Masters Degrees (Bioethics)

Advances in biomedicine, neuroscience, and public health raise some of the most difficult ethical and societal questions today. The Bioethics & Society programme allows you to study these questions drawing on concepts, theories, and methods from philosophy and the social sciences. This will enable you to understand how bioethics influences the world, and how you could make an impact.

Key benefits

• The only U.K. programme to be based in a social science department: we do Bioethics AND Society, Bioethics IN Society, we are not confined to the ivory towers of academia!
• Covers a broad range of ethical issues in clinical practice, biomedical research, genetics & reproduction, health policy & public health, and neuroscience & mental health
• Offers rigorous training in qualitative or quantitative research methods and empirical ethics
• Provides skilled supervision to develop competence in executing a small-scale independent dissertation research project
• Provides internship opportunities to enhance students’ employability and career opportunities
• Collaborates with other departments at King’s to serve students’ individual needs and interests and create exciting career streams of optional modules
• Collaborates closely with King's College Careers & Employability Office to enhance the employability of our students with targeted sessions
• Possibility to complete a PG Diploma (coursework only) or PG Certificate (selected coursework)
• A rich programme of guest lectures and seminars within the Department of Social Science, Health & Medicine and the College, including the KCL / UCL Joint Bioethics Colloquium, and the SSHM Seminar Series, enhances students’ learning experience, and networking opportunities.
• The programme is offered as a 1-year full time / 2-year part-time Masters, 1-year PG Diploma (only course-work), and a 6-month PG Certificate (selected course-work).

Visit the website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught-courses/bioethics-and-society-ma-pg-dip-pg-cert.aspx

Course detail

- Description -

With immediate access to King’s hospitals and laboratories, and close to government, health policy think-tanks, patient advocacy groups, medical and scientific societies, and the private health sector, we offer a unique ‘real-world’ approach to bioethics, allowing students to understand the social and political contexts in which bioethical controversies arise and proposed solutions are developed. In the course of their studies, students are equipped with essential knowledge and skills to make a contribution to resolving bioethical problems. In addition, internship opportunities enable students to gather practical insights and to build professional networks.

- Course format and assessment -

All modules are run as seminars, with a mixture of formal presentation by the instructor and active discussion among members of the seminar. Instructors are also available outside of seminars. Students will have personal guidance from a specific instructor during the dissertation phase. Assessment occurs through a mix of examinations, written work (formative and summative essays) and presentations.

Career prospects

Students who complete the Bioethics & Society programme to a high standard are expected to have numerous career paths open to them. For example, in government, national and international NGOs concerned with medicine and health, as ethics consultants in hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, and in think-tanks. Students can also continue on to a PhD in bioethics or social sciences. The programme also enhances existing careers in clinical practice, biomedical research, public health, or health policy. We collaborate closely with the Careers & Employability Office at King's College London to enhance the employability of our students, and we organise targeted Careers sessions with guest-speakers from relevant fields.

How to apply: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/taught-courses.aspx

About Postgraduate Study at King’s College London:

To study for a postgraduate degree at King’s College London is to study at the city’s most central university and at one of the top 20 universities worldwide (2015/16 QS World Rankings). Graduates will benefit from close connections with the UK’s professional, political, legal, commercial, scientific and cultural life, while the excellent reputation of our MA and MRes programmes ensures our postgraduate alumni are highly sought after by some of the world’s most prestigious employers. We provide graduates with skills that are highly valued in business, government, academia and the professions.

Scholarships & Funding:

All current PGT offer-holders and new PGT applicants are welcome to apply for the scholarships. For more information and to learn how to apply visit: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/pg/funding/sources

Free language tuition with the Modern Language Centre:

If you are studying for any postgraduate taught degree at King’s you can take a module from a choice of over 25 languages without any additional cost. Visit: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/mlc

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The Master of Bioethics and Health Law (MBHL) degree is an interdisciplinary postgraduate programme which consists in writing a research dissertation under supervision and completing papers worth an additional 105 points from a schedule of papers. The degree may be awarded with distinction or credit. The degree draws on the resources of both ethical and legal theory, and attends to bioethical problems arising from the increasing use of technology in medicine and changes in the resourcing and delivery of health care.

Schedule of Papers

BITC 401 Theories of Biomedical Ethics
BITC 403 Issues in Law, Ethics and Medicine
LAWS 547 Law and Medicine

At least one of:
LAWS 511 Family Law
LAWS 528 Law and Emerging Technologies
LAWS 548 Law and Psychiatry

And any of LAWS 511, LAWS 528, LAWS 548 and the following papers to make a total of least 120 points:
BITC 404 Ethics and Health Care
BITC 405 Bioethics in Clinical Practice
BITC 406 Health Research Ethics
BITC 407 Advanced Health Research Ethics
BITC 410, BITC 411, BITC 412 Special Topics
Other approved LAWS papers

BITC 890 MBHL Dissertation

Structure of the Programme

The programme of study shall consist of:
-Papers from the schedule to a value of 120 points.
-A dissertation.

A candidate who has completed the requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Bioethics and Health Law shall be exempted from those papers in the programme for the degree which have been previously passed for the diploma, in which case the programme will normally consist of the dissertation only. The Bioethics Board of Studies may in special circumstances approve the inclusion in the programme of papers worth up to 30 points which are not listed in the schedule.

A candidate who has previously completed two or more papers listed in the schedule for another completed postgraduate diploma or honours degree or equivalent qualification may be exempted from a paper or papers up to a value of 30 points. Law graduates who have passed LAWS 311, LAWS 428, LAWS 448, or LAWS 477 shall be required to take at least 30 points of LAWS papers from the schedule, or to take 30 points of other approved comparable papers.

A candidate transferring credits for Law papers from another university shall be required to complete at least one of LAWS 547, or LAWS 548. The programme of study, the topic of the dissertation and the proposed supervisors shall be submitted to the Bioethics Board of Studies for its approval in accordance with established procedures for Division of Health Sciences postgraduate programmes.

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Individuals and institutions in healthcare are increasingly called to account for their decisions.

Bioethics is relevant to all our lives. Even if we never work in healthcare it touches us when we are most vulnerable - when we or those we care for are unwell.

Whether assisted dying, stem cell therapies or three-parent IVF, bioethics is also often in the news and having a greater understanding of the issues involved can enable more in-depth public engagement.

Reflection on the ethical principles that underlie medical and allied practice is an important part of continuing career development for healthcare professionals. Almost every day, it seems some new ethical dilemma appears in the news; whether to do with stem cell research, assisted suicide, resource allocation, nanotechnologies, human cloning or health and climate change.

Why St Mary's?

It is often said, "bioethics is moral philosophy done badly".

At St Mary's our multidisciplinary team of ethics experts with backgrounds in law, medicine, philosophy and theology ensure that every student has a chance to gain a thorough understanding of the grounding of ethical principles and their application.

The success of our students - in completing PhDs, getting papers published and advancing their careers in biomedical ethics and related fields - bears out the effectiveness of this approach.

Course Content

All modules for this degree can be found on our website:
https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/postgraduate-courses-london/bioethics-and-medical-law

Career Prospects

Our students find the course not only interesting in itself, but also a unique distinguishing asset when applying for jobs in medicine, nursing and allied health care professions as well as in education and law.

The study of a contemporary and universally relevant subject such as medical ethics and law is an excellent preparation for any profession that requires graduates with high levels of human understanding, critical skills and knowledge of current affairs.

Institutions are increasingly being called to account for their decisions and procedures, and reflection on the ethical principles that underlie practice is an important part of continuing professional development for healthcare professionals. An MA in Bioethics and Medical Law is therefore a very flexible and useful qualification to have.

The MA also provides strong foundation for those wishing to pursue further postgraduate research at PhD level. Previous MA graduates have gone on to study for doctorates at St Mary’s and other universities in the UK and internationally. Several past students are currently on the national bioethics bodies for their home countries.

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The Biomedical Ethics Unit of McGill University, Montreal, was established in 1996 with the aim of supporting scholarly research, clinical services, teaching and public outreach. Members of the unit have backgrounds in law, sociology, molecular genetics, history, medicine, and philosophy with cross-appointments in Social Studies of Medicine, Family Medicine, Experimental Medicine, Human Genetics, Sociology, and the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health.

LLM in Bioethics

The Master's Specialization in Bioethics is an interdisciplinary program that emphasizes both the conceptual and practical aspects of Bioethics with students applying through the Faculties of Law, Medicine, Religious Studies and the Department of Philosophy. Students entering through Law are bound by the requirements of the Faculty of Law's LL.M. Thesis program.

The Master's Specialization in Bioethics ordinarily takes at least two years to complete, although some students have completed it in 18 months. The first year is devoted to course work (including a clinical practicum), and the second year is devoted to a Master's thesis on a topic in bioethics that also satisfies the requirements of the base discipline. Students graduate with a Master's degree from the Faculty of their base discipline (M.A., M.Sc. or LL.M.) with a specialization in bioethics.

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Issues concerning the ethical, legal, and social implications of advances in biotechnology and biomedicine are increasingly arising both in the United States and abroad. From stem cell research to healthcare reform, these topics involve critical dilemmas at the intersections of law, society, culture, public policy, philosophy, religion, economics, and history.

Scientists, healthcare providers, and policy-makers confront how to approach these complex questions, yet scientific and technological advances have far outpaced our ability to understand or make key decisions about these issues.

The Master of Science in Bioethics, part of Columbia University’s Programs in Bioethics, which also include an Online Certification of Professional Achievement and Online Noncredit Courses, grounds students in historical, philosophical, legal, and social-scientific approaches and models to address bioethical challenges. The program prepares students to work in various capacities within this new and ever-growing field, and includes a concentration in global bioethics – the first of its kind in the United States.

Students study with faculty from across the University, drawing on the extraordinary resources of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, and Columbia’s Department of Psychiatry. Through elective coursework on campus, students may study with faculty from the schools of Law, Journalism, Nursing, International and Public Affairs, and Arts and Sciences.

Choose Options Online and On Campus

The program may be taken on a part-time or full-time basis, and students have the option of enrolling on Columbia’s campus in New York or online.

Online, students use a highly collaborative and interactive social learning platform to connect with their instructors and fellow students. All online courses have weekly live web classroom meetings with their professors to enable dynamic interaction around course content. Additionally, students participate in discussion groups, collaborative and independent coursework, interactive forums, and prerecorded videos.

Our programs are designed for maximum flexibility, and students enrolled on campus or online have access to rigorous coursework, world-class instruction by Columbia faculty, career and professional development, and personal feedback on written assignments.

Depending on your interest and schedule, on-campus students may also take courses online. International students on a student visa who were planning to do so may only enroll in one online class each semester.

Switching between on-campus and online is possible. If you enroll in the online format, you can switch to the on-campus format after your first semester with administrative approval.

Note: International students who are interested in switching from online to on campus should consult with us about visa and other requirements as soon as possible in their decision making process. They will also need to consult with ISSO for detailed information related to visa requirements and CPT (Curriculum Practical Training) eligibility.

Funding and Financial Resources

We want to make sure that the cost of your continuing education and professional studies do not stand in the way of your goals.
Most students at the School of Professional Studies use a combination of savings, scholarships, loans, outside grants, sponsors, or employer tuition benefits to cover the cost of attendance. However you choose to finance your education, consider it an investment in your future, and know that we, in conjunction with the Office of Student Financial Planning, are here to help and advise you along the way.

For more information on available funding please visit the website: http://sps.columbia.edu/applied-analytics/master-of-science-in-applied-analytics/tuition-and-financing/financial-resources

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Bioethics is concerned with ethical questions that arise in the contexts of biological and health sciences. Social concern about such issues has grown with the advancement of biomedical and reproductive technologies, genetic engineering, cloning and stem cell research.

The study of Bioethics has traditionally addressed issues such as abortion, euthanasia the relationships between health care providers and patients, research involving humans and animals and justice in the distribution of health resources. Emerging ethical issues are related to risk and health, nanotechnology and global public health.

To ask a question about this course, visit http://sydney.edu.au/internationaloffice/

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The Dalla Lana School of Public Health enrols more than 400 graduate students in its master's and doctoral degree programs. In addition, the school has more than 40 postgraduate students in its two Royal College Residency programs: Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Occupational Medicine. The school is also engaged in teaching at the undergraduate level in the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Arts and Science, and Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.

The Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health offers five graduate degrees, available both full-time and part-time. With the exception of the Bioethics program, applicants are strongly advised to have some background in statistics and quantitative methods. In addition, field and employment experience are considered, especially for the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. Documented interest and experience in global health is required for participation in the Global Public Health emphasis

The Master of Health Science (MHSc) in Bioethics is a two-year course-based program with no thesis requirement. It is conducted in modular format to allow high-achieving professionals to earn a master's degree without interrupting their careers. The program's interactive, problem-based learning approach provides students with knowledge and skills that can be applied to a variety of health, health care, and health research contexts. Expert faculty and guest lecturers help students bring theory and practice together to address real-world ethical challenges

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This programme is taught via block teaching and structured learning by the Law School and the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion (PPR) and is for those with an interest in medical ethics, and healthcare law, including medical students.

The programme introduces you to the fundamental analytical skills of moral philosophy and law and the principal ethical and legal issues arising within medical research and practice and how they are resolved. Issues include regulation of artificial reproduction; life and death decision making; obtaining of informed consent; appropriate use of genetic testing; and fair distribution of health care resources.

A student is awarded either an LLM or an MA degree dependent on the weighting of law and politics courses studied. A major factor will be the department responsible for the supervision of the final dissertation.

Modules
Core modules:
• Foundations of Bioethics
• Foundations in Medical Law
• Life and Death
• Paternalism, Autonomy and Consent
• Dissertation

Optional modules:
• Independent Research Module (Law)
• Self-directed Study (PPR)

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The course is designed to enable you to undertake a thorough analysis of legal and ethical problems in the field of medical law. Lancashire Law School has over fifty academic staff, who are able to provide the expertise to cover all facets of the discipline of law for undergraduate, postgraduate and professional programmes. Many tutors have national and international reputations in their specialist fields. The Law School is well served by the centrally sited library and excellent range of both paper-based and electronic legal materials.

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The one-year Master of Research (MRes) programme is an innovative route to starting out on a research career. The MRes will provide you with a unique opportunity to experience research projects over a broad range of disciplines and laboratory environments.

Our MRes programme allows you to gain research experience and professional skills, sometimes in a different area to your first degree, before deciding on a future career in industry or academic research. This will allow you to make an informed choice about the research area you want to invest your scientific career in.

You choose two laboratory placements which can be in any of our areas of research within the biological and biomedical sciences. As we have over 200 research active labs we can offer you a wide range of projects to choose from. For an idea of the breadth of available projects, browse our Research section.

The programme also helps to develop your transferable skills in essential areas such as experimental design, statistics, bioethics and science communication.

Course description

The one-year Master of Research (MRes) programme is an innovative route to starting out on a research career. The MRes will provide you with a unique opportunity to experience research projects over a broad range of disciplines and laboratory environments.

Our MRes programme allows you to gain research experience and professional skills, sometimes in a different area to your first degree, before deciding on a future career in industry or academic research. This will allow you to make an informed choice about the research area you want to invest your scientific career in.

You choose two laboratory placements which can be in any of our areas of research within the biological and biomedical sciences. As we have over 200 research active labs we can offer you a wide range of projects to choose from. For an idea of the breadth of available projects, browse our Research section.

The programme also helps to develop your transferable skills in essential areas such as experimental design, statistics, bioethics and science communication.

Teaching and learning

The programme comprises four compulsory components:

Research projects: Your two projects will provide experience in carrying through a substantive research project including the planning, execution and communication of original scientific research. They are assessed by written report.

Tutorials and Workshop Unit : Tutorials give you the opportunity to learn about research being carried out in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health and thereby to acquire a broad knowledge of biological sciences. The Bioethics Workshop gives you experience of exploring and debating some of the ethical issues that surround current scientific research. Activities for the Tutorials and Bioethics unit include preparative directed reading, private study and preparation of oral presentations. This unit is assessed by members of staff for the tutorial session and staff assessment of oral presentation during the tutorial and written reports

Science Communication Unit: This unit allows you to acquire the ability to listen to a presentation, understand the key concepts and record important details, and then summarise its contents in a brief written report. Activities include private study and preparation of written assignment. For each of 5 seminar presentations, a 500 word precis has to be written. You are assessed on these assignments plus a poster and an oral presentation.

Experimental Design and Statistics Unit: This unit aims to introduce you to the procedures and tools used in the design of experiments and the methods and tools used in statistical data analysis. Activities include lectures, workshops, group discussions and e-learning. Assessment is through multiple choice exam, critical assessment of literature and online statistics exercises.

Career opportunities

MRes graduates acquire a vast array of subject specific and transferable skills and gain extensive laboratory research experience. The University of Manchester has a strong record of placing students in PhD programmes at Manchester and other universities and several of our graduates have pursued research careers in industry.

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The Philosophy, Politics and Economics of Health MA aims to equip students with the skills necessary to play an informed role in debates concerning distributive justice and health. It explores the central ethical, economic and political problems facing health policy in the UK and globally, especially in relation to social justice.

Degree information

The programme covers relevant areas of moral and political theory, comparative policy analysis, and health economics, to allow students to come to a wide understanding of background issues, history and constraints, in order to be able to make a positive contribution to current debates in this field.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of three core modules (45 credits), five optional modules (75 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits). A Postgraduate Diploma of 120 credits is available, consisting of three core modules (45 credits), and five optional modules (75 credits).

Core modules
-Philosophy Politics and Economics of Health
-Health Policy and Reform
-Key Principles of Health Economics

Optional modules
-Bioethics Governance
-Comparative Human Rights Law
-Law and Governance of Global Health
-Global Justice and Health
-Illness
-Madness
-Conflict, Humanitarianism and Health
-Ethics and Regulation of Research
-Contemporary Political Philosophy
-Normative Ethics
-Public Ethics
-Health Inequalities over the Life-course
-From Imperial Medicine to Global Health, 1860s to Present
-Death, Dying and Consequences
-Disability and Development
-Introduction to Deafhood
-Global Health and Development
-Anthropology and Psychiatry
-Medical Anthropology
-Modules from other UCL Master's-level programmes, subject to approval from the Course Director and timetabling constraints.
-Or any other suitable module from other UCL Master's-level programmes, subject to approval from the course Director and timetabling constraints

Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of up to 12,000 words.

Teaching and learning
The programme is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Student performance is assessed through examinations, presentations and coursework (depending on the options chosen), and the dissertation.

Careers

Graduates have gone on to funded research in bioethics and in health policy, and to jobs in the health service, law, journalism, as well as medical education.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Journal development manager, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
-Doctorate of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
-Health Policy Adviser, Doctors of the World UK
-PhD Critical Theory, University of Brighton
-Policy Officer, WHO (World Health Organization) and studying Medicine, The University of Western Australia

Employability
The programme gives students the ability to think precisely and rigorously about complex problems in health systems and beyond; to work with others to explore solutions; and to write cogently and concisely. Public and private sector health employers and NGOs particularly prize these skills in graduates. The skills that the course teaches also provide an ideal springboard to further academic study.

Why study this degree at UCL?

This MA is the only Master's programme in the world of its type. The compulsory modules provide necessary core skills, while the wide range of options enables students to further their own particular interests.

UCL is at the forefront of research in interdisciplinary research and teaching in philosophy, health humanities and global health through units such as the Health Humanities Centre, the Institute for Global Health and the Institute of Health Equity. The programme draws on highly regarded researchers in a range of UCL departments, and students benefit by instruction from some of the leaders in their fields.

Students further benefit from UCL's location in London, which is one of the world centres of philosophical activity, home of a number of internationally renowned journals - Philosophy; Mind & Language; Mind - and which enjoys regular visiting speakers from across the world. London has over 60 active philosophers making it one of the largest and most varied philosophical communities in the world.

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This programme explores the links between the humanities and medicine from a humanities point of view. Among the questions it considers are: What can the humanities contribute to healthcare? How do they differ from the sciences? And what can they tell us about illness?

Key benefits

- Unrivalled central London location, giving immediate access to important medico-historical and cultural resources, including libraries, galleries, archives and museums, e.g. The Wellcome Collection and Library, the Hunterian Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the British Library.

- World class expertise in a breadth of subject areas, including: History of Psychiatry, Literature & Medicine, Philosophy of Medicine and Mental Disorder, Medical Portraiture, Nursing and Film, Bioethics.

- Taught at the Wellcome-funded Centre for the Humanities & Health, which supports the research activities of internationally renowned scholars in the field; has a vibrant and active post-graduate and post-doctoral community; and hosts a lively programme of seminars, conferences and events.

- Close links between the School of Arts & Humanities and one of the largest Schools of Biomedicine in Europe.

Visit the website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught-courses/medical-humanities-msc.aspx

Course detail

- Description -

The Medical Humanities constitute a growing field of scholarship productive of powerful, innovative analyses of health care issues today. The chief educational aims of this course are to explore the foundations of the field and teach analytical and critical skills that enable students to address questions such as:

Does studying the humanities make us more humane? How are the humanities different from the sciences? What new angles do they offer on old ethical dilemmas? What is health? What is illness? What kind of evidence about illness does literature provide? What is narrative and how embedded are narrative ways of thought in health care practice?

Students who take this course will come away from it with a strong sense of how a variety of humanities disciplines conceive of health and illness and of the contributions these can make to health care. The disciplines involved include Philosophy, Literature, Film, Psychiatry, Art History and Nursing.

- Course purpose -

The MSc in Medical Humanities incorporates the previous King's MA Literature and Medicine programmes. The course allows students to choose a broader range of modules within their degree, interact with a wider range of students, and gain a firm footing in the medical humanities by following common core modules. Students will come from a wide variety of academic and health backgrounds: biosciences such as medicine, nursing, psychology; from health law and social work and humanities trainings in philosophy, film and/or literary studies. They will develop further skills in visual, bioethical, literary, historical and philosophical analyses of health care.

- Course format and assessment -

Seminar-based teaching; dissertation workshops; assessment by coursework.

Career Prospects:

The programme will appeal to medical and health professionals; students of health policy; those who wish to pursue further academic study in medicine and/or the humanities or those hoping to study on a Medical Humanities PhD programme and considering careers in journalism or bioethics.

How to apply: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/taught-courses.aspx

About Postgraduate Study at King’s College London:

To study for a postgraduate degree at King’s College London is to study at the city’s most central university and at one of the top 21 universities worldwide (2016/17 QS World University Rankings). Graduates will benefit from close connections with the UK’s professional, political, legal, commercial, scientific and cultural life, while the excellent reputation of our MA and MRes programmes ensures our postgraduate alumni are highly sought after by some of the world’s most prestigious employers. We provide graduates with skills that are highly valued in business, government, academia and the professions.

Scholarships & Funding:

All current PGT offer-holders and new PGT applicants are welcome to apply for the scholarships. For more information and to learn how to apply visit: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/pg/funding/sources

Free language tuition with the Modern Language Centre:

If you are studying for any postgraduate taught degree at King’s you can take a module from a choice of over 25 languages without any additional cost. Visit: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/mlc

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Develop your understanding of key concepts and practices in the biotechnologies that drive new product innovation as well as the business principles underlying commercialisation of biomedical research.

This course is designed to enhance your career in the medical or pharmaceutical biotechnology sectors in a variety of research, product and technology development and leadership roles.

Medical Biotechnology will equip you with broad theoretical knowledge and critical understanding of advanced principles in biotechnology. You'll also gain the practical skills required to underpin a career within a business or research environment.

See the website http://www.napier.ac.uk/en/Courses/MSc-Medical-Biotechnology-Postgraduate-FullTime

What you'll learn

This course provides detailed knowledge of key concepts in cell technology, bioprocessing and molecular analysis and how these approaches are applied in areas of specific relevance to medical and pharmaceutical applications such as drug design and discovery, immunology and microbial infection.

You’ll explore and critically evaluate the technologies driving discovery and modification of natural compounds for use in medicine; the relationship between progress in our understanding of disease and the development of diagnostics and treatments; as well as the application of theoretical concepts to the use of biological systems for production of drugs.

Business and entrepreneurship are also a core feature of this programme. You’ll address themes that influence the success of any biotechnology venture such as intellectual property, bioethics, sustainability and public perception through the development of a novel business concept.

There is an emphasis on developing your practical laboratory skills with various opportunities for hands-on experience in a range of current techniques and practices such as mammalian cell culture and fermentation. In your final trimester you’ll undertake an independent project within a vibrant research team, allowing you to apply and further develop your technical, research and professional skills. There may be the opportunity to conduct your research project externally in a relevant organisation or bio-industry.

You’ll also develop key skills including communication, problem solving, team work, project management, and leadership. You’ll learn through interactive lectures, workshops, tutorials, site visits and laboratory sessions, and by engaging with guided independent study. A variety of assessment tools are used to enhance and evaluate your learning.

This programme is also available as a Masters by Research: http://www.napier.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/research-degrees/courses

Modules

• Cell technology
• Business and bioethics
• Research skills
• Biotechnology and drug discovery
• Molecular pathogenesis of microbial infection
• Research project

One optional module from
• Advanced immunology
• Current practice in drug development
• Molecular pharmacology and toxicology

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Careers

Within the life sciences, biotechnology is the most rapidly growing sector and it is predicted that the global expansion in this field will be a key driver in the world economy.

This programme provides opportunities for laboratory-based or research management and product development work in a variety of industries ranging from multi-national companies to smaller biotechnology enterprises in the medical, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and biochemical sectors.

Opportunities may also exist in contract research companies and service providers to the biotechnology sector, in addition to research institutes and local government.

Successful completion of the MSc programme provides a sound platform for further study in a research setting; graduates will be qualified to continue to PhD studies in the bio-molecular sciences.

How to apply

http://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/postgraduate/how-to-apply

SAAS Funding

Nothing should get in the way of furthering your education. Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) awards funding for postgraduate courses, and could provide the help you need to continue your studies. Find out more: http://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/postgraduate/fees-and-funding/saas-funded-courses

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Program overview

The master of science in health systems administration provides strategic skills for today’s health care management professionals. Now, as never before, health care is rapidly transforming. The pace of technology and innovation are changing how, when, and where healthcare is provided, and who is providing it. Concurrently, health care consumers have high expectations for quality and responsiveness to their needs—delivered in a cost-effective manner. To provide these strategic skills, this post-graduate degree builds on a foundation of courses in policy and law formation, healthcare economics, finance, insurance reform, innovation, information technology, systems, operations and leadership. The course work is built on a foundation of skills and knowledge sets identified and endorsed by national health care leadership organizations. Graduates of the program are prepared to assume clinical and business leadership roles across the diverse healthcare industry.

The health care industry is changing rapidly due to healthcare reform and the Affordable Care Act. The MS degree encompasses course work that provides the graduate with a breadth of knowledge in areas key required for effective management of healthcare organizations: research, governance and economics, finance, health insurance, process improvement, project management and informatics. The curriculum also provides graduates a broad view of health care issues that administrators and leaders must be prepared to deal with effectively: change and innovation, leadership theory and application, bioethics, and human resources. Finally, the curriculum prepares the graduate to develop and implement plans designed to create and steer health care organizations of the future. Graduates will not only lead today’s healthcare organizations, they will create patient-centered facilities of the future.

Plan of study

The program requires 39 credit hours at the graduate level and can be completed in two years or less. Students may complete the program on a part-time basis. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average. Toward the end of their program of study, students complete a capstone project consisting of a community research experience. Upon matriculation, each student works with the program chair to develop a plan of study for their research experience.

Curriculum

Health systems administration, MS degree, typical course sequence:
First Year
-Research Methods
-Reinventing Health Care
-Health Care Operations Management
-Bioethics
-Lean Sigma in Health Care (summer)
Second Year
-Human Resources in Health Care
-Finance for Health Care Professionals
-Health Insurance and Reimbursement
-Health Care Informatics
-Elective (summer)
Third Year
-Health Care Leadership
-Health Systems Planning
-Capstone

Other admission requirements

-Submit two letters of reference from individuals who have the opportunity to observe the applicant’s work output.
-Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work.
-Complete an interview with the program chair (for those without health care experience).
-Complete a graduate application.

It is recommended that applicants have a minimum of three years of experience in a health care or health-related organization as either a practitioner or manager. Applicants who do not meet this requirement may be asked to complete certain undergraduate courses as a bridge for the content knowledge required for the graduate program. They may also be required to complete a graduate level internship in health care prior to graduation. All credentials must be submitted and reviewed by faculty prior to the completion of 12 credit hours of graduate work in the program.

Additional information

Maximum time limit:
University policy requires that graduate programs be completed within seven years of the student's initial registration for courses in the program. Bridge courses are excluded.

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The Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy programs in Medical Science are available in a wide range of basic sciences, clinical sciences, and population health research. Under the mentorship of a faculty member, a student receives specialized training and exposure to Toronto's finest multidisciplinary research. Students conduct research in one of six fields:
-Biomedical Science
-Clinical Science
-Population Health/Health Services
-Bioethics
-Health Professions Education
-Radiation Oncology

The full-time MSc and PhD programs emphasize hands-on research, rather than coursework. Faculty conduct research in the following areas: cardiovascular sciences, bioethics, neuroscience, membrane biology, respiratory medicine, and psychosomatic medicine. The Institute of Medical Science (IMS) is the graduate unit of choice for MDs seeking training as clinician investigators, and graduates may seek positions as academics and health care professionals in universities, government, and industry. The IMS participates in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Clinical Investigator Program (CIP).

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