Despite incredible advances in medicine, there is still plenty of work to be done in the 21st century to create healthier communities across the globe – and microbiologists are leading the way.
Tuberculosis and cholera still devastate populations around the world. New and deadly strains of influenza are appearing. Zika virus is spreading rapidly with warmer global temperatures – as are other parasitic diseases.
For almost a century, we’ve relied on vaccines and antibiotics to prevent and treat infectious disease. But as new pathogens emerge, and antimicrobial drug resistance spreads, innovative approaches are needed. The stakes for microbiologists are higher than ever.
GCU’s MSc Clinical Microbiology will give you the expertise you need to help conquer these challenges – building knowledge, advancing cures and contributing to the common good.
The curriculum takes a scientific approach to the field of clinical microbiology, keeping it career-focused with an emphasis on research and development.
The programme brings together lectures, seminars and practical laboratory classes, ensuring you’ll acquire both cutting-edge theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical skills. You’ll keep pace with the latest advances in microbiology – including the big breakthroughs happening now in the top microbiology labs across the world.
Finally, you’ll undertake a laboratory-based research project with real-world impact, practising the skills required of a successful independent researcher in clinical microbiology.
(Re)Emerging Infectious Disease; Microbial Pathogenicity; Medical Microbiology; Skills for Professional Practice for Biosciences; Applied Molecular Microbiology; Microbial Genetics; Case Studies in Infectious Diseases; and Research Project.
Through GCU’s MSc Clinical Microbiology, you will acquire the skills necessary for success in this highly competitive and important field.
With an understanding of this fast-changing sector and in-demand lab experience, our graduates make competitive candidates for jobs in health, medicine and life sciences, and in university and industry research departments. You’ll also be well prepared to pursue further study at the PhD level.
This new three-year, part-time, online postgraduate programme leads to the degree of Masters of Science in Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (CMID).
Aimed at junior doctors currently undergoing, or about to undertake, specialty training in an infection discipline, this programme is open to trainees in the UK and worldwide.
This degree will also be attractive to those who have completed their training but wish to fulfill continuing medical education requirements or those who wish obtain a formal qualification in Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
The programme is aligned with JRCPTB and RCPath training in infection disciplines: Combined Infection Training and Higher Specialty Training in Infectious Diseases, Medical Microbiology and Medical Virology.
This programme is designed to support trainees/specialists in preparation for FRCPath Part 1/Diploma in Infection, Infection Specialty end of training assessments and hospital-based practice.
Programme participants will have access to key texts and research bases and will have direct contact with leading clinicians and clinical scientists, providing a repository of information on infection disciplines that can be accessed at any time.
Our online learning technology is fully interactive, award-winning and enables you to communicate with our highly qualified teaching staff from the comfort of your own home or workplace.
Our online students not only have access to the University of Edinburgh’s excellent resources, but also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.
This programme is taught entirely online. The structure of the degree is designed to meet the needs of trainees and specialist practitioners from all over the world.
Courses are offered as five week courses, each worth 10 credits. Courses in Year 1 are compulsory. Year 2 is a mix of compulsory and optional modules.
Year 1:
Year 2:
Year 3:
Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD)
Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through a postgraduate-level course(s), without the time or financial commitment of a full Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.
You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses over two years through our PPD scheme. These lead to a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit. Alternatively, after one year of taking courses you can choose to transfer your credits and continue on to studying towards a higher award on a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme. Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout a year you may only start a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme in the month of September. Any time spent studying PPD will be deducted from the amount of time you will have left to complete a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.
Please contact the programme team for more information about available courses and course start dates.
Flexible study
The programme also offers the opportunity to take a Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), either part-time over 9 months or on an intermittent basis over 2 years; or a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits), either part-time over 21 months or on an intermittent basis over 4 years.
Please contact us before submitting an application if you are interested in applying to the Certificate or Diploma programme.
This unique programme will offer the student the knowledge and skills required to enhance their career progression in clinical or academic medicine. The programme will offer an alternative to traditional classroom based research training for those candidates who do not wish to take time away from their professional commitments.
Our long-running MSc Medical Microbiology course is ideal if you are a graduate looking to develop your skills as a microbiologist.
The course is unique because you will spend much of your time actually in the laboratory, learning how to be a microbiologist. You will cover the medical and molecular aspects of bacteriology, virology, mycology and immunity to infection.
We aim to give you a significant level of theoretical and practical understanding of the subject, which will be important if you want to follow a career in clinical sciences or academic and industrial research.
This course runs alongside our MSc Medical Virology course.
We aim to provide you with an understanding of the scientific basis of traditional and modern microbiological concepts.
In addition, you will develop the knowledge, specialist practical skills and critical awareness needed to pursue a career in medical microbiology.
IBMS accreditation
This course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science and meets the requirements for registration with the Science Council as a Chartered Scientist (CSci).
Extensive practical learning
The lab-focused nature of this course means you will gain maximum exposure to both the practical and theoretical aspects of a wide range of clinically relevant pathogens, helping develop practical skills that are valued by potential employers.
Various study options
You can study either full-time or part-time on both the MSc and PGDip routes, enabling you to fit learning around your other commitments if needed.
Research experience
You will typically carry out research projects within one of the microbiology, virology or mycology research groups. The close relationship between the diagnostic microbiology and virology services and the University department enable our research activities to be directly related to current relevant issues in medical microbiology.
This course is delivered by academics from the University and NHS specialists in infectious disease and medical microbiology.
You will learn via a range of methods, including lectures, seminars, tutorials and comprehensive practical classes.
We use both face-to-face sessions and blended learning methods, with some material delivered and assessed online.
Find out more by visiting the postgraduate teaching and learning page.
You will be assessed via continual assessment and formal theory and practical examinations.
The course consists of 120 credits of taught material and followed by a 60-credit research project (MSc only). There are shared and course-specific units across the Medical Microbiology and Medical Virology courses as follows:
Shared units
Course-specific units
MSc Medical Microbiology students should take Clinical Microbiology 1 and 2. Students wishing to have a more virology-focused curriculum should enrol on the MSc Medical Virology course and will take Clinical Virology 1 and 2.
All MSc students carry out a three-month research project after the taught components have been successfully completed.
Full-time (FT) students take the above units and research project in Year 1. Part-time (PT) students can undertake the MSc over two years, one full semester per year.
Our graduates typically find employment in the NHS and related organisations, or as medical microbiologists in industrial and pharmaceutical settings.
In addition, many graduates progress to PhD study and a research or academic career.
Our MSc is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).
Radboud University’s Master’s specialisation in Microbiology deals with the interface between fundamental biological and medical sciences. It focuses on molecular, medical and environmental microbiology to improve our health and environment and provides in-depth insight into present-day microbial research in general and clinical microbiology.
The major topics of the Microbiology specialisation are:
Microorganisms can be used to break down environmental pollutants and toxic chemicals. Therefore microbiology has the potential to replace common energy-intensive chemical processes with more sustainable solutions. Radboud University collaborates closely with environmental scientists and industrial partners to create energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for societal waste problems.
Unfortunately some microorganisms make us ill. A better understanding of battle between our immune system and these microorganisms will lead to the development of improved vaccines.
The genome of a microorganism is a key factor in research, because it determines how the organisms interact with the host cell and how they cause diseases. Molecular Microbiology acts on the interface between microbiology, molecular biology and genetics and is fundamental for the development of novel antibiotics and improvement of vaccines against microorganisms.
The department of Microbiology at Radboud University has been bestowed with the most prestigious science prizes, including two ERC Advanced Grants, a Spinoza Prize, and two Gravitation Grants. Additionally, many of out students have been awarded prizes for best thesis, poster and paper. The department works at the forefront of environmental microbiology and is specialised in the discovery of ‘impossible’, new anaerobic micro-organisms. The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art bioreactors, electron microscopy, GC-MS, metagenomics, and metaproteomics facilities to grow and study micro-organisms that contribute to a better environment by consuming greenhouse gasses and nitrogenous pollutants.
- Research themes
The Master's specialisation Microbiology is mainly focused on research. You can choose one of the following themes as the subject of your research internship:
- Environmental Microbiology & Biotechnology
For students who are intrigued by questions like: How does life without oxygen work? How do global biogeochemical (nutrient) cycles govern the functioning of the Earth? Can we use microorganisms to create a more sustainable wastewater industry? How do microorganisms break down environmental pollutants and toxic chemicals?
You will do research at the interface between Microbiology, environmental sciences and biochemistry. The research questions cover several levels, from gaining fundamental understanding of energy metabolism of bacteria to their applications in wastewater treatment.
Societal relevance: Microbiology has the potential to replace common energy-intensive chemical processes by more sustainable solutions. Radboud University collaborates closely with environmental scientists, animal ecologists and industrial partners to create energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for societal waste problems.
- Immunology
For students who are intrigued by questions like: Why do some bacteria make us ill whereas others do not? How do bacteria outsmart our immune system? What are the mechanisms of human defence against microorganisms?
You will do research at the interface between Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, and can, for example, work on how microorganisms are recognised by the host defence system
Societal relevance: A better understanding of host defence will lead to the development of improved vaccines against microorganisms.
- Molecular Microbiology
For students who are intrigued by questions like: How are microorganisms able to persist inside the human body and how do they cause diseases? What does gene regulation tell us about their pathogenic capabilities? Can microbial genomes help us determine how microorganisms interact with human host cells?
You will do research at the interface between Microbiology, molecular biology and genetics, and can, for example, work on functional gene analyses by mutagenesis studies and on the interaction between epithelial cells and pathogenic bacteria.
Societal relevance: Understanding host-pathogen interactions is fundamental for the development of novel antibiotics and improvement of vaccines. Radboudumc collaborates with public health institutes – such as the RIVM (National Institute of Public Health) – and with industrial partners.
- Personal tutor
Our top scientists are looking forward to guiding you during a challenging and inspiring scientific journey. This programme offers you many opportunities to follow your own interests under the excellent supervision of a personal tutor. This allows you to specialise in a field of personal interest.
- The Nijmegen approach
The first thing you will notice as you enter our Faculty of Science is the open atmosphere. This is reflected by the light and transparent building and the open minded spirit of the people working, exploring and studying there. It is no wonder students from all over the world have been attracted to Nijmegen. You study in small groups, with direct and open contact with members of the staff. In addition, Nijmegen has excellent student facilities, such as high-tech laboratories, libraries and study ‘landscapes'.
Studying by the ‘Nijmegen approach' is a way of living. We will equip you with tools which are valuable for the rest of your life. You will be challenged to become aware of your intrinsic motivation. In other words, what is your passion in life? With this question in mind we will guide you to translate your passion into a personalised Master's in Biology.
See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/microbiology
This innovative part-time Clinical Medicine course has been developed to train future leaders in the competitive and challenging environment of clinical medicine.
It is recognised that demand for services will increase because of the increasing population age and prevalence of people living with long-term and chronic conditions with high and rising costs of treatment and care. The Clinical Medicine course aims to support healthcare professionals, particularly those working in general practice, in developing their clinical leadership and management skills to become empowered, well-developed clinicians who are prepared for the impact of these pressures upon the NHS while continuing to maintain and improve patient care - directly via clinical provision or indirectly via mentorship of colleagues and medical students.
With clinicians directly responsible for the delivery of care, they are best placed to deliver, critically appraise and evaluate health services. The aim of the Clinical Medicine programme is to prepare medical practitioners to be able to be creative, flexible and innovative in their practice in order to adapt to ever changing demands being placed upon them in response to the changing dynamics of healthcare provision as well as its integration with Social Care.
MSc Clinical Medicine is a unique interprofessional, multi-level, leadership and practice informed development programme leading to a postgraduate qualification for practising clinicians at all stages who wish to develop their understanding, skills and behaviours in leading and managing in the health professions’ context. Using this experience, they can become innovators and leaders to improve patient care, particularly during times of organisational reorganisation and increased service demand.
This part-time course in Clinical Medicine has been specifically structured to appeal to those in full-time clinical employment who wish to develop clinical leadership skills around full-time employment, with annual exit qualifications:
1 Year: Postgraduate Certificate
2 Years: Postgraduate Diploma
3 Years: MSc
The broad aims of the first year are to allow each student to develop advanced clinical knowledge about their evidence and policy informed practice. Furthermore, it aims to encourage the student towards developing an understanding of leadership theory, styles and strategic thinking and how to engage with healthcare and medical practice by understanding and reflecting on their own abilities and areas for development.
The second year of the programme aims to develop students’ knowledge, skills and behaviours through enabling a deepening understanding of a range of processes that a clinical leader might utilise to affect change by influencing and modifying their environment. Reflecting the structure and approach of the first three modules, students look in more depth at the internal and external factors that affect medical practice.
Modules on the Clinical Medicine programme are delivered as six intense learning weeks over the two years. Comprising face to face teaching and small group work, modules will cover both clinical and organisational material on a range of specialist topics such as:
The final year will be dedicated to a clinical portfolio or research dissertation. Reflective of the educational and professional needs of the student, there are optional choices as to the type of dissertation available, such as to explore in detail an aspect of practice or area of specialist interest.
This course is designed to give you the opportunity to study and analyse the theoretical and practical basis of medical microbiology and many of the specialist areas within it. You will gain greater insight into the importance and role of medical microbiology, with an emphasis on cutting edge areas such as molecular diagnostics and genomics, emerging pathogens and antibiotic resistance.
You will study a range of core and option modules that will allow you to tailor studies to your own requirements. You will expand your knowledge of the basic science and analytical techniques relating to medical microbiology and gain an up-to-date understanding of the application of medical microbiology in bioscience/pharmaceutical research, as well as in diagnostic and therapeutic medicine. There will be an emphasis in the course on development of critical analysis skills in assessment of scientific literature and laboratory data. In addition you will have the opportunity to design and execute your own research project. The course team is supported by visiting lecturers who are practising scientists in the field, which helps to ensure that taught material is current and relevant.
The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course.
Core modules
Option modules
The course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).
As well as gaining knowledge and skills in medical microbiology and other associated subject areas you will develop numerous other skills that are designed to make you competitive in the jobs market.
Some students will already be working in healthcare and public health laboratories in the UK and overseas, while others will be gaining the skills they need to work as a Biomedical or Clinical Scientist.
The course will also allow you to work in industry, including the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors as well as regulatory affairs. You will also be well prepared for a career in research including further study at PhD level.
You'll receive the highest-quality teaching in the leading Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences in Scotland by staff dedicated to your personal and scientific development.
This course will provide you with a comprehensive three-part postgraduate life sciences training.
First, unlike many MSc courses, we offer you dedicated training in a broad suite of practical laboratory skills.
Secondly, this is complemented by two unique classes that develop your transferable skills in statistics, presentations, career development, and ethics, as well as honing your science writing skills and your ability to design experiments and analyse sophisticated datasets.
Thirdly, our taught classes capture the excitement of cutting-edge research fields and you will be taught by active researchers or practising clinical professionals. There is a choice of classes that allows you to select a pathway to suit your future aspirations.
Our MSc Molecular Microbiology focuses on the molecular biology of important microbial pathogens and industrial microorganisms.
Students study the molecular mechanisms by which bacteria cause disease or can be exploited for the synthesis of biotechnologically important products.
The course content and research projects are driven by the expertise in microbial genomics, genetics and biochemistry research that exists within the institute.
State-of-the-art research facilities, such as our own genome sequencer, protein purification facilities, mass spectrometers and fluorescence microscopes means that students obtain first-hand experience in the latest molecular microbiological techniques.
Together, the course provides the perfect springboard to future training at PhD level or gives you a range of skills and experience that will prove attractive to employers from industry or the health-care provision sector.
The course is taught in the Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences. It’s located in our new building with state-of-the-art laboratories.
The course is delivered through lectures, tutorials and hands-on practical sessions.
If you successfully complete the required taught classes you may undertake a laboratory project for the MSc.
Assessment of taught classes is through multiple choice tests, computer quizzes, problem-solving scenarios, poster and oral presentations, essays, and formal written exams.
The laboratory project is assessed through a written thesis.
After graduating you should be ideally qualified for positions in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as well as hospitals and universities.
You may wish to continue studies for an MPhil or PhD.
This course provides the background training for a career in:
Our three-year MSc (Clin) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery course enables dentists to train in the specialty concerned with the diagnosis and management of diseases, injuries and defects affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck.
All units are based on the speciality of oral surgery, but within the wider context of maxillofacial surgery. You will undertake minor oral surgery under supervision, carried out under local anaesthesia, conscious sedation and general anaesthesia. You will also attend theatre to assist and observe major surgery and attend consultation clinics, trauma clinics, ward rounds and carry out ward duties.
The clinical component of the course consists of units covering surgical basic sciences, reflective oral surgery practices, dental tissues, bone disease and injury, soft tissues, and salivary tissue, pain and the temporomandibular joint.
You will attend weekly interactive seminars led by senior staff and invited guest speakers. Some of these have actor patients present to allow you to rehearse your clinical skills.
If you study the full three-year MSc, you will also attend external teaching events such as residential blocks for basic science applied to surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
You will become eligible to sit the Royal College of Surgeons examinations for Membership in Oral Surgery on completion of this MSc course.
The course aims to:
Assessment is by essay and SBAs throughout the course and related to the taught units. You will also maintain a clinical surgical logbook and undertake a clinical competency test. There is also an oral examination.
Research Methods Component (15 credits): The aim is to equip you with skills related to design, execution and interpretation of clinical and clinically-related research.
Biostatistics component (15 credits): This unit aims to equip you with skills in data collection, simple analysis and interpretation of clinical and clinically related research.
Specialist Clinical Component: The aim of this component is to give you an understanding of the scientific basis of oral and maxillofacial surgery, with particular emphasis on current theories relevant to the diagnosis, treatment planning and clinical management of adult patients.
The Specialist Clinical Component encompasses the following:
Dissertation
Course content for year 1
Additional teaching and learning specific to the three year course:
Course content for year 2
Course content for year 3
You will have access to dedicated postgraduate suites. You will also be able to access a range offacilities throughout the University.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service .
Some selected seminars will provide you with CPD hours.
MSc courses are designed for dental practitioners who wish to further their knowledge of surgery and are a useful foundation for specialist training in this field.
The three year course provides specialist oral surgery clinical training.
Our three-year MSc (Clin) Periodontology course focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease. You will learn the skills needed to critically evaluate and solve problems relating to periodontology.
Your research skills will also be developed as you learn how to design research projects, collect data, conduct simple analyses and interpret the results.
These projects may be within areas such as genetics, microbiology or biomaterials.
Your research will benefit from our links with the Cochrane Oral Health Group and the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for the Treatment of Cranio-Facial Anomalies.
Our course is also designed to prepare you to become a Member in Restorative Dentistry through the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
The course aims to provide you with:
We use a range of teaching methods in each unit to promote a stimulating and dynamic teaching environment. You will acquire the skills to enable you to work independently and effectively in an interdisciplinary clinical environment.
Our methods include seminars and lectures to both introduce and delve more deeply into key course concepts, as well as peer-to-peer and staff-to-student feedback and discussion through group work.
External bodies guide the subject areas we cover and the balance of formal teaching (seminars and lectures) to clinical experience to comply with standards for specialist level training. Additional, self-directed learning enables you to reflect upon your clinical work and skills, and the key concepts introduced within seminars.
We use a problem-based learning format for tutorials, enabling you to develop communication and presentation skills, as well as appreciate the relevance of scientific study to clinical practice.
The course is also designed to provide a foundation in research skills and methodologies to prepare you for further research or to pursue a clinical academic career. This complements the research project and dissertation, where MSc students have the opportunity to demonstrate the collation and presentation of information in this field.
The aim of the dissertation unit is to offer research training in the identification, formulation and implementation of a specific research project.
Through the clinical units, you will also be exposed to industrial partners and experts from outside the University in the seminar series and practical sessions, providing access to world-class clinical academics.
The course creatively incorporates the clinical expertise of specialists in periodontology from a variety of backgrounds, including specialist practice and hospital-based clinical academia, to support learning.
Formal assessment for the Research Methods and Biostatistics components takes the form of two tutor-marked assignments per unit.
Assessment of each course unit generally follows a standard plan, which involves mid or end of unit assignments (eg literature reviews) and end of semester examinations (for each unit completed during the semester) in the format of OSCEs and written examinations, including MCQs/SBAs.
Clinical progress will be monitored using clinical logbooks and regular clinical competency assessments. Patient case reports outlined in your logbook will provide formative assessment of your clinical competencies during the course.
There are four parts to this course:
Course content for Year 1
Course content for Year 2
Course content for Year 3
Most of our graduates return to their place of employment after completing the course.
A smaller number go on to pursue further academic training and undertake higher research degrees (eg MPhil or PhD programmes).
The course is designed to prepare candidates to challenge the membership in restorative dentistry (periodontology) of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. We will request confirmation of eligibility from the College. This has been provided to our other three year courses.
Study Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with The University of Edinburgh
