Intro

Our Biological Sciences MRes enables you to join a team working towards solutions to global issues such as infectious disease and environmental health, and explore topics such as genetic and molecular biology with researchers who are experts in their field.

You will become part of one or more of our research groups, with expertise in areas including biomaterials and biomedical devices, zoonoses, and applied biosciences. You’ll work alongside postdoctoral and other postgraduate researchers with shared interests.

Your research project will examine a specialised subject within the fields of biomaterials, biomedical devices, microbiology, biochemistry, ecotoxicology and genetics. Option modules allow you to explore further areas according to your personal and professional interests.

You‘ll develop practical skills using our specialist facilities including an image analysis suite with electron microscopes, a confocal microscope and atomic force microscopes, and purpose-built ecology, microbiology, molecular biology and tissue culture labs.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 years

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Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

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Course content

Course structure

The Biological Sciences MRes is typically completed full-time in one year, but can be taken part-time over two years. The course is structured to include a significant research component which you will undertake throughout the course. In addition, a series of supporting taught modules further enrich your learning.

To be awarded the MRes, you must obtain 180 M-level credits, 40 credits from taught and subject-specific modules and 140 credits through the completion of the research project.

Areas of study

The core MRES research project module is at the heart of the degree and equips you with a fundamental understanding of the research process across disciplines. Additional elements of the course provide an integrated, employment-focused, research programme for students wanting to develop their research skills in the biosciences.

Projects have included:

elucidating the genetic basis of chlorhexidine resistance in Proteus mirabilis
assessing the tumour microenvironment in ovarian cancer (PSN1) cells
antimicrobial proteins of the defensive mucus of Helix aspersa
investigating the detrimental effect of metformin on human pancreatic adenocarcinoma
investigating inflammatory effects of anti-retroviral drugs on glial cells.

Core modules

MRes research project
Evaluating Research in Biosciences

Options

Controversies in Science
Clinical Microbiology in the post-antimicrobial era
Microbiology, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Remediation
Regenerative Medicine and Medical Devices
Oxidative Stress and Human Disease
Real Time Techniques for in vitro and in vivo monitoring
Ageing: pathology and prevention
Cancer: bench to bedside
Understanding age-related CNS disorders
Water Quality Analysis
Intro to GIS
Applications of GIS
Omics for diseases: theory, practice and applications

Full-time students study for 180 credits; the research project for 140 credits and 40 from additional modules.

Staff profile

Dr Ian Cooper

Course leader

"I am a Principal Lecturer in Microbiology and the course leader for the Biological Sciences MRes degree programmes.

"My area of expertise is in microbiology. My research focus on the persistence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the environment allows me to bridge the gap between clinical and environmental biology, and to develop and deliver a robust and engaging learning programme.

"My emphasis is on researching the fundamental molecular mechanisms of bacterial adhesion to biomedical materials and environmental substrata, and how human contact with animals and the environment affects bacteria relating to human health, as well as the potential use of bacteriophages as alternatives to antibiotics."

Facilities

You have access to our labs and facilities to support your research, including:

primary and cell line culture facilities
molecular biology lab with access to qPCR equipment and dark room facility
a specialist image analysis suite with electron microscopes, a confocal microscope, atomic force microscopes
a genomics / proteomics facility for analysis of genes and proteins using microarray platforms

How this course is delivered

Our approach
We want you to spend as much time on campus as possible. From semester 1 of the academic year which starts in September, every student will have some face-to-face, on-campus learning in their timetable. Your timetable is being designed to make sure that you can make the most out of your time on campus, and all of the usual campus facilities – libraries, learning spaces, restaurants, gyms and more – will be open. Your timetable will be available in My Studies from late September.

Teaching on your course
In semester 1 timetabled teaching will take place on campus. Your on-campus learning will be supplemented with additional online activities and content.

Any other learning opportunities taking place off campus, such as field work, will be informed by the government guidance in operation at that time. We are not currently planning to run this kind of activity outside the UK in semester 1 of the 2021–2022 academic year. 

COVID-19
Like all universities we will be following government guidance and will be monitoring the pandemic very closely with our local Director of Public Health. Should a worsening of the pandemic occur and Public Health advice require us to make changes, we have robust plans in place for students to continue their studies remotely and for additional safety measures to be introduced on campus.

Careers

Our graduates are equipped with a foundation of knowledge for careers in research, industry, the public sector or academia. The MRes provides well-rounded, research-based learning, plus the necessary transferable skills to prepare you for employment.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2021. They should be used as a general guide.

Degree and experience
A 2:1 degree in a relevant subject. Students with a degree that does not fall within this category but who have significant relevant experience, will also be considered. All applicants should provide a full description of any research projects undertaken, relevant work experience and non-academic qualifications.

ATAS requirements
The JACS code for this course is C100, meaning that students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland will have to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before they apply for a visa. Details can be found on the gov.uk website.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through the Extended Masters programme at the university's Language Institute.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 7,704 GBP

International (full-time)15,300 GBP

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences are listed here.

All students are provided with a laboratory coat, safety glasses and log book.
A budget to cover laboratory consumables and equipment for your final year project is included in the fees for all students.
Access to key subject journals and subject specific databases is provided, as well as a site licence for industry-standard chemical drawing software.
Essential instruction booklets (laboratory handbooks) are provided, as is project poster printing and thesis binding. However, you should budget for books, printing and stationery for personal study.
The school provides some financial support for social activities via the student societies and holds a free annual graduation party.
Optional placements and day trips may include additional costs but this will vary depending on location of the placement.
For our ecology and conservation courses there are compulsory field trips for which you should budget up to £200. There are also optional field trips for which you may choose to budget up to £2,700. You may also need to buy appropriate clothing for outdoor use.
DBS checks for MPharm students are included in the fee.
Costs for MPharm placement travel is reimbursed up to a specified amount depending on location of placement.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships, as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus. Subjects taught here include architecture, business, computing, construction, engineering, geography, product design, law, journalism, media and pharmacy.

On campus you will find professional-standard facilities including a flight simulator, trading room, design and digital media suites and specialist research laboratories, alongside the library, student centre, fitness facilities and Students' Union. There are excellent public transport links.

The Big Build

The Big Build is a major transformation of our Moulsecoomb campus, planned with sustainability, inclusivity and community in mind.

By the start of the autumn term in 2021, we expect our landmark new academic building and over 800 new, affordable, student bedrooms to be ready. The project will also provide new Students' Union and fitness facilities, an accessible pedestrian bridge, new green and social spaces, much improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians, and better links to public transport. Find out more about the Big Build.

Next door to our campus, the new Preston Barracks development will provide a variety of new shops, cafes and workshop space.

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students who apply by 30 June.

Still looking for halls? Contact our accommodation team for the latest advice on halls availability in Brighton.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Moulsecoomb Place, Mithras halls and Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
- Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
- Moulsecoomb Place halls are all self-catered and are located right on campus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.