Program Overview

MSc Haematology and Transfusion Science

The MSc Haematology and Transfusion Science degree is designed to enable students to develop an advanced theoretical understanding and the practical techniques needed to apply in a research or clinical context. This course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science up to 2024 student intake, with reaccreditation pending from 2025 onwards.

Course Overview

The course is made up of nine core modules, which students will study over one year full-time, or spread across three years if studying part-time. These modules are focused solely on haematology or transfusion science, including clinical haematology, haemostasis, haematological malignancies, plus two specialist transfusion modules.

Core Modules

• Disorder Case Study: This module provides the opportunity to make a systematic, comprehensive study of a disorder.
• Haematological Malignancies: This module provides knowledge of the clinical and laboratory investigation and management of haematological malignancies and other white cell disorders.
• Project: This module enables all full-time masters students to complete an independent piece of research allied to their specialism, named award, employment aspirations, and specific academic interests.
• Research Methods and Ethics in Biomedical Science: This module develops research skills and prepares students for their independent research project.
• Clinical Haematology: This module studies the normal roles of red cells, white cells, and platelets in haematological processes and the changes in these roles in disease.
• Analytical and Research Techniques in Biomedical Science: This module provides the opportunity to study analytical and research techniques used in biomedical science practice at masters level.
• Transfusion Pre-Compatibility Testing: This module provides knowledge of performing pre-transfusion testing, identifying additional testing relevant to the sample under investigation, reporting results, and translating these results into the clinical context of the patient.
• Antenatal Serology: This module provides knowledge in performing antenatal testing, interpretation, and referral in accordance with current guidelines.
• Haemostasis and Haemostatic Disorders: This module provides knowledge of the clinical and laboratory investigation and management of congenital and acquired bleeding disorders, and the management of thrombophilia.

Study and Assessment

• Full-time: 15% lectures, seminars, or similar; 0% placement; 85% independent study
• Part-time: 15% lectures, seminars, or similar; 0% placement; 85% independent study
• Full-time: 80% coursework; 0% practical; 20% examination
• Part-time: 80% coursework; 0% practical; 20% examination

Entry Requirements

• A UK honours degree – normally a 2:2 – or the international equivalent, in biological or biomedical science including the study of Haematology and Transfusion Science.
• Alternatively, an equivalent professional qualification or substantial relevant professional experience, or an HNC Medical Laboratory Science plus at least 10 years’ experience.
• If you are a fellow of The Institute of Biomedical Science, you’ll be eligible for exemption from some of the units on the course.
• Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification.

Fees and Funding

• UK and Channel Island students: Full-time fee £12,000 per year, Part-time fee £2000 per 30 credits
• EU and non-EU international students: Full-time fee £22,000 per year, Part-time fee £3667 per 30 credits
• Fees may be subject to change.

Careers Support and Prospects

This course offers an avenue into a range of specialist fields like hospital science, the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, or public health and transfusion laboratories. The subjects covered will not only help prepare for the Institute of Biomedical Science higher specialist examination and the advanced practice that follows but can also lay the groundwork for careers in research or teaching or to pursue studies towards a PhD.

Research

The Department of Life Sciences represents one of the highest concentrations of health research excellence, ranking 15th in the UK for the power of our health and biomedical research (REF 2021). Our research is targeted at alleviating the threats of infectious disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and age-related decline to human health and wellbeing. We conduct basic and translational research to understand biological systems in disease, sensing and detecting by-products of disease, and contemporary challenges, including ageing and the development of new technologies for personalised medicine.