MSc Biomedical Sciences: University of Westminster

Course Overview

This full-time Masters programme is usually completed in one academic year. It is available to both UK and overseas students who already have extensive laboratory experience but who are now looking to progress within their profession.

Emphasis is placed on the development of professional skills, such as seminar delivery, IT and poster presentation that will enable successful students to develop their professional roles, for example as laboratory managers or trainers of junior laboratory staff. They recognise also that this MSc can also enable laboratory-based scientists to make the transition to full-time lecturers in their own country.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science(IBMS), the professional body for Biomedical Scientists in the United Kingdom.

Course Content

With the advice of the course leader, you can plan your own taught programme to match your interests and experience by selecting modules from any of the other Masters courses. For example, you could combine modules on microbiology and molecular biology or those on haematology and clinical chemistry etc. Whatever the combination, you will be able to expand your understanding of human diseases, their investigation and therapy; you will also develop competence in the design and execution of a laboratory-based project.

Teaching and Assessment

The course features a variety of teaching methods and approaches, including a mixture of formal lectures and practicals, including computer sessions, tutorials and student-centred learning activities. Essays, peer-assessed structured debates, poster presentations, oral presentations and reports in the form of short scientific communications are all components of the assessment strategy.

Associated Careers

During the course, you will develop a range of transferable skills that may be used to enhance your employment prospects and/or further your research opportunities in the UK or overseas. Each year it is anticipated that the majority of the intake for this course will be international students with experience in biomedical sciences and that, following completion of their studies, they will return to their own countries to pursue promotion or research opportunities. UK applicants are welcome although, again, relevant work experience is preferred.

Entry Requirements

You must possess at least a BSc Honours in Biomedical Sciences or in a closely related subject. However, applicants with a professional qualification of equivalent status and associated work experience will be considered sympathetically.

If your first language is not English, you should have attained one of the following:

• an IELTS score of at least 6.5, with a minimum score of 6 in the writing component
• a TOEFL (paper) score of at least 600 together with a TOEFL written test at Grade 4.5 or above
• a TOEFL (computer based test) of at least 250
• Cambridge Proficiency, Grade B