Biological Sciences MRes

The one-year Masters of Research (MRes) programme is an innovative route to starting out on a research career. The MRes will provide you with a unique opportunity to experience research projects over a broad range of disciplines and laboratory environments. Where better to study than in the Faculty of Life Sciences - one of the largest and most successful unified research and teaching organisations of its kind in Europe?

Our MRes programme allows you to gain research experience and professional skills, sometimes in a different area to your first degree, before deciding on a future career in industry or academic research. This will allow you to make an informed choice about the research area you want to invest your scientific career in.

You choose two laboratory placements which can be in any of the areas of research offered by the Faculty of Life Sciences. As we have over 200 research active labs we can offer you a wide range of projects to choose from. For an idea of the breadth of available projects, browse the Faculty research group pages.

• Research groups

The programme also helps to develop your transferable skills in essential areas such as experimental design, statistics, bioethics and science communication.

For students who have had little hands on laboratory experience in their undergraduate degree we offer the Research Skills Summer School  which takes place for four weeks prior to the start of the main course and offers intensive research skills training.

You require 180 credits to complete the programme. 135 credits are research project based and 45 credits are from taught courses.

Taught components of the course:

• Tutorial and Workshop (15 credits)

• Science Communication (15 credits)

• Experimental Design and Statistics (15 credits)

Research components of the course:

• Research Placement 1 (60 credits)

• Research Placement 2 (60 credits)

• Research Skills (15 credits)

Disclaimer: Our modules teach the current trends in life sciences. Consequently, details of our modules may vary over time. The University therefore reserves the right to make such alterations to modules as are found to be necessary. Before accepting your offer of a course, it is essential that you are aware of the current terms on which the offer is based. This includes the modules available to you. If in doubt, please contact us.

This is a research focused Masters course. We do not teach using a traditional lecture-based format; instead we use an interactive approach where you learn through seminars, workshops, small group tutorials and during your research placements.

The programme starts in September and runs for 12 months. You require 180 credits to complete the programme, of which:

• 120 credits are from research projects
• 15 credits are from units related to research skills
• 45 credits are from transferable skills units

Research Projects

135 credits are achieved through the completion of two research placements and demonstration of the associated skills. Your projects each run for 18-weeks starting in October and April.

• Research Placement 1 (60 credits)
• Research Placement 2 (60 credits)
• Research Skills  (15 credits)

Transferable Skills

45 credits are achieved through completion of activities that develop your transferable skills in essential areas such as experimental design, statistics, bioethics (included in the tutorial and workshop unit) and science communication. Experimental Design and Statistics runs at the start of the year to prepare you for your research projects. Elements of the other units run throughout the year alongside your research projects.

• Experimental Design and Statistics  (15 credits)
• Tutorial and Workshop (15 credits)
• Science Communication (15 credits)

Students on the MRes have described the course as 'a highly rewarding experience' and 'very worthwhile and enjoyable'. When asked why they had chosen to do the MRes course, students' most common responses were:

• It's a good starting point for a career in research
• I thought it would enhance my chances of finding a PhD
• I wasn't sure which research area to choose for a PhD