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Manufacture and Commercialisation of Stem Cell and Gene Therapies MSc

London, Stratford (UCL East)

Advances in stem cell and gene therapy research are changing the treatment and outcomes of many diseases and disorders, including cancer, Parkinson’s disease and osteoarthritis. With this unique industry-led MSc, you can learn the key skills, manufacturing and commercial requirements and expertise needed to translate these vital new technologies from bench to bedside.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£18,400
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£47,100
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

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in relevant subject (e.g. Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Environmental Science, Engineering, Chemistry or Business with a Biotechnology component) from a UK university or the equivalent from an approved overseas institution. Candidates offering recent industrial experience are also encouraged to apply.

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.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance. This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

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


Prepare to lead the commercial application of some of the most important medical discoveries of the modern age with a Master’s that’s co-designed and delivered by the same industry professionals currently delivering these therapies to the marketplace.

Whether you’re looking to take an R&D/manufacturing leadership role, or drive commercial growth through a more business and technology-focused specialism, this programme will give you a comprehensive understanding of everything you need to translate therapies from ‘lab bench to bedside’.

Through extensive practical laboratory training and a practical research project on a relevant area of advanced therapy application, you’ll learn key laboratory techniques and research skills – including cell culture of human adult and embryonic stem cells, T-cells and many analytical techniques.

You'll gain valuable insights from leading industry professionals who will teach you about the commercial and regulatory landscapes that shape advanced therapeutic medicinal products (ATMPs). Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to apply your newly acquired skills in real-world industrial settings in of the module. The industrial committee members also support the students via mentoring, offering company site visits and research project placement.

Who this course is for

This MSc will enable and empower two types of complementary future leaders:

(1) Scientific and Manufacturing Leaders: those who further and lead scientific R&D/manufacturing activity within the sector.

(2) Business and Technology Leaders: those who understand the key business/technology innovations and drive commercial growth, profitability and operational excellence to maintain competitive advantage.

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

What this course will give you

This degree offers you the following benefits and opportunities:

  • Join the only biochemical engineering department in a UK university, with over £60m in current research and industry grant funding supporting more than 160 doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
  • Absorb the key skills needed for each stage of the translational pathway for advanced therapy projects, from viral/non-vector design and pre-clinical studies, through to quality assurance and control, clinical design, and market authorisation.
  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of world-changing new gene-editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 and ZFNs.
  • Learn from world-leading academics at UCL Engineering, ranked as one of the top four UK engineering schools by grade point average (GPA), with 97% of our research activity rated by the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.
  • Refine your bioprocessing skills at the Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering (ACBE), where you’ll access world-class facilities including a fully equipped bioprocess pilot plant and a suite of laboratory automation platforms. We are the only UK university to have a scaled bioprocessing pilot plant like this.
  • Enjoy the world-class engineering facilities at our brand new, purpose-built UCL East Campus on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where you’ll learn how to achieve results in environments designed to replicate industrial settings.
  • Students also have access to the UCL Bloomsbury Campus with its theatre, museums, study space and other facilities (students must make their own travel arrangements).
Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme
Making an impact
UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Case study: A mini test for developing new medicines

We're matching drugs to target proteins in more efficient and cost-effective ways.

The foundation of your career

This MSc will provide the necessary skills, practical training and sector-specific expertise to succeed in this field. Students will learn numerous practical techniques including the culture of human adult and embryonic stem cells, T-cells and characterisation techniques.

Students will be taught about the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and how this applies to the clinical and commercial requirements for advanced therapy development.

Designed to produce graduates that are industry-ready and can affect organisational change, this MSc will include a specific focus on entrepreneurship, developing advanced managerial skills, enhancing leadership and communication abilities and establishing an effective global academic and industrial network.

Employability

You’ll graduate from this MSc with an extensive understanding of commercial and industrial biochemical needs, real-world problem-solving skills and a solid professional network.

Recent graduates from UCL Biochemical Engineering have taken exciting roles at companies such as Merck, GSK, Pall, Oxford Biomedica, Exmoor Pharma and Ori Biotech.

Completing this programme also means you’ll be well placed to pursue an academic career in postdoctoral research or university lectureship, either here at UCL or at any number of universities worldwide.

As part of your studies, you’ll also participate in the Modular Training for the Bioprocess Industries Programme (MBI) and possible conferences and meeting events.

Networking

Throughout your postgraduate degree programme you'll find opportunities to expand your network.

  • Explore tailored events at both the faculty and departmental level facilitated by UCL Careers, the Office of Vice Provost Advancement (OVPA) and UCL Innovation and Enterprise.
  • Participate in and organise student-led events, such as industry visits or guest lectures, with a focus on specific industrial sectors relevant to your studies.
  • Get enterprise-ready through the UCL Innovation and Enterprise Entrepreneurship Skills programme. You’ll access an entire ecosystem of startup support, with events, lectures, enterprise bootcamps, competitions and more.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, interactive workshops, and research mentorship and collaboration activities. We place emphasis on innovative teaching methods such as problem-based learning, peer assessment, and enterprise projects to meet the knowledge and skills needs of this emerging field. Guest lectures delivered by industrialists provide professional and social context to your learning.

This programme is assessed via unseen written examinations, coursework, individual and group project reports, individual and group oral presentations, and the research or design project. The assessment varies according to the student's module choices.

This is a full-time course, which means students should expect a working schedule of approximately 35 hours a week divided between contact hours and self-directed learning. The exact number of contact hours and composition varies throughout the term depending on your module choices.

The approach to teaching and learning will focus on three types of teaching methods: 

  1. lecture-based content, 
  2. problem-based learning, where students will work in smaller groups or individually on real-life case studies to solve open-ended problems, 
  3. lab-based experimental learning which will include training of key cell culture procedures and analytical and experimental techniques.

All activities are designed to enable student learning and engagement with the core topics of the programme, providing an overview of the breadth of research in the field. This is complemented by substantial independent study and pre-reading. Students will be expected to engage in critical discussions to explore the material covered in lectures and seminar sessions. In addition, students will be expected to work as teams on case studies and presentations, during which mentoring will be provided during the tutorial and preparation sessions.

You can expect approximately 15-20 hours of contact time a week on this programme, although the exact number of contact hours and composition varies throughout the term depending on the module choices of the student. This is divided between lectures, tutorials, industry site visits, and practical laboratory work.

This is a full-time course, which means students should expect a working schedule of 35-40 hours a week divided between contact hours, self-directed learning, and preparing for assessments.

Modules

Students will take a total of six modules over the duration of the one-year programme that will have a total of 180 credits.

Compulsory 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 Manufacture and Commercialisation of Stem Cell and Gene Therapies.

Fieldwork

The programme will provide a minimum of three commercial/clinical site visits (at no additional cost to the student).

This is intended to expose students to a wide-range of industrially-enriching experiences. These visits to company and manufacturing sites will embed the learning and grasp the reality of a commercial setting. Additionally, this significant focus on industry engagement will enable you to understand and address relevant, commercial challenges and establish your own professional network.

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) £18,400
Tuition fees (2025/26) £47,100

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.

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

There are no additional costs for this programme.

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

Brown Family Bursary

Value:
    £15,000 (1 year)

Eligibility:
    UK

Criteria:
    Based on both academic merit and financial need

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

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 Manufacture and Commercialisation of Stem Cell and Gene Therapies at graduate level
  • why you want to study Manufacture and Commercialisation of Stem Cell and Gene Therapies at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to this programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this 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: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Biochemical Engineering
Biochemical Engineering

biochem.cgt.queries@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.