MSc Genomic Medicine / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course description

"I wanted to study genomic medicine at Manchester because the University offers many research opportunities.

"The MSc has helped me to develop professionally in fields like bioinformatics and rare diseases, as it is taught by experts. I can also participate in many other opportunities in a hospital setting."

Karla Alejandra Ruiz Ceja / MSc Genomic Medicine

Our MSc in Genomic Medicine is accredited by Health Education England and is designed to fulfil the aspirations of the 100,000 Genome Project to create a world-class NHS workforce that understands and applies genomics for patient care. Our MSc consists of taught units and a literature review or a bioinformatics-based project. You will be encouraged to use your intellectual curiosity, creativity and critical thinking in the practical application of genomics and bioinformatics.

We emphasise the practice of genomics and bioinformatics in the NHS and academia as a partnership between multiple stakeholders, including clinical, academic and industrial involvement. As such, you will learn from clinical experts from the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine , The University of Manchester, and Qiagen.

NHS professionals will learn how genomics impact on their area of clinical practice and how they can apply their new knowledge in their workplace.

This course is also ideally suited to science graduates wanting to further their specialist knowledge in human genomics. The knowledge and training from this course is appropriate for securing employment in the healthcare industry (eg diagnostics, data interpretation) or for entry into further training programmes (eg NHS Scientist Training Programme).

Aims

This course will train healthcare professionals from different disciplines (eg medicine, nursing, scientists and technologists) in genomic knowledge that will impact on their service delivery to patients. We will provide contemporary genomic education for the multi-professional healthcare workforce to support: 

  • the embedding of genomics education at all levels of the current and future workforce;
  • the building of capacity and capability in the NHS workforce in genomic medicine, both clinical and research.

The course will also equip biomedical science graduates with the skills and knowledge to secure employment in the healthcare industry or pursue a PhD in the field.

Teaching and learning

We take a student-focused and patient-centred approach to teaching and learning.

The course content is delivered using a combination of lectures, problem and evidence-based learning, workshops and collaborative learning.

The course content is designed to help you develop the deeper contextualised specialist knowledge and critical evaluative skills necessary for a questioning and innovative approach to your learning and clinical practice.

You will learn from healthcare professionals and industry partners who are working at the forefront of practice and clinical research and can draw on their scholarship and expertise to help you build your knowledge.

Coursework and assessment

We use a large variety of assessment methods including written assignments, workshops, tutorials, oral presentations, written exams and MCQ.

Course unit details

The course units are split into three categories; core, elective core and optional.

Master's students must complete all the core units, a minimum three of four elective core units, and additional optional units in order to attain 180 credits. In addition, master's students will undertake a project as either a 60 credit bioinformatics or research based project for full-time students, or a 30 credit literature review for part-time students.

PGDip students must complete any 8 units to achieve the required number of credits (120 credits). PGCert students must complete any 4 units to achieve the required number of credits (60 credits).

Core units: Bioinformatics, Interpretation, Statistics and Data Quality Assurance; Fundamentals of Human Genetics; Omics Techniques and their Application to Genomic Medicine; Project (30 or 60 credits).

Elective core units: Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease; Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases; Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Screening, and Treatment; Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare.

Optional units: Counselling Skills for Genomics; Disease Modelling and Genome Engineering; Economics of Genomics and Precision Medicine; Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics; Health Informatics.

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
Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare BIOL67481 15 Mandatory
Molecular Pathology of Cancer BIOL67482 15 Mandatory
Fundamentals of Human Genetics BIOL67561 15 Mandatory
Next Generation Sequencing and Omics in Medicine and Disease BIOL67562 15 Mandatory
Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases BIOL67582 15 Mandatory
Research Project MSc Genomic Medicine BIOL67980 60 Mandatory
Bioinformatics, Interpretation, Statistics and Data Quality Assurance BIOL67981 15 Mandatory
Health Informatics BIOL67361 15 Optional
Economics of Genomics and Precision Medicine BIOL67372 15 Optional
Research Project MSc Genomic Medicine BIOL67380 30 Optional
Counselling Skills for Genomics BIOL67381 15 Optional
Ethical, Legal and Social issues in applied Genomics BIOL67382 15 Optional
Disease Modelling and Genome Engineering BIOL67672 15 Optional
Application of Genomics in Infectious Diseases BIOL67971 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 14 course units

Course collaborators

We collaborate with the following organisations to deliver this MSc:

What our students say

So far, I have completed four modules on Bioinformatics, Human Genetics, Pharmacogenomics and Genetic Counselling. I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed each of these and they have opened my eyes to the potential transformation of healthcare in the NHS through genomic medicine.

Bradley Horn, Genetic Technologist

Disability support

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

CPD opportunities

We offer all of the taught units from this MSc as standalone courses for continuing professional development (CPD). Please visit the Genomic Medicine (CPD units) page for further information.