Fees and funding

Fees

Fees for entry in 2027 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2026 were as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £20,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £30,500

The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.

Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .

Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

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Graduates of The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University can receive a 10% discount on their master's degree tuition fees as part of our Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount scheme.

Course unit details:
Professional Analytical Skills

Course unit fact file
Unit code BMAN73652
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The course will enhance students’ understanding of, and ability to implement, different research designs and research methods, enabling them to conduct a systematic piece of research both for this unit and their client-facing reports/dissertations in the summer.

Pre/co-requisites

BMAN73652 Programme Req: BMAN73652 is only available as a core unit to students on MSc Business Analysis & Strategic Management

Aims

This unit provides students with a holistic overview of business and management research with specific emphasis on undertaking strategy analysis and management consultancy projects. It strikes a balance between philosophical reflection and theoretical understanding of research methodologies, on the one hand, and the practical aspects of designing and conducting empirical research, on the other.

Learning outcomes

Understand the main methodologies used in research in their area and be aware of the strengths and weaknesses associated with different research techniques, and the production, meaning and use of data;

Understand the particular challenges as well as opportunities associated with research in international and comparative business;

Understand various ways to think about the relationship between theory, context and data;


Understand the key steps in carrying out a research project and select a proper
methodological approach;

Be able to utilise major qualitative and quantitative methods and software tools that are used to collect and analyse secondary research data;

Be able to read and critically evaluate published research;

Develop a project specification (research problem and methodology) and formulate a realistic plan for the MSc dissertation project;

Present your research to academic and professional audiences in written and oral formats

 

 

Assessment methods

• Group Presentation (20%)

• Individual Coursework (80%)

Feedback methods

Informal advice and discussion during a lecture, seminar, workshop or lab

Responses to student emails and questions from a member of staff including feedback provided to a group via an online discussion forum

Written and/or verbal comments on assessed or non-assessed coursework

Written and/or verbal comments after students have given a group or individual presentation

Recommended reading

Required
•             Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A., (2012). Research Methods for Business Students 6th ed., Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.
•             Bryman, Alan and Emma Bell (2011), Business Research methods (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. (ISBN-10: 0199583404; ISBN-13: 978-0199583409)
•             Biggam, John (2011), Succeeding with Your Master's Dissertation - a Step-by-Step Handbook (2nd ed.). Maidenhead: Open University Press/McGraw-Hill. (ISBN: 0335242251).
 
Recommended readings:
 
•             Azorín, J. M., & Cameron, R. (2010). The application of mixed methods in organisational research: A literature review. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 8(2), 95-105.
•             Biggam, John (2011), Succeeding with your master's dissertation - a step-by-step handbook (2nd ed.). Maidenhead: Open University Press/McGraw-Hill.
•             Chalmers, A. F. (2013). What is this thing called science?. Hackett Publishing.
•             Easterby-Smith, M., 2015. Management and Business Research 5th ed., London: Sage Publications Ltd.
•             Edwards, P.K., O'Mahoney, J. and Vincent, S. (eds), 2014. Studying Organizations Using Critical Realism: A Practical Guide, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
•             Hassett, M. E., & Paavilainen-Mantymaki, E. (Eds.). (2013)

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 20
Seminars 10
Independent study hours
Independent study 110

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
William II-Kuk Kang Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Informal contact methods

Office hours

Drop in surgeries (extra help for students on material they may be struggling with)

Return to course details

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