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MSc Infection Biology

UK

What will I learn?

Course description

Our MSc Infection Biology course will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to join the global fight against infectious diseases which threaten humanity.

Infectious disease remains a major cause of human death but the efficacy of antimicrobial interventions continues to decline. The discovery of novel preventative and therapeutic interventions now critically dependent upon a detailed mechanistic understanding of disease processes, their impact upon human pathobiology and the feasibility of therapeutically targeting such mechanisms.

With a view to training a generation of infection biologists equipped with the skills to tackle this global challenge, the MSc in Infection Biology provides outstanding academic and research training in the molecular and cellular basis of host-microbe interactions in health and disease.

You will learn directly from internationally recognised scientists through joint research, thereby securing a sustained interaction with expert mentors for the duration of the course.

The course provides research training in fundamental aspects of infectious diseases, microbial pathogenesis, host interactions, antimicrobial immunity, and antimicrobial therapy. For the talented student this course provides an excellent training prior to registration for a PhD.

This course will equip you with:

  • a detailed theoretical and practical understanding of molecular microbiology and antimicrobial immunology;
  • a thorough understanding of methods for analysing the biological functions and physiological relevance of microbial virulence factors and host responses to pathogenic challenge;
  • a working knowledge of mechanistic approaches to problem-solving in molecular and cellular biomedical science;
  • an understanding of a wide repertoire of cutting edge scientific methods including flow cytometry, single cell technologies, imaging and proteomics;
  • transferable skills in critical reasoning and reflection, collaborative team working, scientific communication, use of IT/health informatics, innovation in the application of knowledge to practice and logical/systematic approaches to solving problems and making decisions.

Aims

This course aims to:

  • equip you with a detailed theoretical and practical understanding of molecular microbiology and immunology, delivered in-context during laboratory-based research and self-directed research of the literature;
  • enable you to integrate molecular and cellular information to understand the genetic basis of microbial virulence, host responses to pathogen challenge, and complexity of infectious disease, diagnostics, and antimicrobial therapies;
  • give you an understanding of the principles of modelling of host and microbial aspects of infection to help characterise the host-pathogen interaction;
  • equip you with an understanding of methods for analysing the biological functions and physiological relevance of microbial virulence factors and host responses to pathogenic challenge;
  • provide you with a working knowledge of mechanistic approaches to problem-solving in molecular and cellular biomedical science;
  • ensure you have a working understanding of the application of a wide repertoire of advanced scientific methods at the cutting edge of scientific research, including flow cytometry, single cell technologies, imaging and proteomics;
  • give you transferable skills in critical reasoning and reflection, collaborative team working, communication, use of IT/health informatics, innovation in the application of knowledge to practice and logical/systematic approaches to solving problems and making decisions.

Which department am I in?

Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Study options

Full Time (1 year)

Tuition fees
£33,000.00 (35,95,555) per year
This is a fixed fee
Start date

September 2025

Venue

The University of Manchester

Oxford Road,

Manchester,

M13 9PL, NORTHERN ENGLAND, England

Entry requirements

For international students

We require an honours degree (minimum Upper Second) or overseas equivalent in: biological science; biomedical science. Students with different academic backgrounds and relevant career experience (eg working in the biotech or pharmaceutical industries) will be considered, keeping in mind the academic potential of the individual. Such students will be accepted onto the course on a discretionary basis after application and interview. We also encourage applications from intercalating medical students who have demonstrated an interest and aptitude in biomedical sciences. This will be assessed both by interview and the production of a personal statement. Minimal requirement for admission will be satisfactory achievement in years 1-3 of the undergraduate medical programme. International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system. Specifically, we require a minimum of: IELTS: 6.5 overall (6.5 in each component); TOEFL: 90 internet-based (with 22 in each component).

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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