Course structure

The programme comprises up to 60 hours of interactive, seminar-based teaching, including detailed exploration into some cutting-edge experimental approaches that are instrumental to advancing the field. This is complemented by student-led literature review sessions ('journal clubs'), designed to foster critical analysis and preparation skills via discussion of recent discoveries in the field.

The students come together as a cohort for additional training in key professional research and transferable skills, such as:

  • Time and data management
  • Laboratory record keeping
  • Research ethics and integrity
  • Scientific communication skills and academic writing
  • Data analysis skills including statistics

Research Project

The Research Project is an independent 32-week project that students work on alongside the taught components, while integrated into a research group.

We will provide a list of projects available for each pathway which students can choose from and we encourage you to use the opportunities we provide to meet with potential supervisors before making your decision. You will then rank your top four project preferences, and we will aim to accommodate your choices as much as possible.

As the taught workload decreases throughout the course, you will be expected to spend more time in the lab, working there until the end of June, followed by 6 weeks dedicated to write up the research project report, which is due around the end of July.

Infographic showing the course structure across the academic year as explained in the text

Explore the different pathways to find out more about the topics covered.