MSc Cardiovascular Health and Disease (Research)

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.

Your application form must include the following documents.

• Two academic references will be sought. You will be required to provide contact details for two academic references when completing your application form. Professional references can be provided in instances where you have been out of university for more than three years.
• Official degree certificates (with translations if not in English) if you have already graduated.
• Official university transcripts (with translations if not in English).
• A personal statement (300-500 words).
• Full curriculum vitae.
• 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 with the online application form. We are unable to consider your application until we have received all of the documents listed above.

You must include your University ID number on any correspondence and do not send any documents before you have submitted your application.

Our MSc Cardiovascular Health and Disease course is a research-focused master's course providing training in cutting-edge cardiovascular based research within a unique multidisciplinary training environment.

This course provides preparatory training for academic research and is ideal if you want to eventually progress on to a PhD and develop a research career, or if you wish to gain research skills within specialist areas before committing to a PhD. The course also provides a solid foundation for biomedical careers within the NHS or industry. This course is also highly suited to medical students who want to intercalate.

Through this course, you will develop broad biomedical research skills, but with an emphasis on application to cardiovascular science.

It is now widely recognised by employers and research councils that unravelling the basis of cardiovascular disease and developing new therapies is a high-priority area for investment, especially since the economic burden of cardiovascular disease is increasing.

However, it is becoming increasingly clearer that a gap has opened up between the skills possessed by new graduates and the skills normally expected on entry to a research degree or an industrial research career. This MSc has been specifically designed to fill this gap for those who wish to pursue a research career in cardiovascular sciences.

Our course is suitable if you come from a medical or science background and have little or no previous research experience.

Our course is designed to provide you with:

• specialist knowledge of the principles of the cardiovascular system in health and disease, with an emphasis on emerging technologies (taught lectures / masterclasses);
• laboratory skills, research methodology and data analysis (25-week project);
• critical analysis of scientific and medical literature and learning how to write a grant application (literature review and research proposal);
• intellectual skills for understanding and interpreting research problems (tutorials);
• communication of scientific data and concepts (oral presentations and written reports);
• practical, applied skills in a range of research methods through a 25 week project.

Learn from the experts

The University is home to around 40 principal investigators in cardiovascular sciences, including clinicians and basic scientists with national and international reputations in their respective fields.

We have nearly 40 principal investigators in cardiovascular sciences, including clinicians and basic scientists with national and international reputations in their respective fields. There is a wide spectrum of research spanning clinical trials, whole organs, tissues, cells and single molecule studies.

Contributors to this course include:

• Dr Sabu Abraham
• Dr Elizabeth Cartwright
• Dr Kat Dibb
• Dr Halina Dobrzynski
• Prof David Eisner
• Dr Gina Galli
• Dr Adam Greenstein
• Prof Tony Heagerty
• Dr Ashraf Kitmitto
• Dr Delvac Oceandy
• Dr David Talavera
• Prof Andrew Trafford
• Dr Luigi Venetucci
• Professor Bernard Keavney
• Dr Vicky Liu

You will learn through a range of teaching methods, including seminars, workshops and tutorials, as well as through research projects (25 weeks).

Assessment is through a combination of written reports (in journal format), literature review, tutorials and oral presentations. This range of training methods aims to promote a stimulating and dynamic learning environment.

The different course units will enable the development of key transferable skills in the critical analysis of research methodologies, data interrogation, communication and time management.

Most of our researchers are housed within the Core Technology Facility, AV Hill and Michael Smith buildings, purpose-built research centres that have state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. This close contact fosters collaboration and discussion and is an excellent environment for students.

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

After this course, many students continue their studies and register for a PhD.

However, the course is also of value if you want to progress in careers in the pharmaceutical industry, NHS (eg specialist training programmes) or clinical research. Additionally, bioscience students who have graduated from this course have been successful in gaining entry onto 4 year graduate medicine programmes.

This course is also ideal for MBChB intercalating students who wish to undertake directly channelled research training in the field of cardiovascular medicine. Many of the skills and training provided by the MSc are generic and will have wide application to the study of other disciplines.