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Genetics of Human Disease MSc

London, Bloomsbury

Learn all about how genetics and the latest scientific approaches are transforming our understanding of human disease, on this multidisciplinary master’s taught by UCL’s world-renowned geneticists.
 

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£24,100
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£39,800
Duration
1 calendar year
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Professional experience in the fields of health and development is desirable. An applicant whose qualifications vary from UCL standards may be admitted if evidence of an adequate academic background and extensive and relevant work experience in an appropriate field can be shown.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

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 expertise and skills you gain on this master’s will give you the ideal grounding for building a career in human genetics, whether you choose to stay in academia – or take your sought-after skills in interpreting genetics data into the healthcare or pharmaceutical industries.  

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

Who this course is for

This master’s is for students who want to progress onto a PhD in Genetics of Human Disease or related subjects, and work in academia. It’s equally relevant if you want to take your skills in human genetics into the healthcare, pharmaceutical or other industries. 

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

What this course will give you

There is no better time than now to study human genetics. The completion of the Human Genome Project, alongside huge strides forward in technology, means that scientists can now gain a far better understanding of the genetic basis of many diseases, including cancers, heart disease and neurological disorders. 

Join us on the specially-designed Genetics of Human Disease MSc to gain an in-depth knowledge of fundamental genetic concepts, together with the most advanced statistical and computational approaches, such as bioinformatics, now being used to establish how genetics contribute to disease susceptibility and progression.

What you will gain from this course:  

  • Study with scientists working at the forefront of genomics research. The UCL Division of Biosciences is ranked 6th in the world for Biological Sciences (QS Rankings), and 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 to improve human health. The programme is a cross-faculty initiative 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.
  • Benefit from being based 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.
  • Gain first-hand insight into globally-significant research underway in the division. 
  • 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.
  • Benefit from studying within UCL’s diverse postgraduate community.
  • Leave well equipped to pursue a PhD, to work in academia or to take your sought-after skills in interpreting genetics data into healthcare, pharmaceutical companies or other industries.  
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

The expertise and skills you gain will put you in a strong position for building a career in human genetics, whether you opt to stay in academia or take your sought-after expertise in interpreting genetics data into industry.

Several of our graduates have taken their skills into the pharmaceutical industry, while others have entered careers in clinical genetic diagnosis services, particularly in molecular genetics, and project management in healthcare organisations and hospitals around the world, medical communication and many other job sectors. Those graduates with prior medical training often use their new skills as clinical geneticists. 

Employability

Advanced training in genetic techniques, including bioinformatics and statistical approaches, will provide a solid foundation for progressing onto a PhD in a research area related to genetics and other areas of biological science.

About half our graduates enter a research career by completing a PhD and working as a research associate or scientist in academia. 

Networking

You’ll have regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and build professional contacts as part of your master’s.  

  • Take part in careers events through UCL Careers during the academic year, and enhance your CV writing and interview skills.  
  • Meet alumni to hear about their experiences and how the course has helped them progress in their careers.
  • Attend activities at UCL Biosciences including research seminars and symposia.
  • Attend conferences to network with students and researchers from across the UK. 

Teaching and learning

Students develop their knowledge and understanding of the genetics of human diseases through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, presentations, and journal clubs.

Students learn through lecture-based, and technology-based learning; independent individual and group work including group presentations and multiple choice questions (MCQs), formative and summative assessments.

Taught modules are assessed by written reports, oral presentations, coursework and/or unseen written examinations. The research project is assessed by the student's project performance, the written dissertation, and the oral presentation.

Typically, a 15-credit module includes 150 hours of notional student learning time comprised broadly of teaching time, independent study, assessment, and feedback. 

This time includes activities that take place in in-person-on-campus contexts such as on-campus lectures, seminars, tutorials, labs, studios and workshops, as well as tutor-mediated activities that take place in online environments.

There are approximately 8-15 contact hours a week during term time. Typically, the hours for self-directed studies are around 10 hours a week of study time for each 15 credit module in each semester. This very much depends on the individual and the way they study and comprehend the learning material.

A Postgraduate Diploma consisting of six modules (four compulsory modules in term one and two modules within the selected stream in term two) is offered, full-time nine months. A Postgraduate Certificate consisting of four compulsory modules in term one (60 credits) is offered, full-time three months.

Modules

This course covers one full calendar year. Students undertake 180 credits, 90 of which are taught modules and 90 credits for the research project. 

The first term consists of four compulsory taught modules and research project selection. From January, students commence their chosen specialist stream: Inherited Diseases, Pharmacogenetics, or Computation Genomics, and start working on their research project on a part-time basis. 

After the main exam period, students work full-time on their research project until its completion in 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 MSc in Genetics of Human Disease. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Genetics of Human Disease. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Genetics of Human Disease.

Accessibility

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

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £24,100
Tuition fees (2025/26) £39,800

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

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

There is no fee deposit required for PG Dip and PG Cert applicants.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no programme-specific additional costs to students.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

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

UCL East London Scholarship

Deadline: 26 June 2025
Value: Tuition fees plus £16,000 stipend ()
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

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.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

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

  • Why you want to study Genetics of Human Disease at graduate level
  • Why you want to study Genetics of Human Disease at UCL
  • What particularly attracts you to the chosen 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 the 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: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Division of Biosciences
Division of Biosciences

biosciences_pgt_admissions@ucl.ac.uk

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