Masters Degrees
| UCAS code | 1234 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year full time 2 years part time |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer | At least a 2:1 Honours degree or equivalent in Biology or a relevant science subject |
|---|---|
Top 20 in the UK for world-leading research in Biological Sciences
REF 2021, based on 4-star research
Opportunity to specialise with a choice of pathways
Advance laboratory skills with specialist techniques training
Substantial research project within one of our world-leading research groups
Minimum 2:1 Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant science subject.
Relevant subjects include: Biological Sciences, Cell Biology, Ecology, Ecology and Conservation, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Marine Biology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Plant Science, Zoology.
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course.
The required IELTS test scores for this course fall under Profile B2.
Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
The Masters programme at 樱花动漫 allows you to specialise in an area of Biology that you are most interested in and gives you a fantastic opportunity to undertake research in one of our world-leading research laboratories.
Programme Director and Senior Lecturer
Our MSc in Advanced Biological Sciences degree allows you to study a broad base of Biological Sciences, or specialise in one of six specialist areas (Animal Biology, Bioinformatics, Ecotoxicology, Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Molecular and Cellular Biology, or Sustainable Aquaculture).
Throughout this research-intensive Masters, you will be immersed in a world-leading research environment and trained in the skills required to analyse and address major biological challenges of our time.
Knowledge and skills learned during core modules will enable you to develop your research project, which will be supervised within one of our world-leading research groups, determined by your research project focus.
The optional modules available provide access to a breadth of biosciences topics, which will allow you to tailor your studies to your particular interests and career goals.
Our Advanced Laboratory Skills module provides training in both practical and data processing skills, with advanced laboratory experiments carried out in small groups to prepare you for your independent research project with one of our research groups.
The modules below provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
120 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules.
To graduate with a named adjourned pathway you must select at least 45 credits from the modules indicated against each pathway which are a mixture of compulsory and optional. The pathways available are:
Projects do not automatically relate to the named specialisms. If you wish your Project to count towards a named specialism you must take one that has been designated as such. Specialist designation of all modules and projects will be confirmed by Biosciences.
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 2 Bioinformatics Pathway-Specific | ||
| Bioinformatics | 15 | |
| Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease | 15 | |
| Compulsory 3 Ecotoxicology Pathway-Specific | ||
| Ecotoxicology | 15 | |
| Blue Planet | 15 | |
| Compulsory 5 Sustainable Aquaculture Pathway-Specific | ||
| Blue Planet | 15 | |
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Professional Skills | 15 | |
| Advanced Laboratory Skills | 15 | |
| Research Project | 90 | |
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Optional 1 Non-Pathway-Specific | ||
| Cellular Basis of Immunity | 15 | |
| Bioinformatics | 15 | |
| Medical Mycology | 15 | |
| Ecology of Environmental Change | 15 | |
| Ecotoxicology | 15 | |
| Living in a Microbial World | 15 | |
| Frontiers in Molecular Cell Biology | 15 | |
| Cell Biology of Disease | 15 | |
| Current Issues in Marine Biology | 15 | |
| Advanced Applications of Physiology | 15 | |
| Bioimaging | 15 | |
| Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease | 15 | |
| Blue Planet | 15 | |
| Beyond the Frontiers of Medical Mycology | 15 | |
| Molecular Biology of Bacterial Infection | 15 | |
| Pharmacogenomics | 15 | |
| Green Planet | 15 | |
| Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare | 15 | |
| Bioinformatics, Interpretation and Data Quality Assurance in Genome Analysis | 15 | |
| Mathematical Modelling in Biology and Medicine | 15 | |
| Optional 3 Bioinformatics Pathway-Specific | ||
| Pharmacogenomics | 15 | |
| Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare | 15 | |
| Bioinformatics, Interpretation and Data Quality Assurance in Genome Analysis | 15 | |
| Mathematical Modelling in Biology and Medicine | 15 | |
| Optional 4 Ecotoxicology Pathway-Specific | ||
| Ecology of Environmental Change | 15 | |
| Advanced Applications of Physiology | 15 | |
| Optional 6 Microbiology and Infectious Disease Pathway-Specific | ||
| Cellular Basis of Immunity | 15 | |
| Medical Mycology | 15 | |
| Living in a Microbial World | 15 | |
| Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease | 15 | |
| Beyond the Frontiers of Medical Mycology | 15 | |
| Molecular Biology of Bacterial Infection | 15 | |
| Optional 7 Molecular and Cellular Biology Pathway-Specific | ||
| Cellular Basis of Immunity | 15 | |
| Frontiers in Molecular Cell Biology | 15 | |
| Cell Biology of Disease | 15 | |
| Bioimaging | 15 | |
| Beyond the Frontiers of Medical Mycology | 15 | |
| Molecular Biology of Bacterial Infection | 15 | |
| Optional 9 Sustainable Aquaculture Pathway-Specific | ||
| Current Issues in Marine Biology | 15 | |
| Advanced Applications of Physiology | 15 | |
£15,000 full-time; £7,500 part-time
£31,200 full-time; £15,600 part-time
The 樱花动漫 offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with ?7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships. We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
We are pleased to offer the 樱花动漫 Alumni Scholarship, a scholarship for 樱花动漫 alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship worth 20% of the cost of your first year tuition fees.
Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply.
The ability to specialise the degree really allows students to tailor this programme to their own ambitions and career aspirations.
Dr Rose Murray
External examiner (University of Bristol)
The suite of programmes naturally builds on our internationally-leading undergraduate degrees, providing a rich and focused research-led experience. It works both ways - a fantastic opportunity for students to enhance their specialist training, while welcoming a new cohort of enthusiastic, budding scientists into our Departmental community.
Professor James Wakefield
Head of Biosciences
The programme consists of core modules that provide you with a theoretical and applied learning framework for directed student-centred learning where you’ll develop in-demand skills of synthesis, critical analysis, and interpretation. You’ll also receive professional skills training tailored to the areas most relevant to your academic and professional development.
You will carry out your independent supervised research project in one of our . Research projects are individual and can be based on laboratory work, field work or?in silico?(e.g. bioinformatics).
The research project will give you first-hand experience in many aspects of research work including data generation, analysis, and interpretation as well as science communication in written, poster and oral presentations.
During your research project, you will be supported by your research supervisor and other members of the research group to ensure you produce your best work.
Depending on your chosen modules and research project topic, you may have access to the following facilities:
You will be allocated a personal tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies. There is also a postgraduate tutor available to help with further guidance and advice, and our programme director will offer every student a meeting each term to review academic progress.
Taught modules are assessed through essay examinations, individual and group-based coursework assignments, oral presentations, in-module tests and reports or essays. A significant proportion of the marks are based on your substantial research project and the associated paper submitted in August.
MSc Advanced Biological Sciences will provide you with a diversity of skills that will equip you for work in a range of sectors.
Skills include:
In the Professional Skills module, we have dedicated careers workshops, and sessions on being an Academic Entrepreneur. Visiting speakers from outside the University are incorporated into some of the taught modules to further enhance your employability and you will be encouraged to seek out internships during your time here.
Our dedicated careers team at the Career Zone can help guide you through a wealth of information to match your skills and interests to a career that will suit you. Our staff work with regional, national and international employers to develop new work placement, project and graduate opportunities.
Graduates are well placed for a research career in industry, or for progression to PhD. You’ll also be competitively placed for work in Government Agencies such as CEFAS and DEFRA.
The programme is designed very well to support students in attainment of the programme ILOs. In particular, the advanced laboratory skills module is innovative and bespoke for this particular cohort, forming an integral part of the focus of the programme.
Dr Rose Murray
External examiner (University of Bristol)
