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Experimental and Translational Immunology MRes

London, Bloomsbury and London, Hampstead (Royal Free Hospital)

The MRes programme provides insight into state-of-the-art immunology research, current issues in immunity, immune dysfunction and immune-based therapeutic approaches. The main emphasis of the programme is a nine-month original research project (five months part time and four months full time) which provides an excellent preparation for a PhD and a career in research.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2022/23)
£14,470
Overseas tuition fees (2022/23)
£29,130
Duration
1 calendar year
Programme starts
September 2022
Applications accepted
All applicants: 18 Oct 2021 – 31 Mar 2022

Applications closed

Notification

Application closes at 17:00 GMT.

Entry requirements

A first class or upper-second class (or international equivalent) Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences, Life Science, Biological Sciences or a recognised Medical degree. A strong personal statement with evidence of independent research interest and experience.

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: Advanced

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level. International Preparation Courses

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

Equivalent qualifications

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. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The MRes Experimental and Translational immunology provides an opportunity for postgraduate students to benefit from the unique position of the Institute of Immunity & Transplantation (IIT), bringing together clinical and research expertise at the forefront of translational immunology.

The content covers basic science through to translational clinical research and culminates in a full-time research project. Students will develop advanced knowledge of all aspects of immunology, including immune regulation, immune deficiencies, immunology of transplantation, gene therapy, cancer immunology and immune therapeutics. Throughout the programme and across all modules teaching is anchored in the research strengths of UCL and UCL partner hospitals.

There is a strong emphasis on critical analysis and data interpretation throughout the programme. The main focus of the MRes is the original research project. Students will spend 50% of their time between November and April and 100% of their time from April until August undertaking the research project in one of the divisional laboratories, giving them the opportunity to carry out a substantial piece of research culminating in a written report and an oral examination.

Who this course is for

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The UCL Division of Infection & Immunity and the Institute of Immunity & Transplantation (IIT) provide a vibrant, stimulating and world-class research community. Students are embedded in this superb training environment which provides a challenging and stimulating academic experience. Programme content reflects the research and clinical excellence within the division as well as cross-disciplinary research from all over UCL. First-class teaching and research supervision is provided by UCL academics, many of whom are amongst the world’s most respected and innovative academics.
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduates are exceptionally well prepared to pursue PhD opportunities. This is equally applicable for clinicians seeking specialist training or wishing to pursue the clinical academic career track. In addition, graduates will be well placed to move onto research positions in diverse biomedical fields, including pharmaceutical industry and biopharma and clinical research positions.

More broadly, a rigorous grounding in scientific method, critical analysis, data interpretation and independent thinking provides a palette of marketable and transferable skills applicable to many professional career paths.

Employability

The programme produces graduates who are equipped to embark on research careers. Immersion in the superb research and teaching environment provided by the Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT) and the Division of Infection & Immunity gives our graduates a unique understanding of the cutting edge of experimental and translational immunology research and how world-class research is carried out. Opportunities for networking with UCL senior investigators with international reputations and their worldwide collaborators can provide the inside track for career development. Graduates are well placed to move onto PhD programmes, research positions in diverse biomedical fields, including pharmaceutical industry and biopharma, clinical research positions, further training and positions in associated professions.

Teaching and learning

Subject-Specific Knowledge (ability to recognise and distinguish immune mechanisms in health and disease and debate current issues in immunological research) will be assessed by unseen written exams, written coursework assignments such as News & Views, posters, data interpretation assignments and oral presentations.

Intellectual, Academic and Research Skills (critical evaluation of scientific literature; the generation, presentation, analysis, interpretation and discussion of scientific data; the use of various scientific databases) will be assessed by completion of marked coursework assignments including posters, News & Views assignments and data interpretation assignments and oral presentations.

The research project module will be assessed by completion of a 15,000-word written report and oral presentation. Students will be assessed on their ability to design and perform experiments, interpret data and place the results in context with current literature.

Taught Modules ~150 hours contact time; ~600 hours self-directed study.

Research project ~ 5 months part time plus 4 months full time.

Modules

Compulsory modules

  • Fundamental and Applied Immunology (Term 1)
  • Research Skills and Data Interpretation (Term 1 and 2)

Term 2 Optional modules (choose one)

  • Research Topics in Immunology
  • The Immunological Basis of Autoimmune Disease - From Experimental Models to Clinical Practice
  • Immunodeficiency and Therapeutics
  • The Immune System, Cancer and its Treatment
  • Biological Therapies and Live Medicines
  • Transplantation Science

Dissertation/report (Term 1, 2 and  3)

All MRes students undertake an independent research project (five months part time then four months full time) which culminates in a 15,000-word dissertation.

Compulsory modules





Optional modules








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.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MRes in Experimental and Translational Immunology.

Accessibility

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

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Applying for Graduate Study at UCL

The Applying to UCL for graduate study session took place in December 2021. The session, covered by our Graduate Admissions and Student Recruitment teams, provides helpful information about the process of applying for graduate study, as well as offering an insight into what we consider to be a competitive application.

Watch on demand event

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Funding your studies

The Funding your studies session took place in December 2021. The session, covered by our Funding and Student Recruitment teams, provides information and guidance about the various scholarships and funding opportunities for graduate study at UCL.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2022/23) £14,470
Tuition fees (2022/23) £29,130

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

Additional costs

None, but see below for guidance on hepatitis B vaccine.

Applicants may wish to consider arranging to receive a course of the vaccine in advance of their arrival at UCL. Note that the full course of vaccine and follow up blood test can take up to eight months.

Students are not required to have hepatitis B vaccine to join the programme. However, a small number of research projects (those involving handling of certain types of primary human material) will not be available to those who have not received the vaccine.

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

Funding your studies

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

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

When we assess your application, we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Experimental & Translational Immunology at graduate level
  • why you want to study at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic and professional 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 illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes in any application cycle.

Got questions? Get in touch

Division of Infection and Immunity
Division of Infection and Immunity

ii.infection-immunityadmin@ucl.ac.uk

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