MSc Reproduction and Pregnancy (Research)

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

• Biosciences

We require an undergraduate degree (First or Upper Second) or overseas equivalent in a relevant biomedical or medical subject.

This course is also available for intercalating medical students, both from the University of Manchester and other UK universities. For intercalating MBChB students, we require satisfactory achievement in Years 1-3 or 1-4, with normally no failure at any examination, as well as research motivation.

We will consider applicants with other professional (including midwifery) or research-related experience.

We do not require applicants to develop a research proposal or have any research experience.

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 all 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 Centre for Academic English 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 at pgtaughtmedicine@manchester.ac.uk

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.

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:

• MSc (full-time)
  UK students (per annum): £15,800
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £36,800

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

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).

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).

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

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.

Please upload a copy of your current valid passport with your application showing the photograph page with your application. For CAS purposes, 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.

The admissions team will contact you at the appropriate time to process your CAS. Your CAS number is only valid for one Student Visa application.

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

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.

Our MSc in Reproduction and Pregnancy (Research) addresses the causes, diagnosis and treatments of fertility and pregnancy disorders.

Fertility and pregnancy problems are very common. In the UK:

• infertility affects one in seven couples;
• miscarriage affects 15% to 20% of recognised pregnancies;
• fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 5% to 8% of pregnancies;
• pre-eclampsia affects 3% to 5% of pregnancies;
• stillbirth affects one in 250 pregnancies, or around 4,000 per year;
• pre-term birth affects 8% of pregnancies.

There is also recognition that the health of the fetus dictates adult health. Research into solving pregnancy problems therefore has the potential to reduce the lifelong disease burden.

Complications of pregnancy are major causes of mortality and morbidity in mothers and infants. Knowledge of causative mechanisms is poor, while treatments are conspicuously lacking.

The Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre aims to find solutions to problems like these through a holistic approach to understanding, managing and treating diseases affecting mothers and babies, and through training the next generation of researchers in an interdisciplinary research environment.

This is a Master of Science (MSc) that also has a strong research component. You will undertake two interrelated research projects, supported by taught units providing detailed knowledge of reproduction and pregnancy and training in research skills.

Research units

Research project 1

You will select your research project and supervisory team in the first three weeks of the course. Between October and January, you'll complete an in-depth literature review on your research topic, followed by a research proposal based on a six-month project.

Research project 2

From February to August, you will undertake a six-month research project focused on a specific aspect of reproduction or pregnancy. All projects are co-supervised, enabling increased exposure to academics with differing skillsets. Thorough training and supervision is given for all laboratory, computational, qualitative and/or clinical methodologies.

Projects are all based on translational medical research, with a goal of solving clinical problems in reproduction and pregnancy. They range from understanding the basic science of fertility and pregnancy problems, through to the clinical research projects involving patient interaction and sample analysis.

You will write a dissertation at the end of the research project and give a poster presentation based on your findings.

Taught units

Research Methods

A series of lectures and on workflows that provide an introduction to research and transferable skills such as experimental design and statistical analysis, IT skills, critical analysis of research papers, ethics of research, scientific writing and communication and career development.

Laboratory Skills

Training in a range of basic laboratory techniques applicable to medical research. Workshops may include cell culture, histology, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology. Training in recording laboratory methods and analysis of results is provided.

Masterclass in Reproduction and Pregnancy

A series of two masterclasses that provide understanding of translational reproductive and obstetrics research and insight into bench to bedside research processes. These include lectures and discussion groups on:

• Assisted reproductive technologies;
• Development of new drugs for pregnancy complications (from bench to bedside) and our pioneering research antenatal clinics for high risk pregnancies.

You will be taught by experts in the field including embryologists, research scientists, clinical (eg obstetricians) academics and midwives. You will be assessed via group oral presentations/debates and written poster assignments.

Reproduction and Development tutorials

The tutorials provide opportunity to develop essential skills in critical appraisal, interpretation and presentation of research.

Alongside developing these skills, you will learn about and discuss research in reproduction and pregnancy and the clinical problems and basic science areas that are central to the discipline.

Tutorials use a range of teaching styles, including taught seminars and group presentations. Assessment will be via oral presentations or written reports.

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Programme committee

• Dr Mark Dilworth (Programme Director)
• Dr Michelle Desforges (Deputy Programme Director and Unit Lead for Reproduction and Development tutorials and Masterclass in Reproduction and Pregnancy)
• Dr Victoria Palin (Unit Lead for Research project 1 and 2)
• Dr Elizabeth Cottrell
• Dr Daimark Bennett
• Dr Cerys Manning
• Prof Alexander Heazell
• Dr Stephanie Worton

Course advisors

• Dr Eleanor Doman
• Dr Adam Stevens
• Dr Kylie Belchamber
• Dr Elizabeth Cottrell

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

This course can be taken by qualified and experienced professionals to update your knowledge of current developments in reproduction and pregnancy, and acquire research skills.