Molecular Biology

Study options

Award

MSc

Key facts

Location:
Stoke-on-Trent campus
Location:
Stoke-on-Trent campus
Study option:
Full-time
Study option:
Full-time, blended learning
Duration:
13 Months
Duration:
13 Months
Start date:
20 September 2021
School:
School of Life Sciences and Education

Tailored to your needs

Course can be designed to be highly relevant to your professional needs

Turn theory into practice

Get hands-in on our state-of-the-art laboratories

Expert teaching staff

Our teaching staff have a wealth of industry experience

Molecular biology is increasingly important for professionals in health and related areas such as pharmaceutical sciences and biotechnology. Our MSc focuses on the way advanced molecular technologies inform clinical practice.

The study of biology at a molecular level is leading to advances in the treatment of many diseases. This course is designed for health professionals who want to understand its impact on biomedicine and related subjects. It will also be of interest to those working in other areas of biology where molecular biology has applications.

The course will enable you to study areas of molecular biology of particular interest or relevance to your employment. It includes a workplace project which you can tailor to be highly relevant to your current work and interests.

This course can be studied in an on-campus or blended learning with only the practical block normally being on-campus.

The study of biology at a molecular level is leading to advances in the treatment of many diseases. This course is designed for health professionals who want to understand its impact on biomedicine and related subjects. It will also be of interest to those working in other areas of biology where molecular biology has applications.

The course will enable you to study areas of molecular biology of particular interest or relevance to your employment. It includes a workplace project which you can tailor to be highly relevant to your current work and interests.

The course is delivered via blended learning.

With blended learning the majority of content is delivered online, plus two practical weeks in our laboratories, where you can put your learning into practice. The theory is delivered using our online Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment. You’ll interact with other students on the course through online discussion groups and receive excellent support from your tutors.

Students usually complete the MSc in around 15 months.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MSc Molecular Biology

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MSc Molecular Biology

Course content

The course will introduce you to recent advances made in the study of disease, with an emphasis on how advanced molecular technologies inform, and impact upon, clinical practice. 

You can tailor many elements of the course to focus on your personal or employment interests. For example, you’ll undertake a research project which can be completed at your place of work or at the University.

The MSc involves eight 15-credit modules plus your project, which is worth 60-credits. Each 15-credit module will involve 12-15 hours of study per week over nine weeks. Current modules offered are Practical DNA Analysis, Bioinformatics, Medical Genetics and Genomics, Chronic Multifactorial Disease, Molecular Diagnosis, Current Development in Genetics  and Principles of Molecular Biology.

The course will introduce you to recent advances made in the study of disease, with an emphasis on how advanced molecular technologies inform, and impact upon, clinical practice. You’ll develop hands-on practical skills during two one-week residential short courses, held in June and September.

You can tailor many elements of the course to focus on your personal or employment interests. For example, you’ll undertake a research project which can be completed at your place of work or at the University.

The MSc involves eight 15-credit modules plus your project, which is worth 60-credits. Each 15-credit module will involve 12-15 hours of study per week over nine weeks. 

MSc Molecular Biology

MSc Molecular Biology

Video

Associate Professor of Molecular Biology Dr Gavin McStay discusses the ins and outs of our MSc Molecular Biology degree.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Entry requirements

You’ll normally need a minimum 2:2 honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant subject. However, accredited professional qualifications or vocational experience can be considered, and we strongly encourage anyone interested in the course to get in touch.

You’ll normally need a minimum 2:2 honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant subject. However, accredited professional qualifications or vocational experience can be considered, and we strongly encourage anyone interested in the course to get in touch.

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

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Facilities

Careers

The course is designed to aid your career advancement in any field where molecular biology is relevant. Or you may be looking to change or re-focus your career in this direction.

Eager for more knowledge? Upon completion, you’ll be ideally placed for further academic study at PhD level.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Support is available when you need it. You can contact your tutor by phone, email or in person.

Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your studies wherever you are. This includes discussion forums where you can debate subjects with your tutors and fellow students.

Support is available when you need it. You can contact your tutor by phone, email or in person.

Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your studies wherever you are. This includes discussion forums where you can debate subjects with your tutors and fellow students.

Assessment

Module assessment is mainly through course work, plus two online exams.

Module assessment is mainly through course work, plus two online exams.

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

  • Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
  • Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
  • Academic writing (including how to reference)
  • Research skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our AccessAbility Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Feedback

We know that it’s important for you to be able to gauge your progress. So, your tutor will give you feedback on any practice assessments you do.

We usually give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module.

We know that it’s important for you to be able to gauge your progress. So, your tutor will give you feedback on any practice assessments you do.

We usually give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module.

You'll typically need to complete 12 – 15 hours of independent work each week. However, the actual study time will vary from student to student.

You'll typically need to complete 12 – 15 hours of independent work each week. However, the actual study time will vary from student to student.

Independent learning

The focus of this course is independent learning and individual study time. This could involve:

  • Set reading material or e-text books
  • Researching e-journals and e-books from the library or library books which can be posted to you (UK based students only)
  • Preparing for your dissertation

The focus of this course is independent learning and individual study time. This could involve:

  • Set reading material or e-text books
  • Researching e-journals and e-books from the library or library books which can be posted to you (UK based students only)
  • Preparing for your dissertation

Staff

You'll be taught by staff who have a range of academic and industry experience. 

Dr Gavin Mcstay

Associate Professor

Gavin's research interests focus on the roles mitochondria play in aspects of eukaryotic life, ranging from their origin, metabolism, biogenesis and role they play in cell death pathways. These are interrogated using biochemical, molecular bi…

Gavin's profile

Dr Sarah Williams

Course Director

I joined the team here at Staffordshire University in May 2013 as a Lecturer in Biomedical Science. I'm a member of the British Society for Immunology and the Association for Clinical Biochemistry.

Sarah's profile

Dr Arthur Hosie

Course Director

Arthur's profile

Dr Susan Bird

Senior Lecturer

I teach on the modules Molecular Aspects of Chronic Multifactorial Diseases, part of Principles of Molecular Biology, part of Human Molecular Genetics, part of Molecular Diagnostics and project supervision

Susan's profile

Trust Diya

Lecturer

Trust is a Lecturer in Molecular Biology. His research interests are on the effects of flavonoids on mammalian cells.

Ian Davies

Senior Lecturer

My expertise is within clinical pathology laboratories and the use of biomedical investigations in the diagnosis and investigation of disease. I'm Module Coordinator for Professional Practice for Biomedical Scientists and Cellular Pathology.

Ian's profile

Paul Orsmond

Senior Lecturer (Tef)

Paul is a lecturer who co-ordinates a number of different modules within the department of biology and in order to encourage student learning I develop different types of curriculum.

Paul's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 20 September 2021 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £8,085 per course £14,500 per course

For the course starting on 20 September 2021 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £8,085 per course £14,500 per course

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Alumni discount

If you've previously completed a Staffordshire University undergraduate degree (excluding HND and foundation degrees) you may be entitled to a discount of up to 25% off your course fees for any subsequent postgraduate taught course (terms apply, see the alumni discount page for details). If you have any questions about how this relates to you, please contact feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk.

Included in the fees:
  • The course fee includes hard copies of two essential text books – the core text and a module-specific book.
  • The course fee includes hard copies of two essential text books – the core text and a module-specific book.
Not included in the fees:
  • Your travel costs to the University for the residential short courses aren’t included in your tuition fees.
  • Costs associated with your project are not included if the project is completed in your work place.
  • Your travel costs to the University for the residential short courses aren’t included in your tuition fees.
  • Costs associated with your project are not included if the project is completed in your work place.
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,570 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options; part-time, full-time and distance learning. 

For more information and how to apply visit masters loan.

Our students

I’m working full time as a Molecular Biologist so this course is definitely very related to my career. The module offer in the course is all related to what I do in work and some of the modules help me to understand the other developments in my company.

The lecturers were very helpful, especially the tutor for each module – they guide you through and if there was something I didn’t understand, they were willing to Skype with me and to enlighten me for the areas that I wasn't clear in.

I would say that distance learning at Staffordshire is very structured and is similar to the on-campus course. You get all the modules online, you get contact with your lecturers and you get access to the library. You get the same quality as on-campus but in your own time.

Airin Zaba

Graduate, MSc Molecular Biology

I got lots of support from the professors at the University. They granted me extensions because they took my situation into account because they knew the circumstances were out of my control at home.

The advantage of a distance learning degree was that I could study at my convenience but it also required lots of self-discipline. 

My dream job would now be to work in a hospital or research agency trying to find cures for cancer. 

Fadi Hamoui

Graduate, MSc Molecular Biology

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date
Stoke-on-Trent campus MSc Full-time 20 September 2021 Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at Staffordshire University, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of Staffordshire University enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

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