity to design and develop a research project within your chosen business and management discipline, allowing you to apply, and refine, your methodological skills in a focused area of study. You may also have the chance to collaborate with industry or organisational partners, gaining valuable real-world insights and experiences. This combination of academic rigour and practical engagement equips graduates to address complex business and management challenges through evidence-based research.

Taught stage modules

In the taught stage, you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Research Design, Practice and Ethics	20
Foundations in Qualitative Research	20
Fundamentals in Quantitative Research	20
Total	60

The programme will follow the standard BSS Teaching Delivery Principles for the three 20 credit taught modules:

Minimum 20 hours of in-person timetabled learning (per 20-credits).
Minimum 20 hours of asynchronous online flexible learning (per 20-credits).
The remainder of the learning hours (totalling 160 hours per 20-credits, all inclusive) will comprise independent study.

Dissertation stage modules

In the dissertation stage, you will study the following core module:

Module Title	Credits
Dissertation For this module, you will receive 12 hours of one-to-one supervisory contact throughout the programme. This may be a combination of face-to-face, online, and email communications. In addition, you will receive 12 hours of small group workshop support that will help further scaffold your progress throughout the research stage of the programme.	120
Total	120

We may update our courses to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.

Entry requirements

Bachelor’s (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent) in a relevant business, management, economics or finance discipline. Applicants with a first degree in a related social sciences discipline may be considered if their first degree contains significant content/modules that relate to their proposed MRes business and management project.
IELTS: 6.5 overall, with 6.0 minimum in all bands (or equivalent)
1 academic reference
Applicants are also required to provide a written Personal Statement and a brief Research Proposal (max 300 words). The Research Proposal should draw on candidates’ academic knowledge gained from their first degree(s), and should outline the proposed topic of investigation, why this topic is of interest, and initial thoughts on methods.

Please note your application will not be reviewed/progressed further unless the research proposal is provided as part of your application.

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 countries choose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Qualifications in your country

For details of equivalent qualifications in your country, use our area pages below:

English language requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification.

English language requirements

How to apply

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

Find out more about applying

Pathway Programmes

If you don’t meet our entry requirements, we have a range of pathway programmes offered by our partner, ONCAMPUS Aston, which you can complete to progress onto one of our degrees.

Masters Foundation programmes

If you don’t meet our entry requirements, we have a range of pathway programmes offered by our partner, ONCAMPUS Aston, which you can complete to progress onto one of our degrees.

Speak to our Admissions Team

If you have any questions about the application process please get in touch with our postgraduate admissions team:

Email: pgadmissions@aston.ac.uk

Call: 0121 204 3200 (Please note this line is open Monday-Friday between 09.30am-4.30pm)

Read our guide to applying

Fees

Course fees

UK students
(2026/27)

Annual tuition fees:

£12,500

International students
(2026/27)

Annual tuition fees:

£25,500

The duration of this programme is set out at the top of this course page and you will be responsible for the payment of an annual tuition fee in each of these years. The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually in accordance with its Terms and Conditions. This means that your total tuition fee may be higher than stated above, but your total tuition fee will never increase by more than 6% year on year. An increase in fees will allow the University to cover the increased costs of delivering the course and ensure it is able to maintain high standards of education and facilities.

More information on fees

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as UK students.

Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees

Assessment

There will be a diverse range of assessments that constructively align to programme and module level learning outcomes. Assessment methods will balance academic learning activities with assessment designs that reflect real-world research challenges.

The types of assessments in the programme include:

Academic essays/reports
Research proposals
Ethics applications
Thesis writing
Oral presentations, in-person / online (e.g. communication strategies, creative pitches)
Portfolios
Poster presentations
Self-reflection

Career prospects

Our research-led teaching prepares graduates for a wide range of careers both within the business sector and beyond, including roles in academic research.

Successful completion of the MRes in Business and Management provides a strong foundation for PhD study, enabling you to develop a research proposal as part of your degree. The programme also fulfils the first year of research training required for many doctoral programmes, giving you a head start on your academic journey.

Whether you aim to pursue a PhD or a research-focused role further afield, this programme equips you with the skills and experience needed to reach your goals.

Be part of our community

Once you have joined us at Aston University, you’ll always be part of our community, even beyond graduation.

Alumni services

Frequently asked questions

Why study Business and Management MRes at Aston University?

Aston Business School focuses on research that delivers excellence, innovation and impact. Our departments and research centres work in harmony to further our understanding of key business disciplines and issues.

By studying the Business and Management MRes at Aston University, you will be preparing yourself for a research-driven career in either industry or academia at a triple accredited business school.

Why should international students choose Aston University?

Study at Aston University and you will be part of a multi-cultural community located at the heart of the dynamic city of Birmingham. Our courses are practical, inspired by industry and many have internationally recognised accreditations. Renowned for our employability prospects and connections to business and industry, we provide outstanding career support, advice and placement opportunities.

For those interested in working in the UK after they have graduated, the UK Government has created a new post-study work visa.

Is Birmingham a good place to study?

Our campus is based in the centre of Birmingham, the youngest major city in Europe and a great place to live, work and study.

Great music and entertainment with a vibrant nightlife. Bars, clubs, pubs, live music, festivals, concerts. Whatever your tastes, there's something here for everyone.
Fantastic food. Birmingham's diverse community means you can try anything from the famous Balti triangle, the Chinese Quarter, high street chains, halal and vegan food, and Michelin-star dining.
World-class shopping. The Bullring and Grand Central is a shopper's paradise. From the world's biggest Primark to luxury brands at the Mailbox.
Arts and culture. Museums, galleries, theatres, concerts and Birmingham's art collection is as wide as it is impressive - not to be missed.
Green, open spaces. One of the greenest cities in Europe, Birmingham has hundreds of publicly accessible parks and green spaces across the city.
Sporting action. Birmingham has some of the most exciting venues for watching or participating in sport in the UK.

Discover Birmingham