Course description
Our research-focused MSc Developmental Biology course will give you extensive hands-on experience of conducting research on timely topics of developmental biology.
Rather than attending traditional lectures on your chosen subject, you will learn through an interactive approach involving seminars, workshops and small group tutorials preparing you for relevant aspects of a science-based career. As this is a research-focused master's course, you will also undertake your own research project in the laboratory of a leading researchers.
You will choose the laboratory placement from a list provided by your programme director. Projects on this list come from any of our areas of research relating to developmental biology. As we have over 200 research-active labs, we can offer a wide range of projects to choose from. For an idea of the breadth of available projects, browse our research pages.
You will learn through an interactive approach involving seminars, workshops and small group tutorials rather than traditional lectures.
You will also undertake your own research project in the labs of leading researchers working on a range of model organisms and diverse areas of developmental biology.
You will gain research experience and professional skills, perhaps 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 go into.
Special features
Extensive research experience
Gain laboratory experience in leading developmental biology laboratories preparing you for a future science-related career.
Teaching and learning
We use a range of teaching and learning methods, including tutorials, workshops, seminars and research placements.
Find out more by visiting the postgraduate teaching and learning page.
Coursework and assessment
We will assess your progress using:
- written reports on your research projects and tutorials
- oral presentations
- written assignments
- posters
- multiple choice exams
- critical assessment of literature
- online statistics exercises.
Course unit details
The course starts in September and runs for 12 months. You require 180 credits to complete the course, of which:
- 120 credits are project based
- 60 credits are from transferable skills units
Transferable skills
60 credits are achieved through completion of activities that develop your transferable skills in essential areas such as laboratory skills, experimental design, statistics, bioethics (included in the tutorial and workshop unit) and science communication.
The Experimental Design and Statistics unit 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 project.
- Experimental Design and Statistics(15 credits)
- Tutorial and Workshop(15 credits)
- Science Communication (15 credits)
- Laboratory Skills (15 credits)
Disclaimer
Our units teach the current trends in life sciences.
Consequently, details of our units may vary over time. The University therefore reserves the right to make such alterations to units 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 units available to you. If in doubt, please contact us.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial and Workshop | BIOL60210 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Scientific Communication | BIOL60330 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Statistics & Experimental Design | BIOL65161 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Laboratory Skills | BIOL66111 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Research Project 1 | BIOL66121 | 30 | Mandatory |
| Research Project 2 | BIOL66132 | 90 | Mandatory |
Scholarships and bursaries
For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.