A process for the preparation of epoxy-modified vinyl chloride-vinyl ester copolymers in the form of the solid resins involves aqueous, free radical polymerization of a mixture comprising a) from 50 to 90% by weight of vinyl chloride, b) from 5 to 25% by weight of epoxide-containing vinyl monomers and c) from 5 to 25% by weight of one or more vinyl esters of straight-chain or branched alkylcarboxylic acids having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, d) from 0 to 40% by weight of further comonomers copolymerizable with a), b) and c), the data in % by weight summing to 100% by weight, and subsequent drying of the aqueous dispersions obtained thereby, polymerization being effected by means of suspension polymerization in the presence of aldehyde regulators.