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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 (2024/25)
£19,300
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£34,400
Duration
1 calendar year
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 05 Apr 2024

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

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.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

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.

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). It brings together clinical and research expertise at the forefront of translational immunology.

The course covers basic science through to translational clinical research and culminates in a full-time research project. There is a strong emphasis on critical analysis and data interpretation. You 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, our teaching is anchored in the research strengths of UCL and UCL partner hospitals.

The main focus of the MRes is the original research project. You will spend 50% of your time between November and April and 100% of your time from April until August working on your project in one of our laboratories. This gives you the opportunity to carry out a substantial piece of research culminating in a written report and an oral examination.

Who this course is for

The programme is well suited to UK and overseas science graduates with relevant research experience and a strong interest in immunology. It will be of particular benefit to students contemplating undertaking a PhD and wishing to pursue a career in research.

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

What this course will give you

This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities.

  • 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.
  • Our programme reflects the research and clinical excellence within the division as well as cross-disciplinary research from all over UCL.
  • Benefit from first-class teaching and research supervision 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.

Graduates are also 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 marketable and transferable skills that are applicable to many professional career paths.

Employability

We produce graduates who are equipped to embark on research careers.

Your experience in the research and teaching environment of the Institute of Immunity and Transplantation and the Division of Infection & Immunity provides a unique understanding of how cutting-edge experimental and translational immunology research is conducted.

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.

Networking

There are regular networking opportunities, including events where you can hear from expert speakers. We encourage students to broaden their skills and expand their networks by attending and participating at conferences.

Teaching and learning

You will learn using the following methods:

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials/paper discussion sessions
  • Data interpretation sessions
  • Self-directed learning
  • Laboratory practicals
  • Independent research project.

Your subject-specific knowledge will be assessed by unseen written exams, written coursework assignments such as news and views, posters, data interpretation assignments and oral presentations.

Your academic and research skills will be assessed by completion of marked coursework assignments including posters, news and views assignments and data interpretation assignments and oral presentations.

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

During the first two terms, you will typically have 6-8 hours contact time per week for taught modules.

A typical module requires about 120 hours of self-directed study, including independent study, reading, coursework and revision.

The research project will take up 40-50% of your full-time hours between November and April, before becoming full-time (40 hours per week) from April to August.

Modules

The full time 12-month programme consists of three taught modules and the research project.

You will study one core module in the first term (October-December) and one optional module in the second term (January-April), enabling you to follow your specific interests.

This is underpinned by a core module, 'Research skills and data interpretation', which you study across both terms. This teaches you critical analysis and scientific methodology.

You also work on your independent research project from beginning of November. This begins on a part-time basis (40-50% of your full-time hours) until April and then full-time until the end of August.

The research project can be wet/laboratory based or computer / informatics based. It culminates in a 12,000-15,000-word written report and an oral exam (viva), which usually takes place in mid-September.

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 are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

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 and Wellbeing team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Infection and Immunity MSc and Experimental and Translational Immunology MSc/MRes

This online session will provide you with an overview of our Masters Programmes in the Division of Infection and Immunity. The programme overviews will be followed by a Q&A session with our programme leads.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £19,300
Tuition fees (2024/25) £34,400

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

All full-time students are required to pay a fee deposit of £1,000 for this programme.

Hepatitis B vaccine. Students do not require the hepatitis B vaccine to join the programme. However, a small number of research projects (involving handling of certain types of primary human material) will not be available to those without the vaccine. Applicants may wish to consider arranging a course of the vaccine ahead of arriving at UCL, as a full course of vaccine and follow-up blood test can take up to eight months. The current cost of the vaccine is approximately £50 per dose (£150 total), according to NHS.UK.

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

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.

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 (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Apply for this course

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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