MSc in Cell and Gene Therapy

Treatment of disease using gene and stem cell therapy is now a reality. With emerging technologies and new clinical trials being developed and initiated at an increasing rate, there is a need for trained scientists and clinicians with expertise in this area.

The UK, and the UCL Institute of Child Health (ICH) in particular, is at the forefront of developing cell and gene therapy for clinical application to a wide range of human genetic disorders.

The Teaching Faculty for this new unique course has been chosen from the Institute of Child Health, its clinical partner Great Ormond Street Hospital and other UCL Departments which will reflect the wide range of world class research.

Programme Outline

The Masters degree in Cell and Gene Therapy will provide an in depth education in this cutting edge and rapidly developing field.  It will be delivered by scientists and clinicians researching, developing and testing new treatments for genetically inherited and acquired diseases using gene delivery technology, stem cell manipulation and DNA repair techniques. The degree will cover all aspects of the subject, including basic biomedical science, molecular basis of disease, current and developing technologies and clinical applications.  Students will also receive vocational training in research methodology and statistics, how to perform a research project and in completing a practical laboratory based project.

Aims

To provide knowledge and understanding of:

• Scientific principles which underlie the rationale for cell and gene therapy, including basic knowledge of genetics, cell biology, virology and immunology
• The molecular, genetic and clinical basis of a wide range of disorders that could be treated by these techniques
• Laboratory techniques that could be used in clinical trials of cell and gene therapy
• Historical, current and future cell and gene therapy treatment strategies
• Research design, methodology and statistics.

Masters degree

(180 Credits)

One academic year of full-time study or two to five academic years of flexible study.

Postgraduate Diploma

(120 Credits)

One academic year of full-time study or two to five academic years of flexible study.

Postgraduate Certificate

(60 Credits)

Twelve weeks of full-time study or up to two academic years of part-time study.

Some modules may be offered as short courses to external professionals for continuous professional development (CPD) purposes. Professionals may choose to attend these lectures for CPD but they would not be examined or obtain any qualification.

Students can register for and complete individual modules as taster students. They must complete the assessments and meet all other requirements expected of degree programme students on the module. If they successfully pass the module, they can bank the credit and apply it to the MSc, Diploma or Certificate in Cell and Gene Therapy, provided they are accepted onto the degree programme and transfer the credit within two years of completion (based on academic sessions rather than calendar years).

Full-time

Students would be expected to start at the beginning of academic year in September with Foundations of Biomedical Sciences. This can be taken concurrently with Molecular & Genetic Basis of Paediatric Disease and the compulsory module Research Methodology and Statistics.

In the second term there are the compulsory modules Molecular Aspects of Cell & Gene Therapy and Clinical Applications of Cell and Gene Therapy, plus additional optional modules Applied Genomics, Stem Cell and Tissue Repair, HIV Frontiers from Research to Clinics and Investigating Research.

In the third term the compulsory module Research Project in Cell & Gene Therapy will be undertaken.

Modular/Flexible

Students will have up to 5 years to complete the programme.

Students would be expected to start at the beginning of the academic year in September with Foundations of Biomedical Sciences. The remaining modules could be spread over 2-5 years, though if students intended to take the Molecular and Genetic Basis of Paediatric Disease module it would be preferable to take it before the other modules. There is no necessity to take the other modules in any particular order. The compulsory component for the MSc Research Project in Cell & Gene Therapy should be undertaken when all or most of the taught modules have been successfully completed.

Modules

Comp = Compulsory     Opt = Optional

Entry Criteria

To be eligible for this course you must either be:

• A qualified medical practitioner, with a qualification equivalent to a UK MBBS, interested in pursuing research careers in biomedical science;
• A non-clinical scientist with BSc or equivalent in a life or biomedical science subject, with minimum 2:1 degree awarded;
• A healthcare, pharmaceutical or biotech professional and scientist with equivalent experience (minimum 3 years).

Overseas students would be required to have IELTS 7 or equivalent results in other English proficiency tests accepted by UCL.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study/application/taught/english-language

Fees 2013-2014

Modular/Flexible

Modular (Flexible) students can spread their studies over a period of up to five years. This is different to Part-time which is fixed-term for 2 years. Your 'Fees Due' will show as £0 initially but you should still pre-enrol and then enrol. After enrolment, Modular students select their modules for the year. Once selected, a fee will be calculated for the academic year - this is calculated based on the number of credits assigned to the modules chosen and pro rata of the full-time fee as indicated in the schedule above. In any academic year you will only pay for the number of credits chosen at any point in that year. Please note that all course fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. A Masters is usually worth 180 credits, a PG Dip 120 credits and a PG Cert 60 credits. 

For further information about fees please see the UCL Fees page.

How to apply

Applications are made direct to UCL. You may apply online, or download the application form in pdf format.

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study/application/taught