Program Overview

Molecular Medicine, MSc

Introduction

This programme aims to provide students with knowledge of molecular medicine and, uniquely, allows students to create their own curriculum from offered molecular medicine courses.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MSc
• Duration: 12 months or 24 months
• Study Mode: Full Time or Part Time
• Start Month: September
• Location of Study: Aberdeen

Extraordinary technological advances in molecular biology, ranging from next-generation sequencing to the engineering of biologic therapies, are revolutionising our ability to diagnose and treat patients.

This MSc programme in Molecular Medicine offers a broad curriculum centred around molecular technologies. Subjects are taught from the perspective of understanding how insights and tools from molecular science can help us to understand and treat human disease.

The programme is delivered by molecular medicine researchers, providing a research-led teaching experience. It offers the opportunity to gain highly sought-after skills that will equip you for career destinations across a diversity of molecular medicine subject areas in both industry and academia.

Uniquely, this MSc programme provides a high degree of flexibility to select courses to build a curriculum based upon your research and academic interests. Course options are available in the areas of genetics, biotechnology, drug development and pharmacology, microbiology and immunology, allowing you to tailor the programme to your particular career aspirations.

What You'll Study

The MSc in Molecular Medicine offers a broad curriculum covering recent advances in Molecular Medicine. Subjects are taught from the perspective of understanding how modern insights and tools from molecular science can help us to understand and treat human disease. Uniquely, this MSc programme provides you with a large degree of flexibility to select courses to build a curriculum based upon your research and academic interests. Course options are available in the areas of genetics, biotechnology, drug development and pharmacology, microbiology and immunology, allowing you to tailor the programme to your particular career aspirations. Successful completion of the MSc requires 180 course credits.

Stage 1

• Compulsory Courses:
  • MT5010: Basic Skills - Induction
  • Students take two or three from the following courses:
    • MB5021: Bioinformatics
    • BT5014: Biotechnology
    • MB5025: Molecular Genetics
• Optional Courses:
  • Students must choose one or two elective courses from the following list:
    • Molecular Pharmacology (MT5024)
    • Applied Statistics (PU5017)
    • Profiles of Immunology (MB5028)
    • Current Microbiology (MC5009)

Stage 2

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Evaluating and Communicating Research (MB5529)
• Optional Courses:
  • Students must choose three elective courses from the following list:
    • Advanced Bioinformatics and Genome Sequencing (MB5522)
    • Advanced Biotechnology with Computation (BT5511)
    • Host - Pathogen Interactions (MB5516)
    • Advanced Genomic Tools in Biomedical Research (MB5528)
    • Genes and Immunity (MB5526)
    • Drug Development to Evidence Based Medicine (MT5520)
    • Biologic Drug Discovery (BT5509)
    • Applied Developmental Biology (MB5524)

Stage 3

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Students must take one of the following:
    • Masters Research Project (Laboratory) (MB5904)
    • Masters Research Project (PU5922)

Fee Information

• EU / International students: £26,250
• UK: £12,200

Scholarships

• All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students starting in September 2025 will receive an £8,000 scholarship.

Entry Requirements

• Qualifications: A second class Honours degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent qualification in a biological or medical science degree is required for entry onto this programme.
• English Language Requirements:
  • IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
  • TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
  • PTE Academic: OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
  • Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Careers

• The MSc in Molecular Medicine will provide you with the academic, analytical and practical skills to assist you in to many careers.
• This course provides excellent training for graduates looking to pursue research careers who wish to expand their knowledge and skills for starting a PhD or becoming research scientists (research assistants or technologists).
• The knowledge and skills acquired through this MSc Programme are also of great value for those seeking a career in industry, biotechnology, or hospital diagnostic and pathology laboratories.

Why Study Molecular Medicine?

• Gain insights into the rapid and extraordinary technological advances in molecular biology that are revolutionising clinical medicine.
• Tailor the curriculum to your academic interests and career aspirations by selecting courses from a large range of available options.
• Enjoy world class teaching delivered by experts within the Institute of Medical Sciences, allowing you to benefit from a research-led teaching experience.
• Benefit from the opportunity to undertake a comprehensive research project in molecular medicine.
• Gain highly sought after skills that will equip you for career destinations across a diversity of molecular medicine subject areas in both industry and academia.
• Be based at our Foresterhill Health Campus, which includes one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe, the Institute of Medical Sciences, and the Rowett Institute.
• Benefit from skills training to help with scientific writing, analytical skills, CV writing, interview skills and reading scientific literature.