Program Overview

Overview

A Master of Science (MSc) by Research allows you to undertake a one-year (full-time) research degree. It contains little or no formal taught component. This type of study gives you the chance to explore a research topic over a shorter time than a more in-depth doctoral programme.

Key Information

Entry requirements

The normal entry requirements for enrolment on a MSc by Research is an upper second honours degree (2:1 or above) from a UK university or a qualification of an equivalent standard, in a discipline appropriate to that of the proposed programme to be followed.

• If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification.
• The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent.

Start dates

• 1 October 2025
• 12 January 2026
• 20 April 2026

Application deadlines

• For September 2025:
  • 13 June 2025 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 04 July 2025 for Home Students
• For October 2025:
  • 13 June 2025 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 04 July 2025 for Home Students
• For January 2026:
  • 17 October 2025 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 14 November 2025 for Home Students
• For April 2026:
  • 23 January 2026 for International and Scholarship Students
  • 20 February 2026 for Home Students

Duration

The maximum duration for an MSc by Research is 1 year (12 months) full-time or 2 years (24 months) part-time with an optional submission pending (writing-up) period of 4 months.

• Sometimes it may be possible to mix periods of both full-time and part-time study.
• If studying on a part-time basis, you must establish close links with the University and spend normally not less than an average of 10 working days per year in the university, excluding participation in activities associated with enrolment, re-registration and progression monitoring.
• You are also expected to dedicate 17.5 hours per week to the research.

What can I research?

There are several research topics available for this degree.

• Biodegradable textile synthesis:
  • Outline: Currently, textile has been predominately produced from crude oil based synthetic polymers. With the increasing concerns on the environmental impact of using non-degradable polymers, there is growing research focus on the production biodegradable fibres from sustainable raw materials.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of between £3-£15,000 per annum are required depending on the nature of the project.
  • Deadline: Home/EU – for September- June 30th, for January-October 31st and Overseas for September- May 31st, for January- September 30th
  • Supervisors: Professor Chenyu Du
• Holistic assessment of industrial symbiosis business models:
  • Outline: The word ‘symbiosis’ comes from the Greek ‘συν’ and ‘βιος’ and means ‘coexistence’, describing two different organisms living in close association, to the mutual benefit of both. Industrial Symbiosis draws on this concept to describe two industries living harmoniously together.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of between £3000 per annum are required
  • Deadline: Our standard University deadlines apply.
  • Supervisors: Dr Athanasios Angelis-dimakis
• Life Cycle Assessment of Novel Processes:
  • Outline: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is systematic methodology that monitors, measures and evaluates the environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire life cycle.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of between £3000 per annum are required.
  • Deadline: Home/EU – for September- June 30th, for January-October 31st and Overseas for September- May 31st, for January- September 30th
  • Supervisors: Dr Athanasios Angelis-dimakis
• Modelling of particle deposition on the pipe walls in crude oil transportation:
  • Outline: Deposition of particles on pipe walls in oil transportation can plug the pipes thus causes losses in oil gaining or shutting down of the wells.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of between £3-£15,000 per annum are required depending on the nature of the project.
  • Deadline: Home/EU – for September- June 30th, for January-October 31st and Overseas for September- May 31st, for January- September 30th
  • Supervisors: Dr Lande Liu, Dr Viacheslav Stetsyuk, Professor John Chai
• Sustainable valorisation of agri-food waste:
  • Outline: Across the world, a large amount of waste and by-products from the agri-food sector is being generated across the entire supply chain and disposed withour any further treatment.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of between £3000 per annum are required
  • Deadline: Our standard University deadlines apply.
  • Supervisors: Dr Athanasios Angelis-dimakis
• Valorisation of plastic waste - a circular approach:
  • Outline: The increasing concern of plastic pollution in waterway attracts worldwide attention.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of between £3-£15,000 per annum are required depending on the nature of the project.
  • Deadline: Our standard University deadlines apply.
  • Supervisors: Professor Chenyu Du

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching:
  • A research degree has no compulsory taught element, the study period is for 52 weeks a year with a 35-day annual leave allowance.
  • You are expected to study for at least 35 hours a week for full-time study.
• Assessment:
  • Feedback, normally written, is provided on all assessments following submission.
  • Submission and feedback dates will be provided to you upon enrolment.
• Progression:
  • You may progress to the next stage of your course or research degree, subject to meeting University assessment criteria and professional, statutory, or regulatory body guidelines.

Fees and Finance

• Tuition fees - full-time:
  • In 2025/26 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate researchers will be £5,050.
• Tuition fees - part-time:
  • In 2025/26 the part-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate researchers will be £2,525.
• Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University.
• Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years of study may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

• Whilst the University will use reasonable efforts to ensure your supervisory team remains the same, sometimes it may be necessary to make changes to your team for reasons outside the University’s control, for example if your supervisor leaves the University, or suffers from long term illness.
• Changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, for example pandemics, other disasters (such as fire, flood or war) or changes made by the government.
• Your research project is likely to evolve as you work on it and these minor changes are a natural and expected part of your study.
• However, we may need to make more significant changes to your topic of research during the course of your studies, either because your area of interest has changed, or because we can no longer support your research for reasons outside the University’s control.
• If this is the case, we will discuss any changes in topic with you and agree these in writing.
• If you are an international student, changing topics may affect your visa or ATAS clearance and if this is the case we will discuss this with you before any changes are made.