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

Find out about postgraduate events

Apply online

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

Apply now for your place

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

How will my course be taught?
For the academic year that starts in September 2022 we’re planning for all students to be taught face-to-face on campus, enhanced by some online learning.

Students who started their course with us in 2021 are on campus for some face-to-face learning including tutorials, workshops, laboratory classes and studio sessions. They are also taking part in off-campus learning activities such as placements, field trips and study visits. And all of our campus facilities – libraries, learning spaces, restaurants, gyms and more are open.

Like all universities we are following government guidance and we are monitoring the pandemic very closely. Should Public Health advise it we have robust plans in place for additional safety measures to be introduced to enable everyone to continue learning on campus, and, as a last resort, for students to continue their learning remotely.

We will update you regularly on our teaching plans for the next academic year as you progress your application with us.

When does my course start?
The 2022 academic year begins on Monday 26 September 2022. Teaching for most courses starts the following week.

Many education courses, some health science courses including Medicine, and some postgraduate business courses have an earlier start date. Check your offer letter for the start date of your course.

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 2022. 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 our Extended Masters programme.

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) 7,866 GBP

International (full-time)15,462 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 Applied Sciences in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

Where required:
- 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.
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.
The independent mapping project is a mandatory part of the Geology BSc(Hons) involving independent fieldwork that is undertaken in the summer between years 2 and 3. The cost of this fieldwork is not included in the fee, and you will need to meet this additional cost yourself.
Travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips, but you’ll need to provide your own food and drink.
Optional placements and day trips may include additional costs. This will vary depending on where and how long the field trip is but you should budget approximately £1,500.
Some students require specialist outdoor equipment and/or personal protective equipment (PPE) and should budget up to £100.
If you choose to take an optional paid placement you’ll be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation, food and drink.
You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses. Find out what free software is available from the University of Brighton.
In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but students may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more 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 2022–23.

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 and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Over the last four years Moulsecoomb has undergone a major transformation, planned with accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability in mind.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

On campus you’ll find professional-standard facilities and learning resources for all of our subjects and a brand new academic building Elm House, alongside the library, student centre, fitness facilities and the Students’ Union.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

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

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.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

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.

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition.

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Cricket Academy

New for September 2023, our Cricket Academy offers aspiring players the opportunity to continue their cricket development alongside studying for a degree. The programme offers a world-class training environment with the highest quality coaching.

Find out more about the Cricket Academy.