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 Placement 1 (60 credits)

• Research Placement 2 (60 credits)

• Research Skills (15 credits)

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

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)

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

Academic entry qualification overview: A First or Upper Second class honours degree, or the overseas equivalent, in a relevant science subject.

English language:

For MRes applicants whose first language is not English an IELTS score of 6.5 in each component, TOEFL 577 (paper based), TOEFL 233 (computer based) or TOEFL 90 (internet based) is required as a minimum.

Other international entry requirements:

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For more details see entry requirements from your country.

The programme comprises four compulsory components:

Research projects: Your two projects will provide experience in carrying through a substantive research project including the planning, execution and communication of original scientific research. They are assessed by written report.

Tutorials and Workshop Unit : Tutorials give you the opportunity to learn about research being carried out in the Faculty of Life Sciences and thereby to acquire a broad knowledge of biological sciences.The Bioethics Workshop gives you experience of exploring and debating some of the ethical issues that surround current scientific research. Activities for the Tutorials and Bioethics unit include preparative directed reading, private study and preparation of oral presentations.This unit is assessed by peer-review of tutorial session and staff assessment of oral presentation during the tutorial and written reports.

Science Communication Unit: This unit allows you to acquire the ability to listen to a presentation, understand the key concepts and record important details, and then summarise its contents in a brief written report. Activities include private study and preparation of written assignment. For each of 5 seminar presentations, a 500 word précis has to written. You are assessed on these assignments plus a poster and an oral presentation.

Experimental Design and Statistics Unit: This unit aims to introduce you to the procedures and tools used in the design of experiments and the methods and tools used in statistical data analysis. Activities include lectures, workshops, group discussions and e-learning. Assessment is through multiple choice exam, critical assessment of literature and online statistics exercises.

The programme is recognised for the provision of MRes training by the BBSRC, and comprises four compulsory components:

Research projects provide experience in carrying through a substantive research project including the planning, execution and communication of original scientific research. They are assessed by written report.

The Tutorials give you the opportunity to learn about research being carried out in the Faculty of Life Sciences and thereby to acquire a broad knowledge of biological sciences.The Bioethics Workshop gives you experience of exploring and debating some of the ethical issues that surround current scientific research. Activities for the Tutorials and Bioethics unit include preparative directed reading, private study and preparation of oral presentations. This unit is assessed by peer-review of tutorial session and staff assessment of oral presentation during the tutorial and written reports.

The Teaching Seminars allow you to acquire the ability to listen to a presentation, understand the key concepts and record important details, and then summarise its contents in a brief written report. Activities include private study and preparation of written assignment. For each of 5 seminar presentations, a 500 word précis has to written.

The Experimental Design and Statistics unit aims to introduce you to the procedures and tools used in the design of experiments and the methods and tools used in statistical data analysis. Activities include lectures, workshops, group discussions and e-learning. This unit is assessed by multiple choice exam short answer and essay worksheet and critical assessment of literature.

MRes graduates acquire a vast array of subject specific and transferable skills and gain extensive laboratory research experience. The University of Manchester has a strong record of placing students in PhD programmes at Manchester and other universities and several of our graduates have pursued research careers in industry.

For graduate profiles see:

Rachel Clapp

Cristina Martin-Fernandez

Faculty of Life Sciences

See: About the Faculty of Life Sciences.

• Medical Sciences MRes
• Tissue Engineering for Regenerative Medicine MRes
• Translational Medicine: Interdisciplinary Molecular Medicine (MRes )
• Translational Medicine: Pharmaceutical Cancer (MRes) - closed until 2013
• Cardiovascular Health and Disease MRes

Telephone: +44 (0)161 275 5032

Facsimile: +44 (0)161 275 5456

Email: pgtaught.lifesciences@manchester.ac.uk

Website: www.ls.manchester.ac.uk/masterscourses/