Applied Biomedical Science

Duration

One year, full-time

Application Deadline

Home fee payers 24 August 2025 | Overseas fee payers 1 July 2025

Location

St George's, University of London

UK, EU and non-EU (international)

citizens may apply

Start dates

8 September 2025

Please note: this course is subject to revalidation and aspects of the course content and delivery are likely to change as part of continuous improvement. If you apply for this course, we will contact you about any changes as soon as possible.

Applied biomedical science is a field of study that seeks to apply advances in basic research, to develop new diagnostic tools, therapies and preventive strategies for human diseases. Subjects covered by the course include clinical trials management, genomics, personalised medicine, bioinformatics and population health research.

The course is aimed at students with an undergraduate degree in biomedical science or a related bioscience discipline. Previous participants have also joined with qualifications in biotechnology, dentistry, medicine, pharmacology and pharmacy. Good writing skills and a fundamental understanding of molecular biology, genetics and arithmetic are beneficial.

There are multiple opportunities on the course to develop your transferable professional skills, especially in scientific writing, presentation and data analysis. Professional training further includes a three-month research project, involving active immersion in a translational science project.

Completing our MSc will help you develop into a confident and self-reliant scientist with extensive knowledge and understanding of translational science. You’ll be prepared for both academic study at a doctoral level, as well as for a career in research and development. Past graduates have gone on to study medicine, start PhD training or obtained employment in roles such as data analyst, clinical trials manager or researcher within the biotechnology sector. We also invite applications from intercalating medical students.

You can also spend part of your study abroad with the Erasmus/Turing programme.

“Completing this Master's enabled me to gain expertise in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and genomics. Undertaking a research project allowed me to cultivate essential laboratory skills to become a more confident and competent researcher in cell and molecular biology.”

- Parisa Rahimnashat

“The professors and staff were incredible. Each one provided expertise in their respective field and allowed me to acquire a new perspective in the field of translational medicine on how to make an impact and take something from bench to bedside.”

- Filip Djukic

“My MSc has been of great importance for continuing with my PhD. I had the opportunity to considerably improve my scientific writing competency as well as my informatics and statistics skills. I also learned how to carry out a research project and how to work as a member of a research group. I’ve been using these skills from the very first day of my PhD.”

- Aurora Campagna

Course structure

Modules will be delivered in lectures, tutorials, presentations, discussions, online activities.

To complete the MSc, you will study seven taught modules, and then complete a three month research project.

Watch the Applied Biomedical Science MSc webinar from our virtual postgraduate event.

Course start date

The course will start with enrolment and induction activities on 9 - 10 September 2024. Topics covered will include the virtual learning platform, library and careers service as well as course specific sessions. There will also be keynote speakers and a social event where students from a variety of postgraduate taught courses can get to know each other.

Semester structure

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Semester one

Case Studies in Drug Discovery and Development (15 credits)
Genomic Technologies in Clinical Diagnostics (15 credits)
Research Methods and Management (15 credits)
Clinical Trials (15 credits)

Semester two

Big Data in Biomedicine (30 credits)
Personalised Medicine (15 credits)
Population Health Research (15 credits)

Semester three

Research Project (60 credits)

Want to know more?

Find out more about postgraduate study at St George’s, University of London by registering for our introductory email series.

Module information

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Big Data in Biomedicine (30 credits)

Understanding of large biomedical datasets and data analysis skills are now required at all stages of the translational research continuum; training in this area is thus greatly desired by potential employers.

Since the human genome was first sequenced in 2003, the biomedical sciences have experienced an explosion of DNA sequence data, functional genomics collections and epidemiological information. The exponential progress in this area was made possible by the emergence of novel technologies used to sequence DNA, investigate gene function and to store and analyse large amounts of data. New technologies, comprehensive datasets and advances in data storage have ushered in the field of ‘systems biology’, a catchphrase used in reference to growing efforts of using holistic approaches to study complex problems in biology and medicine. Availability of properly trained scientists who can analyse these data is now becoming the limiting factor in industry and academia.

Case Studies in Drug Discovery and Development (15 credits)

The first part of this module focuses on malaria, a disease of global importance. Sessions go through a series of case studies that explore very comprehensively the pathophysiology of malaria, plus preclinical and clinical studies that led to the development of antimalarials. The second half consists of presentations and workshops by translational scientists at St George’s talking about their own research.

Clinical Trials (15 credits)

This module will introduce students to fundamental principles and concepts of clinical trials. Particular attention will be given to randomised controlled trials (RCTs), which are considered to be the most robust approach to testing new treatments. Students will learn how to appraise the validity and reliability of trial results and how trials are managed and conducted in real-world settings. Students will also gain an appreciation of the ethical and regulatory requirements surrounding RCTs.

Students will complete practical sessions each week based on the topic of the preceding lecture. Work from the practical sessions will be documented in a practical session notebook, which will count towards the ICA helping to consolidate learning and knowledge. The final sessions of the module will draw together the key themes explored with a presentation on landmark trials from experts in the field.

Importantly, a one-day face-to-face good clinical practice (GCP) course will form part of the module with a certificate awarded on successful completion. This GCP certificate is a key requirement for those working on clinical trials in any sector. The module thus provides knowledge, skills and a qualification immediately relevant for potential employment in the area of clinical trials management.

Genomic Technologies in Clinical Diagnostics (15 credits)

Powerful new technologies are transforming healthcare. Over the last decade technologies have emerged that allow scientists to interrogate the genome at the chromosome or single nucleotide level in just a few days, resulting in greater availability of genomic data, which is increasingly being used to determine health management. Genomics have become pivotal in various areas of current translational medicine such as diagnostics, pharmacogenetics / precision medicine, and population genetics.

This online module focuses upon these fundamental genomic technologies. Students will familiarise themselves with the molecular and cytogenetic techniques currently employed in the diagnostic laboratories and, using their knowledge, develop testing stratagems for particular clinical condition(s). Students will also gain an in-depth understanding of genetic technologies currently undertaken in the research setting, and the challenges involved in the implementation of novel technologies in the diagnostic setting.

Personalised Medicine (15 credits)

The ultimate goal of personalised, or precision, medicine is to create healthcare strategies that are tailored to each individual patient. This will be achieved by integrating molecular information with traditional clinical and pathological signs of disease. Advances in genomic technologies have provided new perspectives across medicine, particularly in screening, diagnosis, disease classification and treatment. This module explores how this research is being translated intoclinical practice to make personalised medicine a reality.

Personalised medicine is not limited to pharmacogenetics (which examines the effect of genetic variation on drug targets, metabolism, efficacy and toxicity) but looks more broadly at how molecular profiling can influence health outcomes. Examples include molecular therapies used in oncology, advances in pre-natal screening and management of infection. We also consider issues surrounding personalised medicine, including patient responses to genetic testing, the challenge of translating research results into clinical practice, genetic discrimination, and regulation.

Examples are drawn from cancer, infection and a range of clinical specialties.

Population Health Research (15 credits)

Population-based policies and changes in clinical practice rely on data analyses of all forms: descriptive and inferential. The latter refers to studies aiming at producing reproducible results or estimates which can be generalised to large populations. Understanding patterns in population health related to disease demographics, lifestyle, socioeconomic features, environmental exposures, and interventions are quintessential in designing evidenced-based public health policies.

This module will equip students with a body of knowledge on epidemiology of public health, study designs, measures of associations between diseases and potential risk factors and associated statistical methods which quantify their magnitude and statistical significance.

This module will walk the students through all phases of research development lifecycle: from initial stage of research question and the importance of pilot and feasibility studies to main complex observational epidemiological settings such as cross-sectional, cohort, case control and longitudinal studies. The associated statistical concepts and techniques will include not only simple hypotheses testing but also basic elements of statistical modelling addressing bias and confounding in observational studies and methods to minimise them.

Research Methods and Management (15 credits)

The Research Methods and Management module tightly integrates with the research project by introducing students to the conceptual, technical, regulatory and ethical aspects of conducting research. The module also covers a number of transferable skills related to self-directed learning, literature analysis, communication, and time management. Teaching strategies will include a “flipped classroom” approach involving self-directed learning followed by class presentations, discussions and tutorials. The principal assessment is a research proposal on the subject of students’ laboratory project.

Research Project (60 credits)

The supervised research project constitutes a central learning activity by providing immersive, work-based training in translational science. A research project involves choosing a subject, formulating a specific research question or aim, devising a research strategy to address this question, performing the research and analysing the resulting data. Project background, experimental procedures, results and discussion are written up as a 15,000 to 25,000-word dissertation and presented orally to an audience with the aid of a poster.

At the beginning of the course students will be presented with a list of available research projects, and they are asked to explore possible subjects in meetings with potential supervisors. Students choose a project by the end of the first month. The course has been designed such that the research project interdigitates, wherever possible, with the taught modules. The 'Case Studies in Drug Development' and 'Big Data in Biomedicine' modules will include assignments requiring reading and presenting scientific literature, and students will have opportunities to choose material with relevance to their project.

Following the first term, students will prepare a research proposal on the subject of their research project.

Entry criteria

To be considered for this course, you will need to:

meet the entry criteria
write a personal statement
provide two suitable references

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

You should have or be expected to achieve, a minimum of a second class degree (2:2). For healthcare graduates, a pass is required. All degrees must be awarded before 1 August on the year of entry.

Experience of the research process and/or completion of an undergraduate dissertation is essential.

The course is aimed at students with an undergraduate degree in biomedical science or a related bioscience discipline. Previous participants have also joined with qualifications in biotechnology, dentistry, medicine, pharmacology and pharmacy. A fundamental understanding of molecular biology, genetics and arithmetic are beneficial.

We may invite you to interview if are unable to make a decision directly from your application.

Intercalating students

Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree but are current medical students who have successfully completed 360 credits (or equivalent) including at least 120 credits at Level 6 (or equivalent) of their medical degree are also eligible to apply.

International qualifications

We accept equivalent qualifications gained in other countries and use to UKNARIC to assess. Please see our International Student Support pages for more information.

If you have any questions, you can contact us at pgenquiries@sgul.ac.uk

English language requirement

This is a Group 1 course.

If you have any questions, you can contact us at pgenquiries@sgul.ac.uk

Speak to the course organiser

If you have questions about the Applied Biomedical Science course and would like to speak to the course organiser, please submit your questions to us.

Everything you need for success in the health and life sciences profession is here – from opportunities to learn from professionals working on the clinical frontline to cutting-edge laboratory facilities and bio-imaging technology.

We’re the UK’s only university dedicated to medical and health sciences education, training and research. We share our site with a major London teaching hospital. This means you’ll become part of a unique clinical and academic research community, mixing with the many different healthcare professionals you will go on to work alongside throughout your career.

Laboratories

Our teaching laboratories are fully fitted with equipment for biological, chemistry, biomedical, molecular biology and pharmacy practicals. This includes:

Microscopes
Spectrophotometers
DNA amplifiers
Organ baths
Specialist glassware

We’ve installed audio-visual equipment so microscope images can be projected onto large screens. You’ll also be able to use our tissue culture facilities, flow cytometry, pathogen containment facilities.

Image Resource Facility (IRF)

The IRF is designed for Light Microscopy, Electron Microscopy, and sample preparation. Here you can image histology samples, cells and molecules of all varieties, and model organisms such as zebrafish using any of the light microscope, slide scanning, or electron microscope systems.

Zebrafish facility

Our zebrafish facility has an aquarium that can house over 2,500 adult fish. The facility is fully staffed to provide the infrastructure and care required by the Home Office’s strict licensing laws for the use of animals in scientific procedures.

The zebrafish have a vertebrate system which can be used to model human disease. Our researchers take advantage of this to aid drug development, improve patient care, and answer questions at the forefront of medical science.

Did you know each adult mating can produce up to 300 eggs? This provides a great deal of data for performing statistical analysis.

If you use this facility as part of a project, we’ll provide you with training.

Pathology museum

Our on-site Museum of Human Diseases houses a collection of over 2,000 pathological specimens, including those donated by Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie in 1843. This space is used for small group tutorials exploring the mechanisms of disease.

Library and learning technology

Our library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You’ll find silent, quiet and group learning spaces, as well as group discussion rooms.

We have a wide range of books, e-books, academic journals and other resources. You’ll also have access to online resources, such as the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment and our Hunter discovery service.

Need accessibility equipment? The library also loans noise-cancelling headphones, laptop stands, coloured overlays, desktop whiteboards, and more.

IT facilities

We have an extensive range of IT facilities, including:

260 workstations in five computer suites, three of which are open 24 hours a day
75 self-service laptops available
Free Wi-Fi covering the whole campus, including our halls of residence accommodation.

You can use these resources to access your course materials, discussion boards and feedback through Canvas.

Looking for a free space? Simply use our handy real-time computer locator.

University of London

BLOOM@Senate House

As St George's is part of the University of London, you have access to BLOOM@Senate House, a unique space in the heart of Bloomsbury. Senate House offers a central London base which is particularly useful if you’re studying or living further out. The area has great transport links, making it easy to access from anywhere in London or further afield.

Senate House Library

Students can join the Senate House library free of charge. Your membership includes a 10-book borrowing allowance, access to all reading rooms and study areas, and on-site access to digital resources.

State-of-the-art-facilities

Based in a major teaching hospital, our students are immersed in a professional clinical and research environment from day one. Read more about our state-of-the-art facilities.

Student support

From day one, you’ll become part of a community of staff and students of different ages, ethnicities, nationalities and backgrounds. Everyone you meet will have one thing in common – a passion for healthcare, science and medicine.

Whether you’re an existing healthcare professional, returning to education after a break or joining us after graduating from an undergraduate degree, we want to help you make the most of your time here. To do this, we offer a full range of academic support and student services.

Careers service

We offer 1:1 career guidance to undergraduate and postgraduate students at every stage of your professional development, from the start of your course through to graduation and beyond. As a student, you’ll also benefit from career development activities that are specifically tailored to your course.

What we offer:

Career guidance: We offer 30-minute 1:1 careers guidance sessions to support you in your career planning, build your confidence, and help you identify next steps on your career journey.
CV and application advice: We can review your applications with you, support you in presenting yourself to potential employers, tailor your applications to a particular role and help you stand out from your competition.
Practice interviews: Work on the content, structure, and delivery of your answers, whether that’s motivation questions, competency questions, role-specific questions or Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).
Interactive workshops: Our career education workshops are tailored and delivered within courses. Topics may include understanding the graduate job market, learning through reflection on career decision-making, making successful applications and making an impact at interviews.
Careers fairs: These are opportunities to explore career paths in different areas and specialities, meet with employers, and have valuable conversations to inform your career thinking.
Online support: We offer specific information tailored to each course, plus general careers support and resources relevant to whatever your career choices and direction via our Canvas Virtual Learning Environment.

Cost of Living

We know that this may be a worrying time for our students and their families. Our Cost of Living Hub contains the latest information to our community affected by the rising cost of living. We provide students with various financial support, budgeting advice as well as employability options.

Disability support

If you require reasonable adjustments or disability services, you can find information on our disability information for students pages. For any further information please contact the disability adviser.

The Graduate School

Our Graduate School brings together postgraduate students from different disciplines, allowing you to support and learn from each other while expanding your professional networks.

The Graduate School works closely with our research institutes and provides opportunities for personal and professional development. You’ll also have access to a postgraduate common room where postgraduate students and early career researchers can study and socialise.

Induction programme

Our induction sets you up for your studies and helps you feel part of the University. As well as course-specific activities, we run an online ‘Get Started’ module which provides information about:

Social and enrichment activities
Student safety
Wellbeing and learning support
Study skills
Our library facilities
Careers and employability services

International student support

Our International Students Support service is part of the Student Life Centre and provides information on visas, settlement schemes, enrolment and more. To find out more, visit our EU and international support pages.

If you’re an international student, get in touch with the team as soon as you accept your offer via student.immigration@sgul.ac.uk.

Mental health support

St George’s has a confidential, free and impartial counselling service available to all students. You can also access services through our Student Life Centre and our online resources. This includes links to NHS resources, apps, podcasts and websites dedicated to mental health and wellbeing.

Personal academic tutor

When you start your course, we’ll allocate you a personal tutor. This is a member of the academic team who you’ll see regularly to monitor your progress and pick up any problems, both academic and personal. Even if they don’t have the answer, they’ll point you in the right direction towards the support you need.

Student Ambassador Scheme

Our Student Ambassadors support student recruitment events, widening participation activities such as Science Stars and schemes such as Unibuddy Reps. Our Student Ambassadors also help with one-off or less regular events and creating student generated content like blogs and videos.

Student Life Centre

Our Student Life Centre team can help you with every aspect of student life including:

Finances
Accommodation
Exams and assessment
Academic procedures
Admissions
International queries
Disability and wellbeing
Confidential counselling service

Your personal tutor can also signpost you to relevant support.

Students’ Union

St George's Students' Union (SU) is an independent organisation run by students for students. The SU runs a wide range of events and is home to the SU Bar and Shop, music room, dance studios and meeting rooms. The team also provides welfare support for all students, with an open-door policy.

Want to join a sports team? Eager to try something new? We encourage you to take part in the wide range of sports, social and cultural activities and events on offer. From fencing to hockey, yoga to hiking, we have over 100 clubs and societies so you can be sure to find something that will interest you.

Our popular ‘Mums and Dads’ buddy scheme is organised by the Students’ Union. Every first year has the choice of being assigned a ‘parent’ from the year above in their respective course. The returning student acts as a go to for advice about courses and university life.

Students with children

Juggling study and parenthood can be difficult, particularly if you’re taking a demanding medical or healthcare degree. Our Student Parents and Carers Empowered (SPACE) society is a group run by studying parents that meets monthly to support each other and discuss how to balance family life with studying. For more information, email the SPACE society.

Study+

We’re here to help you develop the academic skills you need to succeed and make the most of our library collections.

Sessions and tutorials on literature searches, keyword searches and using databases
Training materials for academic planning, reading and writing to develop key transferable skills
1:1 meetings for a tailored approach to your academic support needs

Careers

Our postgraduate course equips graduates with expertise in bench-to-bedside pathways, genomic diagnostics and data analysis. By providing practical research experience and training in drug development, genomic diagnostics and data analysis, our MSc equips you with skills that are in great demand in the life sciences sector.

Access career pathways

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have helped us design the programme. This means you’ll be equipped with expertise in the relevant bioscience and bench-to-bedside development pathways. You’ll also gain technical knowledge to prepare you for a PhD-level programme and to participate in research and development in pharmaceutical and biotechnology settings.

Address the skills shortage

According to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, there is currently a skills shortage in translational medicine which requires complex understanding to bridge the gap between bench and bedside.

Speak to the course organiser

If you have questions about the Applied Biomedical Science course and would like to speak to the course organiser, please submit your questions to us.

Fees and funding

In this tab you will find the financial information for this course of study, including details of financial support.

Tuition fees 2025

MSc (home): £10,950
MSc (international including EU): £16,750

We do not expect students to incur any extra costs over and above those that we have advertised on the course page. To get the most from your studies, you will need your personal computer or laptop and an internet connection in your home. Find out more about technology requirements.

Funding your study

We have a range of funding opportunities available for students. You may be eligible for the following:

The St George's postgraduate scholarship
The GREAT Scholarship
A Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK Government
Other financial support for Postgraduate Study
An alumni discount – if you're a former St George’s student you can qualify for an additional 10% discount from this course if you're self funded

Postgraduate scholarships

We offer a number of scholarships for outstanding students wishing to study a postgraduate course with us.

How to apply

Before beginning your application please check the entry criteria of the course you wish to study to ensure you meet the required standards.

Applications must be submitted through our online application system, which you can access below. Guidance on submitting an application can be found on our how to apply webpage.

Access our online application system

Select the relevant application link and create an account:

MSc Applied Biomedical Science - Full Time

Once you've created an account, you will then be able to complete the application form and upload any relevant documents. You can save a partly completed form and return to it later. Please make sure you complete all sections. Please make sure that the information you provide is accurate, including the options you select in menus.
Add pgadmissions@sgul.ac.uk to your address book to ensure you do not miss any important emails from us.
When you have checked that your application is complete and accurate, click ‘submit’.

You can track your application through your online account.

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Guidance for completing your references

When completing your application, you will be asked to provide contact details of two referees. Please ensure these details are accurate. As soon as you have submitted your application, your referees will be contacted by the university asking them to upload a reference to your online application.

One must be a recent academic reference. The other should be either a second academic reference or a professional/employer reference. They should cover your suitability for the course and your academic ability.

Your referees should know you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. We do not accept references from family, friends, partners, ex-partners or yourself.

We will send reminder emails to your referees but it is your responsibility to ensure that contact details are correct and referees are available to submit a reference. References should be uploaded within two weeks of making your application.

Speak to the course organiser

If you have questions about the Applied Biomedical Science course and would like to speak to the course organiser, please submit your questions to us.

Duration

One year, full-time

Application Deadline

Home fee payers 24 August 2025 | Overseas fee payers 1 July 2025

Applied Biomedical Science

Course structure

Semester structure

Want to know more?

Module information

Entry criteria

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

Intercalating students

International qualifications

English language requirement

Speak to the course organiser

Everything you need for success in the health and life sciences profession is here – from opportunities to learn from professionals working on the clinical frontline to cutting-edge laboratory facilities and bio-imaging technology.

Laboratories

Image Resource Facility (IRF)

Zebrafish facility

Pathology museum

Library and learning technology

IT facilities

University of London

BLOOM@Senate House

Senate House Library

State-of-the-art-facilities

Student support

From day one, you’ll become part of a community of staff and students of different ages, ethnicities, nationalities and backgrounds. Everyone you meet will have one thing in common – a passion for healthcare, science and medicine.

Careers service

Cost of Living

Disability support

The Graduate School

Induction programme

International student support

Mental health support

Personal academic tutor

Student Ambassador Scheme

Student Life Centre

Students’ Union

Students with children

Study+

Careers

Access career pathways

Address the skills shortage

Speak to the course organiser

Fees and funding

Tuition fees 2025

Funding your study

Postgraduate scholarships

How to apply

Access our online application system

Speak to the course organiser

Apply now

Duration

Application Deadline

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Genomic Medicine