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Cardiovascular Science MSc

Cardiovascular diseases remain a major cause of death and ill health worldwide. This established MSc programme, taught by scientists and clinicians who are leaders in their field, offers you the opportunity to learn about topical areas in cardiovascular science, preparing you for further research or a career in industry, healthcare or beyond.

Covid-19 programme updates

Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.

Key information

Programme starts

September 2020

Modes and duration

Full time: 1 year
Part time: 2 years
Flexible: 2-5 years

Application dates

All applicants
Open: 1 November 2019
Close: 11 August 2020
Notification
Due to the large number of applications received, this programme is no longer accepting applications for 2020/21 entry. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Applications for 2021/22 entry will open later in the year.

Tuition fees (2020/21)

UK/EU:
£12,890 (FT)
£6,440 (PT)
Overseas:
£25,900 (FT)
£12,890 (PT)


Note on fees: The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website. Fees for flexible, modular study are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session.

Location: London, Bloomsbury

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a scientific or medical discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, or a recognised taught Master's degree.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

The English language level for this programme is: Standard

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

International students

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.

Select your country:

About this degree

You will develop a detailed knowledge of molecular and cellular cardiovascular science, animal models of cardiovascular disease, microvascular biology and mechanisms by which the heart and vasculature function in health and disease, as well as laboratory and statistical methods. You will gain an awareness of research integrity and practice valuable research skills relating to developments in cardiovascular science. 

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of five compulsory modules (90 credits), two optional modules (30 credits) and the research project (60 credits).

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a MSc in Cardiovascular Science.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Compulsory modules

  • Cardiovascular Science and Disease
  • Animal Models of Cardiovascular Disease
  • Congenital Heart Disease - Fundamentals
  • Heart and Circulation (30 credits)
  • Basic Statistics for Medical Sciences

Optional modules

30 credits of optional modules drawn from the following:

  • Genetics of Cardiovascular Disease and Related Complex Diseases
  • Genomics and Drug Development
  • Drug Discovery II (30 credits)
  • Microvascular Biology
  • Fundamental Genetic Laboratory Methods in Cardiovascular Research (30 credits)
  • Clinical Cardiology (open to clinicians only)

Clinical Cardiology is an academic MSc module rather than a standard clinical placement. The emphasis is on appreciating the impact of advances in cardiovascular science upon clinical practice.

Covid-19 module updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be updates to the modules for your chosen programme of study this year. Some modules may not be available or may need to be moved to a later term or year of study. These updates are relevant for 2020-21 academic year only.  The full list of modules will be available in the module catalogue from late August.  From the first week of September, you will be invited to complete module selection from Portico, our student record system. There may need to be additional updates or changes to modules during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available.

Dissertation/research project

All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words and an oral presentation (60 credits).

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, presentations, tutorials, journal clubs, a quiz, statistical and laboratory practicals and anatomical examination of human congenital heart disease specimens. Assessment is through written and oral examinations, coursework essays, case reports, journal club and other oral presentations and the dissertation.

Covid-19 contact hours on campus
In Term One, while campus will be open, all the learning activity for the core content of your modules will take place online – including lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. By “core content” we mean everything you need to learn to complete the module successfully. In addition to these online contact hours, we will be offering some face-to-face educational activities for students on campus, and we will provide alternative online activities for those students unable to join us on campus. These activities, which will include contact with academic staff, will be relevant to your programme of study may include seminars, academic and employability skills workshops, small-group or individual tutorials, lab and practice-based teaching. UK Government safety guidelines will limit the amount of ‘in person’ activity we can offer and while it will vary from programme to programme, is likely to be no more than 1-2 hours per week. This will vary across departments, particularly if your programme includes laboratory/practical/studio/workshop sessions. You will be updated with more specific details as they are available and your timetable will indicate which sessions will be on campus and which will be available online.
Covid-19 practical component updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be changes to the availability of the practical components for your chosen programme. Any updates relate only to the 20/21 academic year and may not apply to all students across the programme depending on your year of study.  Your department will keep you updated if the practical component of your programme is able to occur and/or any alternative options available.   There may need to be additional updates or changes to the practical component during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and/or Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available. 
Covid-19 assessment updates
There may be changes to the format of assessments for modules in this programme due to COVID-19. These will be summarised for each module on the module catalogue from 17 August 2020.   If any changes to assessments need to be made during the academic year due to updates in government guidance, these will be communicated to you as soon as possible from your department.    
Communicating further Covid-19 mitigation plans
We are continuing to follow UK Government guidance, as well as the expertise of our researchers, including specialists in health, education, human behaviour and infection prevention, to make sure UCL is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it becomes necessary to make further changes to your programme as a result of new guidance/regulations, UCL and your department will communicate these as soon as this becomes clear. We will keep you up-to-date with our plans throughout term one, so you have the information you need to be able to take decisions that are right for your circumstances. Please ensure that you keep in touch with your department by regularly checking your UCL emails, Moodle courses, the Coronavirus FAQs for Students page and any UCL online groups or social media you follow.

Additional costs

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support & Wellbeing team.

Funding

Home/EU applicants may apply for the MSc Cardiovascular Science Bursaries

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Careers

As a graduate of this programme, you will be well placed for a PhD in this field and a career in research. You will also have a sound basis for entry into the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

Basic scientists may use the MSc as a stepping-stone to MBBS studies. The programme also provides an excellent training for related fields such as scientific journalism and in areas requiring critical appraisal of complex data.

Employability

In addition to academic insights into cardiovascular science, this programme provides you with a wide range of skills sought by employers:

  • Oral and written communication skills
  • Selection and interpretation of written content and organisation of complex ideas - through essays and the research project dissertation
  • Quantitative analytical skills - through a statistics module
  • Project management - through both group and independent projects
  • Research planning and time management

During the programme, you will be supported by a personal tutor and informed by careers events and UCL Careers.

Why study this degree at UCL?

You will become part of the UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, which brings together world-leading scientists and clinicians working in cardiovascular research to conduct innovative research for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the heart and circulation, as well as education and policy development.

UCL has one of the largest, most dynamic cardiovascular research bases in the UK. This interdisciplinary programme is taught in collaboration with University College London Hospital (UCLH), UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Barts Heart Centre, offering you access to a world-leading community at the forefront of cardiovascular research.

There is an annual careers event for MSc students, which includes alumni, industry, healthcare and scientific publishing representatives.

Department: Institute of Cardiovascular Science

What our students and staff say

Staff view

"UCL is a prestigious university with an international reputation in the research field. I investigate novel therapies for protecting coronary heart disease patients from acute ischaemia-reperfusion injury during heart attack or during cardiac bypass surgery, thereby preventing heart failure and improving patient survival."

Professor Derek Hausenloy

MSc Cardiovascular Science
Reader in Cardiovascular Medicine
Staff view

"UCL has a strong international reputation in both teaching and research; the breadth of research and subjects, as well as its strong links to several hospitals in London, is second to none. This combination makes UCL a unique environment in which to learn and/or carry out translational research in experimental medicine. The latter has been possible by forging active collaborations with hospital-based clinicians and scientists at the Royal Free Hospital, Great Ormond Street and UCLH."

Professor Lucie Clapp

Cardiovascular Science MSc, Clinical and Experimental Medicine: Translational Clinical Science MSc, British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Biomedicine PhD
UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science

Application and next steps

Applications

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £80 for online applications and £105 for paper applications. Further information can be found at: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught/application.

Who can apply?

This programme is designed for scientists, clinically-related staff and clinicians who wish to gain a thorough background in cardiovascular science, either for further research in this field or for entry into industry.

Application deadlines

All applicants
11 August 2020

For more information see our Applications page.

Apply now

What are we looking for?

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Cardiovascular Science at graduate level
  • why you want to study Cardiovascular Science at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to elaborate on your reasons for applying to this programme and how your interests match what the programme will deliver.

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.

Page last modified on 13 August 2020