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
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Qualification
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MRes
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Duration
1 or 2 years
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Start date
September 2025
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Study mode
Full-time
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Delivered by
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Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
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2:1 in a quantitative subject such as Mathematics, Engineering, Physics or Computer Science
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.
If you choose to specialise in the following research areas, you will take a one-year MRes:
- Analytics & Operations
- Marketing
Core modules
You study all of these core modules:
- Plagiarism Awareness (non-assessed)
- Research Project
Optional modules
You choose elective modules from the following:
Research methods modules
- Applied Microeconometrics
- Econometrics 1
- Empirical Industrial Organisation
- Qualitative Methods 1
- Qualitative Methods 2
- Quantitative Methods 2
Specialist Modules
- Consumer Behaviour
- Decision Making Under Uncertainty
- Industrial Organisation
- Machine Learning for Analytics
- Microeconomics 1
- Microeconomics 2
- Optimisation
- Stochastic Processes
- Sustainable Behaviour
Other elective modules
- Asset Pricing Theory
- Corporate Finance
- Consumer Behaviour
- Empirical Asset Pricing
- Entrepreneurship
- Financial Economics of Climate Sustainability
- Industrial Organisation
- Machine Learning for Analytics
- Machine Learning for Economic Analysis
- Macroeconomics 2
- Macro-Finance
- Micro Development Economics
- Organisational Behaviour
- Organisation Theory
- Strategy
- Topics in Empirical Banking
- Topics in Environmental Resource Economics
- Topics in Finance
- Topics in Health Economics
- Topics in Household Finance
- Business Models and Intellectual Property*
- Contemporary Topics in Health Policy*
- Digital Marketing Analytics*
- Healthcare and Medical Analytics*
- Logistics and Supply Chain Analytics*
- Optimisation and Decision Models*
- Retail and Marketing Analysis*
- Workforce Analytics*
*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 compulsory 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 compulsory 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
- Econometrics 2
- Empirical Industrial Organisation
- Financial Economics of Climate and Sustainability
- Industrial Organisation
- Interdisciplinary Research
- Machine Learning and Text Analysis for Social Science
- Macroeconomics
- Macro-Finance
- Microeconomics 1
- Microeconomics 2
- Micro Development Economics
- Optimisation
- Qualitative Methods 2
- Readings in Digital Business
- Readings in Social Networks/Social Capital
- Social Network Analysis
- Social Data Science
- Special Topics in Organisational Theory/Strategy
- Sustainable Behaviour
- Topics in 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 compulsory modules:
- Applied Microeconomics
- Asset Pricing Theory
- Corporate Finance
- Econometrics 1
- Macroeconomics 1
- Macroeconomics 2
- Microeconomics 1
- Research Experience
Year 2
You will complete the compulsory Research Project, plus four elective modules chosen from the list below:
- Advanced Financial Statistics
- Big Data in Finance 1
- Big Data in Finance 2
- Consumer Behaviour
- Decision Making Under Certainty
- Econometrics 1
- Econometrics 2
- Empirical Asset Pricing
- Empirical Industrial Organisation
- Financial Economics for Climate Sustainability
- Industrial Organisation
- Machine Learning and Text Analysis for Social Science
- Macroeconomics
- Macro-Finance
- Microeconomics 1
- Microeconomics 2
- Micro Development Economics
- Optimisation
- Sustainable Behaviour
- Topics in Finance
- Topics in Household Finance
- Topics in Empirical Banking
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 compulsory Research Project, plus four elective modules chosen from the list below:
- Asset Pricing Theory
- Consumer Behaviour
- Corporate Finance
- Decision Making Under Certainty
- Econometrics 1
- Econometrics 2
- Empirical Asset Pricing
- Empirical Industrial Organisation
- Financial Economics of Climate and Sustainability
- Industrial Organisation
- Machine Learning for Economic Analysis
- Machine Learning and Text Analysis for Social Science
- Macroeconomics
- Macro-Finance
- Microeconomics 1
- Microeconomics 2
- Micro Development Economics
- Optimisation
- 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
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
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, you may be considered for one course per admissions cycle.
Application deadlines – Applications close on Monday 2 December 2024.
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.
Visit our Admissions website for details on the application process.
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
This course is an MRes, so there is no application fee.
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, for example MSc, MPH or MBA, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application. See individual course pages for the relevant fee amount.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Tuition fees
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 College 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