MSc/MRes/Diploma in Clinical and Experimental Medicine: Drug Discovery

Educational aims of the programme

The MSc/MRes/Diploma in Clinical and Experimental Medicine: Drug Discovery is aimed at anyone who wants to gain the skills to do world class health care research. Many of our students are doctors, allied health professionals or graduates in biomedical science who wish to pursue a life-long career in academic health research, pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries.

The course offers specialised training in state-of-the-art biomedical science (including exposure to leading research scientists, biotechnologists and pharmaceutical companies), research methodology, including the translation of basic science research into novel therapies for human disease, and the philosophy, governance and social implications of health research.

It provides an ideal foundation for graduates who wish subsequently to undertake a PhD in biomedical science within UCL or elsewhere. In addition the course provides key transferable skills for those wishing to pursue careers in drug discovery.


The course is available full-time or part-time.


Programme outcomes

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate theoretical knowledge and understanding, and practical skills in the following areas:

  • Research methodology including statistical methods applied to medical research
  • Drug discovery or translational clinical research
  • Research in a specific biomedical area or health specialty
  • Ethics and governance of applied health research

In particular, by the end of the programme, students will have acquired:

  • Practical understanding of research methods in biomedical science
  • Knowledge of cutting-edge research within a particular biomedical area or health specialty
  • The ability to evaluate scientific literature
  • Practical experience in laboratory, clinical or epidemiological research
  • The ability to design and complete a research project
  • An appreciation of ethical and governance requirements of research (including ‘Good Clinical Practice’ principles for drug trials)

Students will be required to design and complete a research project allowing in-depth study of a current area of biomedical science or allied subjects that may contribute to novel medical treatments. Students completing at Postgraduate Diploma level (120 credits) will not be required to complete a research project.

Additional information

Entry requirements

A medical degree or a UK bachelor’s degree in a healthcare or health-related subject, awarded with first or upper second class honours, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard from a university or educational institution of university rank.

All students whose first language is not English must be able to provide recent evidence that their spoken and written command of the English language is adequate for the programme. The programme requires an overall IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. For further on UCL’s English language requirement, see here.

How to apply

You can apply online from the Graduate Admissions page on the main UCL website: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study/index/graduate-study/application-admission


Deadline

The admissions deadline for this programme is Friday 2 August 2013. Please note that entry is competitive. We cannot accept more than 24 students on to the programme so we advise you to apply as early as possible.

Contacts

Course Tutor

Dr Ross Breckenridge

Tel. +44 (0) 20 7679 6989

Email: r.breckenridge[@]ucl.ac.uk

Course Administrator

Gemma Martin

Tel: +44 (0) 203 108 2308

Email: gemma.martin[@]ucl.ac.uk