The course will allow you to expand your understanding of immunology, immunopathology and immunotherapy, to further develop skills in analytical approaches to immunodiagnosis and molecular therapeutics, as well as enhance your competence in the design and execution of a laboratory based project. You will be able to take a proactive role in research, development, evaluation and implementation of current immunological techniques while perceiving the subject in the broader perspective of health care and scientific progress.
The scope of the modules included will ensure a breadth of knowledge appropriate for the scientific and professional needs of practising immunologists, at the same time making use of your knowledge and experience. This course is designed so that you can plan your own taught programme to match your interests and experience by combining core and optional modules with emphasis on therapeutics, diagnostics, haematology or public health.
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).
The course has been designed to provide professionals with a broad range of skills in immunology, immunopathology and immunotherapy. Successful completion of the course will enhance your career prospects in education, in PhD programmes, in academia, research institutes, as well as in pharmaceutical and related industries. UK part-time students are normally employed in hospital or NHSBT laboratories or in research establishments.
You will develop a range of transferable skills that will enhance your employment prospects and research opportunities in the UK or overseas.
As an international student with experience in biomedical sciences, following completion of their studies, you will be able to return to your home country to pursue research opportunities or promotion, seek employment as research technician, biomedical scientist, scientific or medical technical officer or research assistant. You may also seek jobs in industry, research or healthcare or apply for further training (biomedical or clinical scientist routes).
Our MSc in Clinical Immunology will give you an advanced understanding of the principles and mechanisms of the immune system and immune responses in the context of infection, malignancy and immunological disorders.
You will also gain insight into a specialist area of laboratory medicine from clinical leaders and researchers at the forefront of immunology.
This course comprises six course units spanning the field of clinical immunology, with teaching being delivered on both campus and hospital sites by more than 40 individual contributors.
Course content includes:
The course will also enable you to develop critical and experimental research skills relevant to the field through practical research masterclasses, a focused research proposal and a research project.
You will learn about assays and techniques employed in research and clinical laboratories to develop your technical understanding and clinical interpretation of results.
If you have an interest in this highly diverse and ever changing field and you wish to expand your knowledge at the interface of clinical and academic immunology, this master's course is ideal for you.
This course aims to give you:
Inter-professional learning
You will learn alongside students from a range of backgrounds who are studying on related health science courses. This diversity of educational and professional input from both speakers and students provides a fantastic opportunity for collaborative learning and networking.
Flexible part-time option
If you have other commitments, our part-time option allows you to study each unit in two-week blocks spread over two years, giving you the flexibility you need.
CPD units available
Individual units from this MSc can be taken as standalone courses for continuing professional development .
Academic teaching is delivered by specialist immunologists who are leaders in their field, affiliated withManchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research and Manchester Immunology Group .
Clinical teaching is delivered by experts from across the UK, including University Hospital South Manchester Allergy Centre, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Trust, Cambridge Immunology Network, Institute of Child Health UCL and the CRUK Manchester Institute.
We aim to provide a range of teaching and learning methodologies including lectures, tutorials, workshops, problem-based learning exercises and hands on practical sessions. There are also opportunities to observe patient consultations and interact with patient representatives throughout the course.
Find out more by visiting the postgraduate teaching and learning page.
Key academic staff
We will assess your progress using a range of formative and summative assessments, such as multiple choice, short answer and essay questions, written or creative assignments, and oral presentations.
The assessments will be constructed to assess your knowledge and understanding while at the same time refining and expanding your intellectual and transferable skills.
You will be required to complete 120 credits (90 credits taught and a 30-credit research proposal and literature report) to obtain a PGDip.
To receive an MSc, a you must combine the 90 credits of taught units with a 30-credit research proposal and a 60-credit research project and dissertation.
The 90-credit taught component of the MSc/PGDip consists of:
Graduates of this course come away with scientific knowledge and diverse transferable skills that are highly sought after by scientific companies within the private sector.
You will also be equipped to work in clinical laboratories within the NHS or pursue a career in research by undertaking a PhD.
The specialist nature of the course would also benefit students with a medical background who want to enhance their knowledge of immunology for future career advancement.
This course combines theoretical knowledge and practical training in the immunology of infectious diseases through comprehensive teaching and research methods. Students will gain specialised skills in applying scientific concepts, evaluating scientific data and carrying out modern immunological techniques. Students will benefit from the unique mix of immunology, vaccinology, molecular biology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, mycology and clinical medicine at the School.
Infectious diseases represent an increasingly important cause of human morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Vaccine development is thus of great importance in terms of global health. In parallel with this growth, there has been a dramatic increase in studies to identify the innate, humoral or cellular immunological mechanisms which confer immunity to pathogenic viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. As a result, increasing numbers of scientists, clinicians and veterinarians wish to develop their knowledge and skills in these areas.
The flexible nature of the course allows students to focus on attaining a broader understanding of infectious disease through attending taught units. Students can also undertake an extended research project within groups led by experienced team leaders. Such projects can involve basic investigations of immune mechanisms or applied field based studies.
Graduates from this course go into research positions in academia and industry, and further training such as PhD study.
- Full programme specification (pdf) (https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/files/iid_progspec.pdf)
- Intercalating this course (https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/courses/ways-study/intercalating-study-masters-degree)
Visit the website https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/immunology-infectious-diseases
By the end of this course students should be able to:
- demonstrate specialist knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of host immunity to infection against the diverse range of pathogens which confront human populations
- apply this specialist knowledge to a range of practical skills and techniques, in particular modern molecular and cellular techniques for assessing immune responses to pathogens
- critically assess, select and apply appropriate research methods to investigate basic immunological mechanisms and applied issues in the immunology of infection
- critically evaluate primary scientific data and the published scientific literature
- integrate and present key immunological concepts at an advanced level, both verbally and in written form
Term 1:
There is a one-week orientation period that includes an introduction to studying at the School, sessions on key computing and study skills and an introduction to major groups of pathogens, followed by two compulsory modules:
- Immunology of Infectious Diseases
- Analysis & Design of Research Studies
Sessions on basic computing, molecular biology and statistics are run throughout the term for all students.
Terms 2 and 3:
Students take a total of five study modules, one from each timetable slot (Slot 1, Slot 2 etc.). The list below shows recommended modules. There are other modules which may be taken only after consultation with the Course Directors.
*Recommended modules
- Slot 1:
Advanced Immunology 1 (compulsory)
- Slot 2:
Advanced Immunology 2 (compulsory)
- Slot 3:
Advanced Training in Molecular Biology*
Clinical Immunology*
Extended Project*
Basic Parasitology
Clinical Infectious Diseases 3: Bacterial & Viral Diseases & Community Health in Developing Countries
- Slot 4:
Extended Project*
Immunology of Parasitic Infection: Principles*
Molecular Biology Research Progress & Applications*
Clinical Infectious Diseases 4: Parasitic Diseases & Clinical Medicine
Epidemiology & Control of Communicable Diseases
Ethics, Public Health & Human Rights
Genetic Epidemiology
- Slot 5:
AIDS*
Antimicrobial Chemotherapy*
Extended Project*
Molecular Cell Biology & Infection*
Mycology*
Further details for the course modules - https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/immunology-infectious-diseases#structure
Towards the end of Term 1, students get the opportunity to hear about the latest, most exciting aspects of immunological research at the British Society of Immunology Congress. The cost is included in the £500 field trip fee.
During the summer months (July - August), students complete a research project on an immunological subject, for submission by early September. Some of these projects may take place with collaborating scientists overseas or in other colleges or institutes in the UK. Students undertaking projects overseas will require additional funding of up to £1,500 to cover costs involved.
The majority of students who undertake projects abroad receive financial support for flights from the School's trust funds set up for this purpose.
Find out how to apply here - http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/msiid.html#sixth
Immunology is linked to our ability to remain healthy and free of disease - fighting off infections and disease and understanding our genetic factors and risk factors in inheriting disease. You look at behavioural factors and their links to disease to understand protection methods and you go into the detail of bioinformatics and genomics to understand DNA and analyse within practical research when you test for specific issues such as stress, hunger and so on and responses in the body.
The programme is designed for you to develop your academic knowledge of immunology and its relevance to disease with analysis and research skills designed to enhance your career prospects, or continue to PhD. You can use your training within educational establishments to apply training, work in patents, science outreach and public engagement.
Focusing on the relevance of the immune response in the maintenance of health and development of disease, graduates will be able to attain the intellectual and practical skills needed to address both theoretical and technical aspects of modern biomedical research.
In common with the other molecular biosciences Masters courses, the MSc in Immunology & Immunotherapy builds on recent advances in genomics to understand the generation of immunological diversity at a cellular level, how this imparts variability in immune responses at the individual and population level and the relevance of the immune system in disease areas such as autoimmunity, cancer, allergy and microbial infections.
You may also be interested in the Scottish Innovation Centres research and enterprise work with companies in Scotland to find out more about the possibilities in this area of health science and spin-out research going on from Aberdeen and other universities:
Semester 1
Semester 2
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
Find out about fees:
*Please be advised that some programmes have different tuition fees from those listed above and that some programmes also have additional costs.
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page
Find out more about:
Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs
The contribution of inflammation and immune dysfunction to a wide range of diseases, from arthritis to cancer to obesity is becoming increasingly clear. The MSc in Immunology and Inflammatory Disease integrates basic, translational and clinical immunology and inflammation biology with cutting edge molecular and cellular techniques to equip students with both a working knowledge of inflammatory disease together with state of the art research approaches used to study the area.
The MSc programme will consist of five taught courses and a project or dissertation, spread over 11-12 months. Three courses are compulsory and two are chosen from a series of options.
The PgDip programme will consist of five taught courses, spread over 7-8 months, with three compulsory courses and two chosen from a series of options.
The PgCert programme consists of one core taught course over 3-4 months.
The course will include registration and attendance at the British Society for Immunology Annual Congress. This will enable
The programme provides an ideal grounding for progression to further research studies in immunology, inflammation and infectious diseases, or for a career in pharmaceutical/bioscience industries. Our graduates have gone on to take up careers/routes in
Our Immunology MSc will enable you to gain an understanding of the structure and functioning of the immune system at the cell, molecular and genetic level, and how it relates to health and disease. We will give you the vital skills needed to pursue doctoral-level research or to enhance your career prospects in other medicine or related industry.
Our Immunology MSc will enable you to develop a detailed understanding of the structure and functioning of the immune system at the cell, molecular and genetic level and its relation to health and disease. This course has many distinctive features, such as our emphasis on group study and problem-directed learning. There is also a strong focus on developing the core skills you will need for further career progression, such as the ability to understand and interpret research data, presentational skills and experimental design skills.
This course is ideal if you are a scientist from either a clinical or non-clinical background, and you want to improve your employment prospects by extending your expertise in the field of modern immunology, or if you want to acquire relevant research training for a PhD.
Teaching
For most of your modules we will give you approximately 30 hours of teaching through a mixture of lectures, tutorials and presentations. We will expect you to undertake 270 hours of self-directed learning for each module.
For your Research Project module, you will have contact with a research project supervisor, and we will expect you undertake 600 hours of work, which includes time spent in the laboratory.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a combination of coursework and exams for most of your modules, but the Research Skills module is assessed entirely through coursework, and your Research Project will be assessed through a dissertation.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Many of our MSc Immunology graduates go on to positions in either a university or research institute as PhD students or graduate research assistants. Others have gone into careers in hospital laboratories as clinical scientists or positions in the pharmaceutical industry.
Help improve human health. Prepare for a career researching and developing new clinical treatments such as vaccines and drug therapies, or take your skills into health policy or management.
You'll study advanced immunological theory and techniques and train in clinical trial design and practice. Develop your oral and written communication skills while you study and produce a research paper intended for publication.
The Master of Clinical Immunology (MClinIm) is taught in collaboration with the highly regarded Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, the largest private medical research institute in New Zealand. You'll also learn from practising clinicians from the local district health boards, the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand and other research institutions.
You'll complete your MClinIm in one calendar year over three trimesters.
You can choose to complete either your own research project or a work experience practicum. Both will give you the opportunity to be placed in a clinical or research environment to gain relevant experience. You might work or carry out research in a hospital, research institute or other medical organisation.
You'll graduate with the skills you need to assess, analyse and undertake clinical research in immunology in real-world settings.
In your first trimester you'll complete three core courses introducing you to clinical research, experimental trial design and clinical immunology. In the second trimester you'll study two more core courses and do your research project or practicum, or choose other elective courses.
If you achieve a B average or better, you'll be able to go on to study the two final courses in your last trimester. These will advance your clinical immunology knowledge and science communication skills, and you'll complete an individually mentored research proposal.
If you successfully complete the first part of the programme but for whatever reason are unable to complete the second, you may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Biomedical Science.
If you are studying full time you can expect a workload of 40–45 hours a week for much of the year. It is possible to study part time, but you'll need to discuss this with the programme director. Part-time students doing one or two courses per trimester will need to do around 20–23 hours of work a week. Make sure you take this into account if you are working.
The MClinIm will prepare you for a range of senior roles in health research. You might work in a hospital, private research institute, diagnostic laboratory or pharmaceutical company, or for a government agency involved in health policy or delivery.
This is a full-time 1 year MSc programme suitable for biomedical or life scientists who wish to acquire an extensive knowledge and key skills relating to the fundamental molecular and cellular regulation of immunity and its application to the treatment of disease. The programme will be delivered by world leaders at the forefront of immunology and immunotherapy research, each with an internationally renowned research group.
Over the past few years significant advances have been made in our understanding of the molecular and cellular control of immune responses. These discoveries are now being translated into the design and testing of immunotherapeutic interventions for a range of diseases including cancer, autoimmunity and inflammatory disease. This programme is for biomedical or life scientists who wish to extend their knowledge and skills in both immunology and its translation to immunotherapy.
A series of interlinked taught modules cover molecular mechanisms in immune cell differentiation and function, autoimmunity, transplant and tumour immunology, and inflammation. This is complemented by comprehensive coverage of the latest developments in immunotherapy including the use of microbial products in immunomodulation and vaccination, small molecules and biologics, as well as cellular immunotherapy.
The programme aims to allow you to understand the research process, from the fundamental discoveries at the forefront of immunological research, to the application of novel interventional immune-based therapies.
A key part of the MSc programme is the planning, execution and reporting of a piece of independent study leading to submission of a dissertation. This study will be in the form of an extensive laboratory research project carried out in internationally renowned research groups. Each student will be a fully-integrated member of one of the large number of research teams in a wide variety of topics across both immunology and immunotherapy. We also plan to offer some projects within external biotechnology companies.
As a Birmingham student, you will be joining the academic elite and will have the privilege of learning from world-leading experts, as well as your peers. From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner. We want you to be challenged and will encourage you to think for yourself.
This programme is delivered via teaching from Monday to Friday approximately 9am-5.00pm, with only a few hours of direct face-to-face contact each day to allow time for independent learning. During the first part of the research project you will have a single day of taught element modules, with the remaining days carrying out their research. Once the taught modules have been completed the project will be full-time.
You will have access to a comprehensive support system that will assist and encourage you, including personal tutors and welfare tutors who can help with both academic and welfare issues.
Students who complete this MSc programme will have an in-depth up-to-date knowledge of this rapidly advancing field and will have developed the key skills required to either pursue a PhD in these areas or significantly improve their employability for the biomedical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industrial sectors.
Careers Support for Postgraduate Students
Careers Network – We can help you get ahead in the job market and develop your career
We recognise that as a postgraduate student you are likely to have specific requirements when it comes to planning for your next career step. Employers expect postgraduates to have a range of skills that exceed their subject knowledge. Careers Network offers a range of events and support services that are designed for all students, including postgraduates looking to find their niche in the job market. The Careers Network also have subject specific careers consultants and advisers for each College so you can be assured the information you receive will be relevant to your subject area. For more information visit the Careers Network website.
Study Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with The University of Edinburgh
