exeter university phd thesis

Theses: Home

Find full text theses from  the University of Exeter, the UK and around the world.

What is a thesis?

They consist of substantial primary research in specialised topics and provide very detailed data and analysis. They may be so specialised that they provide information that is unavailable elsewhere and their bibliographies can be a useful source of wider reading on a topic. They are extremely valuable sources of information.

Before you begin your research, it is important to discover what else has been written on your topic.

When starting doctoral research, it is crucial to establish that the specific research that you intend to do has not already been carried out. You will therefore need to look at previous theses in your field of study, both at the University of Exeter and elsewhere.

Finding University of Exeter Doctoral theses

• University of Exeter theses
• Theses awarded before 2010
• Theses awarded after 2010
• Search for all University of Exeter theses

You can access theses produced by University of Exeter students.

Access routes depend upon whether the item is a print copy (deposited before 2010) or a digital copy (deposited after 2010).

Please note: The library and ORE holds doctoral/PHD theses only. We do not hold Masters or undergraduate dissertations.

No scanning until eThOs service returns

We are currently unable to scan pre 2010 theses.  Once the British Library eThOs service resumes requests to have pre-2010 theses scanned will be possible.  Until then pre-2010 theses will have to be consulted in the library.

Theses awarded before 2010

Print theses are kept in secure storage rather than open shelves and need to be requested in advance.  All theses are library use only and may not be removed from the library.

Search for theses using Library Search

fully qualified domain name such as "encore.mylibrary.com" --> Search by  Author ,  Title  or  Author /Title .

• To browse theses on a particular subject, carry out a  keyword search  for your subject, and include the words  'University '  and  'Exeter'  as keywords.   ( Please note however, that although this is likely to retrieve mainly theses, it will also find other University of Exeter publications on your subject). 
• Request theses in advance using the  Request It  button and choose  Forum Library  as the pickup location. 
• You will receive an email when the thesis is ready to use. 

Theses awarded since 2010

All theses submitted since 2010 are in  Open Research Exeter (ORE) , the online institutional repository. A small collection of theses have been deposited in ORE before this date.

Searching for all University of Exeter theses (using ETHOS)

University of Exeter theses can be found by searching online in  EThOS  , which is the UK’s national thesis service.   You need to create an account. 

Choose Advanced search and change the search option to Awarding body. Type University of Exeter in the search box.  Tip: You may want to limit the search to items available for immediate download.

Finding theses in the UK and worldwide

• Find UK theses
• Find international theses
• Additional sources for International theses
• Ethos This link opens in a new window EThOS provides details of doctoral theses from over 120 UK institutions. Some theses are available as full text downloads. Others can be requested as scanned documents via the digitisation-on-demand service, which requires registration. 

NB  Unfortunately the eThOs service is currently suspended due to the British Library being hacked.

• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window Index and full text access to dissertations and theses from the UK and around the world, spanning from 1743 to the present day.

• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global This link opens in a new window

This collection holds dissertations and theses from 1861 to the present, from over 700 worldwide academic institutions.

Some full-text dissertations are available for download, especially those added since 1997. Others are available for purchase as print copies.

More than 70,000 new full-text dissertations and theses are added to the database each year.

Comprehensive details on how to search this database can be found here.

• EBSCO Open Dissertations Search thousands of open-access dissertations.
• CORE This link opens in a new window Open access research papers from repositories and journals from across the world. Includes theses.
• OpenDOAR This link opens in a new window A directory of academic open access repositories including access to a wide range of international theses.

The following websites will help you locate international theses:

• Dart-Europe E-Theses The DART-Europe E-theses Portal provides access to over 690,500 open access research theses from 594 universities in 28 European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and Sweden.
• Trove Australian theses are searchable via the National Library of Australia’s Trove service (a repository of resources relating to Australia).

Click here for guidance on how to search for  theses within this collection.

• WorldCat This link opens in a new window This database provides access to the records of dissertations and theses available in OCLC member libraries, most of which are North American. Many of the records link directly to the full-text theses.

• Last Updated: Mar 26, 2024 4:30 PM
• URL: https://libguides.exeter.ac.uk/theses

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Research, Writing and Thesis Requirements

MA by Research, MPhil and PhD degrees are examined solely on the basis of a piece of research presented in the form of a thesis submitted within the prescribed period of study. The production of that thesis is, therefore, your main task. In order to undertake this work you will need a well-focused research topic, a knowledge of the existing secondary literature on the subject, a well thought out methodology for tackling the research, access to the necessary primary sources required, and the ability to produce a well-structured argument in lucid and well-presented prose. Many ancillary skills may be required to do this, e.g. knowledge of languages, palaeography, information technology, the latest theoretical and methodological approaches in your discipline, interview techniques and questionnaires to name but a few. 

Successful research students understand the task in hand, plan their work carefully, acquire the training and skills required, and take a systematic approach to research and writing, always keeping their deadline for submission clearly in view. They are helped in this task by supervisors, with whom they work closely. A thesis needs to conform to accepted academic conventions, to avoid plagiarism and to follow the ethical guidelines laid down for research. 

Students must work within strict deadlines laid down for completion, which vary according to the type of degree being taken and the registration status of each student. The progress of each student is monitored by the PGR Support team, which decides on any changes to a student’s status.

Research Council Funded Students

Research Councils assess the University on submission rates for its funded students. Students are expected to submit their thesis for examination, if possible by the end of the period of funding, but no later than one year from the end of the studentship if they are a full-time student.

Requirements of a research thesis

You need to know what you have to achieve in your research in order to obtain your degree. A thesis must conform to standards laid down by the University and to follow proper academic conventions. The PhD demands a higher standard than the MPhil or MA by Research.

Regulations

The University’s full regulations on the MA by Research can be found at http://www.exeter.ac.uk/staff/policies/calendar/part1/regulations/r2-5/  

Regulations for the MPhil can be found at http://www.exeter.ac.uk/staff/policies/calendar/part1/regulations/r2-1/

And regulations for the PhD can be found at http://www.exeter.ac.uk/staff/policies/calendar/part1/regulations/r2-2/  

The University’s regulations state that an MA by Research and an MPhil should demonstrate:

a) evidence that it extends the knowledge of the subject,

b) evidence of the candidate's ability to relate the subject matter of the dissertation to the existing body of knowledge within the field,

c) a satisfactory level of literary presentation. 

According to the University’s definition, a PhD should show:

a) evidence that it forms a distinct contribution to the knowledge of the subject,

b) evidence of originality,

c) evidence of the candidate's ability to relate the subject matter of the thesis to the existing body of knowledge within the field,

d) a satisfactory level of literary presentation.

Format of thesis

The University’s general regulations concerning the format and presentation of the thesis must be closely followed. These provide information on all aspects of the overall layout of a thesis, including word length (up to 100,000 for a PhD, 60,000 for an MPhil and 40,000 for an MA by Research), division into chapters, the scholarly apparatus, how it should be bound and the number of copies you need to produce. If you would like to see an example of a successful thesis please ask your supervisor to show you one. 

In addition to the general formatting rules, research and writing in the Humanities normally follow particular conventions and in part your thesis will be judged upon its adherence to them. 

• You should write clearly and concisely. Avoid unnecessary jargon and technical language: the best writing is simple, direct and straightforward. The aim of academic writing is to convey complex ideas and arguments in an accessible manner, not to confuse the reader.
• Spellings and usage should conform to UK English standards (including the layout of dates, numbers, capitalisation etc.). If you are unsure of these please refer to a suitable dictionary, style sheet or consult your supervisors. Text quoted in other languages should be provided accurately in translation, according to a suitable translation guide. 
• You need to provide references. The point of references is to guide readers to the evidence you have used in formulating your judgements or to indicate where you are drawing upon the words or ideas of others. Do not use them to ‘pad’ the text: if the information they contain is important, it should be in the main body of the thesis, otherwise it should be discarded.  

You may also wish to consult the referencing guidance provided to taught students in the Subject Handbooks for your discipline as follows:  

• Archaeology
• Classics and Ancient History
• English and Film Studies
• Modern Languages
• Theology and Religion
• The bibliography should also be laid out consistently. It should include all the material that you have consulted for the thesis. It is normal in the Humanities to divide bibliographies into sections for primary and secondary materials. You may also choose to use subdivisions for further clarity: archival, printed primary, newspapers, official publications, memoirs, interviews etc. Again, you should arrange the bibliography in a way that is appropriate to the nature of your research and writing.
• If included, appendices, maps, diagrams, photographs and tables, if included, should only contain material directly referred to in the main text of your thesis. They should not be used as ‘padding’ or additional information. They may include raw data, the results of interviews, filmographies or other kinds of material vital to the reader’s understanding of the findings of your research. Consult your supervisors for advice on these matters.

By Practice submission thesis

Your work must be in a format accessible to all examiners. You should discuss the format of your submission in advance with your supervisory team to ensure that you have given consideration to the feasibility of your format of submission. 

For more information see Section 12 – Submission and examination processes in this handbook, below.

Research Misconduct

The University expects its staff and students to maintain the highest standards for the conduct of research. As such the University has procedures in place that govern academic/research conduct for graduate research students. ‘ Research Misconduct – Procedure for Graduate Research Students Suspected of Research Misconduct ’ is specific to postgraduate research students, and defines research conduct in the context of the range of activities undertaken by those doing research. 

You are expected to review this procedure and ensure that you understand your responsibilities under it, and that you understand the definitions of misconduct. You should also be aware that any work submitted to a member of your supervision team either in full, in part, or as a draft will fall under the provisions of this procedure, as will any work handed to a member of staff. 

Please consult the University's Procedure for Graduate Research Students Suspected of Research Misconduct for full details. 

If you are in any doubt as to what constitutes research misconduct and how to avoid it please talk to your supervisor or the DPGR for your discipline.  

The Researcher Development Programme also provides a number of relevant courses that may be of interest to you in this context. For a live list of upcoming courses and to book on a course please go to http://as.exeter.ac.uk/rdp/postgraduateresearchers/pgr-exeter/ .

Research Data Mangaement and Open Access

There are a number of benefits to making your research and thesis available via Open Access:

• Increases citations and the visibility of your research
• Helps to build your research career
• Increases chances of further funding opportunities and collaborations
• Meets the agenda for transparency and openness 

The key points of the University’s Open Research Policy are as follows: 

• A copy of your final thesis/dissertation will need to be submitted to the institutional repository Open Research Exeter (ORE) , prior to the award of your degree.
• According to funder requirements and as soon as publisher restrictions will allow, PGR students should make the published peer-reviewed research papers and conference proceedings that they produce whilst they are affiliated with the University available on Open Access.
• PGR research papers should be made available on Open Access, by depositing a copy of the paper in Open Research Exeter (ORE) .
• Published research papers should include a short statement describing how and on what terms any supporting research data may be accessed.
• PGR students should always comply with funder policy on research data management.
• The lead supervisor is responsible for advising the student on good practice in research data management.
• PGR students and their supervisors should discuss and review research data management issues annually – they should address issues of the capture, management, integrity, confidentiality, security, selection, preservation and disposal, commercialisation, costs, sharing and publication of research data and the production of descriptive metadata to aid discovery and re-use when relevant.
• A  checklist  to support PGR students and their supervisors in the annual research data review is available.
• At the end of their degree, PGR students should register selected research data in Open Research Exeter (ORE) . Information about the data should be included as a statement in the thesis record using the ‘Description’ field. When legally, commercially and ethically appropriate, the selected research data should also be made available on Open Access in an appropriate repository.
• unprotected intellectual property which you, your sponsor or any other third party has the intention to use
• sensitive information that may need to be withheld from public view
• commercially sensitive material that may belong to your project sponsor
• Please contact [email protected] if you require any further advice.

Research Papers

Research data , research data management guidance.

In order to save time and effort later on in your degree, before you start collecting or creating research data or materials research students should consider the following:

Managing References

Using a reference manager such as EndNote or Mendeley helps with the organisation and citation of journal articles and any notes you make about them.

Data Storage

Where will you store your research data/materials? Research students are allocated up to 20GB of storage space on the  University's U drive  which is regularly backed up and can be retrieved if you accidentally delete a file or it gets corrupted. If your data is confidential and/or sensitive, do not use cloud storage such as Dropbox or share the data using email. Confidential and/or sensitive data should be encrypted and stored according to ethical approval.

Backing Up Your Data

Make sure you regularly back-ups your files to avoid data loss, especially if you store your data on a memory stick or a portable hard drive.

Organising Your Files and Folders

Create a logical file storage system to find files easily, for example, with separate folders for reports, presentations, projects etc., and sub-folders separating raw data, tools, and analysed data. You should also develop a naming system for your files so that you know which version has included revisions or use a document control table on the front page.

Document your Data Creation/Collection

It is easier to document data when you start creating or collecting your research materials, rather than doing so retrospectively. Think about what information you need about the data/materials so that you or somebody else can reuse and understand the data in the long-term. Information could include how data was created or digitised, what hardware/software was used, how the data was analysed, what the content and structure is and any manipulation that may have taken place.

Know Your Funder's Policy on Open Access to Research Data and Research Publications

The University and your funder normally expect you to put your research data and publications on Open Access when appropriate.  There are exceptions for commercial, confidential and copyright reasons. See the  Digital Curation Centre's page  for an overview of funders' policies and the  University of Exeter PGR policy .

Further Information

The following links provide further help and guidance on Open Access and research data management:

• Open Access guide for PGR students 
• Research data management
• Further help and advice is available via [email protected]  or [email protected] .

There are also training sessions on OA and RDM as part of the  RDP programme.

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• Presentation of Thesis/Dissertation

If you have been recommended for award by your Board of Examiners you must submit a copy of your thesis/dissertation to Open Research Exeter (ORE) before your degree can be formally approved.

ORE is the University's repository of all research carried out at Exeter. Depositing your thesis in the collection will ensure it is made publicly visible, or open access . There are many benefits of making your research papers and thesis available via open access; it:

• Increases citations and exposure of your research.
• Helps to build your research career.
• Increases chances for further funding opportunities and collaborations.
• Meets the transparency/openness agenda.

Before depositing your thesis:

• Read the guide to Depositing A Thesis/Dissertation Into ORE .
• Be aware of any embargo periods you may require.
• Ensure you consider the copyright of any material you have used in your thesis/dissertation. See the e-thesis copyright and open access copyright pages for more information.
• Refer to the presentation guidelines for thesis/dissertations .

After depositing your thesis:

• Your deposit in ORE will be checked by the Postgraduate Administration Office to ensure all the information is correct before it is added to the archive.
• If any changes need to be made to your thesis deposit you will receive an email notification, to your University email account, to confirm what changes are required
• You will receive an email confirmation once your deposit has been made successfully.

For more information on submitting your thesis to ORE please contact the  Postgraduate Administration Office .

For more information on accessing theses already in ORE please contact a  Liaison Librarian .

Hard-bound theses

If you registered for your degree before October 2008, and prefer not to submit electronically, you can submit one hardbound copy of your thesis/dissertation. Please contact the  Postgraduate Administration Office  for guidance on the correct presentation.

To have your thesis permanently bound please contact the  Students' Guild Print Room  in the Forum.

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Writing a research proposal

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Preparing a research proposal

Before you write a research proposal, the best first step would be to provide a 500 word outline of your proposed research project. Forward this to any academic you feel would best suit your project – you can find contact details for staff in the subject websites. If you receive a positive response, you should then look to submit a formal application in the form of a research proposal.

What is a research proposal?

Your research proposal needs to outline the nature of your proposed PhD study and give some indication of how you will conduct your research. It is an integral part of the PhD application process, so it is certainly worth investing time and energy into it.

Your research proposal should leave a positive first impression upon the reader about your ‘fitness’ to study a PhD. It is  your  project, so it is important to demonstrate leadership in this first stage of the application process. An ideal proposal should leave the reader feeling in no doubt that you have done some preliminary research about your subject and that you are knowledgeable and ready to tackle the challenges of the PhD.

Give your proposal your utmost attention and time, but also be realistic ‐ you are not expected to know everything at this stage. Your proposal can also be flexible. It is not a contract. Always ask someone else to read your proposal before you submit it, and to offer you some critical but supportive feedback.

Remember that a research proposal is about what  you  want to study; it immediately reflects your initial understanding of, and commitment to, PhD study. A research proposal can and should make a positive and powerful first impression about your potential to become a good researcher.

Importantly, the main purpose is to enable the university to assess whether you are a good ‘match’ for our supervisors and our areas of research expertise.

Therefore, in a good research proposal you will need to demonstrate two main things:

• that you are capable of  independent critical thinking and analysis
• that you are capable of  communicating your ideas clearly

Applying for a PhD is like applying for a job, you are not applying for a taught programme.

When you start a PhD you will become a valued researcher in an academic department. Through your research proposal your colleagues want to know whether they can work with you, and whether your ideas are focussed, interesting and realistic. Try and impress them!

Your proposal should be indicative and it should  outline  your areas of interest and your general insight into the research topic. You are  not  expected to be an expert and to be familiar with all the specific details of your subject. However, you are expected to have a good level of knowledge about the subject and where you might make a valuable contribution to research. The perfect research proposal should leave the reader interested, excited and wanting to find out more about your ideas, and about you!

6 steps to a successful research proposal

A good research proposal should not be complicated. However, it can be challenging to write and it is important to get right. A PhD is challenging, so it is good training working on your research proposal. Although there is no exact prescribed format for a general research proposal (across all subjects), a research proposal should generally include  six  main sections, as detailed below:

1)      A clear working title for your research project

• What will you call your project?
• What key words would describe your proposal?

2)      A clear statement about what you want to work on and why it is important, interesting, relevant and realistic

• What are your main research objectives? These could be articulated as hypotheses, propositions, research questions, or problems to solve
• What difference do you think your research will make?
• Why does this research excite you?
• What research ‘gaps’ will you be filling by undertaking your project?
• How might your research ‘add value’ to the subject?
• Is your research achievable in the time allocated? (e.g. 3 years full‐time)

3)      Some background knowledge and context of the area in which you wish to work, including key literature, key people, key research findings

• How does your work link to the work of others in the same field or related fields?
• Would your work support or contest the work of others?
• How does your work relate to the expertise within the department you are applying to?

4)      Some consideration of the methods/approach you might use

• How will you conduct your research?
• Will you use existing theories, new methods/approaches or develop new methods/approaches?
• How might you design your project to get the best results/findings?

5)      Some indication of the strategy and timetable for your research project and any research challenges you may face

• What would be the main stages of your project?
• What would you be expecting to do in each year of your PhD?
• What challenges might you encounter and how might your overcome these?

6)      A list of the key references which support your research proposal

• References should be listed in the appropriate convention for your subject area (e.g. Harvard). Such references should be used throughout your research proposal to demonstrate that you have read and understood the work of others
• Other relevant material that you are aware of, but not actually used in writing your proposal, can also be added as a bibliography

All of the above six sections are important but section 2 is particularly important because in any research project, establishing your main purpose represents the whole basis for completing the research programme. Therefore, the value of your proposed research is assessed in relation to your research aims and objectives.

How long should a good research proposal be?

A good research proposal is as long as it takes, but a guide would be 1000-2000 words. Remember that it is meant to be an accurate overview, not a thesis, so you need to provide enough detail for the reader to understand it. A paragraph would not be enough and 5000 words likely too much.

The '3Cs' rule

When you have written your research proposal, ask a friend to read it critically and provide you with feedback. Also, ask yourself whether it follows the '3Cs' rule:

CLEAR : is what you have written intelligible and clearly articulated? Does it make sense, or is it vague and confusing? Does your proposal leave the reader with a clear sense of the purpose and direction of your research project?

CONCISE : have you written your proposal in a succinct and focussed way?

COHERENT : does your proposal link together well so that it tells the reader a short story about what you want to do, why you want to do it and how you will do it?

If you can answer all of these questions with confidence, you have probably put together a good proposal.

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Economics Dissertation

Module description.

Students with at least 60 credits of BEExxx modules by the end of their second year can undertake their own in-depth research study into a subject of interest related to economics. They will benefit from having the opportunity to plan and manage their individual piece of research on a topic of their choice, which may not have been covered in depth during regular modules, or pursue in some depth a topic in which they have a specific interest. This Dissertation module is supported with research methods classes, and these will take place during term 1.

Information:

Students are expected to be pro-active and seek and apply advice from the module leads and their supervisors.

Employability

This module offers the potential of enhanced employability through demonstrating a deep understanding the process of economics research, the statistical analysis of data to address economic questions, the application of academic literature to real-world issues and the potential to develop expertise in a particular area of economics.  Furthermore, the module offers students the opportunity to develop a sample of their own research and writing which they can showcase to potential employers.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of writing a dissertation is to give you the opportunity to research a topic related to your programme of study, which is not covered in depth by any taught module being offered that year. It is also designed to give you the opportunity to plan and manage your own research and to produce an extended written dissertation.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

Ilo: module-specific skills.

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Plan and execute an original research project
• 2. Research extensively and critically on a chosen academic topic and demonstrate application of the underlying economics concepts and/or research processes

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

• 3. Use appropriate information, research and data resources and apply broader discipline knowledge to the specific research project
• 4. Present and assess findings in a manner consistent with the norms of the discipline of economics

ILO: Personal and key skills

• 5. Work independently, and seek and apply advice from the supervisor
• 6. Take responsibility for the direction and management of a research project through to completion and submission
• 7. Present research in a clear and academic format

Syllabus plan

This is an independent research module. However, it does include a series of lectures covering research methods that will facilitate students in undertaking a traditional research dissertation or literature review dissertation.

Taught sessions will cover:

• How to identify and scope-out a topic; research questions, approaches, and methods
• Research fields in economics
• Academic writing in economics: structure, tone, and logic
• Accessing and integrating previous relevant academic literature
• Finding and using data
• Developing a statistical/econometric approach; producing, reporting, and interpreting results
• Avoiding common mistakes, misunderstandings and pitfalls
• Helpful software and tools for research and writing

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods, formative assessment, summative assessment (% of credit), details of summative assessment, details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral), indicative learning resources - basic reading.

Suggested readings:

“A Guide to Writing in Economics” Prepared by Paul Dudenhefer, Writing Tutor, EcoTeach Center and Department of Economics, Duke University, http://lupus.econ.duke.edu/ecoteach/undergrad/manual.pdf

Other reading materials to be provided on ELE, including a web-based open-textbook/handbook (Reinstein)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Web based and electronic resources:

• ELE based discussion forums
• Various journal articles will be suggested

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Politics PhD student Raluca tells us about her research.   View full size .

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University of Exeter PhD in Computer Science thesis template

georgedeath/University_of_Exeter_Thesis_Template

Folders and files, repository files navigation, thesis template: university of exeter (unofficial).

This is a minimum working example of a template that adheres to the University guidelines as of 11/12/2019.

The template was the basis of my PhD thesis and it was submitted with only minor alterations to it.

In order to edit the information on the title page, e.g. the thesis title, change the contents of the macros starting with \thesis (line 114).

Note: the template does not use the correct font according to the guidelines (Size 12 in Arial) as the general consensus is that using Arial is unprofessional -- no issues were raised with the font change.

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Dissertation

Module description.

A good dissertation is a core element of a successful Masters degree. It equips you with key, transferable research skills that will be invaluable to your career whether you decide to take up PhD research or not. A dissertation is not a long essay. It has a certain number of core components that must be evident to varying degrees. Like a good essay, it must demonstrate research skills, independent learning, good organization of complex material, clarity and erudite expression. This module will help you structure that process of writing a dissertation and it will equip you well for further research, at PhD level or in professional employment. So, the skills you learn on this module will be integral to your future careers. You will learn how to devise a manageable research question, locate your ideas in existing debates, how to conduct a literature review and plan the research, and how to develop a short research proposal and write extended pieces of work. Nevertheless, a Masters dissertation will be driven primarily by your own interests, the questions you devise and the material you want to research. It will be a mark of your own initiative, independence and inquisitiveness. You should expect to start thinking about and working on your dissertation immediately on beginning the Programme. Good early preparation will stand you in good stead later.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aims of this module are to equip you with the professional skills needed to conduct an extended piece of research and writing. You will have the time and guidance to engage with core debates across the sub-disciplines of politics, equipping you well with practical skills and contributing to your intellectual development. The aims of this module are also to enable you to write an extended piece of independent writing, around a topic of your own choosing, in communication with an academic supervisor in your chosen area. It will allow you to demonstrate depth and breadth of knowledge in a particular subject area of professional or intellectual interest. The dissertation will be a mark of your ability to express yourself in writing.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

Ilo: module-specific skills.

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate knowledge in depth of a specialised subject area.
• 2. Design an individual research programme, incorporating appropriate social science research methods.
• 3. Collate and analyse subject-specific information from a range of appropriate sources.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

• 4. Develop the skills requisite to conducting an extended piece of academic writing, including: devising a research question, proposal and literature review; organizing and summarizing key literatures, debates, ideas and controversies.
• 5. Locate your own research in key disciplinary debates, controversies and developments.
• 6. Assimilate and critically analyse data from an appropriate range of sources, from policy papers to canonical texts in the history of political thought.
• 7. Develop a cogent argument.
• 8. Communicate complex information and ideas effectively in writing.

ILO: Personal and key skills

• 9. Use IT for information retrieval and presentation.
• 10. Manage own work.

Syllabus plan

At least four supervision meetings: one to initiate the dissertation followed by three meetings to give academic guidance including specific feedback on draft work.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods, formative assessment, summative assessment (% of credit), details of summative assessment, details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral), indicative learning resources - basic reading.

G King, R Keohane and S Verba, Designing Social Inquiry (Princeton UP, 1994);

D Burton (ed), Research Training for Social Scientists: A Handbook for Postgraduate Researchers (Sage, 2000).

I. Furseth and E.L. Everett, Doing Your Master′s Dissertation: From Start to Finish (Sage, 2013).

D. Ridley, The literature review: a step-by-step guide for students (Sage, 2008).

B. Lucinda, Writing successful reports and dissertations (Sage, 2015).

P.C. Shon, How to read journal articles in the social sciences: a very practical guide for students (Sage, 2015).

M.S. Felix and I. Smith, A Practical Guide to Dissertation and Thesis Writing (Cambridge Scholars Publisher, 2019).

Subject-specific reading will varying according to research topic.

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MRes Finance (Pathway to PhD)

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• Finance (Pathway to PhD) MRes

Masters applications for 2023 entry are now closed.

Applications for September 2024 will open on Monday 25 September. Applications are now open for programmes with a January 2024 start. View our programmes »

• The MRes in Finance (PhD pathway) is a two-year programme which allows you to specialise in finance and economics at the post-graduate level in preparation for progression to a PhD in Finance.
• Gain PhD-level training in a range of topics such as econometrics, finance theory and research methods used in finance and economics to prepare you for further study or employment
• You will receive instruction and guidance from our internationally respected academic staff who conduct and publish world-leading research
• Opportunity to finish at the end of year one and two with a level seven Post Graduate Diploma in Economic Studies and Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Economics.
• Fully funded scholarships are available for students who intend to progress onto a PhD in Finance at the University of Exeter

Apply online

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AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS

More than 91% of our research outputs in Economics and Econometrics are internationally excellent

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Entry requirements

A first-class honours degree in finance or closely related subject, or a Merit in a MA/MSc in finance or closely related subject, with evidence of excellent mathematical ability.

Students who apply for University of Exeter Business School funding are required to submit GRE/GMAT scores.

We do consider all applications where there is evidence of exceptional performance in modules relevant to the programme of study.

Pre-Masters programme for international students

The  Graduate Diploma in Finance  run by the  INTO University of Exeter Centre  is a pre-Masters programme designed to enhance your subject knowledge, study skills and English ability. Successful completion of the Diploma (subject to achieving the specific grades of entry) gives students from overseas the skills needed for acceptance onto this Masters programme.

Entry requirements for international students

Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements .

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2 . Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course content

The MRes in Finance (PhD pathway) is a two-year programme which allows you to specialise in finance and economics at the post-graduate level in preparation for progression to the PhD in Finance.

In the first year, you will receive advanced PhD-level training covering both theoretical and empirical aspects of economics and econometrics with built in provision for training in econometrics software and research databases. During the second year, you will build on this foundation and choose specialisation subjects which will expose you to frontier research in finance and related disciplines (e.g. economics, business and management, or accounting) to develop your MRes dissertation.

The programme is highly analytical, the teaching will be research driven, and you will start developing research independence through the preparation of the MRes dissertation.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

Year 1 modules

Year 2 modules

2024/25 entry

Uk fees per year:.

£6,600 full-time

International fees per year:

£15,200 full-time

Scholarships

For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.

Find out more about tuition fees and funding »

Teaching and research

Assessments will be conducted via a combination of individual written coursework, group presentations, peer assessment of group work, written examinations, and MRes dissertation.

Supervision

Students will be assigned an academic tutor and a pastoral tutor from the first day of their MRes. During the MRes period you will have the opportunity to meet and discuss your research interests with a range of faculty members to help ensure you have the right fit in you continue to do a PhD. This is designed to expose you to various faculty members within the academic group on a rotation basis and also to provide a more integrated experience where you will have the chance to develop their ideas with junior faculty.

Dissertation module

In this module, you will write an academic dissertation under the supervision of one member of the faculty. The academic dissertation will allow you to demonstrate your ability at identifying and analysing a finance problem using economic models and/or econometric/statistical methods. You will come up with a topic of your own choice, which can be theoretical or empirical in nature, manage self-driven enquiry and write up a piece of research.

By solving statistical/mathematical problems and exercises during your dissertation project, you will be equipped with practical problem-solving skills, theorising skills, and an understanding of mathematical relationships. All of these are highly valuable in both academic and non-academic jobs.

Progression to PhD

Although the MRes can be studied as a two-year standalone programme, it is a pathway to PhD for the majority of students.

Progression on to the PhD is subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for the PhD. This includes (1) successful completion of the MRes (achieving at least an average of 60% across all modules and at least 65% in the Dissertation) and (2) the identification of a member of academic staff in the University of Exeter Business School who has agreed to supervise your PhD.

After the programme

The MRes programme will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to carry out PhD level research and subject to meeting the entry criteria (see above) you will be able to progress onto our PhD Finance programme.

The Business School is home to the following research centres

• Centre for Entrepreneurship
• Centre for Innovation in Business Education
• Centre for Simulation, Analytics and Modelling (CSAM)
• Exeter Centre for Social Networks (ECSN)
• Exeter Centre for Leadership (ExCL)
• Exeter Sustainable Finance Centre (ESF)
• Initiative in the Digital Economy at Exeter (INDEX)
• Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute (LEEP)
• Research Methods Centre
• Tax Administration Research Centre (TARC)
• The Exeter Centre for Circular Economy (ECCE)

The analytical and quantitative skills learnt will be highly transferrable, and upon completion you will be well equipped to pursue careers in academia, business, government and international organisations. Many of our recent research students have gone on to be successful academic jobs and have published their doctoral work in well-established journals.

Developing your skills and career prospects

The University of Exeter Business School provides a range of support to help you develop skills attractive to employers. Visit our postgraduate  Business School careers service   web page for more information.

Related courses

Economics (pathway to phd) mres.

Streatham Campus

Management MRes

Accounting and finance msc.

View all Finance courses

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Zoltan Erdos

Postdoctoral research associate.

  [email protected]

  SERSF Floor 1 Room 25

Science and Engineering Research Support Facility (SERSF):, University of Exeter,  Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK

Publications

• Supervision

AHDB PhD researcher studying how social evolutionary selection could be used for the improvement of pathogenic traits in entomopathogenic fungi to control the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae.

Supervised by Dr. Ben Raymond, Professor Chris Bass and Profesor Dave Chandler.

Qualifications

• 2017 MSc Food Safety and Quality Engineering (Szent Istvan University)
• 2015 BSc Food Engineering (Corvinus University of Budapest)
• European Food Safety Authority – Parma, Italy Pesticides Residues Scientist, Junior Scientific Officer

Journal articles

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