M2 | Research, studies and consulting in management sciences course

The Master 2 Research, Studies and Consulting in Management Sciences at the Aix-Marseille Faculty of Economics and Management prepares students primarily for careers in higher education and research. It is also aimed at future consultants and managers who wish to develop solid analytical and methodological skills.

This course will enable you to develop seven key skills:

• Be familiar with the main trends and theoretical frameworks in management science and management research, and understand their origins.
• Master the most advanced qualitative and quantitative research methodologies in management sciences.
• Know the different epistemological approaches specific to management sciences, and understand the scientific approach in the humanities and social sciences.
• Know how to carry out a literature review, construct a problematic and use IT tools, from office applications to "artificial intelligence" to assist you, while understanding the limits and risks associated with the use of these tools.
• Understand the ethical and environmental issues involved in management science research in today's world.
• Communicate written and oral research in a rigorous, concise and structured manner.
• Understand the research ecosystem, opportunities for funding theses and careers in teaching and research.

A program with an international outlook

• Courses delivered mainly in English.
• A majority of international participants, from all five continents.
• A top-notch teaching team, made up exclusively of recognized teacher-researchers who publish in international journals and are active in their fields of expertise.
• Integration into three research laboratories, depending on the specialization chosen: CERGAM (Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur la Gestion d'Aix-Marseille Université), CRETLOG (Centre de Recherche sur le Transport et la Logistique) and LEST (Laboratoire d'Economie et de Sociologie du Travail), and the opportunity to take part in international seminars organized by these laboratories.
  

Personalized support for students' research projects

• 15 hours of coaching in small groups to help students develop their research project and their oral and written expression skills.
• Choice of two "à la carte" advanced research methodology courses.
• Organization of courses over three days (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) to free up time for individual work on Thursday and Friday.
• Facilitated meetings and exchanges with potential dissertation supervisors, and individualized support for students in their choice of FEG research professors.
• Research Master's teachers provide individual guidance and advice to students in their choice of research topics.
• Mentoring by PhD students from the three laboratories (CERGAM, CRETLOG and LEST).

The possibility of a 6-month paid internship during the second semester.

The internship can be carried out in France or abroad, in a company or in a research laboratory (as a research assistant). Students interested in an internship in a company will be put in touch with public and private organizations likely to host a research intern. The company internship can be used to gather data for the dissertation, and may lead to CIFRE funding for the doctorate.

Funding opportunities for doctoral studies

Research Master students with a minimum overall average of 14/20 are eligible for doctoral scholarships from the University of Aix-Marseille (ED 372). They are informed of the various funding possibilities for doctoral studies: regional grants, doctoral contracts and CIFRE contracts (theses in collaboration with companies), and are supported in their project.
Doctoral studies are also possible for those who wish to work while completing their thesis on a part-time basis. On-the-job thesis projects are also supported during the Research Master's program.

Semester 3 M2 MI RESEARCH, STUDIES, CONSULTING IN MANAGEMENT SCIENCES (RECSG)

• BCC 1: Be able to conduct a structured methodological approach based on a problem and data in order to produce reliable and robust results
  • Quantitative research methods
  • Introduction to econometrics
  • Quantitative data analysis
  • Survey & questionnaire design
• Qualitative research methods
  • Introduction to qualitative research approaches & case study methods
  • Qualitative data collection
  • Qualitative data analysis
• BCC 2: Be able to mobilize specialized managerial knowledge in order to apply it to a consulting or research project.
• Theory building and epistemological approaches
  • Theory of firms & organizations
  • Introduction to epistemology
• Research design and literature review
  • Research design
  • Artificial Intelligence for Research
• BCC 3 : Be able to analyze one's actions in a professional situation to improve one's practice, behavioral and professional skills, while managing one's personal development project.
• Research project support and skills development
  • Developing the research/consulting project and professional project
  • Developing oral and written communication skills for research/consulting
  • Ethical and environmental considerations in research/consulting
  • Refresher in statistics & probability
• BCC 4 : Be able to analyze data using advanced and specialized techniques potentially based on digital tools
• Choice of 2 "advanced research methods" UEs
• Advanced quantitative methods
  • Advanced econometric methods
  • Panel data analysis
• Advanced mixed methods
  • Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis
  • Experimental and quasi-experimental research designs
• UE 8 - Advanced qualitative research methods
  • Practice-based approach
  • Ethnographic, processual and longitudinal approaches in qualitative research

Semester 4 M2 MI RESEARCH, STUDIES, CONSULTING IN MANAGEMENT SCIENCES (RECSG) course

• BCC 5: Develop a strategic, sustainable and digital vision of the supply chain
• Supply chain management
  • Management of distribution channels
  • Purchasing management
  • Supply chain management
• Fundamentals of logistics and SCM management research
  • Current thinking in logistics and SCM
  • Current debates and issues in logistics and SCM research
• BCC 6 : Be able to lead a digital transformation project (design, steering, implementation and management...)
• Digital transformation
  • Digital transformation and innovation
  • Digital transformation and entrepreneurship
• IS management research
  • Fundamentals of IS management research
  • IS research methods
• BCC 7: Analyze your actions in a professional situation to improve your practice, behavioral and business skills
• Internship and Dissertation
  • Assignment in a company or research laboratory
  • Research dissertation and defense

Admission requirements for M2 research

Holders of a Bac+4 degree, Master 1 (240 ECTS) or equivalent (foreign degree, VAE)

The majority of applicants come from management and economics backgrounds (Universities and Grandes Ecoles), but the Research Master is also open to students from other disciplines, including engineering schools, psychology, sociology, law, mathematics, philosophy and political science.

Recruitment is based on an online application on our website. Application documents :

• Transcripts of previous studies
• Optional management aptitude tests: TAGE MAGE or IAE Score Message or GMAT.
• As the program is delivered mainly in English, a good level of English is required. This will be tested during the oral admission interview.

Eligible candidates will be auditioned by the program directors, who will assess the quality of their application.

Registration fees

243 euros for French nationals, students holding a long-term resident card in France and nationals of theEuropean Union, the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), Monaco, Andorra, Switzerland, residents of Quebec, as well as nationals of partially exempted countries - see list here : Differentiated tuition fees for students from outside the European Union | Aix-Marseille Université (univ-amu.fr)

3770 euros in all other cases - with possible reductions or exemptions depending on individual circumstances.

Most Research Master students go on to pursue a doctorate, with a career as a teacher-researcher in the field of management and management science. Numerous job opportunities in this fast-growing discipline are available both in France and abroad, at universities and business schools. Some PhDs opt for a career in consulting, while others choose a career in business or within national or international organizations.

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