Precision Medicine: Genomic Data Science MSc

Course overview

Precision Medicine is a rapidly evolving area of science within the healthcare industry, creating increasing demand for talented graduates with a specific skill set.

This interdisciplinary course has been designed to directly meet the need for those with both biological knowledge and the computational and analytical interest to drive genomic precision medicine.

You’ll gain the skills to use large volumes of complex data, encompassing genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, phenotypic data, epidemiology and clinical trial investigations, to improve the understanding of disease mechanisms.

Upon completion, you’ll find you have an excellent chance of moving into the analytical genomics field in industry, the NHS and academia.

Applying

Entry requirements

Applicants should normally have a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2:1 or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline which would normally be one of the biological sciences or natural sciences. Subject to University regulations, MBChB or BDS students who had completed 3 years of study would be eligible to intercalate.

While the course does not assume any prior knowledge of statistics, we require that students demonstrate their aptitude for statistics from either undergraduate teaching in statistics/mathematics, an A-level (or equivalent) in mathematics or other relevant experience.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any single component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

Career opportunities

As outlined in the recent publication ‘Science Industry Partnership: Skills Strategy 2025’, there is a demand among employers for the skills that you’ll develop on this course.

Upon completion of this course, you’ll be well-placed to undertake a PhD in this field. You may also be able to enter into a number of roles within the industry or NHS:

• Computational biology.
• Data analytics functions.
• Clinical genetics.
• Disease Biologist.
• Clinical Scientist.
• Clinical leadership in genomic medicine.

Recent graduates from the course have gone on to PhDs, and to work in data analytical roles in the NHS, in academia and in the biopharmaceutical industry.

At our annual industry awareness day we invite guests from the NHS and pharmaceutical industry to talk about the research they do and the career opportunities available. Students can chat to them privately for careers advice.