MSc Biomedical Science (with specialism)
Course overview
Start date
September 2021
Subject area
Biological and Medical Sciences
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
This course offers you an ideal opportunity to enhance your career prospects in a range of specialist areas within biomedical science. You will enrich and update your knowledge, gaining a postgraduate qualification which will help you achieve progression at work.
This IBMS accredited course is carefully tailored to maximise your employability within bioscience and offers an unrivalled range of professional expertise and top class facilities. You will learn both practical and theoretical aspects of clinical chemistry, medical microbiology, cellular pathology and haematology. It will offer you the chance to study a core MSc alongside a specialisation within different areas of Biosciences.
This course is designed and tailored to your own preferred specialism in either of the following: Clinical Biochemistry and Toxicology, Health and Disease of Physiological Systems, Clinical Microbiology and Infectious disease control and Immunology and Immunotherapy.
You will learn about research methods and how to use diagnostics when detecting diseases or other medical conditions in order to assess potential treatments. Teaching will be based on lectures, seminars, workshops, independent web-based learning and laboratory-based learning in our state-of-the-art facilities. The broad field of learning also suits people who are simply interested in furthering their knowledge of the subject. The course can be worked around a full-time job and there are intermediate awards available – a Postgraduate Diploma and a Postgraduate Certificate.
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out moreProfessional Accreditation
this course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) – this recognition enhances future career opportunities.
New
Tailored to maximise employability
This course is designed and tailored to your own preferred specialism.
Top
UK Modern university for Research Quality*
Bioscience made a major contribution to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. It deems us the top modern university in London for our area of research and eighth in the country. *( Biological Sciences, CUG, 2018)
What we're researching
We have three research groups : The Medicine Research Group, The Infection and Immunity Research Group and the Clinical Research Group. While each group has their own specific areas of investigation we share labs, equipment and technical expertise. We have a lively internal communication agenda with weekly seminars and journal clubs where you will be welcome to join in.
Some of the key areas of ongoing research in the biomedical science area are: inhibitors of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, vaccine development in yeast vectors, genetic determination of pathogens in ticks, mechanisms antibiotic resistance and search for new antibiotics from natural compounds, molecular mechanisms of drug addiction, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, identification of immunopeptides, mechanisms of rejection in organ transplant, inflammation and its control with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. For a full list of projects please visit our staff pages.
Bioscience research played a major part in our successful performance in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework – the six-yearly national review of research quality in higher education. The work of our researchers was rated the best in London among modern universities. The expert panel rated 67 per cent of our research as ‘internationally excellent’ and 19 per cent of it as ‘world-leading’, the highest possible accolade.
Making a difference
UEL is one of the UK’s leading modern research universities. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), 17 per cent of our overall research submission was classified as ‘world-leading’ for its quality and impact – almost double our previous REF score. A further 45 per cent of our work was considered ‘internationally excellent’.
Fees and funding
£10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
Postgraduate Loans (PGL)
The Postgraduate Loan (PGL) provide non means-tested loans of up to £10,906 to taught and research masters students. It will be paid to students as a contribution towards tuition fees, living costs and other course costs.
Applications are made directly through Student Finance England
Eligibility
Whether you qualify depends on:
• if you’ve studied on a postgraduate course before
• your course
• your age
• your nationality or residency status
Full eligibility can be found here
Please take a look at the Postgraduate Loans for an overview of the new funding.
The scholarship is open to full-time and part-time UK and EU students of taught postgraduate courses. *Exclusions apply.
Find out more about full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Terms and conditions apply.How we can help you
Did you know that with a postgraduate qualification you can expect to earn more than someone who only holds an undergraduate degree?If you want to build new skills, change career paths, or further your career prospects, a postgraduate degree can help you. Our range of scholarships and bursaries will make financing your education that much easier. Below is some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount – up to 15% fee waiver *exclusions apply. Please see Alumni Discount page for information.
- Early Payment Discount – 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seekers scholarship – 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement – £1,000
- Hardship Bursary – up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
Terms and conditions apply.
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
£10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
Postgraduate Loans (PGL)
The Postgraduate Loan (PGL) provide non means-tested loans of up to £10,906 to taught and research masters students. It will be paid to students as a contribution towards tuition fees, living costs and other course costs.
Applications are made directly through Student Finance England
Eligibility
Whether you qualify depends on:
• if you’ve studied on a postgraduate course before
• your course
• your age
• your nationality or residency status
Full eligibility can be found here
Please take a look at the Postgraduate Loans for an overview of the new funding.
The scholarship is open to full-time and part-time UK and EU students of taught postgraduate courses. *Exclusions apply.
Find out more about full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Terms and conditions apply.How we can help you
Did you know that with a postgraduate qualification you can expect to earn more than someone who only holds an undergraduate degree?If you want to build new skills, change career paths, or further your career prospects, a postgraduate degree can help you. Our range of scholarships and bursaries will make financing your education that much easier. Below is some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount – up to 15% fee waiver *exclusions apply. Please see Alumni Discount page for information.
- Early Payment Discount – 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seekers scholarship – 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement – £1,000
- Hardship Bursary – up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
Terms and conditions apply.
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Per 30 credit module
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA page for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
Entry requirements
We would normally expect you to have Grade C in GCSE English and Maths.
Overall IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening (or recognised equivalent).
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course.
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll study
We consistently review and develop our courses and modules to ensure they are up-to-date with sector and industry graduate skills demands. Course structure, modules and options are subject to change.
Biology of Disease and Clinical Diagnosis
Evidence-based practice and career development (Mental Wealth)
Clinical Biochemistry and Toxicology
Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Control
Health and Disease of Physiological Systems
Immunology and Immunotherapy
Professional experience in Biomedical Science
How you'll be assessed
You will be assessed using a mixture of practical coursework and a theory exam. Coursework can take a variety of forms, including laboratory work, data analysis, essays and oral presentations. The Research Skills module is assessed by coursework including a presentation and research proposal, while the Research Project is assessed mainly on a final written report, plus a poster presentation and portfolio.
Course specificationHow you'll learn
The focus of the course is not simply on acquiring a depth of current knowledge in the subject but also on the methodology used in obtaining that knowledge. We make use of recent research papers to inform class discussion.
In addition to taught modules in the field, we will give you training in research processes, including the generic techniques of data analysis and presentation, literature searching and the study of statistics. If you are doing the MSc, this will lay the groundwork for your individual research project which will give you the opportunity to develop and demonstrate your individual skills and abilities.
The course requires two days of study per week, from 9am to 5pm, or one day a week part-time. We arrange visits to major drug companies, hospitals and other potential employers. Representatives from these organisations also deliver lectures on site. Your learning environment will involve lectures, seminars, workshops, independent web-based learning and laboratory-based learning in our state-of-the-art facilities.
Small projects and group work exercises are a highly enjoyable feature throughout the programme.
This course is either a good way for people with degrees that don’t tick all the boxes to tick the boxes so they can progress, or for people who have already done an accredited first degree and gone into working as a biomedical scientist who want to hitch their careers up. After a few years’ working, you can refresh and update your knowledge of the subject.
Who will teach on this course
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
What you'll learn
This IBMS-accredited course equips you with knowledge of the practical as well as the theoretical aspects of specialist areas of biomedical science: clinical chemistry, medical microbiology, cellular pathology and haematology. As in other areas of biology, the cutting edge of research in medicine is primarily focused at the molecular level, using the recently developed – and constantly improving – techniques in molecular biology, genomics and proteomics.
For your MSc, you will need to complete the three core taught modules – Biology of Disease 1 and 2, and Research Skills – plus one optional module. You will then complete a research project. For the PG Diploma, which can also be studied either full or part-time, you will need to complete four taught modules including one optional. To obtain the PG Certificate – one year part-time – you must complete both the Biology of Disease modules. The optional modules are Immunology and Bioinformatics, though you will need to take them if you have not already studied Immunology at degree level.
Your future career
Our goal is to equip you to progress in any science based career or, if you have other career goals, to enrich you with the investigative, analytical, and communication skills that are sought by most employers.
As a Biomedical Scientist you can expect to work in publicly funded or private laboratories which provide an essential service to medical care for disease diagnosis and evaluation of treatment. Screening, diagnosis and analysis services are rapidly evolving in both structure and technologies and they require a dynamic and knowledgeable workforce.
Our Biomedical Science MSc can facilitate you to be part of and progress within that workforce. Because of our strong emphasis on research, the MSc may lead you to a research based career whether through the PhD academic route or to working in pharmaceutical or in biotech companies.
Bioscience is playing an increasingly large role in society and your biomedical science expertise will be sought after by a variety to of industries and services including insurance and legal services, investment banking, public health bodies and local authorities to name just a few.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
