XClose

UCL Division of Biosciences

Home
Menu

Genetics of Human Disease MSc

The Genetics of Human Disease MSc degree aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of molecular genetics, quantitative and statistical genetics and human disease.

About the course

There’s never been a more exciting time to study human genetics than now. With the completion of the Human Genome Project, and advances in technology, scientists today have a far better understanding of the genetic basis of health and disease.  

This course will give you in-depth knowledge of fundamental genetic concepts, together with the latest statistical and computational approaches, such as bioinformatics, being used to establish how genetics contribute to disease.  

Working alongside UCL’s world leaders in biomedical science, you’ll build your research skills, grow your network, and explore the globally-significant genetic research that’s transforming the way many diseases are now being treated.

What you can look forward to

  • Study with scientists working at the forefront of genomics research. Our research community has over 500 staff and 300 PhD students engaged in cutting-edge research and collaboration. 
  • Benefit from a specially-designed multidisciplinary programme that combines basic science with modern genetics, with teaching from across the Schools of Life and Medical Sciences at UCL. This allows us to offer a breadth of biological education unmatched in almost any other UK university. 
  • Gain first-hand insight into globally-significant research, in areas like xxx. 
  • Study at the UCL Genetics Institute (UGI), a world-leading centre which develops and applies biostatistical and bioinformatic approaches to human and population genetics. Opportunities to conduct laboratory or computational-based research projects are available in the laboratories of world-leading geneticists affiliated to the UGI. 
  • Choose from one three specialised streams in inherited diseases, pharmacogenetics or computational genomics – and complete a research project to conduct more in-depth analysis in the specific areas of genetics that interest you most. 

Take a look at where you'll be stuyding 

Join us in shaping the future of healthcare and scientific research, and unlock endless opportunities for personal and professional growth in one of the world’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Take a virtual tour of our campus


Where the course can take you 

This Msc is the ideal option if you’re looking to progress onto a PhD studentship in a research area related to genetics and other areas of biological science. You could also take your specialist skills into the pharmaceutical industry, clinical genetic diagnosis services or project management in healthcare organisations or hospitals around the world. 

Advanced training in genetic techniques including bioinformatic and statistical approaches positions graduates well for PhD studentships in laboratories using genetic techniques to examine diseases such as heart disease, cancer and neurological disorders. Another large group will seek research jobs in the pharmaceutical industry, or jobs related to genetics in healthcare organisations.

The MSc in Genetics of Human Disease facilitates the acquisition of knowledge and skills relevant to a career in research in many different biomedical disciplines. More than half of our graduates enter a research career by undertaking and completing PhDs and working as research associates/scientists in academia. Some of our graduates go on to jobs in the pharmaceutical industry while others enter careers within clinical genetic diagnosis services, particularly in molecular genetics, project management in healthcare organisations and hospitals around the world, medical communication and many other job sectors. Those graduates with prior medical training often utilise their new skills as clinical geneticists.