Courses starting in January

BU offers a wide variety of taught Master’s degree subjects, and what’s more, if you join us in January 2026, you could be eligible for our Academic Achievement Scholarship (a £2,000 reduction in fees) for Home applicants or our Academic Excellence Scholarship (upto a £4,500 reduction in fees) for Overseas applicants.

Students in England may also be eligible for funding support from a postgraduate loan for January 2026 (for January 2025 entry the maximum loan amount was £12,471). If you need to explore your accommodation options, check out what’s on offer on our accommodation web pages.

December and January is one of our busiest application periods so, to avoid disappointment, we recommend submitting your application for a January start as soon as possible.

Courses starting in January

Accounting, Finance & Economics

MSc Finance

If you have a background in finance or a related discipline and want to pursue a career in financial analysis, financial management or investment, this course will help you develop the exact skills you need. It covers the most recent developments in the financial industry including FinTech, Big Data, derivatives and risk management.

MSc International Accounting & Finance

This conversion course is ideal for graduates looking to change subjects or career direction, and is designed to give you a firm understanding of how organisations report their financial data. As well as helping you learn how to analyse data and draw conclusions from it, you’ll study how to help modern international corporations to accurately reflect environmental issues in their financial reporting.

MSc International Finance & Economics

This course is the ideal choice for graduates who want to change subjects or career direction. It’s been developed with two key features in mind – the development of strong economic and finance skills, and the ability to apply them into practice.

Business & Management

A shot of Bournemouth Pier in the background, taken from a low level on the beach with the tide rolling in in the foreground

Master of Business Administration

The Bournemouth MBA is designed to help you take your career to the next level. It will help you to operate as a global leader who understands the business ecosystem in an increasingly volatile environment, and is designed with the practical application of knowledge in mind.

MSc Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship

This conversion course will develop you into a lateral thinker capable of seeing things differently to those around you. With that skillset, you’ll be in a great position to take exciting new ideas to market, and create successful businesses around them.

leading developing business crowd audience

MSc International Management

This conversion course will empower you with the business skills and acumen to help you become a dynamic leader prepared for the challenges of global business.

MSc Management with Business Analytics

On this conversion course, your understanding of analytics will be complemented by developing broader management skills in areas such as human resources, marketing, strategy, accounting, financial management and leadership skills – all within a global context.

MSc Management with Human Resources

This conversion course has a global focus with specialist units exploring issues including managing people across different cultures, organisational and employment-related issues and the development of people as a resource.

political communication business student

MSc Organisational Project Management

This course will develop your critical awareness of project management approaches and change management in a global business environment, as well as within wider society. It is a conversion course that will enable you to change subject or career direction.

Computing & Informatics

MSc Cyber Security & Human Factors

Bournemouth University’s MSc in Cyber Security & Human Factors has been developed in response to the needs of the computing and security sectors worldwide. Graduates from this course will be equipped with technical know-how to protect and prevent, and the ability to assess risk and manage incidents.

MSc Data Science and Artificial Intelligence

Our MSc Data Science and Artificial Intelligence will give you the knowledge of methods and processes that will enable you to analyse, devise, and deploy data science and artificial intelligence solutions for real-world problems. In particular, this degree emphasises different facets of exploratory/confirmatory data science techniques and artificial intelligence algorithms in different contexts, ranging from digital health to fraud detection.

MSc Digital Health

The aim of our interdisciplinary MSc Digital Health is to build a digital health workforce to bridge the knowledge gap between healthcare and computing and address today’s and tomorrow’s design challenges in developing digital health solutions. If your first degree is within computing and healthcare-related disciplines, this course will give you the required knowledge and skills to become a visionary digital health technologist, and will provide you with a potential ‘fast-track’ into the healthcare and social care profession.

MSc Human Centred Artificial Intelligence

Become equipped with the skills for a career in AI and data science with this conversion course.

Computing & Information Technology lecturer and student

MSc Information Technology

This distinctive programme allows graduates without IT qualifications the chance to enter the business computing profession. Instead of focussing on traditional software development, greater emphasis is given to the development of modern business systems such as web systems and database systems. As a graduate from this course (which includes a valuable placement option), you'll understand IT from a business perspective, be able to create a systems view of business system development, as well as being able to implement systems.

MSc Human Centred Artificial Intelligence for Games Development

Become equipped with the skills for a career in AI and data science with this conversion course, learning about mixed realities and ludonarrative design.

Design & Engineering

MSc Engineering Project Management

The MSc Engineering Project Management is designed to give you the understanding and knowledge to employ management and technical tools, and the skills and confidence to spearhead and manage the development of new products and projects within the technological industries.

MSc Mechanical Engineering Design

If you have ambitions of being a Chartered Engineer (CEng) then this course will provide you with the ideal start. It is accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Education

Journalism, English & Communication

MA Creative Writing and Publishing

This forward-thinking and industry-relevant MA offers creative writers the opportunity to not only develop advanced writing skills, but also a solid understanding of the different ways in which writers can now engage with the publishing industry. Offering both full-time and part-time routes, this innovative MA equips you with the knowledge and skills to take your writing into the commercial marketplace in both print and digital formats.

MA Marketing Communications

This new MA Marketing Communications course will offer you the opportunity to develop, implement and critically evaluate marketing communications strategies, from both a theoretical and practical perspective. As such, you will be equipped with cutting-edge knowledge and skills to be agile in industry and to define new industry practice. You will also be exposed to new and emerging forms of marketing communications such as branded content, branded entertainment and digital storytelling.

MA Media & Communication

This flexible course gives you the chance to study communication and media at an advanced level. It will provide you with a highly employable set of skills, together with the ability to engage with theoretical concepts, perform analysis of media, and develop a critical understanding of the industry today.

MA Multimedia Journalism

This multi award-winning MA will enable you to cover any news story for the web, television, radio or print. It also offers the opportunity to specialise in areas such as radio and TV documentary, investigative journalism, and digital magazines. It is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), which means it teaches practical journalism skills to a professional standard.

Law

LLM Intellectual Property

This course has been developed in collaboration with the Joint Examination Board of The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA). The LLM in Intellectual Property can be achieved through a year-long programme that has been developed for both UK and international students.The course is taught by academics of the renowned Centre for Intellectual Property Policy & Management (CIPPM), and enjoys input from intellectual property practitioners from some of the UK’s leading companies and practices.

LLM International Commercial Law

Our LLM in International Commercial Law focuses on the legal regulation from the perspective of a common law jurisdiction, and the challenges presented through membership of the international and European communities.

LLM International Tax Law

The LLM International Tax Law is aimed at those considering a career in international tax consultancy or within in-house tax departments of multinational companies. It is also highly suitable for staff of foreign government finance ministries and tax authorities who wish to learn more about tax policy.

LLM Public International Law

This course is open to those who hold a Bachelor Honours degree with a 2:2 in any subject. Public international law has increased in use and relevance vastly over the twentieth century, due to a globalised world with an upsurge in global trade, environmental concerns, human rights violations, armed conflicts and a boom in global communications. You will therefore benefit from the study of law in these areas and under the direction of experts in this field.

PG Cert Intellectual Property

This part-time course is designed to give a detailed overview of substantive intellectual property law. On successful completion of this course, you will obtain full exemptions from the foundation level examinations for qualification as a patent attorney or trade mark attorney in the UK (IPReg/CIPA/CITMA). The course will give you the practical skills and theoretical knowledge that firms and Intellectual Property departments, alike, are demanding.

Life & Environmental Sciences

Biodiversity, Environmental Change & Green Economy

MSc Green Economy

The development of a green economy, or an economy that is environmentally sustainable, has become a political and socio-economic imperative. It is highly inter-disciplinary, drawing from ecology, geography, social science, psychology and technology – and, in keeping with the ethos of the course, is studied by distance learning.

Marketing

MA Marketing Communications

This new MA Marketing Communications course will offer you the opportunity to develop, implement and critically evaluate marketing communications strategies, from both a theoretical and practical perspective. As such, you will be equipped with cutting-edge knowledge and skills to be agile in industry and to define new industry practice. You will also be exposed to new and emerging forms of marketing communications such as branded content, branded entertainment and digital storytelling.

Group of young adults sat around a table at a presentation

MSc Marketing Management

This Master’s degree is a conversion course – ideal for graduates who would like to change subjects or career direction. Incorporating specialist units which explore contemporary issues for today’s marketers, it is complemented by broader management units to advance students' leadership and management skills.

MSc Marketing Management (Digital)

This Master’s degree is a conversion course – ideal for graduates who would like to change subjects or career direction. It will introduce you to a range of digital marketing concepts and an understanding of the planning, implementation and evaluation of various digital marketing tools.

MSc Marketing & User Experience

Digital and technical skills are highly sought after by a wide range of professionals. User experience designers are increasingly being asked to demonstrate social science skills and business acumen, as well as technical knowledge. This course aims to provide students with a deeper knowledge of marketing combined with the technical skills to design and manage the user experience – the combination of which make for highly employable graduates.

Politics

From spin doctors to social media: The evolution of political communication

MA International Political Communication

This course is designed to provide an advanced understanding of the issues and debates surrounding political communication in the twenty first century. The units are conceptually led, combining discussions of theory with an exploration of current and best practice in society. All units will offer an international perspective and provide insights into the latest developments in political communication research and practice and the impact of recent technological innovations.

MA Political Psychology

Political psychology is a well-established branch of psychology, yet there are very few places in the world where a Master’s in the subject can be taken. We are now offering such a course, providing a unique opportunity to study how psychological insights can throw light on politics.

Psychology

MSc Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology

This is a course with diverse modules, focusing on the normal and abnormal changes that occur in the human brain from childhood through to adulthood through to old age.

MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology

This Master’s course within the Department of Psychology adopts a patient-centred approach to teaching the origins and range of clinical psychology. It is recognised and respected by practitioners for producing sound, highly employable graduates within many branches of psychology.

MSc Investigative Forensic Psychology

Study a course specialising in examining the theoretical and investigative aspects of forensic psychology to prepare you for the entire criminal justice process, from crime scene to courtroom. Benefit from our great facilities and expert academics.

MSc Psychology

This conversion course will cover all areas of psychology to provide you with the knowledge and understanding to start a career in this field.

Tourism, Hospitality & Sport

MSc International Hospitality and Tourism Management

This Master’s is a conversion course – meaning it is intended for students who have not studied the subject previously – and will provide you with an advanced understanding of the hospitality and tourism industry, with a managerial perspective of how to run such organisations. It is ideal for graduates who would like to change subjects or career direction.

MSc Sport Management

This course is ideal for those wanting to pursue a career working for sport business and marketing organisations, national sporting governing bodies, sports consultancy enterprises, community groups and charitable sporting organisations. It’s suitable for those already working in sport management, or those who want to change career direction.

Start a new challenge in the new year

Courses starting in January

Courses starting in January

Accounting, Finance & Economics

Business & Management

Computing & Informatics

Design & Engineering

Education

Journalism, English & Communication

Law

Life & Environmental Sciences

Marketing

Politics

Psychology

Tourism, Hospitality & Sport

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Start a new challenge in the new year

Courses starting in January

Accounting, Finance & Economics

Business & Management

Computing & Informatics

Design & Engineering

Education

Journalism, English & Communication

Law

Life & Environmental Sciences

Marketing

Politics

Psychology

Tourism, Hospitality & Sport

Postgraduate research courses

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