Molecular Biology and Pathology of Viruses

This MSc course offers an integrated approach to the understanding of the nature of viruses and their role in disease pathogenesis, with an emphasis on the understanding of these processes at the molecular level.

The course provides excellent training for graduates intending to pursue a career in scientific research, but the many transferable skills gained during the course can also be applied to careers outside of science.

The course is comprised of two elements, a taught component which will be given over the first part of the course and a research component which will be given over the remainder of the session. The taught component will include lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials and student presentations, and is divided into 6 modules based on a particular theme (see below). Laboratory based practicals will be held throughout the first part of the course. A written report of each practical will be required and these will each be assigned a mark. A full-time laboratory based research project will be carried out in one of the Departments associated with the MSc course from the beginning of March until the end of August (approximately 24 weeks). On completion of the project a written report will be produced and submitted for an examination followed by a viva in September with the External Examiner.

Term one: The taught part (element) will be given over the first half of the course is comprised of lectures, laboratory practicals, journal clubs, tutorials and student presentations divided into 6 modules based on a particular theme:

1.  MSc Core Curriculum

2.  Virus Architecture and Virus Interactions with Cells

3.  Virus Genomes, Gene Expression and Replication

4.  Virus Disease

5.  Diagnosis, Vaccines and Therapies

6.  Epidemiology, Transmission and Evolution of Viruses

Laboratory based practicals are held throughout taught part of the course and written report of each practical is required. Students are advised to start discussing possible research projects with appropriate academic staff. Projects suggested by College staff or solicited from external Research Institutes and Companies are available to students by the end of November.

Term Two:

In the remaining part of the course there are two, three hour, written papers based on the taught element of the course. Paper 1 – Main theme Molecular Biology of Viruses, Paper 2 – Main theme Viral Pathogenesis.  The written examinations are held at the end of February. Laboratory based research projects start at the beginning of March and last until end of August (approx 24 weeks) when the written thesis has to be submitted. The length of the project is around 10,000 words. The projects are conducted at Imperial College’ St Mary’s Campus or, in part or in a whole, at external research institutions and companies in the UK.  Where the projects are external, a member of Imperial College academic staff is assigned to advise and to monitor student progress. All students have a viva on their project with the External Examiner in the middle of September to determine their final mark.  

The minimum qualification for admission is normally a Lower Second Class Honours degree in a Science-based subject from an UK academic institution or an equivalent overseas qualification.

Wherever possible the students are invited to St Mary’s Campus for an interview, offers of a place on the course are made to students based on the information received in the application form and two references (at least one academic). Where an applicant has a lesser degree qualification but has at least 3 years work experience in biology, agriculture or a related discipline, a special case for admission may be submitted to the Chairman of the Graduate School of Life Sciences and Medicine.

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Dean's Master's Scholarships

Home/EU Students

• Full tuition fees and a stipend of £17,000

• 5 places are available

Overseas Students

• Full tuition fees and a stipend of £17,000

• 4 places are available

Stipends will be paid in monthly instalments, subject to satisfactory progression. Awardees on courses which last more than a year will have their £17,000 stipend spread over the full lengh of the degree. 

The Faculty offers a wide range of Master's degree courses, as well as PG Certificates and Diplomas, and all students will belong to the Graduate School, which provides a comprehensive Transferable Skills Programme. 

 For any queries not covered here, please email James Osborne (PGT Administrator, Faculty of Medicine) at james.osborne@imperial.ac.uk.

Please note that there may be other scholarships offered by Schools, Institutes and Departments that make up the Faculty of Medicine. These are separate from the Dean's and Faculty Master's Scholarships described here and entail a different application process. 

Eligibility

General Eligibility

These awards are open to all students who have made an application to the Faculty of Medicine by 30 April 2015 for admission to study for a full time or part time Master's course* at Imperial College London, starting in October 2015 (*or PG Cert for a course where that is the only route to the higher degree).

Please note that these awards can only be given to students who are studying a course run by the Faculty of Medicine. For a full list of these courses, please see our Master's Degree page. 

It is not essential for applicants to have already received an offer of a place on a course, but the initial course application must be made before applying for a scholarship.

Residence Eligibility

Applications are accepted from talented candidates from Imperial College London, the UK and worldwide. There are no restrictions on nationality.

Academic Eligibility

• Candidates are expected to be able to provide evidence of outstanding academic ability. This will usually mean being among the highest achievers in their undergraduate cohort and in receipt of, or due to receive, a first class UK Honours degree or equivalent.

• An applicant who does not meet this requirement (e.g. holds a second class undergraduate degree, is a health professional who did not undertake a degree course, or is from a non-traditional background*), will be considered if they are able to demonstrate that they have outstanding academic potential and substantial experience relevant to their chosen subject area. This should be included in the Personal Statement section of the application form. (*Those applicants without a degree will be required, where available, to pass a Special Qualifying Examination to gain entry to the chosen course).

• Candidates with degrees from overseas institutions are strongly urged to determine if their scores/grades are equivalent to the relevant eligibility criteria.

• Candidates who already have a postgraduate qualification should justify their request to have an additional postgraduate course funded by the faculty. This should be included in the Personal Statement section of the application form.

• Candidates who wish to apply for a Master's course which starts as a PG Cert or PG Dip will only be considered if they are committed to completing the course to Master's level.

• Scholarships awarded based on predicted grades will be conditional upon final results.

How to Apply
In order to be considered for the Dean's Master's Scholarships, potential candidates will need to have first applied for a place on a Master's course in the Faculty of Medicine. It is not essential to wait for an offer of a place to be made, but the initial course application must be made before submitting a scholarship application. To apply for a Master's course, please use our online admission system. 

Once the application for the course has been submitted, those who wish to apply for a scholarship should complete our online form (Note: the Scholarship award panel will assess candidates on their scholarship application form NOT their course application, so make sure all key information is included in your scholarship application). The form will need to be completed in a single session, so please have the following information prepared:

• Personal statement (not more than 1000 words).
• Details of qualifications, achievements, awards, relevant experience and publications.
• The title/s of the course/s which you have applied for.

Shortlisting will take place in May 2015. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews which are currently scheduled for the week commencing Monday 8 June 2015. All interviews will take place via Skype between 9.00 and 17.00 BST. The scholarship application form includes a question regarding your country of residence in June 2015. We will use this information to identify your time zone and try to tailor your interview time accordingly, although we cannot guarantee that the slot allocated to you will be convenient for your time zone. 

All candidates will be informed of the decision by the end of June 2015.

References

We will use the references that you provide as part of your course application process. Please do not send references to us directly as we will be unable to accept them. It is not essential that we receive your references in time to consider your scholarship application, although their absence may weaken your application. It is therefore recommended that you contact your referees directly to ask that they respond to your course application reference request before Friday 8 May 2015 (one week after scholarship applications close).

Terms and conditions

When applying for Faculty of Medicine Master's Degree Scholarships, candidates must agree to Imperial's terms and conditions regarding scholarships and bursaries. 

Please note, the following conditions override the standard Imperial terms and conditions:

• Both part time and full time students are eligible to apply.

• An offer of a place is not required before applying, but candidates must first apply for a Master's course run by the Faculty of Medicine before applying for a scholarship.

• Candidates who do not apply through the online form will not be considered for the Dean's Master's Scholarships.

• Successful applicants who receive a Dean's Master's Scholarship will not be allowed to accept any other form of scholarship or bursary provided by Imperial College London for study during the 2015/16 academic year.

• Scholarship stipends will be paid in monthly instalments over the length of the course, subject to satisfactory progress. Students on courses which are part time or start as a PG Cert will have their stipend paid in equal monthly instalments over the full length of the course.

• Awardees will be required to participate in a small number of promotional activities during the course of their studies and allow their image to be used by Imperial for publicity purposes. Such activities may include (but are not limited to) attending special events and producing occassional print or web copy.

​Deadline for applications is Midnight 30 April 2015

Applicants will be given a decision by 30 June 2015.

Applications are invited from outstanding candidates from Imperial College London, the UK and worldwide who have the potential to become leaders in their field.