Program Overview

The MSc in Biomedicine at Lancaster offers an intensive 12-month programme in a world-class environment with teaching and supervision by research-active staff. We aim to develop your intellectual, practical and transferable skills as you obtain a highly sought-after postgraduate qualification.

We are passionate advocates of academic curiosity and lifelong learning. The programme combines taught modules with a substantial dissertation research project, each making up half of the required points for assessment. This dual approach consolidates crucial skills whilst offering the flexibility to pursue a semi-independent research agenda.

The MSc lectures and workshops are aligned with the Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences core research themes and showcase the wide diversity of biomedical research; we use them to explore its application to human health and disease.

You will undertake a research project as a core module, as well as six optional modules. These will cover a range of hot topics in biomedicine and may include global health, cancer biology, diseases of the brain, infectious disease, drug discovery and biomedical ethics. These provide a springboard for your independent research project. Your dissertation provides you with the opportunity to produce a robust scientific argument, to formulate and test hypotheses and to assess contrasting scientific theories.

As well as obtaining practical experience of cutting-edge techniques during your research project, you will improve your autonomous problem-solving and decision-making skills. Throughout the Master's, you will apply the principles of biomedical ethics and learning techniques to scientific problem-solving exercises. Our academic staff will encourage, support and guide you to ensure that you graduate with increased competence and confidence.

Our graduates are highly regarded for their communication skills, analytical ability, confidence in critical evaluation, and their competence in interpreting data in a biomedical context. This opens doors to careers in the NHS, industry, government and charities. Our MSc programme also provides an excellent grounding for those who wish to pursue further academic research at PhD level.