Many of the world’s greatest health challenges are caused by viral infections. The coronavirus pandemic demonstrated this very dramatically, and recent outbreaks of Ebola (Bundibugyo virus) and hantavirus illustrate the relevance and importance of medical virology as a discipline.
Influenza remains a major health problem, with hundreds of thousands dying from the disease each year, and millions more developing serious illness. Other serious viral infections for which effective vaccines exist, such as measles, rubella and polio still circulate in some areas of the world. To tackle these major health threats, well-trained virologists with the knowledge and skills to diagnose, treat and prevent such disease are a vital requirement.
The MSc in Medical and Molecular Virology will enable you to gain the skills and knowledge to help tackle the global challenges posed by existing and emerging viral infections. The course will offer in-depth training in medical and molecular virology, with integration of relevant immunology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics knowledge and techniques to help you develop the attributes required for a modern virologist.
You will acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding of viruses, the diseases they cause and how they cause them. You will also learn how to diagnose, control and prevent infections in individuals and in communities. Later in the course, you will choose a research project and carry it out under the supervision of an academic or clinical supervisor, depending on your interests. This is your opportunity to study a relevant and topical question in medical virology using state-of-the-art techniques and facilities. By combining academic study with the practice of clinical virology in the health service, our MSc is highly relevant and at the cutting edge of medical and molecular virology.
PhD with integrated master's
If you're planning to undertake a PhD after your master's, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health.
Clinical virology expertise
Clinical virologists from local NHS laboratories contribute to teaching on our course and offer research projects based on current clinical problems in their everyday clinical and laboratory practice.
Hands-on laboratory experience
You will gain practical laboratory experience during all taught units and undertake a substantial laboratory-based research project within the university labs or in a clinical diagnostic lab. In silico projects based on viral genome sequence analysis are also available.
Various study options
You can study either full-time or part-time on both the MSc and PGCert routes, enabling you to fit learning around your other commitments if needed. The part-time route requires full-time attendance for certain periods.
We require a First or Upper Second-class degree in a relevant biomedical/biosciences subject, or an overseas equivalent qualification.
Non-standard applicants for the course will be considered on an individual basis.
This course is also available for intercalating medical students, both from The University of Manchester and other UK universities, upon completion of their third year. For St Andrews students, this includes the three-year course, plus the following one or two years spent in Manchester.