Program Overview

MRes Health Sciences Research

Overview

Ranked 1st globally in THE subject rankings for research quality in clinical and health subjects (THE2025)

This programme offers a firm foundation in biomedical research, enhancing your understanding and critical awareness of the scientific method and practical experience in an area related to your interests. Taught units provide training in research methodology, experimental design, statistical analyses and data interpretation. Skills training in verbal and written communication is also emphasised.

The core of the programme is an eight-month research project, conducted within one of the University's internationally recognised research groups. Opportunities will be available in laboratory or clinical-based investigations. If you have a specific research area you wish to pursue, please discuss with the Programme Directors at the time of application.

The programme is suitable for medical, dental and veterinary students interested in pursuing a research-intensive intercalation option after three years of study. It is also suitable for graduates in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and bioscience subjects who wish to develop their research skills.

Translational Cardiovascular Medicine pathway

Students with a particular interest in cardiovascular medicine can study the MRes Health Sciences Research (Translational Cardiovascular Medicine). In addition to the units listed within the Programme Structure (except the Project Proposal), you will be able to choose two of the following:

• Coronary Artery Disease I
• Coronary Artery Disease II
• Heart and Valve Disease
• Paediatric Heart Disease
• Aneurysm, Peripheral Vascular Disease and Stroke.

You will conduct a cardiovascular-related research project.

Renal pathway

Students with a particular interest in renal medical sciences can study the MRes Health Sciences Research (Renal). In addition to the units listed within the Programme Structure (except Project Proposal), you will be required to take the Introduction to Renal Sciences unit.

Research projects on this pathway will be renal-focused, taking the form of a fundamental bioscience project, translational research, or an epidemiological population health study (in partnership with the UK Renal Registry). There is an additional option to undertake a clinical placement, shadowing adult or paediatric nephrologists during inpatient and outpatient consultations.

Programme duration

• One year full-time
• Two years part-time

Start date

• September 2025

Application deadline

• Overseas applicants: 25 July 2025
• Home applicants: 8 August 2025

Delivery method

• On-Campus

Location

• Clifton

Awards available

• MRes

Programme structure

The programme structure for the main MRes Health Sciences Research is as follows:

• Unit 1: Foundations in Health Sciences Research
• Unit 2: Project Proposal
• Unit 3: Research Club in Health Sciences Research
• Unit 4: Research Project in Health Sciences Research

Entry requirements

Graduates in a biological (or related) science or medical subject will normally be expected to hold an upper second-class honours degree (or international equivalent). Applicants intercalating from the professional programmes of medicine, dentistry and veterinary sciences will need to have successfully completed year three before they can be considered for this programme. Graduates of these professional programmes are also eligible to apply.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.

Fees and funding

• Home: full-time £10,700 per year
• Home: part-time (two years) £5,350 per year
• Overseas: full-time £30,300 per year

Career prospects

This programme is suitable for students with a clinical or biosciences background who want to develop their research skills before embarking on a research/clinical career in academia or the pharmaceutical industry. It provides the ideal foundation for further studies leading to a PhD.