MSc by Research within the subject area of Evolutionary Behavioural Science
Learn about the course below
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Viewing course details for 2025-26 year of entry
- Attendance
- Full-time, Part-time
- Start
- September 2025
- Fees
- £5,100 per year (UK)* £14,400 per year (INT)*
- Duration
- 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
- Course Leader
- Tom Dickins
- Study mode
- On campus
- Location
- Hendon campus
- School / Department
- Psychology
Discover how evolutionary behavioural science develops testable hypotheses to establish what instances or kinds of behaviour are, and are not, adaptations.
Why study MSc by Research within the subject area of Evolutionary Behavioural Science at Middlesex University?
Behaviour gives an organism a flexible, adaptive or even plastic ability to respond to a finite set of changeable variables that they are likely to encounter in their lives. The term behaviour captures an array of phenotypic responses to ecological variables. A good working hypothesis is that behaviour has evolved and has therefore been selected for. This does not mean that all instances of behaviour, or even all kinds of behaviour, are adaptations.
This course will introduce you to core evolutionary theory, from Darwin to behavioural ecology, game theory and beyond. Through workshops and independent research you will learn how to address how to apply this theoretical knowledge in order to produce testable scientific hypotheses.
With our MSc by Research you will join the research community and undertake independent research.
About your course
What will you study on MSc by Research within the subject area of Evolutionary Behavioural Science?
This programme is a unique, research-based course, which doesn’t follow the traditional model of lectures and exams.
You will join the research community through an ongoing series of workshops, building to your final thesis. The MSc by Research will prepare you for novel application areas with individually tailored learning experiences, enabling you to excel in both the academic sector and the job market.
Assessment
Assessment will be based on a final dissertation of approximately 30,000 words. Two independent examiners will be appointed who will read and evaluate the dissertation, following which you will be invited to make an oral defence of your work.
We will look at the classic work of Konrad Lorenz, Niko Tinbergen and others, discussing the models of instinct and evolution at play. The workshop will focus upon the methods invented and deployed throughout the development of this field.
The workshop will explore evolution as a kind of change caused by natural selection and genetic drift. We will look at the development of evolutionary theory from Darwin, through the Modern Synthesis, right up to modern debates around evolutionary developmental biology. Examples will be focused upon the behavioural phenotype, but we will also discuss non-behavioural aspects when appropriate.
Behavioural catalogues, ethograms, sample coverage, and general field practice will be covered. We will generate some simple questions about the behaviour of readily observable animals and then we will generate some basic protocols for collecting data. We will also introduce you to Observer XT software for behavioural analysis.
In this workshop we will design and run a number of short data collection protocols with a focus upon the kind of data collected and the kind of statistical analyses that are most suited. We will then analyse the data and discuss the limitation of the work.
There will be a two-week field trip to Lundy, an island off the north Devon coast. This will be an opportunity to collect data for your thesis as well as an opportunity to put into practice all that you have learnt during the workshops. The trip will consist of fieldwork and evening seminars and discussions arising from each day’s work. There are also on-going projects on the island which you can contribute to.
Register your interest
Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.
Teaching
The course is delivered by our academics and industry partners in person and via digital platforms. Our learning activities include lectures, presentations, seminars, webinars, one-to-one tutorials and group projects. You will work in workshops or labs when possible. You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience.
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North London campus
Our north London campus is 23 minutes away by underground train, travelling from London Kings Cross.
Learn moreFacilities and support
Our Sheppard Library provides a wide range of resources and support to help you to succeed in your studies.
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Over 1,000 study spaces including rooms for group study and over 500 computers available.
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We have one of London's biggest and best university campuses with everything you need in one place.
Our facilitiesStudent support
We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.
Additional needs
We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.
Wellness
Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.
Work while you study
Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
- We normally require a second class honours degree 2:2 or above in any discipline
- Entry is subject to the proposed project being acceptable
- Each application will be considered on its individual merits.
Eligibility
UK/EU and international students are eligible to apply for this course.
Academic credit for previous study or experience
If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your Middlesex University programme of study. For further information please visit our Accreditation of Prior Learning page.
Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions
Each application will be considered on its individual merits and suitably qualified candidates will be invited for interview. Successful applicants may enrol to begin their studies at the start of any of the three terms during the academic year.
We welcome students from the UK and all over the world. Join students from over 122 countries and discover why so many international students call our campus home:
- Quality teaching with top facilities plus flexible online learning
- Welcoming north London campus that's only 30 minutes from central London
- Work placements and networking with top London employers
- Award-winning career support to get you where you want to go after university.
Qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the accepted qualifications on your country's support page. If you are unsure of the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest international office.
English language
You will need to meet our English language requirements. And, don’t worry If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, as we offer a Pre-sessional English course.
Visas
To study with us in the UK, you might need a Student visa. Please check to see if this applies to you.
Apply for this course through our online portal. Applicants are recommended to submit the following documents along with their application form:
- Evidence of publications or links to access public works
- Copy of passport / EEA National ID card / photo card driving licence (UK only)
- Qualification documents and transcripts
- CV
- English language qualifications, if applicable (please see our English Language Requirements for more information)
- Optional portfolio for Art & Design / Media & Performing Arts applicants.
Once complete, please email your application and supporting documents to research.adm@mdx.ac.uk. If you have any queries, please email the Research department or call 0208 411 5555.
Proposal
We encourage all applicants to discuss their proposal with an academic who specialises in your preferred area of research in advance of submitting it. Profiles of our staff members, including their contact details can be found on the staff directory page.
Application
When applying for the programme please select MSc by Research (ST) and note the subject area you are interested in studying within your application.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email acknowledgements within five working days. From the day you receive your applicant number it can take up to 3 weeks to receive an initial admissions decision. However, during busier periods, this process may take longer. If there is any supporting documents missing or pending your application will be considered incomplete and this may delay your admissions process. If you are unsure if your application is complete please follow this link to the applicant portal to view the status of your application.
International Students
If you are an overseas student, you may be required to book a credibility interview which will help prepare you for the VISA application process. This would need to happen before we can make you an official offer. Please see our VISA advice page for more information on the Visa Process.
Further Information
Please note that for the majority of our research disciplines, the University has fixed intake terms (September/January). You can apply for a research degree at any time of the year, however you will start your study in either September or January. Requests to start your studies outside of these intakes will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
We encourage you to submit your application as early as possible so that your proposal can be reviewed in good time ahead of the October or January intake. We recommend that you submit your application no later than two months ahead of the upcoming term's intake.
Fees and funding
The fees below are for the 2025/26 academic year.
UK students
Full-time students: £5,100 per year
International students
Full-time students: £15,500 per year
Additional costs
The following course-related costs are included in the fees:
- A free electronic textbook for every module
- All printing and copying required for your study
- Self-service laptops available for loan for a maximum of 24 hours
- Audio-visual equipment available for loan, including digital stills cameras, digital video recorders, digital audio recorders
Funding
For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our postgraduate funding page.
Fees disclaimers
1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. EU/International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.
"I did my BSc in Anthropology and this felt like a similar field but with more exposure to the science side of things. I was also drawn to the research being carried out in the department; I thought that I had like-minded ideas to my potential supervisor, which would allow for a complimentary relationship to be made. Middlesex University greatly appealed to me. It’s more diverse than other London universities and the campus is so compact that it feels very homely.
There have been seminars and workshops in the research group providing a community where all the students have the same goals. I remember the initial conversations and meetings with my supervisor where we were discussing my proposal and I was inspired by realising the many research opportunities within this MSc. My aim after this course is to pursue a PhD.
What I would say to someone considering this course is that dedication is a must, and you need to be prepared for the independent learning and study. There is a huge amount of freedom to follow your own interests which can be daunting but is ultimately incredibly rewarding."
Ben Goodwin-Self
MSc Evolutionary Behavioural Science student
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