Genomic Medicine MSc

**The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2024). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas.** <br/><br/>The MSc in Genomic Medicine is a full-time, one-year cross-disciplinary course, which benefits from world-leading expertise in genomic science across the University of Oxford coupled with direct links to clinical and translational medicine.<br/><br/>The course is designed to equip students from diverse academic and workplace backgrounds with knowledge of the fundamental principles, technologies and basis of genomic science and how this can be translated for the benefit of human health, economics and broader society.<br/><br/>The course seeks to promote:<br/><br/><br/>- rigorous scientific training to understand the complexities of genomic data;<br/><br/><br/>- the concept of ‘gene to patient’ in its broadest sense, encompassing fundamental genomics research, bioinformatics pipelines, clinical trials, drug development, translational genomics, education and training for healthcare practitioners, patients and the wider public; and<br/><br/><br/>- a multi-disciplinary approach providing the awareness and skill sets needed to engage with relevant specialists and technologies for the future development and delivery of genomic medicine.<br/><br/><br/>**Course structure**<br/>**Core modules**<br/><br/>The following four modules are taken by all students in the first term:<br/><br/><br/>- Fundamentals in Human Genetics and Genomics<br/><br/><br/>- Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases<br/><br/><br/>- Omic Technologies and their Application to Genomic Medicine<br/><br/><br/>- Bioinformatics, Statistics and Data Interpretation in Genomic Analysis<br/><br/><br/>**Elective modules**<br/>In the second term, you will take three elective modules from the following six options, with the option to attend further modules that are not formally assessed.<br/><br/>You will select two modules from set A:<br/><br/><br/>- A1 Molecular Pathology and Precision Medicine<br/><br/><br/>- A2 Advanced Quantitative Methods (Bioinformatics and Statistics)<br/><br/><br/>- A3 Genome Engineering and Gene-based Therapeutics<br/><br/><br/>- A4 Single Cell Application of –Omic Approaches<br/><br/><br/>You will select one module from set B:<br/><br/><br/>- B1 Genomics in Clinical Practice<br/><br/><br/>- B2 Application of Genomics for Therapeutics, Vaccinology and Industry<br/><br/><br/>**Research project**<br/>The final term will focus on a research project undertaken for a twelve to fourteen week period. Approximately 30 projects will be offered by academic research groups and affiliated clinical supervisors in Oxford, as well as industry placements where possible. You will have a named supervisor with experience in supervision of postgraduate students. You will produce a written dissertation based on your research project of 10,000-12,000 words.<br/><br/>**Academic and research skills**<br/>This module will run throughout the course helping you develop skills in academic writing, scientific communication and good research practice, alongside topics such as career support. It will also include bespoke computational and statistics training as a foundation for the core module ‘Bioinformatics, Statistics and Data Interpretation in Genomic Analysis’.<br/><br/>**Teaching format**<br/>Modules will comprise a mix of lectures, small-group tutorials, structured learning, individual and group-based assignments, practical wet-lab and computational sessions and independent learning. You will be expected to spend approximately 30-40 hours studying per week, with the balance of contact teaching hours and self-directed learning being approximately equal. In the first term, a student-focussed seminar series will feature expert guest speakers discussing cutting-edge research in genomic medicine and its clinical application.