Master of Science in Social Science Research Methods (Politics)

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

Preserving the security of computers, connected devices and their data becomes more important every year. Mathematics plays a key role in both preventing and modelling security breaches, with many cybersecurity tools and algorithms being based on mathematical ideas.

This postgraduate program gives you a rigorous introduction to the underpinning theories in mathematics and will equip you with modern data science, analytical and computational tools to implement them.

Developed in collaboration with industry and government, our curriculum includes a broad variety of units, from strands of pure mathematics and data science to computer science and statistics. You will work at scale on large datasets to implement real-world cybersecurity solutions, gaining a qualification and experience in a field that has a recognised skills shortage.

The School of Mathematics has more than doubled in size over the last decade; in the most recent Research Excellence Framework, 87 per cent of our mathematical sciences research was recognised as world-leading or internationally excellent. Learn alongside expert academics, challenging you to consider some of the big security questions facing us today.

If you are curious about our planet and interested in finding solutions to global problems, this course is for you. Learn about the physics, chemistry and history of the Earth through examining earth materials such as rocks, minerals and fossils, and use remote sensing techniques to explore the structure and chemistry of its inaccessible areas.

Learn with experts whose research feeds directly into your studies at the cutting edge of scientific developments. Recent options have included Volcanic Hazards, Global Tectonics, Mineral Resources and Hydrogeology. By your final year you’ll be conducting your own independent research and exploring the questions that matter most to you.

We have a large geology collection and the ability to measure unique geochemical reactions, giving you a real feel for geology in practice.

Field trips are a huge part of why our community is so tight knit, giving you the chance to get to know your course mates while honing your practical skills. 

The MSc Bioinformatics covers a diverse range of areas in bioinformatics and is suitable for students from a variety of academic backgrounds related to the Life Sciences (biology, biochemistry, genetics, medicine, and other biosciences). Students will learn and work together with world-leading experts.

In the age of big data, conservation biology, biodiversity, genetics, and evolutionary biology involve the study of large amounts of data that increase in volume and variety at a high speed. The use of computational tools is essential to analyse such large datasets, some of which have shaken the foundations of many scientific disciplines. The advent of these technologies is also central to many companies and the public sector and has driven the emergence of innovative start-ups. The job market for graduates proficient in bioinformatics is expanding rapidly and will keep growing.

Topics include programming, machine learning, genomics, protein structure, evolutionary biology, as well as professional and entrepreneurial skills. Students will undertake a scientific research project supervised by the experts of the Faculty of Life Sciences and will leave with highly transferable skills that will boost their future careers and their employability. Moreover, they will learn how to capitalise their innovative ideas in a fast-moving entrepreneurial environment.

The MSc in Medical Statistics and Data Science will enable you to engage with the complex statistical and data science healthcare challenges facing the global community, providing high-quality training in statistical and computational methods that are applicable to low-, middle- and high-income settings.

As a medical statistician you will play a vital role in improving the health of populations by conducting statistical research (such as designing clinical trials and epidemiological studies, analysing data and interpreting results) to advance medical knowledge, track or prevent diseases and improve medications and treatments.  

Challenges have arisen over the last decade in the increasing availability of enormous electronic datasets related to human health and healthcare. Data science combines mathematics, statistics and programming tools to enable analysis of these very large and diverse datasets.  

You will be trained in the theory and practice of cutting-edge methods in medical statistics and data science (including causal inference, machine learning and data mining). Teaching will focus on building strong quantitative and computational skills, and effective interpretation and communication of research findings. All concepts, skills and tools are illustrated using real-life case studies and health-related data. You will gain professional skills - such as teamwork, presentation skills and writing for publication - essential for a successful medical statistician and data scientist.

BSc Economics and Mathematics combines high-level mathematics with a technically rigorous economics programme that emphasises the use of mathematical tools, including econometrics.

Mandatory economics units develop your understanding of micro- and macro-economics, while the mathematics part of the degree builds your mathematical ability and allows you to explore applied topics that are particularly relevant to economics.

Having built a solid grounding in the fundamentals of both disciplines in your first year, the second and third years allow you to choose optional units to tailor your degree to your specific interests, including the option to complete an applied economics dissertation.

Previously, economics options have included Industrial Economics, International Economics and Macroeconomic Theory and Policy. Mathematics options have included Complex Networks, Financial Mathematics and Time Series Analysis.

If you love the challenge of thinking through a maths question and the satisfaction of having solved a difficult problem, but also appreciate the applications of mathematics in areas of physics and want access to the exciting and specialised subjects offered by the School of Physics, then this joint honours course can offer you both.

Your mathematics study will focus on the areas of applied mathematics that are most linked to physics, such as the mathematical modelling of physical problems, quantum mechanics and random matrix theory. You will also cover a range of topics in physics, such as special relativity, electromagnetism and superconductors.

In the first and second years of this course the units are fixed so as to provide a balanced exploration of mathematics and physics and the connection between them.

In your third year you will have freedom to select from a wide variety of relevant units to focus your studies on what interests you most. You can also choose from a physics project or dissertation in one of our cutting-edge research areas, a group project with an industrial partner, or an educational project with a local school.

Epidemiology is the study of disease and health outcomes in populations. It is about finding causes—the reasons why some people become ill, and the reasons why some populations are healthier than others—and what we can do to remove or control these causes. It is the science underpinning public health, clinical research and healthcare evaluation. The MSc in Epidemiology will enable you to engage with the complex population health challenges facing the global community in future decades, providing high-quality training in epidemiological methods that are applicable to low-, middle- and high-income settings. The programme is suitable for students from both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds.

The MSc will introduce the principles of modern epidemiology and its role in public health and other health-related disciplines. You will learn how to design and analyse experimental and observational studies covering aetiology, interventions, diagnosis and prognosis. There will be opportunities to learn about cutting-edge methods in causal inference and molecular epidemiology.

Your dissertation, on a research topic of your choice, will take the form of a journal article and a poster presentation, opening the possibility of submission for publication.

The Department of Population Health Sciences is a large and thriving department, with numerous opportunities for PhD study and employment on research projects. We are internationally recognised for our excellence in developing epidemiological methods and applying these to a broad spectrum of population health topics. Our research ranges from discovery science in molecular and genetic epidemiology to innovative clinical trials, policy-influencing activities and robust evidence assessments. Our MSc in Epidemiology is founded on this expertise.

This flexible MSc has been developed for teachers and other TESOL professionals, such as educational administrators, inspectors, materials or curriculum developers, assessment specialists and policy makers, as well as those planning to undertake doctoral study in TESOL or applied linguistics.

The programme particularly values the professional experience that participants bring to the course. It provides a learning context in which you can reflect on your professional practice, the policies and diverse contextual factors that frame it, the theoretical frameworks that inform it, and the research that exists or could be conducted to substantiate or refute intuitive judgments.