Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Science
- Duration
- 1 Year
- Entry requirements
-
We require an honours degree (minimum Upper Second) or overseas equivalent in:
- biological science
- biomedical science
Students with different academic backgrounds and relevant career experience (eg working in the biotech or pharmaceutical industries) will be considered, keeping in mind the academic potential of the individual. Such students will be accepted onto the course on a discretionary basis after application.
We also encourage applications from intercalating medical students who have demonstrated an interest and aptitude in biomedical sciences. This will be assessed both by interview and the production of a personal statement. Minimal requirement for admission will be satisfactory achievement in years 1-3 of the undergraduate medical programme.
- Number of places/applicants
20
- How to apply
Please apply via our online application form. See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.
We recommend that you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.
Course options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc | Y | N | N | N |
Course overview
- Join the global fight to tackle infectious diseases which threaten humanity.
- Learn the skills and knowledge you need to pursue a career in infectious diseases research.
- Learn directly from internationally recognised scientists and access state-of-the-art technologies in infectious diseases research.
- Study at a university ranked 7th in the UK for life sciences and medicine (QS World Rankings 2023) and among the top 60 in the world (THE World University Rankings 2023).
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): £13,500
International, including EU, students (per annum): £33,000
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 and administration 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 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 4539
- pgtaught.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/biosciences/masters/
- 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 (minimum Upper Second) or overseas equivalent in:
- biological science
- biomedical science
Students with different academic backgrounds and relevant career experience (eg working in the biotech or pharmaceutical industries) will be considered, keeping in mind the academic potential of the individual. Such students will be accepted onto the course on a discretionary basis after application.
We also encourage applications from intercalating medical students who have demonstrated an interest and aptitude in biomedical sciences. This will be assessed both by interview and the production of a personal statement. Minimal requirement for admission will be satisfactory achievement in years 1-3 of the undergraduate medical programme.
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: 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each component.
- TOEFL: 90 internet-based with 22 in each component.
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, if your current IELTS scores are:
- Minimum 6.0 overall (with 6.0 in each component) plus enrolment and attendance on the 6-week pre-sessional course (PS6).
- Minimum 6.0 overall (with 5.5 in each component) plus enrolment and attendance on the 10-week pre-sessional course (PS10).
Please note, we must approve this before you apply for the English course.
English language test validity
Relevant work experience
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.
We recommend that you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.
Advice to applicants
We require the following documents before we can consider your application:
- Transcript of your studies to date.
- Degree certificate (if you have already graduated).
- Personal statement or statement of purpose.
- Curriculum vitae (CV).
- An academic reference. You will be required to provide the name and contact details of two referees during completion of the application form.
If any of the supporting documents are not in English, you must also provide us with official or certified English translations. If English is not your first language, we also 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).
How your application is considered
Returning to education
Overseas (non-UK) applicants
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.
You cannot use your CAS to apply for a visa more than three months before the start date of your course. This means that if you intend to begin a course on 16th September 2024, we will not issue you with a CAS number before 16th June 2024.
Your CAS number is only valid for one student visa application.
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 Infection Biology course will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to join the global fight against infectious diseases which threaten humanity.
As exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, infectious disease remains a major cause of human death. Novel treatments are required to meet this challenge as the efficacy of antimicrobial interventions, including the potency of vaccines, continues to decline. The discovery of novel preventative and therapeutic interventions are now critically dependent upon a detailed mechanistic understanding of disease processes, their impact upon human pathobiology and the feasibility of therapeutically targeting such mechanisms.
With a view to training a generation of infection biologists equipped with the skills to tackle this global challenge, the MSc in Infection Biology provides outstanding academic and research training in the molecular and cellular basis of host-microbe interactions in health and disease.
You will learn directly from internationally recognised scientists through joint research, thereby securing a sustained interaction with expert mentors for the duration of the course. The course provides research training in fundamental aspects of infectious diseases, microbial (viral, bacterial, helminth and fungal) pathogenesis, host interactions, antimicrobial immunity, and antimicrobial therapy. For the talented student this course provides an excellent training prior to registration for a PhD.
This course will equip you with:
- a detailed theoretical and practical understanding of molecular microbiology and antimicrobial immunology;
- a thorough understanding of methods for analysing the biological functions and physiological relevance of microbial virulence factors and host responses to pathogenic challenge;
- a working knowledge of mechanistic approaches to problem-solving in molecular and cellular biomedical science;
- an understanding of a wide repertoire of cutting edge scientific methods including flow cytometry, single cell technologies, next generation sequencing, imaging and proteomics;
- transferable skills in critical reasoning and reflection, collaborative team working, scientific communication, use of IT/health informatics, innovation in the application of knowledge to practice and logical/systematic approaches to solving problems and making decisions.
Follow us on our dedicated Twitter page for updates from the course team.
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.
Visit The Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation to find out more about immunology research at The University of Manchester.
Aims
This course aims to:
- equip you with a detailed theoretical and practical understanding of molecular microbiology and immunology, delivered in-context during laboratory-based research and self-directed research of the literature;
- ensure you have a working understanding of the application of a wide repertoire of advanced scientific methods at the cutting edge of scientific research and diagnostics, including flow cytometry, single cell technologies, imaging, next generation sequencing and proteomics;
- enable you to integrate molecular and cellular information to understand the genetic basis of microbial virulence, host responses to pathogen challenge, the complexity of infectious disease, diagnostics, antimicrobial therapies and antimicrobial resistance;
- give you an understanding of the principles of modelling of host and microbial aspects of infection to help characterise the host-pathogen interaction;
- equip you with an understanding of methods for analysing the biological functions and physiological relevance of microbial virulence factors and host responses to pathogenic challenge;
- provide you with a working knowledge of mechanistic approaches to problem-solving in molecular and cellular biomedical science;
- give you transferable skills in critical reasoning and reflection, collaborative team working, communication, use of IT/health informatics, innovation in the application of knowledge to practice and logical/systematic approaches to solving problems and making decisions.
Special features
- In our unique technology workshops you will learn how to harness modern research and diagnostic technologies including single cell methodologies, live cell imaging, CRISPR, flow cytometry, proteomics, and next generation sequencing to address cutting-edge questions in infectious diseases research.
- You will learn from clinician scientists and global leaders in infectious diseases, diagnostic and drug discovery research, by attending our fortnightly seminars in infection.
- In our grant writing unit, you will learn how to budget for, and become competitive in, securing funding for scientific research programmes.
- You will receive direct one-to-one support from infectious disease experts during a 5 month project.
Teaching and learning
The course comprises an induction period, sessions to introduce research areas and fundamental background knowledge, two linked research projects (initial literature research and proposal development, followed by a minimum of 25 weeks related laboratory research).
Lecture unit: Host-Microbe Interactions in Health and Disease
The unit aims to provide you with in depth, up to date understanding of the molecular basis of host-pathogen interactions in healthy and diseased settings. Specifically, the mechanisms by which bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites are able to colonise and establish infections will be addressed as well the pathogen/host interactions that subvert/modify the ability of the host to respond to infections. Microbial pathogenesis will be explored, illustrated by studying selected infections in detail that will serve as illustrative paradigms relating to the wider field. Therapeutic, diagnostics and vaccination strategies will be explored, as well as epidemiology and clinical presentation of relevant diseases.
Technologies workshops
These will provide practical training in advanced research methods, giving you exposure to techniques which you may otherwise not be exposed to through your projects. Each session will be led by an expert and will consist of an explanation of the technique, followed by a practical demonstration including, where relevant, hands-on experience and data analysis.
Journal clubs
In these sessions, you will meet to review and discuss relevant research papers. Each session will be led by a senior researcher who will suggest papers for discussion.
Research seminars
You will be expected to attend departmental seminar programmes. This will include presentations provided by external speakers.
Research projects
You will complete one extended research project during the year, designed to give you practical experience of laboratory research. The experience gained will help you develop and focus your research skills in modern biomedical research laboratories. Research projects will be written up and formally evaluated. Upon commencing the course you will be issued with a list of potential research projects and appropriate reading material.
The lecture unit will include presentations from research groups that describe the breadth of research opportunities available, and will be able to discuss projects with potential supervisors.
Grant writing exercise
The grant writing exercise will provide hands-on experience of the grant writing process from the initial idea to the submission and peer review of the proposal.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Project 1 | BIOL66121 | 30 | Mandatory |
| Research Project 2 | BIOL66132 | 90 | Mandatory |
| Technologies Workshops | BIOL68911 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Host-pathogen interactions in health and disease | BIOL68921 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Journal Club Tutorial Unit | BIOL68931 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Grant Application Writing | BIOL68942 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Research Methods | MEDN69910 | 15 | Mandatory |
Facilities
The Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health provides a range of research facilities to help researchers in the Faculty to carry out ground-breaking work in biological, medical and health sciences.
The University of Manchester offers extensive library and online services to help you get the most out of your studies.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
This course is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in biomedical research, anti-infective drug discovery, diagnostics development and all other areas of anti-infectives research.
The majority of our students will go on to undertake PhD studies at The University of Manchester and elsewhere, or will continue their career in the industrial sector where the rapid recent expansion of genomic science and the ever-increasing demand for cell-based analysis and experimentation emphasises the requirement for suitably trained research graduates.
Intercalating medical students from Manchester and elsewhere will benefit from MSc Infection Biology if they are interested in careers addressing the many challenges of hospital and community acquired infectious disease, antibiotic resistance and novel antimicrobial strategy.