Biomedical Sciences (Life Sciences) (MScR)

Research profile

This one-year, full time programme provides an excellent grounding for PhD or other academic study in the Biomedical Sciences. You will learn valuable research skills, biomedical laboratory techniques and a wide range of other transferable skills that will give you an advantage for the rest of your career. You can also choose two themes that best suit your interests and career goals.

The programme includes seminars, taught modules and two research projects in our world-recognised research laboratories. We will also cover a range of valuable transferable skills including critical analysis of research papers, learning how to write a project grant application and literature review, and data presentation and statistical analysis.

Programme structure

The programme includes core skills, seminars, taught modules and laboratory projects in our well-resourced laboratories which are at the cutting-edge of Biomedical research.

Students will carry out two 20-week long research projects selected from the themes available. An assessed research proposal is also required for the second project.

Project 1 (September to February)

• Cardiovascular Biology
• Cell Communication
• Genomics & Biological Pathways
• Mechanisms of Inflammatory Disease
• Reproductive Science 1
• Infectious Diseases
• Stem Cells, Tissue Injury and Regenerative Medicine

Project 2 (April to August)

• Biomedical Imaging
• Genes & Disease
• Genomic Technologies
• Molecular & Cellular Mechanism of Inflammation
• Reproductive Science 2
• Cancer Biology
• Biological Architecture

Students may also be able to undertake projects in Integrative Neuroscience or in other areas of Biomedical Sciences, with the permission of the Programme Director. These students would be required to attend the taught element of one of the above Themes as appropriate.

Students are also required to attend the taught element of another theme as appropriate.

Research proposal

In March, students submit a research proposal based on the work to be performed for Project 2. This takes the form of a grant application, as would be prepared for a research organisation, and is assessed.

Career opportunities

This programme is an excellent stepping-stone to a PhD, or a career in Biomedical research or industry.

In addition, every year there are vacancies for PhD studentships in the School of Biomedical Sciences and staff are always on the lookout for the outstanding postgraduate students who are on this Programme to encourage them to apply.

Read testimonials from some of our successful students:

• Student testimonials

Visit the Biomedical Sciences (Life Sciences) (MScR) page on the University of Edinburgh website for more details!