MPhil – Faculty of Science & Technology

You can be awarded a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) after critically investigating and evaluating an approved topic and demonstrating an understanding of research methods appropriate to your chosen field. You'll be expected to present and defend a thesis and/or practical element, by viva voce (oral examination), to the satisfaction of the examiners. You can register to study for an MPhil on a full-time or part-time basis.

The main focus of an MPhil is to carry out a unique research project, within any research area that is covered by one of our eight research themes - these involve cross-faculty collaboration and present an excellent opportunity to work on an impactful research project.

Your supervisory team will:

• Provide appropriate support and guidance regarding BU’s research degree regulations, policies and procedures
• Give support when you are planning your research project, progressing through key milestones to successfully completing in the expected timeframe
• Maintain regular contact with you and provide constructive feedback on written work and during meetings to support your progress
• Advise you on professional and personal skill development training opportunities
• Give guidance about attending and presenting your work at internal and external seminars and conferences
• Advise on publication of your work in journals and other appropriate media.

In the Department of Archaeology & Anthropology, we have a team of experts committed to furthering the understanding of and knowledge within their chosen fields through varied research projects. 

A creative and innovative research culture is at the heart of what we do, to better understand humankind by the investigation and interpretation of things inherited from the past; societies and cultures. 

Research defines our status and our impact on both national and international decision-makers and policy. As researchers, we collaborate with a wide range of organizations around the world, including the European Commission, German Archaeological Institute, National Trust, English Heritage and The Environment Agency. 

Within our Computing & Informatics department we conduct research across a variety of fields and have identified six main areas of focus: Cyber Security, Smart Technology, Human Computer Interaction, Machine Intelligence, Engineering of Social Informatics, and Computing and Education. 

As a part of this work, we have seven research groups that can help support your study including Cyber Security Research Group (BUCSR), Machine Intelligence Group (MIG) and Computing in Education Research Group (CERG). You can find out about all the Computing research groups on their dedicated research page. 

Our dynamic and expanding Creative Technology department offers a range of research opportunities in the areas of games and music/audio technologies. 

Research in creative technology underpins the teaching in our department. The research we undertake spans the full range of games and audio technology/production, including interactive games, entertainment computing, the science and technology of music composition and leading techniques for games and music production. 

Our Design & Engineering department has a variety of experts who are innovators and entrepreneurs within their careers. Our staff are involved in a number of interdisciplinary research projects that have resulted in the development of new products that have had an impact on a local, national and international scale. 

The staff have a wide range of interests within the field, with research topics including musculoskeletal research, human-centred design, biomedical engineering, technology used in sport, sustainable design, renewable energy and composite materials.

Our Department of Life & Environmental Sciences department has a variety of experts including biologists, ecologists, geographers, forensic, medical and environmental scientists. Our wide-ranging specialist interests include human evolution, biology and genetics, microbiology, sustainability, paleoecology, remote sensing, coastal and terrestrial geomorphology, the ecology of plants and animals within terrestrial, freshwater & marine environments and forensic science covering crime and disaster events. 

In a biodiversity hotspot, close to iconic environments such as the New Forest National Park, Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, we’re ideally situated to study and research life and environmental sciences. 

The research groups within this department include Institute for Studies in Landscape & Human Evolution and Environment & Threats Strategic Research Group.

Our Department of Psychology offers a wide range of research opportunities, with staff having a wide range of specialist interests including clinical psychology, cognitive neuroscience, cyberpsychology, mental health as well as forensic and investigative psychology. 

The research groups that staff from our Department of Psychology are involved with include the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Centre and Digital Addiction Research group. 

We would normally expect you to have an Honours degree at Upper Second Class (2:1) and/or an appropriate Master's degree.

Some supervisors may ask you for additional entry requirements such as relevant work experience, evidence of written work, or previous study of a particular subject.

As entry requirements can vary, it is important to discuss your application in principle before submitting a formal application.

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

• IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with minimum 5.5 in each component or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level. 

You can also find further details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our postgraduate entry requirements page.

We will take the following factors into account when considering your application:

• Academic qualifications
• The nature and viability of your proposed research
• The university's capacity to provide you with appropriate supervision throughout your research
• English language proficiency
• Evidence of access to appropriate resources to support your living costs and pay registration fees over the period of your research.

There are three entry points for research degrees: January, April and September. The deadlines for applications are as follows:

• January entry – 31 October
• April entry - 31 January
• September entry - 30 June

If you have any enquiries please email [email protected].

As part of your application you will need to write a personal statement. Your personal statement is an opportunity to provide us with information on your academic background, relevant experience and motivations for undertaking postgraduate research. It is a chance for you to tell us how you arrived at the decision to apply for a research programme, and what your goals are once you have completed it.

Key information to include:

• The research project you plan to undertaker should be unique, and so your personal statement should explain to us why you are the right person to successfully carry out the project.
• If you are an international applicant your personal statement should also touch on your reasons for choosing to study in the UK and at Bournemouth University in particular.
• Identify any academic staff you would like to work with on your project, especially if you have already contacted them ahead of your application.
• Information on any other hobbies or interests you may wish us to know when considering your application. Telling us this can show us other skills you have such as social skills, teamwork or leadership.

We recommend personal statements are between 500-1000 words.

Why is your research proposal important?

The quality of your research proposal plays a significant factor in our decision on whether to accept you onto a postgraduate research programme. It shows your potential to successfully complete your programme.

Your research proposal should:

• be around 1,500 words long (excluding references). Please read our Research Proposal Guidance
• articulate a clearly defined research question
• outline the approach you propose to take in answering it
• explain the originality and significance of the contribution which your research will make to existing literature in your subject area
• demonstrate your understanding of the project, skills in critical thinking, methodologies and theoretical context
• show your project is viable and that you have thought carefully about how you will complete it within the relevant timeframe of your programme
• display a high level of communication skills suitable for an academic environment
• detail any specific supervisors you would like to work with at Bournemouth University and reference their work.

Every year, we offer a number of fully-funded doctoral opportunities across our faculties.

You can find full information about the deposits required and how to pay your fees in our postgraduate fees section.

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per annum. Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course.

Continuation Status - research students who have completed their normal period of enrolment but are still engaged in research activity or writing up will be automatically transferred to Continuation Status, as outlined in the Code of Practice for Research Degrees. Continuation Status Fees will be £600 for the 12-month period, payable in accordance with the BU Student Fees Policy.

What's included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Allocation of a supervisory team to provide support and guidance throughout a research degree programme
• Access to Researcher Development Programme
• Copy of current Code of Practice for Research Degrees, the Student Charter and the Student Agreement
• Access to a desk and computer (full-time Doctoral PGRs only).
• Access to photocopying/printing facilities (as determined by the Faculty and programme of study).
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Disability and additional learning support
• Access to departmental, faculty and BU-wide research communities through seminars, conferences and other events.

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for further information regarding BU financial support fund. 
• Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
• Travel costs and other costs associated with optional research activities.
• Text books, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.
• SportBU membership

Undertaking a research degree will not only allow you to carry out research in a specialist field, it will also equip you with a range of transferable skills that can be applied to roles within project management, commercial research and development, or consultancy services.

You may also decide that you would like to pursue a career within academia, developing the research that you undertake during your MPhil and sharing your expertise with others who have an interest in a similar field.