MSc Digital Health

• Research Methods in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI): In this unit, you will gain proficiency in research methodologies and design processes essential to HCI, particularly in Digital Health. You will learn to develop human-centred interactive systems, address usability and accessibility needs—including for individuals with disabilities—and prepare to conduct, present, and write your Masters project with a strong focus on ethical and professional standards.
• Health Information Systems: In this unit, you will develop a critical understanding of health information systems, exploring key concepts, principles, and methods used to address real-world healthcare challenges. You will also gain practical skills in analysing and designing these systems, while examining the legal and ethical issues involved in implementing them and handling electronic health data.
• Human Computer Interaction: You will gain a critical understanding of human factors and how they are integrated into the development of complex socio-technical systems. You'll also develop practical skills in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), including processes, standards, tools, and techniques for designing interactive systems using a human-centred approach.
• Programming and Prototyping: You will gain proficiency in programming fundamentals and prototyping techniques to design user-centric application prototypes, while also learning to apply sustainable and ethically responsible software development practices.
• Industrial Skills and Professional Issues (Digital Health): You will develop a critical understanding of key industrial skills and professional issues relevant to your field, while enhancing your practical abilities through hands-on, teamwork-driven project-based learning.
• Persuasive Technology and Behavioural Change: You will explore how to design and use Persuasive Technology (PT) to influence user attitudes and behaviours, drawing on key psychological theories of persuasion, decision-making, and behaviour change. You'll also learn to analyse, design, and critically evaluate PT solutions across areas like health, sustainability, and education, while considering ethical implications and potential risks.
• Individual Masters Project: You will develop an understanding of the characteristics and implications inherent in the solution of a complex, real-world problem within the context of a substantial, independently-conducted piece of work. 

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

September 2025 and January 2026: A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in a required subject, or equivalent

Required subjects: Computer Science/IT, Engineering, Design, Health and Social Care, Medical Science, Psychology, Business, Law, Forensic Science

From September 2026: A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 (or equivalent) is required in a relevant subject. Applicants with a degree in another subject will also be considered if they have experience in the health sector. 

Required subjects: Computing, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics disciplines, or an MSc in any subject.  

If you are in doubt if you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, please get in touch with the Future Students Enquiry team.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

• India: Bachelor’s degree (three years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 55%  
• Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:4  
• China: Chinese Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with 65% or above  
• Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0  
• Ghana: Bachelor's degrees from University of Ghana or Legon with a grade of 2.00 or above, or from Cape Coast with a grade 2.5 or above  
• USA: US Bachelor’s degree (four years), with a 2.5 GPA or above  

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements

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

IELTS (Academic) 6.0 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. 

This course selects candidates by looking at their applications. There are no interviews or additional selection activities and therefore we suggest that you make your application stand out from the crowd. For more information take a look at our how to apply pages.

Please see our website for the application deadlines. You should apply as early as possible to be considered for your course of choice. If you require a student visa, apply for the visa as soon as you have an unconditional offer and receive your CAS. There may be delays in visa processing in your country and you need to be in Bournemouth ready to study for the start of term.

December and January is one of our busiest application periods and therefore it may take us a little longer to process incoming applications. For courses with a January start date, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

Having completed the course, students are expected to become competitive in digital health market and consider the following roles:

• Health Systems and Service Designers responsible for designing health and care systems
• Data Analyst specialised in health and care decision making
• Application and System Developer in digital health
• Information Governance Manager responsible for managing data in health information systems
• User Experience consultants/practitioners specialised in designing digital health solutions
• Clinical Information Manager responsible for creating health systems to support clinical decision making
• Planning & Performance Manager responsible for understanding the business performance and challenges for the healthcare sector

Example employers:

• NHS
• Apple
• Accenture
• Microsoft
• Google

If you want to continue your studies after achieving your Master’s, you can look into our range of doctoral programmes.

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:

• Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity.
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study.
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service.
• 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.
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics 
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow.
• Free software download to your personal device of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus while you are studying, as well as access to applications provided on AppsAnywhere, subject to licensing and compatibility restrictions
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances.
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Additional costs

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 information regarding hardship funds.
• ​Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.
• Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information.
• ​Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• ​Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. Placement year funding information can be found on our website.
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study. 
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during the course of your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full time fee.

We offer a range of scholarships to students who are beginning their studies at BU. Our fees and funding pages also provide details on living costs, budgeting and paying your tuition fees.

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

• You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
• You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

Dr Benjamin Gorman is the Programme Leader and Lecturer in Computing. His research focus is within Human Computer Interaction, specifically Accessibility where he focuses on developing technology to help people with hearing loss. 

Professor Huseyin Dogan is a Principal Academic in Computing. His research focuses on Human Factors, Assistive Technologies and Systems Engineering. He is the Co-Chair of the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) research group.  

Professor Dogan received his Engineering Doctorate (EngD) in Systems Engineering from Loughborough University, MSc in Human Computer Interaction with Ergonomics from University College London, and BSc in Computer Science from Queen Mary University of London. He was the General Co-Chair for the 30th International British Computer Society Human Computer Interaction Conference (BCS HCI 2016).

Professor Dogan has over 100 publications which include journal papers, conference papers, and technical reports. His research on Assistive Technologies (with Dr Paul Whittington) featured on the BBC South, BBC Radio Solent, The Ergonomist, Auto Express, Bournemouth Echo and The Sunday Times magazine.

Deniz Cetinkaya is a Lecturer (Academic) in Computing in the Department of Computing & Informatics at BU. She is the Programme Leader for BIT (Business Information Technology) and ITM (Information Technology Management) courses. 

She has a BSc degree in Computer Science and Engineering and MSc degree in Computer Engineering. She received her PhD degree in Systems Engineering from Delft University of Technology (Technische Universiteit Delft) in the Netherlands. 

Melanie is a Principal Academic and the Deputy Head of the Computing and Informatics Department. She joined Bournemouth University in June 1997 from the University of East London, where she was a lecturer in the Innovation Studies Department.