MSc Clinical Immunology

The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and courses. On this day, you will find out more about the course and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have. For more information, see Open days .

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

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.

Our MSc in Clinical Immunology is a taught course designed to train healthcare professionals and is not research focused. The demographic of students who apply tend to be in the biomedical and biology fields looking to switch into immunology.

Please ensure you submit all supporting documentation with your application to avoid a delay in processing. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed until all documentation is received.

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.

You will develop 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 at the forefront of immunology.

This course comprises five course units taught in blocks spanning the field of clinical immunology. Teaching is delivered on campus and at hospital sites by more than 40 guest contributors not employed by The University of Manchester.

Course content includes:

• advanced immunology concepts in response to infection and cancer;
• consequences of immune-related diseases, such as immune deficiencies, allergy, autoimmunity, and haematological malignancy;
• manipulation of the immune response through immunotherapy
• immunological basis of transplants.

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

The course will also enable you to develop critical analysis skills relevant to the field through taught masterclasses and a bespoke project that will form the basis for your dissertation.

Due to being a taught course, the majority of project options will not involve the generation of experimental data in a research laboratory. Projects are largely limited to secondary analysis of existing datasets or preparation of a systematic review.

Applicants seeking to guarantee themselves a laboratory-based project in immunological research should apply to MSc Immunology, where they will be supervised by an academic affiliated with The University of Manchester’s established research strength within the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation. MSc Immunology does not contain any formal immunology taught components, as the focus is on research skills for immunology focused graduates who want to progress into a PhD and commit to research.

If you have an interest in this highly diverse and rapidly evolving 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.

This course aims to give you:

• knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of clinical immunology and immune-related diseases;

• a critical understanding of how data obtained by clinical immunology laboratories is used alongside other biomedical and clinical specialisms, to develop a clinical diagnosis, and aid management in the patient care pathway;

• a systematic and critical understanding of relevant knowledge, theoretical frameworks and advanced skills to allow you to contribute to innovation and developments in clinical immunology at both laboratory and institutional levels;

• enhanced career development through lifelong learning that supports and enhances best practice in clinical immunology;

• experimental, analytical and interpretative skills through the undertaking of a comprehensive project.

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 critical skills through a combination of supervised masterclasses. The practical element of the course is geared towards students who have not done immunology techniques before. You will also undertake a 10-week, full-time project under the tutelage of an academic supervisor 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 and teaching to equip you with the skills to deliver complex scientific information in plain English.

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.

Academic teaching is led by the Division of Medical Education, with some delivery supported by specialist immunologists from the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation .

Teaching on the clinical applications of immunology is delivered by expert guests from across the UK, includingthe suparegionalAllergy 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 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 programme director has been recognised nationally for their innovative approaches to teaching with the British Society of Immunology's teaching excellence award in 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 and Unit Lead for Research Skills Maserclass (Lecturer)
• Dr Karima Kahlat - Co-Unit Lead for Immune Responses, Immune Deficiencies and Immunotherapy (Lecturer)
• Dr Dominik Ruckerl - Project Lead
• Mrs Stephine Whiteside – Unit Lead for Transplant Immunology (Lecturer)

Key clinical staff:

• Dr Susana Marinho - Unit Co-Lead for 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)

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.

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 associated hospital sites.

The University of Manchester benefits from excellent research and core facilities, including state of the art flow cytometry , imaging, and sequencing facilities.

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.

Destinations of previous graduates include:

• medical writing;
• laboratory diagnostics;
• research assistant and technician roles;
• research and development roles in pharmaceutical companies.

Please note:

MSc Clinical Immunology is a taught programme designed to train healthcare professionals, and is not research-focused. Applicants seeking to prioritise research training with the primary goal of preparing for a PhD application should apply for MSc Immunology, which does not contain any formal immunology taught components as the focus is on research skills for immunology focused graduates who want to progress into a PhD and commit to research.