The module provides an opportunity to pursue research in a topic of your choice within the broad area of your MSc study. Undertaking the research will enable you to:
During your study of this module, you will learn how to:
Your research topic will depend very much on your knowledge and experience, and on the modules you took in your diploma, and must be in an appropriate area relating to the subject of your MSc. Note for the MSc in Computing, there are specific requirements for the research topic that you choose; guidance on this is available on the module website after you register.
A supervisor will be appointed to help you develop a formal proposal appropriate for MSc-level work and advise you throughout the research phase.
You'll be assigned a supervisor with broad knowledge and skills relevant to the Research Project module. Your supervisor will advise you during the initial stage of developing a research proposal. You will submit an initial proposal three weeks after the module starts and then refine this over the next two months. You will be required to produce at least three iterations of the proposal prior to the deadline for final submission of proposals. This deadline is approximately three months after the module starts. Your supervisor will then continue to support you throughout the rest of your research.
You’ll also have access to our online forums. Communication with your supervisor will be mainly through email and telephone. Once your proposal is accepted, you’re encouraged to plan your communication with your supervisor to suit your research plan.
Course work includes:
The TMAs are at intervals of approximately three months, designed to progress your research towards your final dissertation (end-of-module assessment).
The submission date for the dissertation will be during the final month of the 12 months.
All the learning material provided is online. You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
There are no set books, but you may need books relevant to your research methodology. Note that useful material can be obtained without cost from semi-permanent online sources.
You can only study this module as part of specific Open University qualifications.
T802 is an option module in our:
Sometimes you cannot count a module towards a qualification if you have already counted another module with similar content. To verify any excluded combinations with this module, check with an adviser before registering.
Research project (T802) starts twice a year – in October and February.
It will next start in October 2026 and, for the final time, in February 2027.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
You must have completed the first 120 credits of your MSc.
You may register while studying your penultimate module, but you must have completed it before T802 starts.
If your penultimate module ends in October, you should wait until February to start T802. If your penultimate module ends in March, April or June, you should wait until October to start T802. There is preparatory work to do before T802 starts, and the first part of the module is intense, so overlapping modules would be very demanding.
You must prepare and submit a synopsis of your intended research project no later than the set synopsis submission deadline, approximately eight weeks before the module starts. To submit your synopsis, you must have registered for T802.
You must allow plenty of time to read the material on the Preparing for T802 Research website and prepare your synopsis; therefore, we recommend you start at least two months before the synopsis submission deadline.
The Preparing for T802 Research website will help you prepare your synopsis, including feedback from a specialist adviser to ensure its suitability. This preparation will help you make a good start on this research project module and understand how it’s different from the taught modules you’ve completed.
You should also talk to your employer or other organisations about accessing the data or people you need for your proposed research.
The Preparing for T802 Research website forums are a good place for questions about the module in general or your initial research ideas.
The study material is online, so you’ll spend considerable time using a computer and the internet.
If you’re using printed materials as part of reasonable adjustments to support your studies, note that printed versions of online materials are unavailable for this module.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.
| Start | End | Register by | England fee |
|---|
| 01 Oct 2026 | 31 Oct 2027 | 23 Jul 2026 | Not yet available* |
| 01 Feb 2027 | 30 Apr 2028 | 26 Nov 2026 | Not yet available* |
| *This start date is open for pre-booking, which means you can reserve your place ahead of the fees being confirmed. We’ll publish updated 2026/27 fees and funding information on the 25th of March. |
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate tuition fee loans in Northern Ireland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Scotland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Wales.
The Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA) offers a convenient 'pay as you go' option to pay your OU fees, which is a secure, quick and easy way to pay. Please note that The Open University works exclusively with OUSBA and is not able to offer you credit facilities from any other provider. All credit is subject to status and proof that you can afford the repayments.
You pay the OU through OUSBA in one of the following ways:
Joint loan applications
If you feel you would be unable to obtain an OUSBA loan on your own due to credit history or affordability issues, OUSBA offers the option to apply for a joint loan application with a third party. For example, your husband, wife, partner, parent, sibling or friend. In such cases, OUSBA will be required to carry out additional affordability checks separately and/or collectively for both joint applicants who will be jointly and severally liable for loan repayments.
As additional affordability checks are required when processing joint loan applications, unfortunately, an instant decision cannot be given. On average, the processing time for a joint loan application is five working days from receipt of the required documentation.
Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.
Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.
We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
