MSc Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence

Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions, Part-Time, Sandwich (Thick) out of college.

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Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), ubiquitous sensing and wearable technologies have led to their increased adoption in digital healthcare. The major information and communication technology, electronics and start-up companies are increasingly adopting AI to provide a range of smart solutions for patients’ hospital and home cares.

The innovative AI based solutions enable more performing diseases diagnoses, personalised treatment plans, together with advanced assistive technologies, for sustainable patients health monitoring and tailored response to their care.

The aim of this course is to build a workforce of AI specialists in the area of digital health. Our graduates will understand the challenges in designing and deploying AI-driven digital health products in an industry where regulation, responsibility and legal implications are of paramount importance. They will also capture the requirements for adopting AI solutions to the digital healthcare, with assurances of their ethical, safe and effective deployments.

This course will support you to develop a strong professional capability for adopting modern healthcare needs, together with the technical skills you will require for adopting digital healthcare and AI. You will acquire a strong technical understanding of digital healthcare technologies combined with AI; which are essential in advancing 21st century digital healthcare in the years to come.

The option units will enable you to tailor your progressive learning towards the areas that interest you, including from neuronal analysis, smart systems, computer vision to Blockchain.

As a graduate of this course you will be prepared to undertake employment positions such as AI Scientist, AI Product Director, Clinical AI Fellow and many more.

See Course details for more information, including how this course will be delivered safely in autumn 2020 in response to Covid-19.

Image description — Students working in computer lab

Key information

Next start date:

September 2020, January 2021, September 2021

Location:

Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus

Duration:

1 year full-time or 2 years with a 30-week placement (September start), 18 months full-time or 30 months with a 30-week placement (January start), 2 years part-time

Required subjects:

Computing, Technology, Maths, Physics, Engineering, Data Sciences or Data Analytics

Entry requirements:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in a required subject, or equivalent.

International entry requirements:

If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS 6.0 (Academic), with a minimum of 5.5 in each component. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

Course details

Details of the assessment methods and contact hours for each unit of the course can be found in the programme specification.

Download the programme specification (pdf 322kb)

September 2020 - course information

During your first semester (September to January), your course  will be delivered online, using interactive platforms that will replicate the experience of being in a lecture theatre or seminar room. You’ll have opportunities to interact with your lecturer and fellow students just as you would have done  in any other year. 

We hope to have a full programme of face-to-face sessions on campus for all courses  from January  if government guidelines permit. 

You will be able to use the Library, the Student Centre, Open Access Centre and social learning spaces, subject to physical distancing measures to undertake group and other work. 

There will be no other changes to the content of your course as a result of Covid-19; we will deliver all of the units  we have previously promised we would, and we are not making any changes to the individual learning outcomes on your course. 

It’s important that you know these changes are temporary and that we will be back to our usual on-campus experience as soon as national guidance makes it possible.  

See our  Coronavirus  FAQs  for the latest information  from BU.  

This is the latest information, updated  on 20  July. We will update this page when more information is available, and we can confirm any additional on-campus activity.

Core units

Research Methods & Professional Issues: This unit provides an overview of different research methods used to address scientific research questions. It covers aspects of research design, implementation and how they apply to solving digital health and artificial intelligence based challenges in a quantitative, qualitative or mixed fashion.

Foundations of Health Information Systems: This unit aims to help you learn the fundamentals of health information systems while introducing key concepts, principles, processes and related issues, and carrying out relevant activities in the analysis and design of health information systems. Further, the unit will cover health data generation, compilation, analysis, synthesis, communication and analytics. You will develop a good understanding of the legal and ethical framework surrounding the professional implementation of health information systems and use of electronic health data.

Artificial Intelligence: The aim of this unit is to provide you with an introduction to the first principles and techniques that are employed in the greater field and sub-fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), together with the skills and knowledge required to employ AI techniques for solving real-world and synthetic problems.

You will approach AI from a Computer Science perspective, with focuses given to the challenges faced within the field, nature inspired algorithms, and their applications to complex real-world problems.

Accessibility & Assistive Technology: The aim of this unit is to provide you with an introduction to understanding diverse user needs, while focusing on the challenges caused by temporary, situational or lifelong disabilities. It will specifically lead you to acquire the skills and techniques to conduct research concerning people with disabilities and inform the design of assistive technology which overcomes their specific tasks and challenges.

Individual Masters Project: You will develop a good understanding of the characteristics and implications which are inherent in the solution of a complex, real-world digital health and AI oriented problem. This will be achieved within the context of a substantial, independently conducted research and development work.

Option units

Option units (choose two)

Neuronal Analysis: This unit provides you with a focus on advanced models and data analysis methods for understanding the human brain function at neuronal levels. The mathematical modelling is achieved using highly performing parallel data processors which imitate biological neuronal network functions.

Blockchain & Digital Futures: The objective of this unit is to develop your skills and knowledge about the Blockchain technology and its usage. This includes the definition of Blockchain technology, its business aspect, encountered issues, objectives, and challenges. These also cover Blockchain horizontal and vertical scaling, together with key basics of cryptography which are required for understanding Blockchain technology concepts, cryptocurrencies, together with their respective networks, issues and challenges.

Persuasive Technology & Behaviour Change: You will cover mainstream psychological theories of persuasion, influence, decision making and behaviour change besides their application on a wide range of domains including health, business and e-learning. We will also discuss the risks and ethical consideration of persuasion as well as essentials for informed decision making.

Smart Systems: This unit introduces you to various facets of smart systems technology and how they could apply to different environments. A selected set of innovative applications will be investigated and discussed to provide you with practical insight on smart systems, their deployment and applications.

Computer Vision: This unit focuses on a number of computer vision techniques, ranging from traditional approaches which have been established through research over many decades, to the most recent state-of-the-art development, using appropriate tools. The unit entails a strong empirical element where Computer Vision models are implemented, performance evaluated and validated.

Programme specification

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.

Placement opportunities

An exciting and valuable part of your studies with us is the opportunity to gain valuable experience through full-time paid industrial placements, for a minimum of 30 weeks.

Find out more about placements for postgraduate students

What support is available?

We provide a lot of support for you to help you find work, including a block of seminars, covering topics such as writing a CV and a covering letter, completing an application form, performing well in interviews, and we also provide language support to assist you with the written elements of your applications.

However, it is ultimately your responsibility to find work. The university does not guarantee that you will find a place.

During your time on placement you will be supported by a unit tutor and a placement development advisor who will visit you on placement and keep in touch by phone and email.

International opportunities

Employment prospects are now truly international and BU encourages students to consider an international work placement or volunteering experience during their degree.

One way could be through the EU funded Erasmus mobility programme which supports placements or study exchanges in Europe.

Students can also participate in international placements outside of Europe. There are opportunities to engage with summer schools and volunteering projects. These experiences help students to enhance their global employability skills.

Your application

Selection methods

How and when to apply

There is no application deadline for this course. However, if you will need a visa to come to the UK to study, think carefully about the length of time it will take for your visa application to be processed and make sure your visa will be ready in time for the beginning of your course.

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.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

The normal requirements for embarking upon this course are:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in a required subject, or equivalent
Required subjects: Computing, Technology, Maths, Physics, Engineering, Data Sciences or Data Analytics.

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.

International entry requirements

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:

China: 学士学位 (Bachelor degree) with a minimum of 65% overall
Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution in Nigeria
Thailand: Thai Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution.
Vietnam: Bachelor's degree/Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with an average score of at least 7.0, or a Master’s degree/Thac si.
Turkey: Bachelor’s Degree (Lisans Diplomasi -four years) to be considered for a postgraduate course at BU.

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.

Careers

Upon completion of this course, you will possess the practical skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to enter the business computing profession, regardless of whether you currently hold any IT qualifications. As Information Technology forms a core part of the business function for many organisations, you will enjoy a wide range of career opportunities in a variety of industries.

Potential job roles

Further study

Costs and fees

You can find full information about the deposits required and how to pay your fees in our postgraduate fees and funding section, including details of the Postgraduate Loan (subject to fee status).

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.

Find out more about living expenses for postgraduate students

No hidden extras

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 field-based teaching activity
Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement
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
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
Disability and additional learning support
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

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:

Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
Optional fieldwork travel, outdoor wear and footwear (where applicable)
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 shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses
Any expenses relating to placements e.g. travel, specialist clothing etc.

Repeat units

Financial help available from BU

Deposits

International (non-EU) students need to pay a non-refundable £2,000 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.

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that teaching staff can change.

Dr Zoheir Sabeur - Course Leader

Zoheir Sabeur is Associate Professor of Data Science at Bournemouth University. His main research expertise is on AI, knowledge extraction, human behaviour and natural processes machine detection and understanding. This was applied to COPD health patients exacerbation events forecast, impact of climate change on species behaviour, surveillance, human physical security and industrial operations. He has published over 120 papers in scientific journals, conference proceedings and books.

View Dr Sabeur's staff profile

Dr Shahin Rostami - Senior Lecturer In Computing

Dr Shahin Rostami is a Senior Academic in Data Science. He teaches both postgraduate and undergraduate units, such as Search and Optimisation, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Mining and Analytic Technologies.

Dr Rostami holds a Ph.D. in the field of Computational Intelligence with applications to Concealed Weapon Detection. His research interests lie within Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, ranging from theory to their application to Digital Healthcare and Threat Detection. Currently, he is consulting for and supervising PhD research projects in Non-Contact Vital Sign Measurement and Multi-Objective Concealed Weapon Detection. He has published in many high-impact journals and conferences, and organised/chaired special sessions including the IEEE CIBCB 2017 “Machine Learning in Medical Diagnosis and Prognosis”. He also leads the Computational Intelligence Research Initiative (CIRI).

View Dr Rostami's staff profile

Dr Huseyin Dogan - Principal Academic in Computing

Dr Dogan's research focuses on Human Factors, Assistive Technologies and Systems Engineering. He is the Co-Chair of the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) research group.

Dr 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). He 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.

View Dr Dogan's staff profile

Dr Sharon Docherty - Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Research Methodology and Statistics

Dr Docherty is a Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Research Methodology and Statistics within the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences (HSS) as well as the Research Data Management Champion for the Faculty. Her role involves the development and expansion of quantitative research and teaching within HSS. As well as contributing to the teaching and supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate level students, as a member of the Bournemouth University Clinical Research Unit, she works closely with academics across the Faculty and University to provide quantitative methodological support. In addition, she provides methodological and statistical advice to health professionals in the NHS.

View Dr Docherty's staff profile