Master's Degree in Research and Consulting

  • ECTS

    120 credits

  • Duration

    2 years

  • Training structure

    Faculty of Law and Political Science

Presentation

Political Science Major

  • Master's Degree in Research and Consulting
    Program directors: Aurélia TROUPEL

Created in 2008, the Master's degree in Research and Consulting (M2CO) has established itself as the leading degree program in this sector.

It mainly prepares students for careers as research analysts (qualitative, quantitative, online) and consultants in governance (public policy evaluation, consultation, sector-specific firms) or communications (political communications, digital communications, etc.).

The M2CO is a highly professional training program delivered by a teaching team made up of experienced academics and leading specialists in the field.

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Objectives

The objectives of the M2CO: to train students to produce expertise in a wide range of activities

Research and consulting professions involve providing expertise to a wide range ofentities, including local authorities, associations and political groups, the media, public and private institutions, businesses, etc.

This expertise may include:

- conducting studies for decision-making purposes or developing customized study protocols (auditing, designing and managing qualitative and quantitative studies, recommendations, etc.);

- Organizing and facilitating participatory mechanisms (consultation in the context of urban projects or integrated land management) and public debate prior to major development projects (such as the National Commission for Public Debate);

- supporting the strategy and development of these bodies (regional analysis, market research, communication campaigns, project launches, press relations, etc.);

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Know-how and skills

Theoretical and practical mastery of social science methods used in consulting professions: political and economic analysis; organizational sociology; strategic analysis; sociology of political and cultural behavior; sociology of media and new media; communication theory and political communication; content analysis (semiological, morphological, and lexicometric analysis); interview techniques, data collection techniques, including surveys, etc.

Proficiency in new communication technologies and data processing software

Proficiency in the various aspects of consulting: prospecting, responding to calls for tenders, drawing up specifications and estimates, customer follow-up, reporting back to the customer, management

In-depth knowledge of issues affecting the communications, media, and political sectors.

Methodological expertise in conducting diagnostics, market research, developing sales pitches, and making recommendations

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Organization

Special facilities

The training program is open to work-study programs (apprenticeships and professional training contracts).

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Program

Select a program

Master 1 in Research and Consulting

  • EU Public Action and Governance

    7 credits
    • Public Action and Governance

    • CM Public Action and Governance

  • EU Case study/applied sociological surveys (ST)

    5 credits
  • Political Sociology of Elites (ST)

  • European political institutions (ST)

  • Environment and Policy (ST)

  • EU Quantitative Studies

  • EU Language

    • English

  • Digital skills - In-depth documentary research

  • EU Qualitative methods

  • Preparation for Professional Integration

    1 credit
  • EU Local government

    7 credits
    • TD Local Power

    • CM Local government

  • EU Language

    • Choose 1 from 1

      • English

  • Memory

    2 credits
  • Constitutional law of local authorities (ST)

  • Local finances (ST)

  • Sociology of partisan organizations (ST)

  • Optional

    • Legal clinic (F)

    • Memory (F)

    • Internship (F)

    • Professional integration workshops (F): CV/cover letter

    • Supervised project (F)

    • Apprenticeship (F)

    • Legal monitoring (F)

Master 2 in Research and Consulting

  • Governance

    14 credits
  • Investigation techniques: practical approaches

    9 credits
  • The opinion and market research sector

    11 credits
  • Applied communication

    5 credits
  • Choice of professional support

    • Choose one of two options:

      • Choice Personalized professional support + Commitment

        • Student engagement

        • Personalized professional support

          1 credit
      • Personalized professional support

        3 credits
  • Internship report

    12 credits
    • Internship report (workshop)

    • Internship or apprenticeship

  • Collective project

    6 credits
    • Supervised project

Admission

Admission requirements

Admission takes place in two stages:

  • pre-selection based on application
  • an oral presentation and discussion with the jury about your background and career plans
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Target audience

Mainly students of political science, sociology, and social sciences.

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And after

Professional integration

The Master's program trains students for careers in consulting in the fields of research, consulting, strategy, and communication. It primarily prepares students for positions as consultants, project managers, research officers, or researchers within the following organizations:

• Polling institutes, advertisers, consulting firms, research firms, lobbying firms;

• Communications department, research or strategy department in companies, or their employer associations (industry unions);

• Communication agencies;

• Political institutions, NGOs

Given the high level of support, all students from previous years have so far successfully completed their degrees.

92% of former graduates pursue careers in the research and consulting sector.

In September 2016, at the graduation ceremony, more than half of the students were hired on permanent contracts and one-third on long-term fixed-term contracts (between 6 and 9 months).

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