ObjectivesThe course provides the opportunity for postgraduate development of biomedical scientists to allow for progression to a PhD or as the basis for a career in the healthcare industries.
Entry requirementsEntry requirements Full-time: honours degree (minimum 2:2) in a biological subject or equivalent. Part-time: honours degree (minimum 2:2) in a biological subject or a professional qualification of equivalent status or possession of FIBMS or equivalent. All part-time students must be in suitable employment, in view of the project component of the course.
Academic titleMSc/PGDip Biomedical Science
Course descriptionMSc/PGDip Biomedical Science
* A choice of one from: pharmacology, medical microbiology, haematology, clinical chemistry or cellular pathology
* Biology of disease
* Cell culture and antibody technology
* Molecular biology and DNA technology
* Research methods and IT
* Research project
* Special topics in molecular biology, business and bioethics or practical techniques in genomics and proteomics
Assessment
Performance is assessed by written assignments, computer-aided learning packages, dissertation, oral presentation, laboratory reports and formal examinations.
Resources and facilities
Facilities include well-equipped modern laboratories which have recently been enhanced by refurbishment of the microscope suite and a new interdisciplinary biomedical Research Centre, housing both biologists and chemists. A wide range of facilities are available, including confocal fluorescent microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, tissue culture for both plant and animal tissues, molecular biology facilities with modern laboratories for recombinant DNA technology, various chromatographic systems including capillary electrophoresis, batch and continuous fermenters and ancillary downstream processing equipment, glasshouses and growth cabinet facilities.
Study routes
Full-time: 12 months study with September start.
Part-time: one day and the same evening for 20 weeks, evening only for five weeks in the first year. There is three day full-time specialism workshop in the second year.
Special benefits
The majority of graduates from the full-time course proceed to PhD projects or employment in the bioscience sector. The majority of graduates from the part-time course achieve career advancement, either in their place of employment or with an equivalent employer and some go on to undertake PhD projects.
Research opportunities
This is an ideal course of study for students who are interested in doing a PhD and would like to obtain first hand experience of what it is like to work on a research project.
Accreditation
Both the MSc and PgDip are accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science and recognised by the Health Professions Council.
Course content
The full-time course consists of seven modules taken over 3 terms, while the part-time course consists of seven modules taken over 6 terms. Common modules include Molecular Biology and DNA Technology, Cell Culture and Antibody Technology, Research Methods and IT, Biology of Disease and Research Project. Full-time students also study modules in Pharmacology and a choice between Business and Bioethics and special topics in Molecular Biology. Full-time students undertake a 6 month research project either in the school or another academic or industrial research laboratory in the UK or abroad. Students present a written dissertation and give oral and poster presentations of their project work.
Part-time students study a specialism from one of four modules, chosen from Cellular Pathology, Clinical Chemistry, Haematology and Medical Microbiology. They also attend a 3 day specialist workshop in the second year of the course. The research project covers the second year of the course and is carried out in the specialist area chosen by the part-time student in the laboratory of their employer, subject to the approval of the employer.