Program Overview

The MRes in Biological and Biomedical Sciences will enable you to develop an advanced knowledge of biological and biomedical sciences and their application to biological research and translational medicine. The programme will allow you the opportunity to specialise in distinct basic and applied research pathways. Such a course often serves as a major step towards PhD studies or a career in research-related roles in academia or industry.

If you’re looking to move into a career in science, whether in academia, industry or biomedicine research, this MRes will enable you to develop advanced knowledge, skills and understanding in biological and biomedical sciences.

The programme is divided into 7 pathways (Bio-Imaging; Cancer Biology and Therapy; Cell and Tissue Signalling; Bioinformatics and AI; Pharmacology and Toxicology; Plant Biology; Structural Biology) and you will be able to choose a pathway and corresponding project that matches your individual research interests.

A year-long research project based in Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology forms the central part of the course.  Selecting the right project is a key decision and we’ll help you choose a topic relevant to your interests and career plans. For ideas about the focus of your research project, please see our MRes Biological and Biomedical Sciences research projects page.

Complementing the research project are taught modules. These provide key underpinning knowledge of the research methods and technologies that drive contemporary research in biological and biomedical sciences.

A range of optional modules provide the opportunity to undertake further tailored research training, receive a grounding in essential statistical techniques and study specialist areas of biological and biomedical science in-depth. Whichever pathway you choose, you’ll discover contemporary debates, controversies, concepts, challenges and innovations that are relevant to your research project. The title of your degree award will reflect your chosen route.

What you'll learn

• Contemporary methods, processes and technologies underpinning biological and biomedical science research and evidence-based practice
• Effective communication with professional and lay audiences
• Major issues and challenges in biological and biomedical sciences
• Enhanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Information retrieval and referencing skills
• Statistical inference techniques for hypothesis testing in biological and biomedical science research
• How to plan and conduct a major piece of original, independent research
• How to collect, interpret and analyse data and present your findings
• Tailored advanced skills training, enhancing your expertise and proficiency in areas determined by your individual needs
• Supporting knowledge in specialist areas of biological science that are relevant to your research project