Mechanisms and Therapy in Infection and Inflammation MSc

The Mechanisms and Therapy in Infection and Inflammation MSc is a dynamic Master’s programme, in which you will combine hands-on practical experience in modern biomedical techniques with theoretical knowledge, delivered by a range of teaching approaches.

The programme is designed to provide students with an extensive understanding of infection and inflammation, where the teaching of core immunological concepts will complement a detailed focus on the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of globally relevant and emerging infectious diseases such as HIV, COVID-19 and tuberculosis. In addition, it will cover inflammatory conditions that pose significant health challenges worldwide, such as cardio- and cerebrovascular disease.

In addition to the taught modules, students on this programme will undertake a research project on a title of their choice in an area of infection and inflammation. Projects are supervised by world-leading researchers based in Brunel University’s Centre for Inflammation and Translational Medicine (CIRTM). Not only will students generate, analyse and interpret their own research data, but they will also be imbedded within an active research team, gaining valuable experience of a research-intensive environment, learning from senior researchers, attending lab meetings and weekly research seminars by visiting expert speakers.

At Brunel, we recognise that strong practical skills in all fields of biomedical sciences are important to employers. For this reason, we have a large practical element to the course. You will gain experience of different modern laboratory techniques and consider the legislative and ethical aspects linked to the discipline. You will learn computational skills and be trained in critical analyses of the molecular problems leading to human disease and how to identify intervention opportunities. In addition, you’ll receive training in statistics and bioinformatics, which are fundamental to the biomedicine sector.

In our 'Scientific Communication' module, you’ll learn how to disseminate scientific information. Your writing skills will be developed to target a diverse range of audiences, from medical practitioners through to the general public. You'll learn to write your research findings in both academic and journalistic styles - skills that will be invaluable in a range of biomedical careers.

Dean’s International Scholarship: This course is eligible for a £2,000 fee waiver, per academic year, subject to availability. This Scholarship is for full-time international students only. Find out more.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship: You may be eligible for a full tuition fee waiver, as well as a range of other financial incentives, on this course. Find out more.

British Council Scholarship for Women in STEM: In partnership with the British Council, we are offering five fully-funded scholarships for female students from the Americas region (eligible countries only). The deadline to apply for this scholarship is 7th April 2023 at 11.59pm. Find out more.

This biomedical sciences postgraduate course has been tailored to provide you with a specialist understanding of globally relevant infectious and inflammatory diseases, underpinned by fundamental knowledge of molecular biology, cell biology and immunology. Particular attention is placed on innovative therapeutic potential as well as statistics and computational biology.

This course can be studied 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, starting in September.

Graduates from this course will be ideally placed to pursue positions in academia, industry or the public sector. Infectious and inflammatory diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and scientists trained in this area are in increasing demand in the post-pandemic era.

The specialist topics covered will position graduates as highly-valued individuals in biomedical research laboratories, for example as industrial scientists or research assistants in the fields of immunology, infectious diseases and inflammation. If your goal is to pursue a career in scientific research you will be ideally placed to continue with your studies towards a PhD. Alternatively, the particular focus on core biomedical topics will also open doors to similar positions in other disciplines, for example cancer or neurodegenerative diseases, as many of the techniques and skills learned will be applicable to these areas. Similarly, a module on scientific communication will provide graduates with the grounding for careers in journalism, scientific writing and publishing.

A 2.2 (or above) UK Honours degree in the field of Biosciences.

Other qualifications including equivalent internationally recognised qualification or relevant experience from health professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses, MLSOs) will be assessed on an individual basis and a request for completion of an online biological test in molecular and cell biology may be required.

Applicants with a third class honours degree or other lower qualifications will be considered if supported by science A-levels (or equivalent) and relevant work experience. Such applicants may be required to attend an interview.

• IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
• Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
• BrunELT: 63% (min 58% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all) 

You'll be asked to produce authentic, self-directed learning presentations and reports that test your analytical and critical skills and replicate ‘real-life’ projects often requested by employers. You will also need to complete a synoptic exam that integrates several subjects to address realistic scenarios with regard to mechanisms of infection and inflammation, treatment and prevention.

You will write a dissertation exploring in detail a specific subject area within the field of infection and inflammation. As part of this, you will design your own experiments, use state-of-the-art research methods and carry out critical data analysis in order to write a relevant and original piece of work. All students will receive comprehensive feedback on their work, with special attention being given to areas of improvement and guidance on how to use the feedback in subsequent assessments.