Medical Innovation and Enterprise MSci
London, Bloomsbury and London, Hampstead (Royal Free Hospital)
Medical Innovation and Enterprise MSci (2024)
This degree combines medical science and business skills, giving you the entrepreneurial mindset to create companies and identify emerging medical opportunities. Learn how to translate cutting-edge research into innovative products and services that will transform the way we diagnose and treat disease. This four-year MSci degree includes a consultancy project working with a company to give you an extra edge in your career.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
Programme starts
September 2025Application deadline
29 Jan 2025UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAA
- Subjects
- Biology and either Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics required.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6.
Contextual offer information
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Contextual offers are typically one to two grades lower than the standard offer. Grade and subject requirements for contextual offers for this programme will be published in Summer 2024.
- Points
- 38
- Subjects
- A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects including 6 in Biology and either Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry, with no higher level score below 5. For Mathematics, the programme will accept either 'Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretation' at higher level.
Contextual offer
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Contextual offers are typically one to two grade boundaries (equivalent to A levels) lower than the standard offer. IB Diploma grade and subject requirements for contextual offers for this programme will be published in Summer 2024.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 33 credits at Distinction and 12 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction to include Distinction in Biology plus one from Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics.
D3,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. Biology and either Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics required.
A,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher), including Biology and either Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics at Advanced Higher.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades AAA. Biology required, plus one from Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 3
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Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
Medical advances are changing the landscape of disease diagnosis and treatment. This four-year MSci, which extends our three-year BSc degree, takes a deep dive into human health and disease, innovative medical technologies, entrepreneurship, and business management.
Your first year provides you with a grounding in medical science. After this, you can choose from modules about specific medical technologies such as nanomedicine, tissue engineering, stem cells or gene therapy, or focus on the business aspects of medical science. In your third year, you join a research team investigating an area of medical innovation that interests you, allowing you a deep and critical understanding of research methodology and practice. The fourth year includes an industry-facing consultancy project and a research project in medical innovation, giving you significant skills and experience.
Our teaching is informed by world-leading research in biomaterials, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, 3D printing, digital healthcare, gene therapy and medical technology / devices. You will be taught by experts from across UCL, including medicine, UCL Laws for property and innovation law, and the UCL School of Management for business and enterprise.
Based in London, an international hub of healthcare medical technology investment and industry, our Medical Innovation and Enterprise degree nurtures your entrepreneurial drive, empowering you to identify and harness opportunities within medical science innovation and take your ideas to real-world application. You will have broad career prospects in biomedical science, biomedical business, medical science, and the transfer of technology from an idea to real-world products.
What this course will give you
This programme offers you the following benefits and opportunities.
- A pathway to become a brilliant medical scientist with ambitions to produce and translate cutting-edge research into products and services that will transform the way we diagnose and treat disease.
- Broad career prospects in biomedical science, biomedical business and technology transfer.
- We inspire a spirit of innovation and enterprise. It creates doers who can recognise commercial opportunities in medical science innovation and exploiting them.
- This course will nurture your entrepreneurial spirit and scientific curiosity, which will enable you to recognise and capitalise on commercial opportunities in medical science.
- The choice to focus more on medical innovations (such as nanomedicine) or develop more of a business focus.
- A consultancy project in year four allows you to engage with real companies and business scenarios and helps you develop an array of professional skills.
- Advanced skills, such as entrepreneurship, critical thinking, and creativity, which are highly desired in the life science and business industries.
- The opportunity to work in small groups to allow you to build the communication and teamwork capabilities to succeed in business and medical science environments.
- Opportunities to interact with biomedical entrepreneurs/innovators and benefit from 'real-life' industry activities, such as creating your own business plan. This experience will be invaluable when it comes to building your network, setting up your future enterprise or joining an existing biomedical organisation.
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 480 credits, you will be awarded a MSci (Hons) in Medical Innovation and Enterprise.
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. 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.
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Year one
In the first year, you will learn about the foundations of human health and disease, together with a programme specific module on 'Medical Innovation and Enterprise'. You will have the opportunity to learn in small groups and perform laboratory-based practical work. You will learn from leading biomedical scientists and practicing clinicians, providing you with real-world challenges to tackle.
Year two
In year two, you will have the opportunity to learn about innovative medical technologies (e.g., cancer biology, regenerative medicine, clinical trials and genomics) and business modules (e.g., understanding management and entrepreneurship theory and practice). There will be optional modules available allowing you to focus more on science or business, depending on your interests.
Year three
In year three, you will continue to learn about medical technologies (such as nanomedicine or stem cells), entrepreneurship, business management, and the translation of medical technology. You will also engage in an original research project and a medical translation business challenge. Following this, you can exit with a BSc qualification or continue to the MSci Medical Innovation and Enterprise in the fourth year.
Year four
The fourth year (MSci) offers several taught options in medical technologies or business specialities, together with a business consultative work placement and advanced medical research. Our emphasis on medical innovations and technology transfer prepares you for broad career prospects in biomedical science and technology transfer.
Compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Your learning
Our degree ethos is to teach by doing and to develop a deep critical understanding alongside excellent communication skills. Online teaching systems allow you to learn at your own pace and explore topics in greater depth.
Tutorial-based problem-solving and small-group learning will encourage creativity. Hands-on practicals and industry exposure will enhance your understanding and enable you to apply your learning to real-life scenarios.
You will apply your critical knowledge of medical innovations and technology transfer to carry out a consultancy project (2-3 months) in a work placement within the medical innovation technology transfer (or related) industry. This will be a chance to build your experience of professional practice, grow your professional network and improve your employability prospects. The scheme will benefit from the extensive UCL Innovation & Enterprise network, which provides opportunities, practical help and mentorship.
In year one, you will have around 8-12 hours of face-to face teaching a week over a 22-week period (excluding reading weeks). You will also spend some time in self-study with online material before consolidating this knowledge in face-to-face sessions.
In year two, you will have around 18 hours of face-to-face teaching a week.
In year three, you will have formal face-to-face teaching and a research project for much of your time. Likewise, during the optional work placement module, you will be immersed in the work placement for the duration of the month.
Your fourth year will focus on an advanced research project and a consultancy project. You can also choose three taught modules from a variety of options in medical science and enterprise.
Assessment
Assessment methods include:
- Online and written examinations
- Critical reviews
- Poster presentations
- Practical skills assessment
- Online participation
- A business plan for your medical innovation company in year three (following modules in years one and two to support this)
- A research project dissertation in year three.
- A customer-facing consultancy report in year four.
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 team.
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The foundation of your career
As a Medical Innovation and Enterprise graduate, you could take on roles within medical technology companies, biopharma, business consultancy and the technology transfer industries. You could even become a leader in medical innovation translation. You will also be in a good position to create your own companies, become life science consultants, join medical research industries, or continue your studies at prestigious universities.
Health and social work is the biggest sector by employment in the UK (Statista, 2023) and our degree is designed with this in mind. Graduates will be uniquely placed to succeed in a competitive job market, with a suite of versatile skills, the ability to expertly communicate their work and a creative flair for business.
You will also benefit from UCL's global reputation and strong industry partnerships and will join alumni and academic staff already changing medical practice and innovating the industry.
The final-year consultancy placement in industry will give you the opportunity to make valuable connections and gain work experience, setting you on the path to becoming a future leader in medical innovation.
Employability
Our graduates are equipped not only as scientists who produce the next generation of medical advances but also to develop and monetise those advances in the business world, generating the next generation of leaders in medical innovation and enterprise. The programme encourages creativity, critical thinking, enterprise, and outstanding communication - all key skills wanted by employers.
This programme will give you a competitive advantage in several fields including biomedical research, technology transfer, innovation, and enterprise (e.g., company start-ups / university spin-out companies), as well as biomedical and life science consultancy.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2024/25) | £9,250 |
| Tuition fees (2024/25) | £34,400 |
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2024/25 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2024/25 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
The core textbooks for all modules are available in UCL Libraries (including the Royal Free library), and journal articles in your reading lists are available to download electronically. You may wish to purchase your own textbooks or print course documents, for which we suggest allowing £200 per year.
As the course is taught across two locations, you may face some travel costs within London. Students will also need to pay for travel costs to project locations, depending upon the project they choose. Find out about the cost of travel within London at the TfL website.
A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
Your application
We want to create future medical technology and life science leaders. We are looking for candidates who are passionate about scientific research and enterprise, who are motivated, and who will take advantage of the opportunities offered on the course.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Got questions? Get in touch
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