Master of Science Optical Communications and Signal Processing

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

The MSci Physiological Science is focused on an extended research project, which provides the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of how to plan and perform experimental research in a specialised subject area. The course provides valuable day-to-day experience of what it is like to be a researcher and develops the skills required to embark on a career in research.

The first three years follow the BSc Physiological Science. During years one and two you will learn how the major organ systems in the body function together to maintain health. Alongside physiology, you will have the opportunity to study complementary subjects, including pharmacology, anatomy and psychology, broadening your knowledge of the biomedical sciences.

By the third year you will be getting to grips with the latest cutting-edge research on topics such as neurological and psychiatric disorders and the heart in health and disease, taught by staff who are internationally recognised in their research area.

The majority of your fourth year will focus on an extended research project in a research laboratory environment. Alongside this you will develop valuable skills in communicating science to the public and will develop a portfolio of public engagement activities. You will also learn how to work effectively in groups and how to create and develop ideas to solve specific scientific challenges.

This final year will instil a range of skills essential for understanding how to plan and conduct research projects; these skills are widely applicable to future employment and benefit those considering future PhD training.

Graduates in MSci Physiological Science are ideally equipped to embark on a career in research and have skills that are suitable for a wide variety of careers, including education, healthcare and management.

This course combines philosophy with the study of French, providing a valuable skill set ideally tailored to the increasingly globalised workplace.

In philosophy you will study units covering introduction to philosophy, logic, and realism and normativity. In your first year you will gain a grounding in the fundamentals of philosophy through two mandatory introductory units: one exploring issues in epistemology and metaphysics and the other concerning moral and political philosophy. You will also take a unit exploring critical thinking and logic.

In year two you complete your foundation in philosophy with a mandatory unit on realism and normativity and conduct more detailed study in topics ranging from ethics to the philosophy of language.

In the final year you may undertake an independent study unit on almost any topic in philosophy, writing an extended essay in consultation with a supervisor. Final-year taught units relate to the research interests of staff in areas ranging from global justice to philosophy of physics.

This course combination offers an enriching experience, with exciting intellectual challenges, in two schools with strong reputations for teaching and research. By studying these two social sciences you will develop a deep understanding of global markets and political systems.

Economics study is based on a series of core units in the first and second years covering micro- and macro-economics, mathematics, statistics and econometrics. This lays the foundation for you to specialise in your third year in the areas of economics that most interest you. Popular unit topics include Development Economics, Behavioural Economics, History of Economic Thought and International Economics.

You will also study the politics of individual countries and governments and the relationships between countries, communities and individuals. Politics is organised around three themes: political theory, comparative and national politics, and international relations. In addition to compulsory units, which will give you a solid grounding in politics, you will have access to a range of units that are closely linked to staff research interests and thus unique to Bristol.

Politics units may include subjects such as, international relations, political economy, UK politics, US politics, gender, security and conflict. There is a strong emphasis on research skills, with the possibility to complete a dissertation in the final year.

We offer you the opportunity to extend your degree to four years, spending your third year studying economics in English at a university in Europe or farther afield before returning to Bristol for your final year. This course allows you to combine the challenging, broad academic content of our economics degree with an overseas dimension that reflects the international nature of the economy.

This four-year MSci course is for those considering scientific careers that will make direct use of their subject-specific knowledge and skills. The first and second years of this course are identical to MSci Chemical Physics but during year three you will spend 12 months on a placement as a paid employee in a company.

You will focus on areas at the interface between chemistry and physics, with limited treatment of organic chemistry and more physical and non-synthetic inorganic chemistry. Similarly, there is very little nuclear and particle physics after your first year but an emphasis on materials science and nanoscience.

As well as lectures and practical classes, small-group tutorials and workshops help develop your understanding of challenging and exciting concepts. Practical labs in both chemistry and physics help develop experimental techniques, computational modelling and programming skills needed in the final year for conducting a research project with a research team.

This course is ideal for students interested in learning more about how to analyse and use numerical data within criminology. It provides training in practical and analytical skills, which will enhance your career prospects and provide you with a strong platform for postgraduate study. No prior knowledge of statistical techniques is required.

About two thirds of your studies will follow the single honours BSc Criminology course, where you will acquire core knowledge in crime and justice. By drawing on social harm perspectives, criminology at Bristol examines conventionally defined crimes along with other problem activities or behaviours which may not be criminalised but which still cause extensive harm to individuals and society. This approach helps you to develop a critical and informed understanding of crime and the criminal justice system, as well as related social and economic questions.

The remaining third of your course will provide interdisciplinary training in quantitative methods. In year one of the quantitative pathway we discuss how numbers and data are used to tell convincing stories in the media and social research. We consider what is meant by segregation and how it can be mapped and measured. Year two offers practical classes in social statistics and applied data analysis, which will develop your skills in numeracy and analysis and enable you to undertake your own individual research project in an area of quantitative social science in year three.

Our MSci Zoology degree is recommended for students with ambitions to continue in zoological research who want extra experience and a competitive edge in applying for PhDs or research jobs.

Modern zoology is interdisciplinary and we believe that you need to be aware of the breadth of animal biology, from the molecular to the ecological. Our zoology degree begins broadly and introduces more choice in years two and three.

You will have the freedom to tailor your course to your interests and to specialise or maintain breadth in your studies. The range of research and transferable skills you will learn will enhance your employability as a graduate.

The additional fourth year of the MSci contains advanced skills training and a substantial research project, which is especially valuable for those aiming for a career in biological sciences.

We have outstanding facilities in our state-of-the-art Life Sciences Building and our lecturers are world-leading researchers in their fields.

This interdisciplinary MSc programme is for students who are passionate about early life, mass extinctions, macroevolution, climate change and fossil preservation. It bridges the biology-geology divide. You will learn the latest techniques in phylogenetics, biomechanics and macroevolution, providing you with a strong foundation for independent research to PhD level or for a career in museum curation, science education, science policy, management or the media.

You will join Bristol's established palaeobiology research group and engage in current debates in evolution, systematics and palaeobiology. You will learn how to analyse problems quantitatively and design experimental approaches to resolving questions in macroevolution and the study of both ancient and living organisms.

A key aspect of the programme is preparing your research project for publication, and many of our previous students’ projects have been published in leading international journals. Recent research project topics include the origin of cellular life, the preservation of colours in dinosaurs and the evolution of culture in humans.

This programme gives you the opportunity to develop a wide range of professional skills, including research planning, problem-solving and communication. You will learn to present palaeontological data through talks, visual displays and formal written reports. You will also develop computing skills in data handling, phylogenetics, macroevolution, function and 3D digital modelling.

Sociotechnical changes create a wide range of challenges and opportunities for educators and those who participate in and support learning around the world. Digital technologies (such as microcomputers, digital games, mobile devices, massive online open courses, artificial intelligence, robots, social media, big data, and virtual or tangible technologies) are increasingly becoming embedded in our societies and being used in both educational settings and our everyday learning. The Learning, Technology and Society pathway is designed for those who wish to take a critical perspective on the use of technology in diverse educational settings.

It is suitable for people with a variety of educational backgrounds and experiences, including teachers and lecturers, creative technologists and those who support informal learning settings such as museums and public spaces.

The pathway will provide you with a firm foundation for developing your career in teaching and facilitating learning in formal and informal settings, education leadership, research or learning technology. You will develop an in-depth understanding of sociotechnical change and a critical perspective on if and how digital technologies can support learning in a wide variety of settings. In addition, the pathway will prepare you to undertake further research in this rapidly developing field.

This pathway is taught in an international centre of excellence in teaching, research and educational technology. The tutors on the course are world-class academics with excellent research records in the field of education, technology and society.

Studying abroad in Europe fosters language skills and intellectual growth as well as developing your breadth of perspective.

If you're driven by intellectual curiosity and enjoy the satisfaction of cracking difficult puzzles, this course offers a rigorous foundation in mathematics that will help you stand out to top employers.

Our lecturers are passionate about their subject, with modules informed by cutting-edge research in fundamental mathematical abstractions, statistics and practical applications to global problems. Vocational units, currently including Financial Risk Management and Maths in Schools, prepare you for a successful career in industry. Opportunities to undertake a research project could inspire you to pursue postgraduate study.

The first two years of the course provide a broad background in mathematics, similar to our single honours mathematics degrees, and include relevant European language units.

Provided you fulfil the progression requirements of the Study Abroad in a Modern Language course at the end of year two, you will spend your third year abroad in one of our partner universities, studying mathematics in a foreign language. Visit our Global Opportunities website to find out where you can study.

You will return to Bristol to complete the fourth year of the degree, where you will benefit from a wide choice of third-year units.