MSc Clinical Immunology

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
Master of Science
Duration
MSc 1 yr FT, 2 yrs PT; PGDip 8 months FT
Entry requirements

We require an honours degree (Upper Second minimum) or overseas equivalent in:

  • immunology
  • biomedical science
  • biology
  • biochemistry
  • pharmacology
  • medicine
  • or any other biological subject that contains an element of immunology.

Full entry requirements

Number of places/applicants
30 places
How to apply

Please apply via our online application form . See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.

As there is a high demand for our courses we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year. Due to the competition for places and high quality of applications that we receive, we give preference to applicants with grades above our minimum entry requirements and who can demonstrate relevant experience in immunology.

Please ensure you submit all supporting documentation with your application before the application deadline to avoid a delay in processing. Incomplete applications will held over to the next stage and will not be reviewed until all documentation is received.

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc Y Y N N
PGDip Y N N N

Course overview

  • Learn from leaders in clinical immunology from the NHS across the UK and leading researchers from the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation.
  • Learn about the immune mechanisms underpinning our understanding and diagnosis of disease and infection supplemented with immunological approaches to vaccines and therapies.
  • Benefit from strong NHS links.
  • Study at a university ranked 7th in the UK for Biological Sciences and 8th for Medicine (QS Rankings 2022).
  • Develop critical and experimental research skills through laboratory-based experimental masterclasses, producing your own research proposal, and undertaking a bespoke research project.

Open days

Attending an open day is a great way to find out what studying at Manchester is like. Find out about our  upcoming open days .

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MSc (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £13,000
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £32,000
  • MSc (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): £6,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £16,000
  • PGDip (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £10,400
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £25,600

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, research project, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students for the course duration at the year of entry).

For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.

Contact details

School/Faculty
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Contact name
Postgraduate Admissions Team
Telephone
0161 529 4577
Email
Website
https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/medicine/
School/Faculty
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require an honours degree (Upper Second minimum) or overseas equivalent in:

  • immunology
  • biomedical science
  • biology
  • biochemistry
  • pharmacology
  • medicine
  • or any other biological subject that contains an element of immunology.

English language

International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system.

We ask for English language proof if you are from non-majority English speaking countries (a list of majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Home Office, can be found here ).

Specifically, we require a minimum of:

  • IELTS: 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in the other components.

See further information about requirements for your country .

We may also accept evidence of a confirmed place on a University Pre-sessional English language course. Please visit the University Language Centre webpage for details.

Please note, we must approve this before you apply for the English course. If you wish to be considered for a pre-sessional course please contact the admissions team pgtaughtmedicine@manchester.ac.uk.

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Relevant work experience

You need to be able to demonstrate relevant work experience in your chosen subject and career pathway.

Application and selection

How to apply

Please apply via our online application form . See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.

As there is a high demand for our courses we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year. Due to the competition for places and high quality of applications that we receive, we give preference to applicants with grades above our minimum entry requirements and who can demonstrate relevant experience in immunology.

Please ensure you submit all supporting documentation with your application before the application deadline to avoid a delay in processing. Incomplete applications will held over to the next stage and will not be reviewed until all documentation is received.

Advice to applicants

Your application form must include the following documents.

  • One academic reference will be sought. You will be required to provide contact details for one academic referee when completing your application form.
  • Official degree certificates (with translations if not in English) if you have already graduated.
  • Official university transcripts (with translations if not in English).
  • Full CV.
  • Personal statement (300-500 words) demonstrating your interest in clinical immunology and commitment to studying at The University of Manchester.
  • If English is not your first language, we require proof of your English language ability. If you have already taken an English language qualification, please include your certificate with your application. We may be willing to consider your application without this document, but if we choose to make you an offer, the conditions will include IELTS (or equivalent qualification).

Supporting documents should be uploaded and submitted with the online application form.

Your application cannot be considered until all your supporting documents are supplied. Please include your University ID number in all correspondence and do not send any documents before you have submitted your application.

How your application is considered

On receipt of all required supporting documentation your application will be reviewed by the Programme Director. Applicants are considered on an academic and relevant professional experience basis, based on all information provided.

Interview requirements

We do not normally interview applicants but reserve the right to do so in certain circumstances.

Overseas (non-UK) applicants

CAS Information

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

For CAS purposes, you will be asked to upload a copy of your current valid passport. This must show your full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and the date the passport is valid until, which must be later than the date of your planned arrival in the UK, and the start date of your course.

You cannot use your CAS to apply for a visa more than three months before the start date of your course, the Admissions Team will contact you at the appropriate time.

Your CAS number is only valid for one Tier 4 application.

Deferrals

Deferrals are considered on an individual basis. Successful applicants may defer entry to the course for up to one year.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again.

Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

Our MSc in Clinical Immunology will give you an advanced understanding of the principles and mechanisms of the immune system and immune responses in the context of infection, malignancy and immunological disorders.

You will also gain insight into the specialist area of laboratory medicine from clinical leaders and researchers at the forefront of immunology.

This course comprises six course units taught in blocks spanning the field of clinical immunology. Teaching is delivered on both campus and hospital sites by more than 40 individual contributors.

Course content includes:

  • fundamental and advanced immunology;
  • immune deficiencies;
  • immunotherapy;
  • allergy;
  • autoimmunity;
  • cancer immunology and haematological malignancy.

You will learn about diagnostic assays and techniques employed in research and clinical laboratories to develop your technical understanding and clinical interpretation of results.

The course will also enable you to develop critical and experimental research skills relevant to the field through practical research masterclasses, a focused research proposal and a research project.

If you have an interest in this highly diverse and ever-changing field and you wish to expand your knowledge at the interface of clinical and academic immunology, this master's course is ideal for you.

PhD with integrated master's

If you're planning to undertake a PhD after your master's, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health.

You can also visit this page for examples of projects related to integrated master's courses.

Aims

This course aims to give you:

  • an advanced understanding and applied knowledge in the theory and practice of clinical immunology;
  • a critical understanding of how immunological investigations are employed to develop a clinical diagnosis;
  • the necessary transferable and research skills to promote lifelong learning and career development.

Special features

Inter-professional learning

You will learn alongside students from a range of backgrounds who are studying on related healthcare science courses. This diversity of educational and professional input from both speakers and students provides a fantastic opportunity for collaborative learning and networking.

Research skills

You will develop a broad range of research skills through a combination of supervised laboratory masterclasses, preparation of a research proposal and undertaking a 10-week full-time research project embedded within one of the research groups at The University of Manchester.

Patient and public involvement and engagement

You will develop a variety of communication skills by working with patient contributors throughout the course. This includes patient experience sessions, clinic observations and patient feedback. This element of the course was highly commended at the University's Making A Difference Awards.

Flexible part-time option

If you have other commitments, our part-time option allows you to study each unit in dedicated study blocks spread over two years, giving you the flexibility you need.

Teaching and learning

Academic teaching is delivered by specialist immunologists from the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation .

Clinical teaching is delivered by experts from across the UK, including the suparegional Allergy Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Trust, Cambridge Immunology Network, Institute of Child Health UCL and the CRUK Manchester Institute.

We aim to provide a flexible range of teaching and blended learning methodologies including live interactive teaching sessions such as lectures, workshops with problem-based learning exercises and hands-on practical laboratory sessions. These will be supplemented with recorded videos and self-directed interactive activities available online via our virtual learning environment, in addition to your own independent guided study time. There are opportunities to interact with patient representatives throughout the course. This range of teaching and learning approaches is designed to develop both your immunological understanding and translational skills.

Our course directors have been recognised nationally for their innovative approaches to teaching with the BSI teaching excellence award in 2019 and 2021. 

Find out more by visiting the postgraduate teaching and learning page.

Key academic staff (Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health):

  • Dr Nicholas Barnes - Programme Director (Senior Lecturer)
  • Dr Jenny Herbert - Deputy Programme Director (Lecturer)
  • Dr Joanne Pennock - Reseaerch Project Coordinator (Lecturer)
  • Dr Sara Gago - Unit Lead for Laboratory Research Skills Masterclasses (Research Fellow)
  • Dr Karima Kahlat - Co-Unit Lead for Immune Responses, Immune Deficiencies and Immunotherapy (Lecturer)
  • Professor Silvia Bulfone-Paus - Programme Committee Member (Professor of Immunobiology)

Key clinical staff:

  • Dr Ross Sadler - Clinical Lead (Consultant Clinical Scientist, Oxford University Hospitals)
  • Dr Susana Marinho - Unit Co-Lead for Hypersensitivity & Allergy (Honorary Senior Lecturer/Consultant Allergist, Allergy Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust).
  • Dr Peter Arkwright - Programme Committee Member (Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Paediatric Allergist & Immunologist, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust)

Coursework and assessment

We will assess your progress using a range of formative and summative assessments. These will include multiple choice, short answer and essay questions, written or creative assignments, data analysis in laboratory reports and oral presentations.

The assessments will be constructed to assess your knowledge and understanding while at the same time refining and expanding your intellectual and transferable skills.

Course unit details

To obtain a PGDip, you will be required to complete 120 credits (105 credits of taught units and a 15-credit research proposal):

  • Introduction to Clinical Immunology (15 credits)
  • Immune Responses, Immune Deficiency and Immunotherapy (30 credits)
  • Acquired Disorders in Clinical Immunology - Allergy, Autoimmunity, Haematological Malignancy (30 credits)
  • Research Skills Laboratory Masterclasses (30 credits)
  • Research Proposal (15 credits)

In addition, to obtain an MSc, you must combine the units above with a 60-credit research project and dissertation.

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.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Research Proposal (Clinical Immunology) MEDN60302 15 Mandatory
Research Project & Dissertation (Clinical Immunology) MEDN60402 60 Mandatory
Immune Responses MEDN61020 15 Mandatory
Acquired Disorders in Clinical Immunology MEDN63322 30 Mandatory
Introduction to Clinical Immunology MEDN67111 15 Mandatory
Diagnostic Molecular Pathology MEDN67532 0 Mandatory
Research Skills Masterclass (Immunology) MEDN68100 30 Mandatory
Research Methods (Non-Credit) MEDN69920 0 Mandatory

Facilities

I would recommend the MSc Clinical Immunology to any medical student who desires a deeper understanding of immune-mediated pathology.

Early lectures ensure a thorough understanding of key immunological principles, followed by exposure to a vast range of pathology including allergy, infectious disease, immune deficiency, and oncology. I enjoyed being integrated within a dedicated research laboratory during my research project, and was able to develop my wet lab and data analysis skills under expert supervision.

James Moore / MSc Clinical Immunology and intercalating medical student

You will be able to access a range of facilities throughout the University.

You will undertake your academic learning on the main University campus and at Wythenshawe Hospital in South Manchester.

Your research project may be carried out in a laboratory associated with The University of Manchester or at teaching hospitals in Greater Manchester, both of which benefit from the excellent research and core facilities here at University, including state of the art flow cytometry , imaging and sequencing facilities

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service .

Careers

Career opportunities

Graduates of this course develop their scientific knowledge and transferable skills that are highly sought after by scientific and pharmaceutical companies within the private sector.

You will also be equipped to work in clinical laboratories or pursue a career in research by undertaking a PhD.

The specialist nature of the course also benefits students with a medical background, including intercalating medical students, who want to enhance their knowledge of clinical immunology for future career advancement.

Destinations of previous graduates include:

  • PhD studentships at the University of Manchester and elsewhere;
  • research and development roles in pharmaceutical companies;
  • medical writing;
  • clinical fellowships;
  • laboratory diagnostics.