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.

What can I research?

There are several research topics available for this degree.

• Behavioural studies on insects of forensic importance:
  • Outline: Insect behaviour such as locomotor activity, feeding, mating and laying eggs under different conditions plays an important part in Forensic Entomology as it could provide crucial information in crime scene reconstruction.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of £5,000 per annum are required for this topic.
  • Supervisors: Dr Esta Bostock
• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis- transfers and drying times:
  • Outline: Blood-stained textiles are regularly submitted as evidence in an alleged crime. Over time, general wear and tear, stretching, washing etc. may cause the fabric structure to change, which may have an overall effect on the blood stain pattern characteristic which could provide crucial information in crime scene reconstruction.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of £3,000 per annum are required for this topic.
  • Supervisors: Dr Esta Bostock
• Detection of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS):
  • Outline: Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are a group of drugs that are designed to mimic the effects of traditional illicit drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), and LSD.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of £4000 per annum are required for this project.
  • Supervisors: Dr Sandra Hernandez aldave
• Development of an Electrochemical Sensor for THC in Biological Samples:
  • Outline: The use of cannabis has increased in the last decades because of its legalisation in several countries worldwide and its medicinal use.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of £5,000 per annum are required for this project.
  • Supervisors: Dr Sandra Hernandez aldave
• Forensic textile damage analysis:
  • Outline: Textiles are generally present when a crime takes place and, in some cases, may be directly linked to a crime. By examining damaged materials, we may be able to establish what has happened to cause the damage.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of £5,000 per annum are required for this topic.
  • Supervisors: Dr Esta Bostock
• The effect of fire and heat damage on the fidelity of ballistic toolmarks:
  • Outline: Identifying characteristics can be left on a cartridge or a bullet from the firearm that they were used with. These features (small scratches and impressions) can act as a ‘fingerprint’ allowing the unique matching with a firearm in many cases.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of £5,000 per annum are required for this topic.
  • Supervisors: Dr Katie Addinall, Dr Gage Ashton
• The evaluation of portable detectors for locating accelerants used in arson cases:
  • Outline: Arson, the act of intentional destruction of property by fire, leaves scenes that provide a major challenge in the recovery and identification of evidence.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees £5000 per annum are required for this research topic.
  • Supervisors: Dr Gareth Parkes
• The use of remote vehicles for the collection and identification of VOCs of forensic interest:
  • Outline: Volatile organic compounds have forensic significance in a wide range of disciplines such as the detection of arson and explosive residues, and taphonomy for the locating of cadavers.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of £5,000 per annum are required for this topic.
  • Supervisors: Dr Gareth Parkes
• Wildlife forensics – species identification using spectroscopic and chemometric techniques:
  • Outline: The illegal smuggling of animal products is of growing world-wide concern as it often involves endangered and rare species.
  • Funding: Self-funding applicants are welcome. In addition to tuition fees, bench fees of £3000 per annum are required for this research topic.
  • Supervisors: Dr Gage Ashton

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.

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.