(MRes) Master of Research
Accounting
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Masters
Full-time or part-time
Accounting
MRESN40224
10/05/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
You should have a good 2:2 honours degree, or equivalent, in accounting or a related discipline.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
If English isn’t your first language, we require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5 in all components.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
The University uses academic selection criteria to determine an applicant’s ability to successfully complete a course at the University of Essex. Where appropriate, we may ask for specific information relating to previous modules studied or work experience.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
Please refer to the full time version of this course for information on Core and Compulsory modules.
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
The MRes has been designed for students who wish to undertake education, training and development in the area of social science research, with a specific intention of undertaking doctoral studies in the field of Accounting. The degree aims to develop knowledge and understanding of:
- General research skills, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches
- Different theoretical stances which underpin positivistic and interpretivist approaches to research
- Design of a research proposal, including construction of research questions and/or hypotheses
- Implementation and management of a research programme, including data management
- The relationship between different research approaches and subject-specific knowledge in the field of Accounting
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A101: Distinguish between different epistemological positions which provide the context for research
A102: Understand the rationale underpinning selection of quantitative and qualitative approaches to research.
A103: Understand the relationship between empirical research and generation and testing of theory
A104: Understand the principles of research design and implementaiton of a research programme.
A105: Understand different approaches to data collection, analysis and interpretation.
A106: Develop understanding of the principles of knowledge in the field of either Management or Accounting
A107: Detailed understanding of a selected topic within the field of either Accounting or Management
Learning methods
Outcomes A1-A7 are acquired through lectures, seminars, group and individual tasks, and directed independent study. The development of the dissertation in consultation with a supervisor provides an additional opportunity for achieving learning outcomes A1-A7.
Lectures and seminars introduce the required theories and understandings to facilitate students' exploration, the character, contexts, practices and interpretations of management and organisations, while demonstrating and encouraging a critical and reflexive approach.
Directed independent study and reading, along with individual and group tasks, enable the further exploration of the relevant areas.
Students are expected to extend and enhance the knowledge and understanding they acquire from lectures and classes by regularly consulting library materials relating to the course.
Assessment methods
Informal assessment:
Outcomes A1-A7 are informally assessed via group work and oral presentations. The associated informal feedback provided enables students to explore and enhance their understandings, and develop presentation skills.
Formal:
Outcomes A1-A7 are formally assessed via coursework assignments, which may take a number of forms, including essays, case studies, theoretical and empirical studies.
Outcome A6 is further assessed by examination.
Outcomes A1-A7 will be assessed in the dissertation.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Capacity to appraise theoretical ideas.
B2: Assimilate and synthesise advanced theories and concepts from a variety of relevant frameworks.
B3: Formulate logical and coherent arguments.
B4: Interpret and critically evaluate empirical evidence.
B5: Plan and undertake a substantial piece of independent research.
Learning methods
Skills B1-B4 are acquired and enhanced primarily through directed independent study, reading, group and individual tasks given for their courses, although lectures and seminars provide a means for teachers to demonstrate these skills through examples.
Students’‘ independent study and preparation for tasks involves the reading, interpretation and critical evaluation of relevant accounting theories and the analysis of empirical evidence.
Lecturers provide necessary feedback on student work.
Lecturers also engage students outside the classroom through office hours, appointments and emails.
Skill B5 is acquired through the work that students do for the dissertation.
The dissertation further provides an opportunity for students to acquire skills B1-B4
Assessment methods
Informal: Skills B1-B4 are informally assessed via group work and oral presentations.
The associated informal feedback provided enable students to explore and enhance their understandings, and develop presentation skills Formal: Skills B1-B4 are formally assessed via unseen written examinations and coursework assignments.
Msc Dissertation provides a further opportunity to assess skills B1-B4 Skills B5 is assessed through dissertation
C: Practical skills
C101: Plan and undertake a substantial piece of independent research.
C102: Analyse and evaluate empirical data.
C103: Hypothesise about issues and events in the context of either Accounting or Management
Hypothesise about issues and events in the context of either Accounting or Management
C104: Access and retrieve information and data from a variety of primary and secondary sources
C105: Research presentation and written presentation skills.
C106: Undertake independent research
Learning methods
Skills C2-C6 are acquired and enhanced primarily through the work that students do for their courses, although lectures provide a means for teachers to demonstrate these skills through examples.
Research skills will be taught and assessed throughout the course.
Skill C7 is further acquired through the work that students do for the dissertation. The dissertation further provides an opportunity for students to acquire skills C2-C6
Assessment methods
Informal assessment:
Skills C2-C6 are informally assessed through group work and oral presentations along with the associated informal feedback. This further enables students to explore and enhance their understanding, and develop research and presentation skills
Formal:
Skills C2-C6 are formally assessed via coursework assignments. This enables the demonstration of the relevant theories and empirical evidence and facilitates the demonstration of a critical and reflexive approach to empirical evidence.
Skill C7 is assessed through the dissertation and course work.
D: Key skills
D1: Communicate ideas and arguments in a coherent and effective manner.
D2: Use information technology, such as word processing, databases, the web and econometric packages, to download and analyse financial and economic data.
D3: Manipulate numerical data and apply appropriate statistical or econometric techniques
D4: Problem-solving and analytical skills
D5: Time management, task prioritisation and working to deadlines.
Learning methods
Verbal communication skills (D1) are developed primarily through group tasks involving oral presentation and group discussion in the lecture.
Written communication skills (D1) are developed primarily through small group project reports and individual tasks.
Problem solving and Numeracy skills (D3-D4) are developed principally through specific problem based exercise and project given to the students.
IT skills (D2) are developed as individual tasks require extensive research involving web-based material, internet and various electronic medias.
Planning and organisation, enterprise and resourcefulness (D5) are essential to any learning process dependent on independent study and to some extent individual advice from teachers.
These skills are further developed as students pursue the learning activities associated with their courses
Assessment methods
The assessment of the majority of key transferable skills forms an integral part of the overall assessment of the accounting degree schemes; however the approach to assessment varies.
Written communication skills, problem solving, numeracy and IT skills are assessed directly throughout the degree programme.
Personal skills are assessed through coursework.
Verbal communication skills are not formally assessed although feedback on communication skills forms part of the formative feedback provided on small group tutorial presentations