Biological Sciences MSc

Project structure, expectations and goals

On this research-focused master's course in Biological Sciences, you will undertake a half-year project in the laboratory of a leading biologist. You will develop your skills in relevant lab techniques and receive training in data analysis, management and oral/written presentation, all in the context of your own original biological science project. This will prepare you for future job or PhD interviews, where you can substantiate your achievements and demonstrate project ownership, understanding and professional standards.

To achieve this goal, you will take part in seminars, workshops, small group tutorials and units in statistics and laboratory skills. The learning methods and units are designed to prepare you for laboratory environments and for undertaking research. They will also give you key transferable skills, such as effectively extracting and understanding information from scientific literature and seminars.

You will also learn how to adapt to both scientific and public audiences, developing your science communication skills through oral presentations, poster presentations or written reports. This will prepare you for elevator pitches in job or PhD interviews, and equip you for a career in academic research, the biosciences industry, as a science writer or in similar professional areas where experience in research will be valued. The skills you gain will help you make informed career choices about the professional area you may want to work in.

Information about biological sciences projects

Please be aware that this course will not offer traditional lectures introducing you to biological sciences. Instead, it will focus on enhanced research-related training in this field. Therefore, you should already have conceptual knowledge and understanding in the scientific area of your interest.

You will choose your own laboratory project from a list provided by your programme director after you start the course. We have over 300 research-active labs that give access to a wide selection of projects. The Biological Sciences MSc provides you with access to a broad range of topics, as diverse as plant sciences, microbiology, biophysics, biochemistry, cell biology, neuroscience, ecology and evolution. For an idea of the breadth of available projects, browse our research pages.

This course is ideal if you aspire to a research-related career in biology but are open to various directions of investigation. Once allocated to one of your chosen projects, you will contact your supervisor, who will guide you as you write a literature review and project outline. This will prepare you for six months of hands-on experimental work in your supervisor's laboratory, giving you the opportunity to take ownership of your own science project.

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.