MSc Clinical Immunology / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

The MSc in Clinical Immunology allowed me to pursue my interest in immunology. I have learnt from leading immunologists and the teaching I have received has been varied and engaging.

My favourite part of the MSc was conducting my own extended laboratory research project in the field of cancer immunotherapy. This 10-week project allowed me to explore the ways in which the immune system may be manipulated to kill cancerous cells. This experience gave me skills in performing flow cytometry and in critically analysing and presenting my results. The varied opportunities I had developed my analytical and communication skills, which made me an employable and well-rounded scientist, helping me to secure a graduate job within the pharmaceutical industry.

Charlotte Fleming / MSc Clinical Immunology graduate

Our MSc in Clinical Immunology will give you an advanced understanding of the principles and mechanisms of the immune system and immune responses in the context of infection, malignancy and immunological disorders.

You will also gain insight into the specialist area of laboratory medicine from clinical leaders and researchers at the forefront of immunology.

This course comprises six course units taught in blocks spanning the field of clinical immunology. Teaching is delivered on both campus and hospital sites by more than 40 individual contributors.

Course content includes:

  • fundamental and advanced immunology;
  • immune deficiencies;
  • immunotherapy;
  • allergy;
  • autoimmunity;
  • cancer immunology and haematological malignancy.

You will learn about diagnostic assays and techniques employed in research and clinical laboratories to develop your technical understanding and clinical interpretation of results.

The course will also enable you to develop critical and experimental research skills relevant to the field through practical research masterclasses, a focused research proposal and a research project.

If you have an interest in this highly diverse and ever-changing field and you wish to expand your knowledge at the interface of clinical and academic immunology, this master's course is ideal for you.

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.

You can also visit this page for examples of projects related to integrated master's courses.

Aims

This course aims to give you:

  • an advanced understanding and applied knowledge in the theory and practice of clinical immunology;
  • a critical understanding of how immunological investigations are employed to develop a clinical diagnosis;
  • the necessary transferable and research skills to promote lifelong learning and career development.

Special features

Inter-professional learning

You will learn alongside students from a range of backgrounds who are studying on related healthcare science courses. This diversity of educational and professional input from both speakers and students provides a fantastic opportunity for collaborative learning and networking.

Research skills

You will develop a broad range of research skills through a combination of supervised laboratory masterclasses, preparation of a research proposal and undertaking a 10-week full-time research project embedded within one of the research groups at The University of Manchester.

Patient and public involvement and engagement

You will develop a variety of communication skills by working with patient contributors throughout the course. This includes patient experience sessions, clinic observations and patient feedback. This element of the course was highly commended at the University's Making A Difference Awards.

Flexible part-time option

If you have other commitments, our part-time option allows you to study each unit in dedicated study blocks spread over two years, giving you the flexibility you need.

Teaching and learning

Academic teaching is delivered by specialist immunologists from the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation .

Clinical teaching is delivered by experts from across the UK, including the suparegional Allergy Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Trust, Cambridge Immunology Network, Institute of Child Health UCL and the CRUK Manchester Institute.

We aim to provide a flexible range of teaching and blended learning methodologies including live interactive teaching sessions such as lectures, workshops with problem-based learning exercises and hands-on practical laboratory sessions. These will be supplemented with recorded videos and self-directed interactive activities available online via our virtual learning environment, in addition to your own independent guided study time. There are opportunities to interact with patient representatives throughout the course. This range of teaching and learning approaches is designed to develop both your immunological understanding and translational skills.

Our course directors have been recognised nationally for their innovative approaches to teaching with the BSI teaching excellence award in 2019 and 2021. 

Find out more by visiting the postgraduate teaching and learning page.

Key academic staff (Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health):

  • Dr Nicholas Barnes - Programme Director (Senior Lecturer)
  • Dr Jenny Herbert - Deputy Programme Director (Lecturer)
  • Dr Joanne Pennock - Reseaerch Project Coordinator (Lecturer)
  • Dr Sara Gago - Unit Lead for Laboratory Research Skills Masterclasses (Research Fellow)
  • Dr Karima Kahlat - Co-Unit Lead for Immune Responses, Immune Deficiencies and Immunotherapy (Lecturer)
  • Professor Silvia Bulfone-Paus - Programme Committee Member (Professor of Immunobiology)

Key clinical staff:

  • Dr Ross Sadler - Clinical Lead (Consultant Clinical Scientist, Oxford University Hospitals)
  • Dr Susana Marinho - Unit Co-Lead for Hypersensitivity & Allergy (Honorary Senior Lecturer/Consultant Allergist, Allergy Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust).
  • Dr Peter Arkwright - Programme Committee Member (Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Paediatric Allergist & Immunologist, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust)

Coursework and assessment

We will assess your progress using a range of formative and summative assessments. These will include multiple choice, short answer and essay questions, written or creative assignments, data analysis in laboratory reports and oral presentations.

The assessments will be constructed to assess your knowledge and understanding while at the same time refining and expanding your intellectual and transferable skills.

Course unit details

To obtain a PGDip, you will be required to complete 120 credits (105 credits of taught units and a 15-credit research proposal):

  • Introduction to Clinical Immunology (15 credits)
  • Immune Responses, Immune Deficiency and Immunotherapy (30 credits)
  • Acquired Disorders in Clinical Immunology - Allergy, Autoimmunity, Haematological Malignancy (30 credits)
  • Research Skills Laboratory Masterclasses (30 credits)
  • Research Proposal (15 credits)

In addition, to obtain an MSc, you must combine the units above with a 60-credit research project and dissertation.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Research Proposal (Clinical Immunology) MEDN60302 15 Mandatory
Research Project & Dissertation (Clinical Immunology) MEDN60402 60 Mandatory
Immune Responses MEDN61020 15 Mandatory
Acquired Disorders in Clinical Immunology MEDN63322 30 Mandatory
Introduction to Clinical Immunology MEDN67111 15 Mandatory
Diagnostic Molecular Pathology MEDN67532 0 Mandatory
Research Skills Masterclass (Immunology) MEDN68100 30 Mandatory
Research Methods (Non-Credit) MEDN69920 0 Mandatory

Facilities

I would recommend the MSc Clinical Immunology to any medical student who desires a deeper understanding of immune-mediated pathology.

Early lectures ensure a thorough understanding of key immunological principles, followed by exposure to a vast range of pathology including allergy, infectious disease, immune deficiency, and oncology. I enjoyed being integrated within a dedicated research laboratory during my research project, and was able to develop my wet lab and data analysis skills under expert supervision.

James Moore / MSc Clinical Immunology and intercalating medical student

You will be able to access a range of facilities throughout the University.

You will undertake your academic learning on the main University campus and at Wythenshawe Hospital in South Manchester.

Your research project may be carried out in a laboratory associated with The University of Manchester or at teaching hospitals in Greater Manchester, both of which benefit from the excellent research and core facilities here at University, including state of the art flow cytometry , imaging and sequencing facilities

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service .