MSc by Research Life Sciences

This course offers the opportunity to spend a year carrying out a research project in one of the leading and most productive research Universities for molecular cell biology in Europe.

Overview

This course allows you to work alongside our world renowned experts from the School of Life Sciences and gain a 'real research' experience. You will have the opportunity to select a research project from a variety of thematic areas of research.

These are:

• agritech and plant sciences
• cell signalling
• computational biology
• developmental and stem cell biology
• drug discovery
• gene regulation and expression
• immunology/immunotherapy
• microbiology
• neurodegeneration

You will be part of our collaborative working environment and have access to outstanding shared facilities such as microscopy and proteomics. Throughout your year, you will develop an advanced level of knowledge on your topic of interest as well as the ability to perform independent research in the topic area. Alongside basic science training in experimental design, data handling and research ethics, we will help you to develop skills in critical assessment and communication. This will be supported by workshops in scientific writing, presentation skills, ethics, laboratory safety, statistics, public engagement and optional applied bioinformatics.

For much of the additional training aspects of the course you will be part of the wider international postgraduate community in the School of Life Sciences. We have around 180 students from over 20 countries. You will also be invited to be part of our postgraduate student-led association, who run numerous events from an annual lecture to careers seminars together with a range of regular social events.

The period of study is one year full-time or two years part-time research, which includes two months to write up the thesis. You'll join the Life Sciences five-day induction course for postgraduate research at the beginning of September.

Careers

Our MSc by Research course allows you to develop your technical ability for research as a stepping stone to embark on a PhD programme, or for a subsequent career in academic or industrial research.

Even if you decide that a career in research is not for you, the many transferrable skills you gain and a qualification in a STEM based subject will make you very desirable to potential employers.