Program Overview

Introduction to Paediatrics and Child Health: Molecular and Genomic Paediatrics MSc

The Paediatrics and Child Health: Molecular and Genomic Paediatrics MSc is a multidisciplinary Master's degree offered by the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. This programme aims to build a specialism in molecular and genomic paediatrics, providing students with the expertise to make a real impact in the field of child health.

About the Programme

Based at one of the leading centres for child health research and practice globally, the programme will develop students' understanding of evidence-based paediatrics and the impact of molecular genomics on the diagnosis and management of the child and family. Students will learn about current and future developments in paediatric molecular biology, critically appraise basic and clinical science that underpins different treatments, and carry out their own research.

Entry Requirements

• Medically qualified applicants should have post-qualification experience in paediatrics or child health.
• Non-medically qualified applicants should have an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, and experience of working in hospitals, community child health, or public health services for children and families.
• English language requirements: The English language level for this course is Level 2.

Course Overview

The programme is taught mainly in one-week blocks dispersed throughout the year. Students will take 180 credits, made up of eight taught modules and a dissertation. The course is available in full-time, part-time, and modular (flexible) modes.

Compulsory Modules

• Research Project Report
• Applied Statistics for Health Research I
• Evidence-based Child Health

Optional Modules

• Respiration Through Life, Health and Disease
• International Child Mental Health
• Epidemiology for Child Health
• Immunisation and Communicable Diseases
• Safeguarding and Children in Society
• Child Public Health
• Nutrition, Growth and Physical Activity
• Leadership and Professional Development
• Clinical Genomics
• Genetic and Rare Diseases
• Molecular Biology of Normal Development and Birth Defects
• Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Childhood Cancers
• Adolescent Health Medicine
• Paediatric Critical Care (General)
• Stabilisation and Transport of the Critically Ill Child
• Cardiac Critical Care
• Ethics and Law for Paediatrics and Child Health
• Key Principles of Health Economics
• Health Management: Planning and Programme Design
• Collecting and Using Data: Essentials of Quantitative Survey Research
• Research in Action: the Qualitative Approach
• Concepts and Controversies in Global Health
• Health Systems in a Global Context
• Regression Modelling
• Ethnicity, Migration and Health
• Practising Qualitative Research in Child and Adolescent Health

Careers and Employability

By the end of the Master's degree, students will be in a strong position for further doctoral research. They could go on to build a career in academia or in evidence-based paediatrics as a clinical scientist. Many graduates have gone on to complete their specialist training, into careers as consultants in paediatrics or senior professionals in other related fields, including with the NHS, government health departments, ministries of health, and NGOs all over the world.

Teaching and Learning

Students will be taught subject-specific knowledge via a variety of methods, including lectures, discussion groups, and external reading. Practical and transferable skills will be assimilated via teaching, self-learning, and assessments through the various modules provided by the programme. Assessment is through a combination of multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, essays, posters, presentations, reflective portfolios, and critical appraisal of the literature. For the full MSc, a research project and dissertation are required.

Fees and Funding

• UK students: Ł16,800 (full-time), Ł8,400 (part-time)
• International students: Ł39,200 (full-time), Ł19,600 (part-time)
• Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
• Additional costs: There are no additional costs for this course.
• Funding opportunities: The Peter and Loek Wheeler scholarship, the Michelle Zalkin Scholarship, and the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health bursary are available.

Next Steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding should take note of application deadlines. When assessing applications, the admissions team would like to learn why applicants want to study Molecular and Genomic Paediatrics at graduate level, why they want to study at UCL, what particularly attracts them to the programme, and how their academic and professional background meets the demands of the programme.