Study location	United Kingdom, Birmingham
Type	Master courses, full-time
Nominal duration	1 year
Study language	English
Awards	MSc

Entry qualification

Undergraduate diploma (or higher) General entry requirements including a minimum of GCSE grade C in Maths and English. Applicants for the MSc Genomic Medicine without prior relevant experience working in healthcare should have a good honours degree (or equivalent), in a relevant subject (e.g. biomedical science or medicine). However we will consider applicant with alternative academic qualifications, on the basis of professional qualifications and experience within the NHS (or other relevant organisations). The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original. Upload documents in original language and translations. Take originals along when you go to study.

Language requirements	English Accepted proof of proficiency: FCE, CAE or CPE, IELTS 7+ or TOEFL 100+ IELTS : Score 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any band. Or Cambridge English(CAE): Advanced Minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component. Please note: TOEFL IBT test will not be accepted for September 2015 entry.

Other requirements	At least 2 reference(s) should be provided. Two academic references (or if appropriate to the programme applied for, one could be from your employer).

More information	birmingham.ac.uk/...aspx#CourseOverviewTab

Overview

Interested? To learn more about this study programme, entry requirements and application process, please contact one of our consultants in a country nearest to you.

Programme structure

The Programme aims to equip you with the knowledge, understanding and skills relating to genomics that will empower you to help lead the holistic integration of genomic technology into patient care within the National Health Service, including via the ambitious Genomics England Ltd (GeL) 100,000 Genomes Project which commences in 2015.

The course begins with a brief revision of DNA, genes and genetics and updates these concepts to the scale of contemporary, whole-genome information. It will introduce to you the technologies for generating genome-wide data, and how the resulting vast quantities of data can be approached and interrogated to generate meaningful information that can be useful for families affected by inherited conditions, or for patients with acquired diseases including cancer and infections.

You will learn how to interrogate genomic data using bioinformatic tools to identify and investigate the pathogenicity of genetic variants, and relate these to real-life case-studies. The core modules also include consideration of the ethical, legal and social issues that surround genomic medicine, which can be further explored in an optional module. Other options include counselling skills and advanced bioinformatics.

Finally, you can choose either a 60-credit research project (which could be a computer-based bioinformatics project, a lab-based or clinically-based project, either in Birmingham or at your home institution), or a 30-credit dissertation (combined with additional taught modules), to hone your research skills while exploring a genomics-related project of your choice

Career opportunities

The course is especially designed for healthcare professionals working within the National Health Service, to improve their capabilities and support career progression. It could be similarly beneficial for those working or aspiring to work in other healthcare systems. Students who are not healthcare professionals would acquire knowledge, understanding and skills that should help them gain employment or PhD positions especially in the expanding fields of genomics, bioinformatics, or other medically-related research and development in either academia or the pharmaceutical industry.