School of Molecular Medical Sciences

MSc in Microbiology and Immunology

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Support: Each student is allocated a

personal tutor at the beginning of

the course, and regular meetings

are scheduled throughout the

year. The University provides

many other sources of support

including the Counselling Service,

Office for Disability Issues, Study

Support Centre, Student Advice

Centre, International Office plus

many more.

First-class facilities:The University library service

provides access to more than a

million books and journals, and

extensive IT facilities are available

across all campuses. Postgraduate

students have their own Graduate

Centre and social space within the

Medical School. This all helps to

maintain our reputation for

excellence.

Stimulating Environment:The School of Molecular Medical

Sciences is a lively and varied

school, carrying out research into a

variety of topics. The latest research

assessment exercise (RAE) in 2008

identified ~80% of research in the

School as internationally recognised

or better. Three of the Units of

Assessment were rated in the UK

Top 10.

What do we offer?

The CourseAims of the Course

The MSc in Microbiology and Immunology is a one-year full time course designed

to provide students with knowledge in two complementary disciplines, stressing

the challenges posed by pathogens and how they shape immune responses.

Aims and Objectives of the course:

� Students will learn about clinically relevant pathogens through an

introductory module on Medical Microbiology and two specialised modules

on Bacterial and Viral pathogenesis.

� Students will learn about the immune system through an introductory

module on the theme of Immunity and the Immune system and a module

on the ability of the innate immune system to sense the presence of

pathogens and instruct the acquired immune system.

� Therapeutic targets and tools will be discussed in the Therapeutic

Immunology module.

� Provision for the development of practical research skills will be offered

by the Research Methods in Immunology and Microbiology module, and a

Research Projects leading to a dissertation.

Why choose this course?

We are committed to providing quality and cutting edge training in Microbiology

and Immunology. The MSc is offered in a School that has a very sound teaching

and research base, with expertise in the host-pathogen interface. The ongoing

interactions between the microbiologists and immunologists within the School

will guarantee exposure to the forefront of research into host-pathogen

interactions.

Entry RequirementsThe course is suitable for graduates in Life Sciences and other allied subjects.

The course is also offered to medical and veterinary graduates wishing to pursue

a career in Immunology or Microbiology. Candidates for admission will normally

be expected to hold a minimum of 2ii or equivalent qualification, awarded from

an approved University.

Applicants whose first language is not English must normally achieve an overall

score of 6.5 on the IELTS test (no less than 6 in any element), 573 on paper

based TOEFL with 4.5 in written English, or 230 on the computer based TOEFL

with 4.5 in the essay element. Tests must have been taken within the last 2 years.

Course Structure

Fees for students who are British/EU citizens or have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, together with

three years residency in the UK/EU prior to the start of the course will be set at approximately £4480 per

year. Fees for International students will be around £14,260 per year. Costs are subject to increase each

academic year, so please check prices at the time of application.

Details of available studentships are available on our web site:

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/mol/msc_courses

The University estimates that a figure of approximately £7,200 will be required for a single student spending

twelve months at Nottingham. This figure includes accommodation, subsistence, purchase of clothing and

books, some entertainment and internal travel. It does not cover the international airfare or the University

fee.

What are the costs?

The course consists of two introductory modules on the themes of Medical Microbiology and

Immunity and the Immune system, five other taught modules and a project leading to a

dissertation. The credit rating and description of each module are as follows:

Introduction to Medical Microbiology (10 credits)

To define the basic mechanisms and concepts underpinning medical microbiology.

Immunity & the Immune System (10 credits)

To define the basic mechanisms and concepts underpinning the science of immunology.

Research Methods in Microbiology and Immunology (20 credits)

To demonstrate how various research strategies are used to study microbiology and immunology

and to employ the skills of performing and recording laboratory work.

Bacterial Pathogenesis and Infections (20 credits)

To highlight the different mechanisms associated with disease pathogenesis for a selection of

bacteria, and to give students an understanding of clinical syndromes using a systematic

approach, including the microbiology of important diseases, diagnostic approaches and choice of

antibiotic.

Viral Pathogenesis and Infections (20 credits)

To illustrate how viruses interact with cells, what are the underlying molecular mechanisms of

infection and replication, and how these interactions lead to clinical disease.

Innate Immune Recognition (20 credits)

To describe current understanding of pattern recognition receptors and pathogen-associated

molecular patterns within the context of infections, tumour recognition, immunoevasion and

immunopathology.

Therapeutic Immunology (20 credits)

To analyse current and potential therapeutic strategies and to assess the use of engineered

antibodies and peptide vaccines for treating immunological diseases.

Research Project (60 credits)

To establish the technical skills required for research at the host-pathogen interface and for

designing experiments and to demonstrate the ability to write scientific text. Students will carry out

a research project, with topics being determined by members of academic staff. Students will add

to their practical and intellectual skills in scientific investigation. The students will also gain

experience of project and time management, and acquire specialised skills related to the project.

MSc Course Enquiries

School of Molecular Medical Sciences

A Floor, West Block

University Hospital

Nottingham

NG7 2UH

Tel: +44 (0)115 823 0775

Fax: +44 (0)115 823 0759

Email: mol-postgrad@nottingham.ac.uk

Web: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/mol

Applying for a place

The SchoolMolecular Medical Sciences is a lively and diverse school, with ongoing

research in Molecular and Cellular Bacteriology, Virology, Immunology,

Human Genetics and Translational Cancer Research.

We have around 40 members of academic staff and more than 60

research and support staff. This fosters an exciting and active

environment for all of our postgraduate students - there are

approximately 80 MSc students and 75 research students within our

school alone. The School attracts funding from many sources, including

the Research Councils, European Union, Medical Charities and Industry.

The MSc course is co-ordinated by academic staff within Microbiology

and Immunology. Research groups within the School are located within

the Queen’s Medical Centre (a modern teaching hospital and associated

Medical School located next to the University Park campus) and in the

Centre for Biomolecular Sciences on University Park campus.

International StudentsThe University of Nottingham is a popular choice for international

students, with over 6000 students coming from more than 130 different

countries. The International Office provides support and information

right through from the time of application to when you graduate. A

welcome week is provided prior to the start of the academic term.

They can be contacted at: International Office, University of

Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. Tel: +44

(0)115 951 5247; Fax: +44 (0)115 951 5155

Email: International-office@nottingham.ac.uk.

The UniversityThe University of Nottingham main campus is situated within 330 acres

of landscaped parkland, and is just a short bus ride away from

Nottingham city centre. The most recent research assessment exercise

(RAE) confirmed The University of Nottingham's position as a world

class research-led institution. Over 60% of the University's RAE scores

identified research as being of a level of international excellence.

With over 100,000 students at the city's universities and colleges,

Nottingham is a vibrant city with plenty to keep its youthful population

busy. Its compact city centre, only ten minutes away from the

Nottingham campuses by bus or bike, combines heritage and history

with contemporary culture.

Nottingham Life

If you would like to apply for this course, please

apply on-line at:

https://pgapps.nottingham.ac.uk/

The on-line application process is quick, and

allows you to track the progress of your

application at any time.