genomic medicine masters personal statement

Genomic Medicine Personal Statement Examples

• 1 Personal Statement Example Links
• 2 Career Opportunities
• 3 UK Admission Requirements
• 4 UK Earnings Potential For Genomic Medicine
• 5 Similar Courses in UK
• 6 UK Curriculum
• 7 Alumni Network

Personal Statement Example Links

• Personal Statement Example 1
• Personal Statement Example 2
• Personal Statement Example 3

Intrigued by the potential of harnessing the power of genomics to revolutionize healthcare? Eager to uncover the secrets held within our genes and translate them into personalized medical solutions?

Pursuing a course in Genomic Medicine could pave the way for you to be at the forefront of the genomic revolution, transforming the way we understand and treat diseases.

Genomic Medicine is an exciting and relevant university course for students interested in the rapidly advancing field of genetic research.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the rapidly evolving field of genomic medicine. Students will learn about the latest advancements in the field, including the use of genomic sequencing and analysis, the development of personalised medicine, and the ethical implications of using genetic information.

Through lectures, seminars, and laboratory work, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the science and technology behind genomic medicine, as well as the ethical implications of using genetic information.

Additionally, students will explore the potential applications of genomic medicine, such as the development of personalised medicine and the potential for the prevention and treatment of diseases.

This course provides a unique opportunity for students to gain a comprehensive understanding of this rapidly advancing field and its implications for the future of healthcare.

👍 When writing a personal statement : Highlight your passion for the course, demonstrating your understanding of it. Use relevant personal experiences, coursework, or work history to showcase how these have fostered your interest and readiness for the course.

Career Opportunities

Someone with a degree in genomic medicine can pursue a variety of career opportunities in the medical and scientific fields. These include:

1. Clinical Geneticist: Clinical geneticists diagnose and treat genetic disorders. They assess patients for genetic conditions, interpret results from genetic testing, and provide counseling to patients and families about genetic conditions. They may also conduct research on genetic diseases and develop new treatments.

2. Genetic Counselor: Genetic counselors provide advice and support to patients and families about genetic conditions. They assess the risk of genetic disorders, interpret test results, and provide counseling and support to patients and families.

3. Biomedical Scientist: Biomedical scientists conduct research on the causes and treatments of genetic diseases. They use genomic data and other laboratory techniques to study the genetic basis of diseases, develop new treatments, and design clinical trials.

4. Bioinformatician: Bioinformaticians use computer science and mathematics to analyse large amounts of genomic data. They develop algorithms and software tools to analyse and interpret genomic data, and use these tools to study the genetic basis of diseases and develop new treatments.

5. Genetic Technologist: Genetic technologists use laboratory techniques to analyse genetic material. They prepare and analyse samples, run tests, and interpret results. They may also work with bioinformaticians to develop new methods for analysing genomic data.

6. Medical Writer/Editor: Medical writers and editors create content for medical journals, websites, and other publications and media.

UK Admission Requirements

In order to be accepted into the University of Kent’s Genomic Medicine course, applicants must have achieved a minimum of a 2:1 in a relevant degree. This is typically a degree in biological science, such as genetics, biochemistry, or molecular biology. Applicants must also have achieved a minimum of Grade B in A-level Maths or equivalent.

In comparison to similar courses, the University of Kent’s Genomic Medicine course has more stringent entry requirements. For example, the University of Oxford’s Genomic Medicine course requires a minimum of a 2:2 in a relevant degree and a minimum of Grade C in A-level Maths or equivalent.

UK Earnings Potential For Genomic Medicine

The average earnings for someone with a degree in genomic medicine will vary depending on the specific job role and the individual’s experience. Generally, a genomic medicine specialist can expect to earn an average of £50,000 – £70,000 per annum.

The job market for genomic medicine is growing rapidly, with many employers looking for specialists in this field. The demand for genomic medicine specialists is expected to increase in the coming years as technology advances and becomes more widely used in the healthcare sector. There are also opportunities for genomic medicine specialists to work in research, teaching and consulting roles.

Similar Courses in UK

1. Bioinformatics and Systems Biology MSc at the University of Edinburgh: This course focuses on the use of computational methods to analyse and interpret large datasets in the life sciences. It covers topics such as genomics, proteomics, and systems biology, as well as the development of software tools and databases to support research.

The key difference between this course and Genomic Medicine is that this course focuses more on the computational and mathematical aspects of genomics, while Genomic Medicine focuses more on the clinical applications of genomics.

2. Genomics, Genetics and Bioinformatics MSc at the University of Manchester: This course covers the principles of genetics, genomics and bioinformatics, as well as the application of these principles to the study of disease. It also provides training in the use of data analysis tools and techniques.

The key difference between this course and Genomic Medicine is that this course provides a more comprehensive overview of the field, while Genomic Medicine focuses more on the clinical applications of genomics.

UK Curriculum

The key topics and modules covered in a university course in Genomic Medicine include:

1. Introduction to Genomic Medicine: This module will provide an overview of the field of genomic medicine, including its history and development, current trends and applications, and the ethical and legal implications of genomic medicine.

2. Genomic Technologies: This module will cover the various technologies used in genomic medicine, such as next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, and data analysis.

3. Clinical Implications of Genomic Medicine: This module will explore the clinical implications of genomic medicine, including the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders, the use of personalized medicine, and the implications for public health.

4. Genomic Research and Applications: This module will cover the research methods used in genomic medicine, including laboratory techniques, data analysis, and the development of new applications.

5. Ethical and Legal Issues in Genomic Medicine: This module will explore the ethical and legal implications of genomic medicine, including privacy, consent, and the use of genomic data.

In addition to the above modules, a university course in Genomic Medicine will typically involve hands-on experience and practical work. This could include laboratory work, data analysis, and the development of new applications. It could also involve field trips to research institutes and other relevant sites.

Alumni Network

One notable alumni from the course in Genomic Medicine is Dr. Anne Wojcicki, the co-founder and CEO of 23andMe. She is a pioneer in the field of genomic medicine, having founded the first direct-to-consumer genetic testing company in 2006. She has since grown the company to become the largest consumer genetics company in the world.

Dr. Wojcicki has used her knowledge of genomic medicine to develop innovative products and services that allow individuals to access their own genetic information and use it to make informed decisions about their health. She has also been a strong advocate for the use of genomic medicine in research and clinical settings.

23andMe has a number of alumni events and networking opportunities available, including an annual alumni summit, which brings together alumni from all over the world to share their experiences and knowledge in the field of genomic medicine. Additionally, the company hosts various webinars and online events throughout the year to help alumni stay connected and engaged with the latest developments in the field.

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MSc in Genomic Medicine

• Entry requirements
• Funding and costs

College preference

• How to apply

About the course

The MSc in Genomic Medicine is a full-time, one-year cross-disciplinary course, which benefits from world-leading expertise in genomic science across the University of Oxford coupled with direct links to clinical and translational medicine.

The course is designed to equip students from diverse academic and workplace backgrounds with knowledge of the fundamental principles, technologies and basis of genomic science and how this can be translated for the benefit of human health, economics and broader society.

The course seeks to promote:

• rigorous scientific training to understand the complexities of genomic data;
• the concept of ‘gene to patient’ in its broadest sense, encompassing fundamental genomics research, bioinformatics pipelines, clinical trials, drug development, translational genomics, education and training for healthcare practitioners, patients and the wider public; and
• a multi-disciplinary approach providing the awareness and skill sets needed to engage with relevant specialists and technologies for the future development and delivery of genomic medicine.

Course structure

Core modules.

The following four modules are taken by all students in the first term:

• Fundamentals in Human Genetics and Genomics
• Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases
• Omic Technologies and their Application to Genomic Medicine
• Bioinformatics, Statistics and Data Interpretation in Genomic Analysis

Elective modules

In the second term, you will take three elective modules from the following six options, with the option to attend further modules that are not formally assessed.

You will select two modules from set A:

• A1 Molecular Pathology and Precision Medicine
• A2 Advanced Quantitative Methods (Bioinformatics and Statistics)
• A3 Genome Engineering and Gene-based Therapeutics
• A4 Single Cell Application of –Omic Approaches

You will select one module from set B:

• B1 Genomics in Clinical Practice
• B2 Application of Genomics for Therapeutics, Vaccinology and Industry

Research project

The final term will focus on a research project undertaken for a twelve to fourteen week period. Approximately 30 projects will be offered by academic research groups and affiliated clinical supervisors in Oxford, as well as industry placements where possible. You will have a named supervisor with experience in supervision of postgraduate students. You will produce a written dissertation based on your research project of 10,000-12,000 words.

Academic and research skills

This module will run throughout the course helping you develop skills in academic writing, scientific communication and good research practice, alongside topics such as career support. It will also include bespoke computational and statistics training as a foundation for the core module ‘Bioinformatics, Statistics and Data Interpretation in Genomic Analysis’.

Teaching format

Modules will comprise a mix of lectures, small-group tutorials, structured learning, individual and group-based assignments, practical wet-lab and computational sessions and independent learning. You will be expected to spend approximately 30-40 hours studying per week, with the balance of contact teaching hours and self-directed learning being approximately equal. In the first term, a student-focussed seminar series will feature expert guest speakers discussing cutting-edge research in genomic medicine and its clinical application.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Nuffield Department of Medicine and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. A supervisor may be found outside the Nuffield Department of Medicine.

All MSc students will have an individual named Academic Advisor assigned on enrolment who will provide guidance in choice of research project and plans, support any specific training needs and also provide pastoral support. They will usually meet with you at least twice per term. In addition, you will have formal and informal supervision from your host group during your research project.

Termly graduate supervision reporting will be completed in Michaelmas and Hilary term by the Academic Advisor and in Trinity term by the research project supervisor.

Summative assessment of the course

Core module content is assessed by written assessments with a mix of question types, taken at the start of the second term and contributing 30% of the final course mark. Towards the end of the second term, elective modules are assessed by written assessments or oral presentations, with each chosen module (three in total) contributing 10% of the final mark. The research project is assessed by a dissertation contributing 40% of the final mark.

You will be required to pass the summative assessment elements for both core and elective modules, and you will have one opportunity to retake/revise each component if needed.

Formative assessment of the course

All modules will include formative assignments devised to test the ability to understand, apply and extend the learning from the module in a variety of formats and through a mix of group/individual work. Formative assessment in the first term will be carefully designed to prepare students for the core module exam papers. Successful completion of these will ensure all students have attained a sufficient level of understanding of fundamental material to complete the elective and research elements of the course. Formative assessment of the research project will include submission of a project proposal during the second term and an oral presentation reporting on progress eight weeks after starting the project.

Graduate destinations

This course will help train the next generation of expert practitioners and leaders in genomic medicine by:

• providing critically important skills and knowledge for specialist health care professionals;
• equipping students to apply for doctoral research and academic careers; and
• offering career development opportunities for industry professionals.

There are routes to tailor the course to individual interests and future career trajectories, which are carefully woven into the overall course.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a relevant field.

The qualification above should be achieved in one of the following subject areas or disciplines:

• biological or biomedical sciences
• medicine or nursing
• bioinformatics or computer science
• statistics or other quantitative discipline.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

Applicants would usually be expected to have a strong undergraduate degree but this requirement can be alternatively demonstrated through substantial relevant professional experience in exceptional cases.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

• Research or work experience in an area relevant to the course in a hospital, life-science or industry setting may be an advantage.
• Please note that a publication record is not expected for entry to this course.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides  further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process. 

Panel members will shortlist applications based on independent scoring (using Graduate Studies admission scoring criteria established by the Medical Sciences Division) and a shortlisting meeting. All shortlisted candidates will be interviewed with references available at the time of interview.

Interviews are expected to be held in mid-late January. A five-minute presentation will be requested from the candidate as part of the interview process. Details of the presentation requirements will be provided in advance of the interview. The interview panel will comprise of senior academics and the interview will last no longer than 30 minutes. All shortlisted applicants will be interviewed virtually.

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.

References  and  supporting documents  submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide  more information about how applications are assessed . 

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

• socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of  the University’s pilot selection procedure  and for  scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
• country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
• protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Initiatives to improve access to graduate study

This course is taking part in a continuing pilot programme to improve the selection procedure for graduate applications, in order to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.

For this course, socio-economic data (where it has been provided in the application form) will be used to contextualise applications at the different stages of the selection process.  Further information about how we use your socio-economic data  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about  processing special category data for the purposes of positive action  and  using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

• the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the  About  section of this page;
• the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
• minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

The MSc in Genomic Medicine is embedded within the Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics (WHG), which has made landmark contributions to understanding the genetic basis of rare and common disease over the last 20 years. Research groups at the WHG continue to pioneer application of cutting-edge genomic techniques and translating those findings to improve clinical practice, including novel treatments, therapeutics and diagnostics.

The WHG is based in purpose-built laboratories on the University of Oxford’s Biomedical Research Campus in Headington, one of the largest concentrations of biomedical expertise in the world. You will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and expertise, as well as opportunities to attend a wide range of training, seminars and journal clubs.

The MSc in Genomic Medicine has dedicated teaching space within the WHG building and close links with our established DPhil programme in Genomic Medicine and Statistics, as well as other MSc programmes hosted within the Nuffield Department of Medicine.

During your research project in Trinity term, you will be embedded within the research groups in the WHG and other institutes, giving you the opportunity to work alongside experienced post-graduate and post-doctoral research staff. The laboratories in the WHG are well-established and well-equipped with cutting-edge technology. Several Core facilities support research activity with specialist expertise, techniques and equipment including high-throughput sequencing, single cell genomics, genome editing, microscopy and cellular imaging, flow cytometry, chromosome dynamics, bioinformatics and high performance computing.

You will have access to a wide range of journals, books and electronic resources through the University libraries including the Knowledge Centre on the Old Road campus, the Cairns Library at the John Radcliffe Hospital and the Radcliffe Science Library, the University’s main teaching and research science library. The libraries also offer dedicated workshops on topics including information discovery, training on use of software and online tools, managing research data and intellectual property.

Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine

The Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine (NDM) is a large multi-disciplinary department that links high quality clinical and basic research. The underpinning motivation behind all research carried out by NDM is the pursuit of academic excellence and the positive impact of research on the health and wellbeing of the global community.

Much of the £130 million per annum grant income is spent on understanding the most basic principles of biology and disease pathogenesis. As well as its research and clinical commitments in Oxford, the department has Africa and Asia programmes in Thailand, Vietnam and Kenya.

The NDM has a community of around 60 graduate research students each year, the majority of whom are studying towards a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree, which is the University of Oxford's equivalent of a PhD. The department also offers an MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine, an MSc in Modelling for Global Health and an MSc in Genomic Medicine, each with an intake of around 20 students every year, plus a PGDip in Global Health Research. The Careers Service at Oxford University reports that six months after leaving Oxford, postgraduate research students at NDM are on average earning £31,000 with 83.8% in employment and a further 11% in further study (eg Graduate Entry Medicine).

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The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. 

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the department's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

Information about course fees

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees and living costs. However, please note that, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

The following colleges accept students on the MSc in Genomic Medicine:

• Balliol College
• Brasenose College
• Green Templeton College
• Hertford College
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Merton College
• Reuben College
• St Anne's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Hilda's College

Before you apply

Our  guide to getting started  provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the  information about deadlines  in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries;
• refugees and displaced persons; 
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

You do not need to make contact with the department before you apply but you are encouraged to visit the relevant departmental webpages to read any further information about your chosen course.

General course enquiries should be made to the graduate studies administrator, via the contact details provided on this page.

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Referees: Three overall, academic and/or professional

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

Your references will assessed for:

• your intellectual ability;
• your academic achievement;
• your motivation an interest in the course and subject area;
• your ability to work effectively, both in a group and independently; and
• professional experience and capability.

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Statement of purpose A maximum of 750 words

Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialise in.

Your statement should focus on your academic achievements and interests, rather than personal achievements, interests and aspirations. 

This will be assessed for:

• your reasons for applying
• your interest and commitment to the subject
• your capacity for sustained and intense work
• your preliminary knowledge of the subject area and research techniques
• your ability to present a coherent case in proficient English.

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.

Application Guide   Apply

ADMISSION STATUS

Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25

Register to be notified via email when the next application cycle opens (for entry in 2025-26)

12:00 midday UK time on:

Friday 1 December 2023 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships

A later deadline shown under 'Admission status' If places are still available,  applications may be accepted after 1 December . The 'Admissions status' (above) will provide notice of any later deadline.

*Two-year average (applications for entry in 2022-23 to 2023-24)

Further information and enquiries

This course is offered by the  Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine , embedded within the Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics

• Course page  on the  centre's website
• Funding information from Clinical Medicine
• Academic and research staff  at the centre
• Research  at the centre
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• Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected]

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide

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Postgraduate Taught

MSc Genomic Medicine

• Postgraduate Taught home
• Healthcare and Medicine
• Genomic Medicine MSc

Masters applications for 2023 entry are now closed.

Applications for September 2024 will open on Monday 25 September. Applications are now open for programmes with a January 2024 start. View our programmes »

• You will be taught by world-leading academics in genomics research, including multifactorial traits and pharmacogenomics
• Learn how genomics is applied to clinical medicine
• Develop skills and knowledge in bioinformatics, genomic sequencing, rare disorders, infectious disease, cancer, epigenomics and more
• Benefit from our flexible study options – study full or part time, with a variety of optional modules to complement your career needs
• NHS employees in England can apply for funding from NHS England (NHSE; formerly Health Education England) to undertake up to a maximum of four modules ( PGCert ) in the first instance.

Apply online

View 2024 Entry

Apply for individual modules 2023/24

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Programme Director:  Dr Jess Tyrrell

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

Dr Anna Murray describes the MSc Genomic Medicine at the University of Exeter Medical School.

Top 10 in the UK for our world-leading and internationally excellent Clinical Medicine research

Based on 4* + 3* research in REF 2021

Our Public Health research is 11th in the UK for Research Power

Submitted to UoA2 Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care. REF 2021

Major capital investment in new buildings and state-of-the-art facilities

Limited number of NHSE funded places for NHS professionals

Course content

Genomic medicine is no longer a vision for the future. In the UK, the NHS aims to make genomic sequencing part of routine care. The University of Exeter has invested heavily in genomics, with extensive expertise in cutting-edge technologies and world-leading genomic research.

We are one of seven universities to offer this prestigious programme and our flexible curriculum enables you to study cutting-edge genomics and how it is applied to clinical medicine. This MSc programme has been developed by Health Education England (now NHSE) and will educate and train students to work in this rapidly evolving field.

Compulsory modules include ‘Fundamentals in Human Genetics and Genomics’, which begins by covering basic concepts in genetics and molecular biology. You’ll also choose from a range of optional modules including 'Genomics of Common and Rare Diseases', 'Infectious Disease', 'Molecular Pathology of Cancer' and 'Counselling Skills for Genomics'.

This MSc course can be studied on a full time basis over one year or over two or three years (part time), which may suit applicants who are already working full time. The programme is divided into units of study called ‘modules’ which are assigned a number of ‘credits’. To gain a Masters qualification, you will need to complete 180 credits at level seven. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with one credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work, a 15-credit module being equivalent to 150 hours of work and a full Masters degree being equivalent to approximately 1,800 hours of work.

Genomic Medicine award structure

It is also possible to exit with a PGCert after completing 60 credits of taught modules or a PGDip after completing 120 credits of taught modules. The list of modules below shows which are compulsory.

Contact Days‌

View the draft timetable of contact days for 2023/24

‌Please note: this timetable is a draft and subject to change

The last contact day and assessment deadline for the programme will be earlier than the actual end date of your registration with the University, to allow a period of time at the end of your active studies for further support and mitigation, if needed.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

MSc Genomic Medicine - Modules

The full MSc course comprises 180 credits made up from seven core modules: six taught modules of 15 credits each and one research module of either 60 or 30 credits. A range of optional modules is available for you to design your own learning experience to complement your career needs, and to complete the full 180 credits required.

It is also possible to exit with a PGCert after completing 60 credits of taught modules or a PGDip after completing 120 credits of taught modules.

PgDip Genomic Medicine

The PG Diploma comprises 120 credits made up of any modules of your choice.

PgCert Genomic Medicine

The PG Certificate comprises 60 credits made up of any modules of your choice.

Entry requirements

Standard entry .

Normally a min 2.2 Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. Relevant clinical or professional experience may be taken into consideration as evidence of equivalency.  A personal statement, detailing your reasons for seeking to undertake this subject, will be required.  The University is committed to an equal opportunities policy with respect to gender, age, race, sexual orientation and/or disability when dealing with applications. It is also committed to widening access to higher education to students from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience.

International students

Please visit our  international equivalency pages  to enable you to see if your existing academic qualifications meet our entry requirements. International students are normally subject to visa regulations which prevent part-time study. It is recommended that international students apply for the level of the final award you intend to complete i.e. PGCert, PGDip or Masters, due to the associated cost and requirements for a Tier 4 student Visa.

Accreditation of prior learning for Masters courses in Healthcare and Medicine

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is a process whereby students, who have already gained relevant skills and knowledge prior to the start of their course, may be granted a partial credit exemption from their programme instead of unnecessarily repeating work.

Find out more about APL

Entry requirements for international students

Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements .

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2 . Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

I was attracted to the flexibility of this course; I work as a Healthcare Assistant & for the COVID-19 immunisations program. I love that Exeter’s course allows me to work alongside study. I really like the course, everything varied & we choose quite a few modules. You get the breadth of genomics but also go into depth with each module to really develop your area of interest.

Studying MSc Genomic Medicine

 2024/25 entry 

Fees are subject to an annual increment each academic year.

• MSc:  £12,700 full-time; £6,350pa part-time (2 years); £4,250pa part-time (3 years)
• PGDip:  £4,250pa (2 years)
• PGCert:  £4,250 (1 year)

Standalone module fees:   UK: £1,200 per 15-credit module

Credit bearing modules: If you opt to take a non-accredited module and wish to then fully accredit this with the University of Exeter, you will need to pass the assessed elements of the course within 6 months of completion and there is an additional £200 accreditation fee.

International fees 

• MSc:  £29,700 full-time; £14,850pa part-time (2 years); £9,900pa part-time (3 years)
• PGDip:  £9,900 pa (2 years)
• PGCert:  £9,900 (1 year)

Standalone module fees:   International £2,700 per 15-credit module

Scholarships

For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.

Find out more about tuition fees and funding »

Funding and scholarships

There are various funding opportunities available including Global excellence scholarships.  For more information visit our   Masters funding page .

UK government postgraduate loan scheme

Postgraduate loans of up to £12,167 are now available for Masters degrees.   Find out more about eligibility and how to apply .

Funding for NHS professionals

NHS professionals in England can apply for funding from NHS England (NHSE) to undertake modules, up to a maximum of four (postgraduate certificate) in the first instance.

NHSE funding, however, does not guarantee a place on this academic programme at the University of Exeter. Interested individuals should apply for either a PGCert or individual standalone modules to the University in the first instance. The university will then notify NHSE of the application, and NHSE will then contact you to obtain your job title, organisation and line manager details. 

NHSE assess each funding application against two main criteria:

• The individual must be an NHS healthcare professional working in England.
• The individual’s line manager must support the application and provide details of how the qualification aligns to local/regional workforce plans, and how the knowledge gained will be utilised locally/regionally/nationally.

Further funding may be available for additional modules following successful completion of a PGCert to obtain PGDip or full MSc. ‌ More information

Scholarships 

Details of scholarships, including our  Global Excellence scholarships  for international fee paying students, can be found on our  dedicated funding page .

University of Exeter Class of 2023 Progression Scholarship

Graduating University of Exeter students completing their degree in Summer 2023, and progressing direct to a standalone taught Masters degree (eg MA; MSc; MRes; MFA) or research degree (eg MPhil/PhD), can apply for a scholarship worth 10% of the first year tuition fees. Find out more about the Class of 2023 Progression Scholarship  

Pro Vice Chancellor's NHS Postgraduate Scholarship

The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences is delighted to offer the  Pro Vice Chancellor's NHS Postgraduate Scholarship of £5,000 to two NHS staff who accept a place to study on one of our Masters programmes. Please check your eligibility before applying.

Office for Students Data Science Scholarship 2024

Eligible students from under-represented groups in the data science and AI sectors can apply for one of 16 £10,000 grants funded by the Office for Students (OfS) Data Science Scholarship. The scholarships are part of the OfS nationwide drive to expand access to this dynamic sector for women, students of colour, those with disabilities and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Find out more about this scholarship and apply here .

Knowing I had won this scholarship made me feel that the University was with me throughout my education.

MSc Genomic Medicine and PhD (Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences)

Teaching and research

We deliver transformative education that tackles health challenges of national and global importance.

Our expertise ranges from translating findings from genomic studies to improve patient care, to using genomics to understand the evolution of infectious disease and the social and ethical aspects of genomic innovation in the life sciences, health and medicine.

Genomics research   at Exeter is world-leading and supports our educational strategy and our objective to develop and apply innovative research and training methods, with opportunities for undergraduate, postgraduate and work-placed learning in diverse fields ranging from bioinformatics to the ethical legal and social impact of genomics.

Using a mix of learning formats, our modules each run over a six- to eight-week period and include at least six half days of intensive face-to-face teaching, interspersed with distance learning and independent study.

All learning will be patient focused, using clinical scenarios and a variety of learning and teaching methods to promote a wide range of skills and meet differing learning styles, including seminars, group work, practical demonstrations and exercises surrounding interpretation of data.

Teaching will be delivered by experts from a range of academic and health care professional backgrounds chosen to ensure a breadth and depth of perspective and giving a good balance between theories and principles, and practical management advice.

Distance Learning

Distance learning is delivered through a virtual learning environment, delivering a library of study materials including recordings of all live lectures, virtual patients and independent learning tasks, reference materials and links to online tutorials. There is an opportunity to undertake a research module either using genomic data from either the 100,000 Genomes project or our in-house data, or a literature-based dissertation.

This programme is based at the St Luke’s campus in Exeter, just a 15 minute walk from the city centre and just over a mile away from the Streatham Campus. The campus is close to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and RILD building, which is home to the NHS funded Exeter Health Library. Students have studied at St Luke’s campus for over 150 years and the campus enjoys a vibrant atmosphere set around the lawns of the quadrangle. Facilities at St Luke’s campus include:

• Life Sciences Resource Centre    
• Clinical Skills Resource Centre   (Heavitree Hospital site)
• Medical Imaging suite
• Medical Sciences Laboratory

Dr Jess Tyrrell

Programme director.

Dr Caroline Wright

Professor in genomic medicine.

Dr Victoria Moye

Senior lecturer in biomedical science.

Emma Dempster

Senior lecturer.

Jess is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Director for MSc Genomic Medicine. Her main research interest involves using genetics to explore causal relationships to improve our understanding of the complex relationship between metabolic health and mental health.

Contact Dr Jess Tyrrell  to discuss the academic content of the programme. For all other questions about the programme, including admission enquiries, start dates and fees, please  complete the online enquiry form .

Profile page

Caroline teaches on the core module Fundamentals in Human Genetics and Genomics within the MSc Genomic Medicine. Her main research interests are in the clinical application of genome-wide sequencing technologies for the diagnosis of rare diseases.

She is also a visiting scientist at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, and is on the management committee for the UK Deciphering Developmental Disorders Study ( www.ddduk.org ).

Vikki is a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences. She is the deputy programme lead for the MSc Genomic Medicine and the Senior Academic Tutor for postgraduate taught programmes. She is also module lead for Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Screening and Treatment, and Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare.

She is currently a regional Public Engagement Officer for the Royal College of Pathologists helping facilitate public engagement in pathology in the South West. Vikki is the senior academic tutor for the postgraduate taught programmes in CMH, and is committed to excellent student support.

Emma is a Senior Lecturer and module lead for two modules on the programme; Omics Techniques and their Application to Genomic Medicine, and Epigenetics in Human Health and Diseases. Her current research focus is on identifying gene regulatory changes in brain disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s Disease and developing new epigenetic techniques and protocols.

Pre-learning

Free online course: 'Genomic Medicine: Transforming Patient Care in Diabetes':  This free online course will introduce the topic of genomics, using the University of Exeter’s research expertise in diabetes, to illustrate the clinical application of current genomics knowledge.  Find out more

Before the start of your course please use this material as an introduction to some of the basic concepts in genomics. If there are gaps in your knowledge please use the learning resources provided below.

By the end of this pre-learning you should be able to:

• Describe how the genome is structured and organised; using terms such as DNA, nucleotide, gene and chromosome.
• Explain how the information encoded in DNA is decoded resulting in the production of proteins; using terms such as codon, mRNA, transcription, translation and tRNA.
• Explain how a genetic variant can result in an observable trait; using terms such as gene expression, genotype, mutation, phenotype and protein function.
• Use pedigree charts to deduce common modes of Mendelian inheritance; using terms such as allele, autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, carrier, homozygote and X-linked.
• Appreciate that environmental factors affect gene expression. Terms to be understood here include epigenetics, histone and methylation.
• Understand that common diseases result from a complex interplay involving multiple genes and environmental factors. Terms to be understood here include polygenic and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).

Links and resources

All of these topics will be covered in more depth in the various modules, but you should have broad knowledge of the terms involved. To assist you in reaching these targets the following links and resources should be useful. Numbers in brackets refers to the intended learning outcome (numbered 1-6 above) that the resource will help you to understand.

The  Genomics Education Programme , set up by the NHS to educate its staff, provides brief courses in their  Genomics 101 collection  (duration ~30 min each) that will give you an overview of genomics from a clinical perspective. 

To access these courses you will need to register for a free ‘elearning for healthcare’ account. On one of the course pages, select the ‘Sign up for free (NHS and UK universities)' option and register with a personal email account (this will give you access to limited content including the courses listed below).

• Genomics 101: From Genes to Genome . An introduction to DNA, genes, and the structure and function of the genome (1).
• Genomics 101: From Gene to Protein . An introduction to proteins, how they are synthesised, and the influence of genetic variants (2, 3).
• Genomics 101: Inheriting Genomic Information . An explanation of how genetic material is replicated and inherited, and how variants can arise (3).
• Genomics 101: Taking and Drawing a Genetic Family History . An explanation of genetic family histories and how they are recorded (4).
• Not a short course, but you may find that the webpage,  How do I draw a family history,  and the video,  An introduction to genetics pedigrees , help you to interpret pedigree charts, including the use of Roman numerals and numbers to identify individuals within and between generations (4).
• Genomics 101: Dominant, Recessive and Beyond . This course explains how genetic conditions are inherited, and features in a family history that are characteristic of common modes of inheritance (4).
• The  glossary  compiled by HEE may provide a useful resource to refer to throughout your learning.

yourgenome.org  is produced by the Public Engagement team at the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge. This website covers everything from basic biology to the complex ethical issues that arise from genome sequencing. Particular recommendations include:

• From DNA to Protein , an animation showing how the information encoded in DNA results in the production of proteins (2).
• Zoom in on your genome , an animation describing how DNA is packaged (1).
• What is a complex disease? , a definition of complex disease and single nucleotide polymorphisms (6).
• What is inheritance? , a definition   of genotype and phenotype (3).

The  Genetic Science Learning Center  at The University of Utah is an internationally-recognised education program that translates science and health for non-experts. Particular recommendations include:

• The epigenome at a glance , an animation defining the  epigenome  (5).
• Sources of variation , an animation explaining sources of genetic variation and how these can affect protein levels/function (3).

The  DNA Learning Center  is part of the world-renowned Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory which has been set up to educate students and non-experts as we enter an era where genetic information is available and plentiful.  Particular recommendations include:

• DNA Molecule:  How Much DNA Codes for Protein? , an animation illustrating how much of the human genome codes for protein (1).
• Disease and Mutation: Sickle Cell , an animation explaining how a single change in the DNA code can cause human disease (3).

FutureLearn offers many Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) generated in partnership with UK universities. Free to sign up to (for time-limited access for 4-5 weeks) and of particular relevance to this course are the following MOOCS:

• The Genomics Era: The Future of Genetics in Medicine  (St George's, University of London).  Particular recommendations include the animations describing patterns of  autosomal dominant ,  autosomal recessive  and  X-linked inheritance  in Week 2 (4).
• Genomic Medicine :  Transforming Patient Care in Diabetes  (University of Exeter). A particular recommendation is Prof Tim Frayling's discussion  What genomics can teach us about polygenic diabetes  (6).
• Inside Cancer: How Genes Influence Cancer Development  (University of Bath). A particular recommendation is the article defining  epigenetics  and its importance to cancer in Week 1, an excerpt of which can be found  here  (5).

The course text book,  New Clinical Genetics  (available  online at the library ). Using a case-based approach this textbook makes understanding genetics an attractive and stimulating experience.  

• Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, 11 & 13 will help you in reaching the intended objectives (1-6) for this part of the course.  There is also a good glossary at the back of the book.  Of course there is a lot of detail in these chapters that will be covered during the course, so don't feel you have to read and understand everything! 

Who is this course for?

Students who study this programme are likely to be clinical practitioners, diagnostic service providers, scientists, researchers and those aspiring to specialise within an academic career pathway. The course is designed for healthcare professionals working within the NHS, to improve their capabilities and support career progression. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the current state of genomics knowledge and how it will bring benefit to patients through improved diagnosis and personalised treatment, and how to disseminate knowledge to peers, patients and the public.

Work-based learning

One of the optional modules allows you to apply the learning from your masters study to your own work place or a work-related project. Through critical analysis you will evaluate current evidence or practice of your own work environment, identify barriers or facilitators to change and provide recommendations to improve care or practice within your area.

Career paths

Students who are not healthcare professionals would acquire knowledge, understanding and skills that should help them gain employment or PhD positions, especially in the expanding fields of genomics, bioinformatics, or other medically-related research and development in either academia, pharmaceutical or biotech industries.

Careers support

All University of Exeter students have access to the   Career Zone , which gives access to a wealth of business contacts, support and training as well as the opportunity to meet potential employers at our regular Careers Fairs.

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Module details

Genomic Medicine Personal Statement

Example Genomic Medicine Personal Statement

Having worked hard to gain a background in both laboratory and statistical analysis of infectious disease, I am excited by the prospect of applying this knowledge to an extended study of the role genetics. As a native of Saudi Arabia, a cultural and religious destination for people from a range of genetic backgrounds, I am aware of the importance of understanding the way in which this interaction can influence the spread of disease. During certain religious holidays Saudi Arabia faces an influx of people, which can often lead to the spread of diseases, such as meningitis, tuberculosis and other pulmonary and respiratory infections, which are then spread to other countries as people return to their homes. My proposal is to utilise this unique, temporary population surge to research variation in pathological response with respect to genetic variation.

Work that has already been done in this field has centred mainly on the importance of heterogeneity among population and studying new strains of disease. In addition to this, I believe it is important that we develop statistical tools which track genetic alteration and mutation of infectious agent strains to identify the mechanism of virus and bacteria evolution, then factor in both environmental variables and the variation between populations in pathological response and routes of disease transition. This nuanced modelling will add to both the effectiveness of vaccination procedures and other protection procedures.

In order to effectively carry out this research, I have focused my previous studies on gaining the necessary skill and knowledge. I began with a Bachelor’s degree in Laboratory Medicine, which honed practical skills and my knowledge of diagnostics. While my graduation project inspired my passion for medical research, it was really during my internship year that my interest in genome science began. Working at Al-Hada Armed Forces Hospital, I undertook a range of research, gaining an Award for Achievement of Excellence. I was also asked to train prospective internship students in molecular genetic diagnostic methods and their application in stalling the spread of disease, which demonstrated the vast potential of gaining knowledge of this field for improving, and saving, lives.

While I was unable to immediately secure an employment position which built on this burgeoning interest, my role as a demonstrator of medical statistics at Al-Baha University allowed me to supplement my existing knowledge with an in depth exploration of this central pillar of genomic research. I was also awarded a scholarship to undertake postgraduate study abroad, which led to me undertaking a Master’s course in Medical Statistics at Oxford Brookes, where I studied survival analysis, meta-analysis, modelling data and the application of statistics in research and epidemiology.

Having gained a thorough understanding of medical research, both practical and statistical, I am excited by the prospect of combining this previous knowledge with the skills and experience I could gain through studying at a global centre for excellence in genomic medicine and statistics. As a dedicated, ambitious student with a strong track record of working hard to acquire necessary skills and of teaching those skills to others, I have proven that I have the drive and ability to make a real contribution to academic understanding and the practical application of genomic medicine and statistics in the fight against infectious disease.

We hope this example Genomic Medicine Personal Statement proves useful when writing your own.

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• Postgraduate taught

Genomic Medicine

Acquire the knowledge and skills to be able to interpret and understand genomic data across a range of settings.

Acquire the knowledge and skills to be able to interpret and understand genomic data across a range of settings

How would you like to study?

Study option:

Course key facts

Qualification, 1 year, 2 years, september 2024, full-time, part-time, full-time: £14,900 part-time: £7,450 per year home, full-time: £43,250 part-time: £21,625 per year overseas, delivered by, national heart and lung institute, hammersmith, royal brompton, south kensington, minimum entry standard, 2:1 in a medical, biomedical or healthcare subject, 8 months, 2 years, £9,934 home, £34,600 overseas, 4 months, 1 year, £4,967 home, £21,625 overseas, course overview.

Build your knowledge to better understand how genomic data impacts patient diagnosis, care and treatment.

You’ll cover all major aspects of genomic science and medicine including the latest advances in the field.

Designed to suit students from a range of science and healthcare backgrounds. You will receive rigorous training in genomics and apply it to clinical practice and medical research. You will be taught through a blended format of learning that incorporates face-to-face and online teaching, live webinars, and self-study across eight taught modules.

Each module runs for four consecutive weeks, one week of which consists of face-to-face on campus teaching in London. Assessments are submitted at the end of each module.

Study all six core modules, two optional courses and complete an extended research project. This project provides you with an opportunity to explore medical genomics using a range of research strategies. Students may conduct wet or dry lab research in any area of genomic medicine.

The course programme collaborates closely with the Institute of Cancer Research and Brunel University London to provide a broader range of training.

Short courses in Genomic Medicine

Modules offered as part of our MSc Genomic Medicine can be taken as standalone short courses.

For full details and to register, see Short courses on the NHLI website .

Study all six core modules and two optional modules.

Designed to suit students from a range of science and healthcare backgrounds, you’ll receive rigorous training in genomics and apply it to clinical practice and medical research.

You’ll be taught through a blended format of learning that incorporates face-to-face and online teaching, live webinars, and self-study across eight taught modules.

Modules offered as part of our MSc Genomic Medicine can be taken as standalone short courses. 

Designed to suit students from a range of science and healthcare backgrounds, you'll receive rigorous training in genomics and apply it to clinical practice and medical research.

You’ll be taught through a blended format of learning that incorporates face-to-face and online teaching, live webinars, and self-study across four taught modules.

Short courses in Genomic Medicine

For full details and to register, see  Short courses on the NHLI website .

Mon 20 May 2024, 15.00 – 16.00 BST

Postgraduate Study | Genomic Medicine | Virtual information session

An opportunity to hear more about our Genomic Medicine postgraduate programmes.

Online only

Testimonials

This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.

Find out more about potential course changes .

Please note:  it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.

Compulsory modules

Optional modules.

• Genomics Medicine Research Project

You’ll study the following compulsory modules.

Fundamentals in Human Genetics and Genomics

Build the foundational knowledge in genomic science required for subsequent modules, exploring topics including genomic architecture and regulatory systems.

Omics Technologies and their Application to Genomic Medicine

Examine the omics techniques used to assess genomic and epigenomic variation in clinical problems and critically evaluate which techniques can be used and their limitations.

Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases

Understand the different ways that genetic variation can cause disease, and critically evaluate the relative merits of different methods of genetic analysis.

Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Screening and Treatment

Analyse the principles of cancer genomics and assess how genomic analysis impacts these factors and ethical issues. This module is delivered by the Institute of Cancer Research.

Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease

Appreciate how genomics can be used to provide more accurate diagnosis, predict effective drugs, and monitor infectious disease in individuals and populations.

Bioinformatics, Quality Control, Analysis & Interpretation of Sequencing Data

Gain a basic knowledge and understanding of the concepts and methods required to analyse and interpret genome sequencing data. 

You’ll choose one module each from Group 1 and Group 2.

Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics

Deepen your understanding of the ethical principles that govern the implementation of genomic medicine in clinical practice, and how these inform societal changes.

Genomics and the Patient

Develop the tools required to deliver next-generation sequencing (NGS) results, and demonstrate awareness of the ethical, social and cultural considerations around reporting these results.

Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Medicine

Discover how genomic approaches can be used to understand the mechanisms of differential drug responses and reactions, and to inform patient stratification.

Economic Evaluation in Human Genomics

Review the methods, assumptions, decision models, and interpretation of cost estimate analysis for health care interventions and health outcomes. This module is delivered by Brunel University London.

Genome-Based Therapeutics

Unpick key concepts in developing gene and nucleic acid-based therapies from genomic studies, including efficacy and toxicity.

Professional and Research Skills

Understand different review methods and the data management, ethical and reporting requirements for research study. This is an e-learning module.

Complete a 14 week-full time or one-year part-time research project.

This can be laboratory-based, clinically-based, computer-based or literature-based.  

Your work will be assessed by a written dissertation and an oral presentation.

The project may be supervised by staff at Imperial, the Insitute of Cancer Research, Brunel University London or at your workplace.

Core modules

You’ll study the following core modules.

Examine the genomic techniques that are used to assess genomic variation in clinical problems, and critically evaluate which techniques can be used and their limitations.

Gain a basic knowledge and understanding of the concepts and methods required to analyse and interpret genome sequencing data.

Core module

You’ll study the following core module.

Choose three optional modules from the list provided. 

Bioinformatics, Quality Control, Analysis and Interpretation of Sequencing Data

Understand different review methods and the data management, ethical and reporting requirements for research study. This is an elearning module.

Teaching and assessment

Balance of teaching and learning.

• Lectures, tutorials and independent learning
• Research project
• 67% Lectures, tutorials and independent learning
• 33% Research project

Teaching and learning methods

Assessment methods.

• 100% Lectures, tutorials and independent learning
• 0% Research project

Professor Mike Lovett

Michael holds the Chair of Systems Biology at NHLI. His expertise covers genomics, computational biology, developmental biology, genetics and neuroscience. His major research interests include genome technology development, particularly single cell genomics.

Dr Laura Collopy

Laura is a Senior Teaching Fellow. She leads the modules Fundamentals of Human Genetics and Genomics, Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases and Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics. She's also involved in curriculum development, assessment and student support.

Entry requirements

We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.

• Minimum academic requirement
• English language requirement
• International qualifications

2:1  in a medical, biomedical or healthcare subject.

In exceptional circumstances we consider applicants who fall below this requirement but who can display significant related work experience in a relevant field.

All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.

For admission to this course, you must achieve the  higher College requirement  in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the  English language requirements .

We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications.

The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a UK qualification.

For guidance see our accepted qualifications  though please note that the standards listed are the  minimum for entry to the College , and  not specifically this Department .

If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team .

How to apply

Apply online.

You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.

Choosing your course

This course can be taken in progressional levels of study:

• PG Certificate (PG Cert)
• PG Diploma (PG Dip)

Each level of study has its own entry point; you can apply to any level in the first instance but we recommend you apply for the award with which you wish to exit.

Read more about Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and MSc degrees

Application fee

There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.

If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.

The fee applies per application and not per course.

• £80 for all taught Master's applications, excluding those to the Imperial College Business School.
• £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School.
• £150 for all MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School.

If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.

Read full details about the application fee and waiver

Application process

Find out more about  how to apply for a Master's course , including references and personal statements.

ATAS certificate

An ATAS certificate  is not  required for students applying for this course.

Tuition fees

Overseas fee, top-up fee – £4,966 from the pg dip, £9,934, top-up fee – £4,967 from the pg cert, £4,967.

If you have already completed one of the qualifications and are moving on to the next level of study, e.g. you've already completed the PG Cert and want to study the PG Dip, you will only need to pay the top-up fee for the course you’re applying for.

You may apply to enter this programme  at any level  of study.

If you enter the MSc, without having studied the PG Cert or PG Dip, then you will pay the full fee listed for the MSc.

If you enter at the PG Cert or PG Dip level and return in future academic years to complete a higher award, you will pay the top-up fee advertised in the year of your return, instead of the full fee for your chosen course.

If you continue uninterrupted from one award to the next, you will pay the relevant top-up fee, plus any annual inflationary increases applied to the entry fee. This applies to applicants who originally entered for a PG Dip or MSc. This does not apply to those who have completed a PG Cert or PG Dip and are re-entering for a higher award.

Inflationary increases

You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.

Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.

Find out more about our  tuition fees payment terms , including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.

Which fee you pay

Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out  how we assess your fee status .

HEE Genomics Education Programme scholarship

As a preferred training provider for Health Education England, this course plays an important role in ensuring NHS staff have the knowledge, skills and experience required to stay at the forefront of this essential field. We continually make improvements to the course content to ensure that our education continues to respond to the needs of modern healthcare practice.

NHS and Public Health England employees can now apply for a HEE Genomics Education Programme scholarship to cover the tuition fees for individual modules, or longer programmes such as the PG Cert, PG Dip or the Masters.

To find out more about this funding and how you can apply please visit our Genomic Medicine funding page .

Please note that due to funding restrictions there are limited HEE GEP-funded places available on the October intake. Success in the HEE GEP scholarship application does not guarantee an HEE-funded place at Imperial College London.

Postgraduate Master's Loan

If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a  Postgraduate Master’s Loan  from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.

The government has not yet published the loan amount for students starting courses in Autumn 2024. As a guide, the maximum value of the loan was £12,167 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2023. 

The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.

Top-up fee – £8,650 from the PG Dip

£34,600, top-up fee – £12,975 from the pg cert, £21,625, scholarships, genomic medicine scholarship, value per award.

• £3,000

Who it's for

• Home and Overseas students who an application to start the course in 2024.

The Dean’s Master’s Scholarships

• £10,000
• All students applying to study a Faculty of Medicine Master’s programme beginning in October 2024

The Dr Jean Alero Thomas Scholarships

• Partial or full tuition fee at the Home rate
• All students applying to study a Faculty of Medicine lab-based Master’s programme beginning in October 2024

How will studying at Imperial help my career?

Develop the essential core knowledge and skills for a genomic science and medicine career.

Explore this area of clinical practice and research from a multi-professional perspective.

Part-time students interested in applying genomic medicine to their current careers can also take advantage of this flexible program.

Many students pursue clinical and non-clinical PhDs and graduate medical degrees upon graduation.

With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.

Many graduates often find roles in industry or the NHS Scientific Training Programme.

Further links

Contact the department.

• Email:  [email protected]

Course Director:  Professor Mike Lovett Senior Teaching Fellow:  Dr Laura Collopy

Visit the National Heart and Lung Institute website.

Register your interest

Stay up to date on news, events, scholarship opportunities and information related to this course.

Events, tasters and talks

Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.

Find an event

Meet our students

We asked some of our Masters' students  about their individual journeys.

• Meet our Genomic Medicine students
• Learn about our current MSc projects

Terms and conditions

There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.

Read our terms and conditions

You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

Download our course brochure

Discover more about Medicine at Manchester

MSc Genomic Medicine

Year of entry: 2024

• View full page

We require an honours degree (minimum Upper Second) or overseas equivalent in: 

• biomedical science

Flexibility on entry requirements will be applied to candidates with appropriate extensive professional experience. Subject to confirmation of suitability, the following number of credits can be accepted as Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL): 

• MSc: 60 credits
• PGDip: 45 credits 
• PGCert: 15 credits

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) will also be considered on an individual basis.

This course is also available for intercalating medical students, both from The University of Manchester and other UK universities, upon completion of their third year. For St Andrews students, this includes the three-year course plus the following one or two years spent in Manchester.

Full entry requirements

Please apply via our online application form . See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.

We recommend that you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.

Course options

Course overview.

• Learn to apply genetics, genomics and bioinformatics to patient care.
• Learn from clinical and academic experts from The University of Manchester, Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine.
• Study at a university ranked 8th in the UK and among the top 35 in the world for medicine (QS World University Rankings 2023). 
• Units from this MSc are available as standalone courses for continuing professional development (CPD). Please visit the Genomic Medicine CPD units page.

Please enable JavaScript to watch this video.

Alumni Panel Session on Monday 29 April, 2-3pm. Join our online panel of biosciences graduates and find out about studying master’s at Manchester, and the careers this could lead to. Book your place here . 

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• MSc (full-time) UK students (per annum): £12,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): £33,000
• MSc (part-time) UK students (per annum): £6,250 International, including EU, students (per annum): £16,500
• PGDip (full-time) UK students (per annum): £10,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £26,400
• PGDip (part-time) UK students (per annum): £5,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £13,200
• PGCert (full-time) UK students (per annum): £5,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): £13,200
• PGCert (part-time) UK students (per annum): £2,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): £6,600
• Modular (part-time) UK students (per annum): £1,250 per 15 credits International, including EU, students (per annum): £3,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Funding is available to NHS staff for course units on this programme through  Health Education England.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.

Contact details

Courses in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview, english language.

International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system.

We ask for English language proof if you are from non-majority English speaking countries (a list of majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Home Office, can be found here) .

Specifically, we require a minimum of:

• IELTS : 6.5 overall with 6.5 or above in each component
• TOEFL: 90 internet-based with 22 or above in each component

For HEE funded applications only:

• IELTS: 7.0 overall with 7.0 or above in each component
• TOEFL: 100 internet-based with 25 or above in each component

See further information about requirements for your country .

We may also accept evidence of a confirmed place on a University Pre-sessional English language course , if your current IELTS scores are:

• Minimum 6.0 overall with 6.0 in each component plus enrolment and attendance on the 6-week pre-sessional course (PS6).
• Minimum 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each component plus enrolment and attendance on the 10-week pre-sessional course (PS10.

Please note, we must approve this before you apply for the English course.

English language test validity

Application and selection, how to apply, advice to applicants.

We require the following documents before we can consider your application: 

• Transcript of your studies to date.
• Degree certificate (if you have already graduated).
• Personal statement (approx. 300-500 words about why you wish to take this course and how it will affect your personal and professional development. This statement should refer to your current role and must clearly demonstrate that you have background knowledge of human genetics if this is not obvious from your degree or transcripts. Applicants that cannot demonstrate this may be rejected on the basis that they have insufficient background knowledge to allow them to cope with a Master's level course in the subject).
• Curriculum vitae (CV).
• An academic reference. You will be required to provide the name and contact details of two referees during completion of the application form.

If any of the supporting documents are not in English, you must also provide us with official or certified English translations.

If English is not your first language, we require proof of your English language ability. If you have already taken an English language qualification, please include your certificate with your application. We may be willing to consider your application without this document, but if we choose to make you an offer, the conditions will include IELTS (or equivalent qualification).

How your application is considered

Your application will be reviewed by the course director once we receive all supporting documentation.

We consider applications on an academic and relevant professional experience basis based on all of the information provided.

We consider your full academic history including which undergraduate course units you have taken and the marks obtained. When application numbers are high, even if you have met our minimum entry requirements, we will take into account your marks in relevant undergraduate course units in our final decision making.

Interview requirements

Overseas (non-uk) applicants.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

You cannot use your CAS to apply for a visa more than three months before the start date of your course. This means that if you intend to begin a course on 16th September 2024, we will not issue you with a CAS number before 16th June 2024.

Your CAS number is only valid for one student visa application.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again.

Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description.

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).

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

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.

Course collaborators

We collaborate with the following organisations to deliver this MSc:

• Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine

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.

Career opportunities

Our course is designed to support and upskill healthcare professionals working in the NHS in areas where genomic medicine is becoming part of clinical practice.

Our science graduates have gone on to apply their new knowledge and skills in genetic service labs in the NHS or their home country's health systems, gained employment in commercial companies that develop and supply genetic testing kits, undertaken further study in the NHS Scientist Training Programmes for Genomic Counselling, Genomics, and Cancer Genomics, or have continued their research to pursue a PhD in the field.

Accrediting organisations

This course is accredited by Health Education England.

• Seeking Patient Care?
• Graduate Studies
• Master Programs

M.D./M.S. in Genomic Medicine

Application process.

Be part of the future of genomic and personalized medicine.

This four-year concurrent master’s degree in genomic medicine will provide you with the background, knowledge, and understanding to integrate the ever-expanding field of genomics into your practice. No matter which medical specialty you choose, genomic medicine is increasingly becoming an integral part of patient care with the use of predictive clinical sequencing, pharmacogenetics, and whole-genome analysis.

Educational Mission of the M.D./M.S. in Genomic Medicine

The program's educational mission is to graduate clinicians with the ability to integrate genomic knowledge into their clinical practice. In collaboration with the Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, graduates will be trained in human genetics, family history, diagnostic genomic tests, high-throughput sequencing, pharmacogenomics, and the newest genomic concepts and approaches. The M.D./M.S. degree prepares students to be leaders in the adoption and integration of these methods in routine clinical care.

The M.D./M.S. degree program in genomic medicine provides:

• The opportunity to obtain both degrees during a 4 year M.D. degree
• Integrated and innovative training in clinical and human genomics
• Coursework featuring self-directed learning coupled with small group in-person learning sessions for smooth integration into your schedule
• Rotations through molecular and biochemical genetics laboratories and clinical genetics
• Capstone experience, including a case conference, journal club, and a mentored research project.

M.S. in Genomic Medicine Capstone Poster Symposium

Read Article

Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics

John p. hussman institute for human genomics.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Master's Programs
• Genetic Counseling: Frequently Asked Questions

General Program Information

UCI was one of the pioneers in genetic counselor education. Our program began in 1973, at a time when only five other institutions in the nation offered a master's degree in genetic counseling. UC Irvine's first class of three students graduated in 1975. We now have more than 200 graduates. In addition to clinical service positions in academic and private medical centers, program graduates are also pursuing careers in research, education, industry and public health.

Yes. The graduate program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) . Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for certification by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) , and also may apply for a license in those states that have implemented licensure.

No. Clinical settings include a variety of clinics and inpatient services at the UC Irvine Medical Center and other affiliated sites (including prenatal, pediatric, cancer, metabolic, and adult genetic clinics as well as various specialty clinics), clinical genetics laboratories, and community agencies.

• The program is embedded within an active clinical genetics unit, immersing students in the provision of care from the start.  Students begin clinical rotations in the first quarter of the program.
• Coursework is taught by faculty who are also clinical supervisors, enhancing integration of didactics with clinical experience.
• Rotations are primarily supervised by program faculty, allowing flexibility for students to be involved longitudinally with cases.  Supervisors coordinate with each other to allow students to easily return to a previous rotation setting when a family returns to clinic.
• Opportunities to observe procedures such as CVS, amniocentesis, colonoscopy, and others.
• Participation in educating medical students and residents/fellows about genetics.
• Research opportunities with faculty in departments across the School of Medicine.
• Students train as part of multidisciplinary team including residents and other learners, providing experience in typical employment settings for genetic counselors.
• Our clinical service provides care for a diverse patient population.
• Student-led educational sessions in areas of expertise
• Attend and participate in Medical Ethics rounds, research seminars, and other learning activities.
• Summer rotation opportunities in varied settings
• Industry-based rotation opportunities
• Bilingual students may have opportunities to interact with patients in their primary language

The program is a 2 year (21-month), full-time program that operates on a quarter system.

No. We only accept applications to start in the fall quarter.

The program is in-person and enrolled students need to be in Southern California.  Some instruction and clinical experiences may be conducted in a hybrid or remote format.

We have students from all over the United States and Canada as well as from other countries.

The major components of the curriculum are coursework, clinical rotations, and thesis research.

The coursework includes:

• Medical genetics (inheritance patterns & cytogenetics)
• Genetic screening, teratology, & prenatal development
• Human genetic disorders
• Counseling (3-quarter series)
• Hereditary cancers
• Inborn errors of metabolism
• Molecular genetics
• Quantitative and population genetics
• Ethical issues in human genetics,
• Community resources
• Research Methodology

Some of the characteristics that our program sees in successful graduate students are:

• Skilled in listening
• Engaged in continual learning
• Committed to equitable clinical care for a diverse patient population
• Open to challenges
• Mature and responsible
• Independent and also able to work as part of a team
• Both detail-oriented and able to accommodate the ‘big picture’

Courses/Student Life

No, this is typically not possible.

Program activities are primarily held Monday-Friday, 8am- 5pm. Students are strongly encouraged to have these periods of time open even if not scheduled in classes or clinic since other learning opportunities often become available.

Each year, seven to eight students typically enter the program.

Classes are designed for genetic counseling students and also attended by medical genetics residents. There are often opportunities to attend workshops with students from other GC programs.

Classes are taught by faculty members in the UCI Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine who also practice as clinical geneticists and genetic counselors.

Students must dress in professional attire in accordance with the dress code at the clinical sites where they are rotating.

Clinical Rotations

Most clinic rotations are at the UCI Medical Center in Orange, the nearby CHOC Children's Hospital of Orange County and Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach. Some clinics also take place in Irvine. Additional opportunities exist at various affiliated clinics and laboratory sites throughout Southern California, including Kaiser Permanente, Quest Diagnostics, and others. Summer rotation placements at these and other sites enhance the training experience.

All of the accredited graduate programs in genetic counseling include a research component.  At UCI, graduate students are required to complete a master’s thesis as a degree requirement. 

No, you do not need to have a research topic in mind before applying.  While some other graduate programs at UCI may have this requirement, ours does not, and most students develop their thesis research ideas after they begin the program.

All students enroll in a course in Research Methodology in the first year. This course covers concepts relevant for genetic counseling research including quantitative and qualitative methodologies; study design; data collection, management and analysis; human subjects research and IRB. During the course, students also engage in brainstorming and exploration, to develop a research proposal while receiving guidance from the program faculty which will eventually become their master's thesis project. 

After the Program

Coursework and clinical experiences are designed to develop the practice-based competencies defined by the Accreditation Council of Genetic Counseling (ACGC) (https://www.gceducation.org/) . Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for certification by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) (https://www.abgc.net/) , and may apply for a license in those states that have implemented licensure.

Many graduates of the program join academic or hospital-based genetics teams with a focus on clinical service, teaching, and research. Others work for commercial genetics laboratories, public health programs including newborn screening, or advocacy organizations, among others.

Preparing to Apply

Your application is your opportunity to present how you have prepared for graduate study in  genetic counseling, and how you have determined that this is the career path that you want to pursue. Preparation for graduate study in genetic counseling includes building a foundation in the biological and behavioral sciences, gaining experience in crisis counseling and helping people work through difficult situations, and finding ways to learn more about the practice of genetic counseling.  Strong applications are those which provide clear preparation in all these areas, demonstrating that the applicant is prepared to go through rigorous coursework and is committed to equitable clinical care to a diverse patient populations. 

There is not a single recommended undergraduate major.  Previous students have come from various majors including biology, genetics, psychology, among others.  Regardless of the undergraduate major, it is important that students take the pre-requisite coursework which is strongly recommended for preparation for the program. 

Completing this recommended coursework prepares students to enter with a strong understanding of important biological processes (meiosis and mitosis, DNA replication, transcription and translation, and the function of human organ systems and basic metabolic pathways) as well as the ways in which human develop and interact with each other, in families and in society.  Having this strong foundation helps students to be prepared for the coursework, clinical rotations and research that they will complete during graduate study.

Each summer and fall, we hold Virtual Open House events for prospective applicants who are interested in learning more about the graduate program.  We also participate in other virtual career fair opportunities.   Please contact [email protected] for more information .

The program is based at the UC Irvine Medical Center campus in the City of Orange, not on the main campus in Irvine.  Because we are part of an active clinical unit, we do not regularly schedule tours of the program offices.  Instead, we have organized Virtual Open House events and other virtual means of communicating with the program, so that we can be equally accessible to all potential applicants regardless of where they are located.  Individuals are welcome to visit UCI main campus ( UCI Campus Tours ), however keep in mind that students spend the majority of their time at the UC Irvine Medical Center campus and at our affiliated clinical sites.

Typically the application for graduate studies at UCI is available online at the end of September or early October. Please check the UCI Graduate Division’s application website to see if the application for the appropriate cycle is available.

The application deadline for the graduate program is typically mid-December. For an updated deadline for each year, please refer to the program website ( https://medschool.uci.edu/education/graduate-studies/masters-degree-programs/genetic-counseling/admissions ).

• Completion of the online application
• Statement of Purpose
• Personal History Statement (which may be incorporated into the Statement of Purpose)
• Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
• Curriculum vitae
• Letters of recommendation (three letters are required)
• Payment of the application fee (or an approved application to waive this fee)
• Registration for the GC Admissions Match ( https://natmatch.com/gcadmissions/ ).  Your Match ID must be submitted as part of your application.  Note that the deadline to register for the GC Admissions Match may be earlier than our admissions deadline (please see the Match website for details).

No, you may start a new application without paying the application fee. The application fee/fee-wavier process occurs when you submit the application. This means that you may explore what is required or recommended to submit in an application before paying the application fee or submitting materials for the fee waiver. For questions regarding fee waivers, please see UCI Graduate Division’s Application Fee page .

Institutions may have varying titles for the courses which cover the recommended undergraduate coursework.  When you submit your application, you will be prompted to list the courses from your transcripts which cover each of the topic areas listed.

The application includes a section for you to indicate courses in which you are currently enrolled and courses that you plan to take.  You do not have to complete the course prior to the application deadline, but you should ensure that we know you are enrolled or are planning to enroll in the recommended course.

Yes, courses that were taken in the past will still be considered as meeting the recommendation, even if they were taken some years ago.  However, you may wish to take more current coursework in order to be well-prepared for graduate study.

No, lab components are not required.

No.  The GRE is no longer required for application to the graduate program.

Yes, it is required to submit a CV/resume.   It is recommended that you summarize your academic preparation and experiences that are relevant for your application.

You may submit supplementary materials that you feel will provide additional helpful information to the admissions committee, however this is not required.

You are required to have three letters of recommendation, and you may submit up to five.  When more than the required number are being submitted, the additional letters should be from someone who can provide important perspective on your qualifications and preparation for graduate study in genetic counseling.

The application includes two essays: a Statement of Purpose and a Personal History Statement . There are no additional program-specific essays. The application includes two separate text boxes where applicants submit the two essays.

Applicants may choose to combine their Personal History Statement into the Statement of Purpose if they wish. In this case, applicants should indicate in the Personal History section that they have incorporated the personal history statement into their statement of purpose.

Below are the instructions for the essays provided by the UCI Graduate Division for the 2023 application cycle for all graduate programs.  When you create an account to start a new application, you will see the prompts for the current application cycle. (Note that starting an application does NOT incur an application fee.)

• Academic plans
• Relevant experience
• Future career goals
• Why UCI would be a good intellectual fit for you
• Any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences or opportunities relevant to your academic journey
• Challenges and/or obligations you have had to address in order to achieve your educational goals and how you addressed them
• Prior employment, as a student or as a working professional, that is relevant to your pursuit of a graduate degree
• Discuss any leadership roles or plans, outreach, or community service experiences and goals that have or will benefit others or the community
• How your perspectives, activities, or goals have or may contribute to inclusivity and/or broaden your understanding of experiences of diverse groups of people

No, it is not required. There are many ways to learn about the profession.  

Application Process/Match

Yes, international students may apply. For details and information on how to apply, please visit UCI Graduate Division's International Students page

All interviews are held remotely by Zoom. On the interview day, each applicant meets with our faculty and students. One-on-one interviews with faculty members, meetings with current students, and other program events are spaced throughout the day, beginning at 8am through mid- to late afternoon. Applicants also have an opportunity to attend our weekly clinical case conference.

Yes, applicants who do not match to a graduate program may reapply in a subsequent cycle. There is no limit to the number of times applicants can reapply. Some applicants find it helpful to talk to the program director or other faculty members to discuss their preparation to reapply.  Reapplicants must submit a new complete application.

Financial Assistance

Yes. Please visit the UCI Graduate Division’s Application Fee page for details.

Please see the webpage for tuition and fees on the UCI Registrar website ( https://reg.uci.edu/fees/ ).   

Yes. All students typically receive some amount of fellowship aid. Additional details about possible fellowship funding are shared with program applications at the time of the interviews.  Some students may be eligible to apply for a part-time federal work-study position, and in this case it is required that the student complete a FAFSA.

Exploring Genetic Counseling as a Potential Career Choice

There are various ways in which you can explore the career. Some of the recommendations are the following:

• Attend the NSGC annual conference
• View the Master Counselor Series videos
• Attend virtual career fairs
• Explore the resources available through the Minority Genetics professionals Network (MGPN) ( https://minoritygenetics.org/ )
• Read online resources about genetic counseling or listen to related podcasts
• Join a Genetic Counseling Student Interest Group (SIG).  Many institutions have a GC-SIG.  See below for more information about the GC-SIG at UC Irvine.
• The “Find a Genetic Counselor” page on the NSGC website is a resource to identify genetic counselors who work in your area.
• Aim to talk with genetic counselors who work in a variety of settings.
• Gain experience in taking a professional role (often as a volunteer) in crisis counseling and working one-on-one with people who are facing various challenges.
• Gain experience working with individuals with disabilities and different abilities.

Above are just examples – there are other great ways someone can understand what is expected in genetic counseling as a profession, gain experience to prepare entering the field, and become a strong applicant.

Yes. GC-SIG membership is open to students and graduates from UCI as well as other universities.  The GC-SIG meets on a regular basis during the academic year in a hybrid model, with some attendees coming in person and some by ZOOM. The group invites guest speakers to some meetings, and the members share their experiences and ideas with each other as they explore genetic counseling as a possible career.  Please visit their website for further information about the UCI GC-SIG including details on how to join.

Genomic Medicine MSc, PGDip, PG Cert

Of all the life sciences, genomics is one of the most dynamic areas. The past 20 years have seen an explosion in our ability to explore the structure, function and evolution of the human genome, with mapping and editing of gene variants now possible due to technological advances, including next-generation sequencing. In seeking to identify how alterations to our genomes directly affect disease and health, genomics is also leading a revolution in healthcare by giving a better understanding of how drugs affect people differently and thus allowing for focused, effective, treatment or ‘personalised medicine’. Under the umbrella term of genomic medicine, there are many different areas that are covered. We look at the transcriptome – the total set of RNA molecules which represents the genes active in a given organism or particular cell type at a given point in time. Changes to the transcriptome can both reflect and cause diseases such as cancer. We also consider the ‘epigenome’, heritable chemical modifications to DNA and DNA-associated proteins in the cell, which alter gene expression as a result of natural development and tissue differentiation or in response to disease or environmental exposures. In both instances, we seek to identify how these changes directly affect disease and ill health. You will learn how recent technological advances have transformed how genomic data is generated, analysed and presented; how bioinformatics is enabling us to handle and make sense of big data and its impact across healthcare. In doing so, you will consider its relevance to a range of clinical scenarios, such as the spread of specific infections across hospitals, the COVID-19 pandemic, and identification of biomarkers of response to targeted therapies. This master’s degree, awarded by St George’s University of London, is taught in partnership with King’s College London. You will benefit from the combined teaching and research expertise, and the comprehensive and specialist resources provided by these two institutions, as both specialist health universities, and two of the UK’s top research universities. Studying genomic medicine can help inform day-to-day medical or clinical practice, giving you a better understanding of what causes illness and the effects of disease, which is of interest to a wide range of health professionals. You can choose to study either single modules, a PgCert, a PgDip or the full MSc, which can lead to a range of careers, including in the NHS, the pharmaceutical industry and bioinformatics, or provide preparation for a PhD.

Key benefits

• Taught jointly by St George’s and King’s; institutions with world-class research, clinical and teaching expertise across the full spectrum of genomic medicine
• Specialist optional taught modules in cardiovascular genetics and genomics, advanced bioinformatics and counselling skills reflect institutional expertise
• If you work in the NHS, our modules are available with or without assessment fully funded by HEE (subject to available commissions).
• You will have the opportunity to experience working within an internationally recognised research group when you do your research project.
• Both institutions are NHS preferred providers and co-located with leading teaching hospitals.
• Both have participated in the Genomics England 100,000 Genomes Project to sequence 100,000 whole genomes from around 85,000 NHS patients with rare diseases or cancer, now using expertise to understand critical illness in Covid-19.
• You will be surrounded by like-minded individuals which helps to build your multidisciplinary understanding and context.
• Course essentials
• Entry requirements
• Teaching & structure

Employability

This course is designed for students and healthcare professionals who wish to acquire training in genomic technologies and their interpretation within a medical context. Genomics is an area of rapid change, with a particular skills shortage in the area of bioinformatics, an area you can specialise in through this programme.

An MSc in Genomic Medicine will provide career opportunities for a range of professions, from laboratory-based researchers to diagnostic and healthcare professionals. Our graduates have gone on to work in clinical diagnostics, clinical trials, scientist training programme, bioinformatics, laboratory research assistant, and have continued on to study postgraduate medicine and PhDs.

• Bioinformatics
• Clinical diagnostics
• Clinical trials
• Genomic counselling
• Graduate entry medicine
• NHS research
• NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP)
• Pharmaceutical company
• Teaching/training.
• Fees & Funding

Application closing date guidance

To apply for this course and for further information, please visit the St George's webpage

• How to apply
• Register your interest
• Chat to a student
• Order a prospectus

Related departments

• Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine
• School of Basic & Medical Biosciences
• Teaching Department of Genetics

Open days and events

Chat with current students and King's staff to find out about the courses we offer, life at King's and ask any questions you may have.

Explore more

Accommodation

Discover your accommodation options and explore our residences.

Connect with a King’s Advisor

Want to know more about studying at King's? We're here to help.

Learning in London

King's is right in the heart of the capital.

How to Apply

Application preparation.

• Review our Resources for Applicants , our Admissions Timeline , and our FAQs on the program and the admissions process.
• Review the Office of Graduate Admissions FAQs .

Online Application

The online application is scheduled to go live by late September and can be found on the Graduate Admissions website: https://gradadmissions.stanford.edu/apply

Make sure you select "Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling (MS)" Program in the online application.

Stanford will communicate with you primarily via email; it is therefore essential that you have a reliable email account that you check on a regular basis.  Application materials, once submitted as part of your application, become the property of Stanford University. Materials will not be returned, and copies will not be provided for applicants nor released to other institutions. Please keep a copy for your records.

SUGC policy for prerequisites and the GRE

We have found that students who begin their genetic counseling training with a strong foundation in psychology,  biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and statistics are the most prepared to successfully build upon their knowledge base once they arrive. Typically, this foundation comes in the form of traditional coursework in the areas above, and without it the first year of training may introduce a significant number of new topics at advanced levels. However, as of April 2020, we no longer require specific prerequisites. Rather, we encourage prospective students to obtain a depth and breadth of exposure in the areas above, as well as other related topics, so as to demonstrate solid preparation for the field, which will enhance the strength of their application. Therefore, please include details for any relevant courses and other exposures on your CV.

In addition, we no longer review GRE scores. We encourage applicants to demonstrate strong academic proficiency, but we recognize that this may come in the form of course grades (both undergraduate and/or graduate level), as well as other academic experiences.

Letters of Reference

We will only review 3 letters of reference in support of your application. You can enter your recommender’s contact information into the online application before you “submit” your application. Please review the Office of Graduate Admissions' website for more information. See our FAQs for suggestions about your recommendation selections.

CV (Resume)

CV (Resume) - In order for us to most equitably compare our applicants, please attach as part of your online application a resume or CV that specifically includes the following.  Please note, not all are required, but all are considered in the selection of interview candidates. 

• Information about any genetic counseling experiences you have had - For observations and/or internships, please include the length of time. We recognize that it can be difficult to arrange direct shadowing experiences; therefore, we also support and encourage alternative exposure such as interviewing genetic counselors, talking with students, attending conferences, camps, webinars, and open houses, etc.
• Any bench or clinical research experience
• Any publications or abstracts on which you are named as an author, including full citations. (Please do NOT attach such documents)
• Any volunteer or paid counseling experiences (e.g. peer counselor, crisis counselor, sexual assault or domestic violence counseling)
• Any volunteer or paid experiences with patients in a medical setting (e.g. patient advocate, health educator, clinical research recruiter)
• Any volunteer or paid experiences supporting people and families impacted by disability
• Any volunteer or paid experiences supporting marginalized communities
• A list of relevant coursework (e.g. genetics/molecular biology, biochemistry, statistics, psychology), the institutions at which they were taken and your grades in each course.
• Please indicate your plans to complete any remaining courses between the application time and estimated time of matriculation

Personal Statement (Statement of Purpose)

The Statement of Purpose should succinctly describe your reasons for applying to the genetic counseling program, your preparation for this field, research interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the review committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for genetic counseling. Please limit your personal statement to 1000 words.

Supplemental Essay

One of the most important skills of a genetic counselor is the ability to deal with fast moving topics, learn new things, and evaluate the quality of information available. Therefore, we would like for you to read this article and pick several things in the article which you would like to learn more about to help you understand the article better. Spend no more than 1-2 hours doing some research to try to better understand the issues you selected. Then, briefly describe the issues and explain your research process. Please note that we do not expect you to fully understand the article or issues (that’s what graduate school is for), so your essay does not need to include extensive details about the content that you learn. However, please include enough detail to help us understand your approach to learning, and how you find, make sense of, and evaluate new information.  

Your statement should use 12 point font, 1” margins, double-spacing and be no more than 2 pages. Your references should use APA style formatting and may be included as a third page.

Transcripts

Transcripts - Applicants are required to upload one scanned version of their unofficial transcripts/academic records (including any legends/keys) directly into the online application to their online application from every post-secondary institution you have attended for at least one year as a full-time student. Please also upload any transcripts for relevant coursework taken outside of your undergraduate institution. All records should clearly indicate the name under which you are applying to Stanford. Ensure that your scans are legible since the Admissions Committee will use them in their review process.

Only those who accept offer of admission to Stanford will need to have official transcripts sent to the university. Instructions will be provided to matched students.

TOEFL Exam (if applicable)

Adequate command of spoken and written English is required for admission. Evidence of adequate English proficiency must be submitted before enrollment is approved by Graduate Admissions.  International students enrolled at Stanford must be able to read English with ease, understand rapid idiomatic English as used in lectures and group discussions, and express thoughts quickly and clearly in spoken and written English.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores are required of all applicants whose first language is not English. For detailed information, see the TOEFL information in Required Exams .

Please submit your TOEFL examination scores, if applicable, to Stanford University using the score recipient number 4704. Individual department code numbers are not used.

The minimum required TOEFL score is 100 (internet based).  Scores are required of all applicants whose first language is not English.  Exceptions are granted for applicants who have earned a U.S. bachelor's or master's degree by a regional accrediting association in the United States, or the equivalent of either degree from a non-U.S. college or university of recognized standing where all instruction is provided in English. Being a U.S. citizen does not automatically exempt an applicant from taking the TOEFL.

• For students

Genomic Medicine

Entry criteria, course structure, teaching and learning.

• Facilities and student support

Fees and funding

One year full-time, two years part-time

Overseas fee payers: 1 July | Home fee payers: 19 August (Module deadlines vary)

St George's, University of London and King's College London

9 September 2024

About this course

Genomic medicine is a rapidly evolving discipline that is already making an impact in the fields of oncology, pharmacology, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience, infectious disease and biomedical research. The science behind improvements to patients’ clinical care and health outcomes is supporting the development of personalised or precision medicine, ultimately saving lives.

This Master’s degree follows a curriculum designed by NHS England and is taught in partnership with King’s College London, giving you access to experts with different specialisms in, for example, bioinformatics and cardiovascular genomics. Both institutions are part of the South East Genomic Laboratory Hub, one of the largest providers of genomic testing in the UK and a national centre for specialist testing for cardiology, gastro-hepatology, haematology, neurology, respiratory and skin conditions.

As well as the MSc, the course is structured flexibly to provide options for PgCert and PgDip awards, which can be tailored to your career or interest. Since genomic medicine is becoming part of clinical practice, if you are an existing healthcare professional looking to upskill, you can also study on a modular basis towards your Continuous Personal and Professional Development (CPPD).

Funding update: If you work for the NHS then you may be eligible for funding from NHS England for up to four taught modules for 2023/24 and 2024/25. If you are interested in applying for NHSE funding, please liaise with our Course Admissions Tutor Dr Kate Everett-Korn before applying to the university. Visit the Genomics Education Programme website for more information.

New modules: From 2024/25 the Genomic Medicine MSc will offer two new optional and unique modules on Fetal Genomics and Genomics of Neurological Disorders. Visit the course structure tab for more information.  

Course overview

Of all the life sciences, genomics is one of the most dynamic areas. The past 20 years have seen an explosion in our ability to explore the structure, function and evolution of the human genome, with mapping and editing of gene variants now possible due to technological advances, including next-generation sequencing.

In seeking to identify how alterations to our genomes directly affect disease and health, genomics is also leading a revolution in healthcare by giving a better understanding of how drugs affect people differently and thus allowing for focused, effective, treatment or ‘personalised medicine’.

Under the umbrella term of genomic medicine, there are many different areas that are covered. We look at the transcriptome – the total set of RNA molecules which represents the genes active in a given organism or particular cell type at a given point in time. Changes to the transcriptome can both reflect and cause diseases such as cancer.

We also consider the ‘epigenome’, heritable chemical modifications to DNA and DNA-associated proteins in the cell, which alter gene expression as a result of natural development and tissue differentiation or in response to disease or environmental exposures. In both instances, we seek to identify how these changes directly affect disease and ill health.

You will learn how recent technological advances have transformed how genomic data is generated, analyzed and presented; how bioinformatics is enabling us to handle and make sense of big data and its impact across healthcare. In doing so, you will consider its relevance to a range of clinical scenarios, such as the spread of specific infections across hospitals, the Covid-19 pandemic, and identification of biomarkers of response to targeted therapies.

This master’s degree, awarded by St George’s, University of London, is taught in partnership with King’s College London. You will benefit from the combined teaching and research expertise, and the comprehensive and specialist resources provided by these two institutions, as both specialist health universities, and two of the UK’s top research universities.

Studying genomic medicine can help inform day-to-day medical or clinical practice, giving you a better understanding of what causes illness and the effects of disease, which is of interest to a wide range of health professionals. You can choose to study either single modules, a PgCert, a PgDip or the full MSc, which can lead to a range of careers, including in the NHS, the pharmaceutical industry and bioinformatics, or provide preparation for a PhD.

Course highlights

• Taught jointly by St George’s and King’s; institutions with world-class research, clinical and teaching expertise across the full spectrum of genomic medicine.
• Specialist optional taught modules in cardiovascular genetics and genomics, genomics of neurological disorders, advanced bioinformatics and counselling skills reflect institutional expertise.
• If you work in the NHS, our modules are available with or without assessment fully funded by NHSE (subject to available commissions).
• You will have the opportunity to experience working within an internationally recognised research group when you do your research project.
• Both institutions are NHS preferred providers and co-located with leading teaching hospitals.
• Both have participated in the Genomics England 100,000 Genomes Project to sequence 100,000 whole genomes from around 85,000 NHS patients with rare diseases or cancer, now using expertise to understand critical illness in Covid-19.
• Established in 1752, St George’s, University of London is the UK’s specialist health university, and we are the only UK university to share our campus with a major teaching hospital, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which is both on the clinical frontline for a diverse local community and a centre of excellence for specialist conditions.
• You will be surrounded by like-minded individuals which helps to build your multidisciplinary understanding and context.

Postgraduate Lunchtime Virtual Event

Join us for our virtual postgraduate lunchtime event and learn more about studying at the UK’s specialist health university.

16 April 2024

Want to know more?

Find out more about postgraduate study at St George’s, University of London by registering for our introductory email series.

“If you have a passion for genomics, this course is for you. It is extremely flexible and suits people of all professions, from doctors to pharmacists to newly graduated students looking to further their education.”

- Nicholas Bianchini

Genomic Medicine MSc student

“I found there to be options for people with all types of interests to discover new methods, techniques, and fields of genomic medicine; and enrich those they already had.”

- Eleanor Tobelem

Genomic Medicine MSc alumna

To be considered for this course, you will need to:

• meet the entry criteria
• write a personal statement
• provide two suitable references

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

You should have or be expected to achieve, a minimum of a second class degree (2:2) in a relevant bioscience degree with sufficient genetics content. For healthcare graduates, a pass is required. All degrees must be awarded before 1 August on the year of entry.

We may invite you to interview if are unable to make a decision directly from your application.

Alternative professional qualifications, or previous related experience, may be considered and we encourage you to apply.

Intercalating students

Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree but are current medical students who have successfully completed 360 credits (or equivalent) including at least 120 credits at Level 6 (or equivalent) of their medical degree are also eligible to apply.

International qualifications

We accept equivalent qualifications gained in other countries and use to UKNARIC to assess. Please see our International Student Support pages for more information.

If you have any questions, you can contact us at [email protected]

English Language

This is a Group 1 course.

Full details can be found on our English Language requirements webpages .

Personal statement and references

You will be asked to outline your reasons for applying for the course in a brief personal statement on the application form. You will also need to provide two satisfactory references.

Go to the ‘Apply’ tab for more information.

The MSc is designed to provide a solid introduction to the key areas of genomics, human genetics and genetic variation, including an understanding of disease genetics and how genomic medicine can illuminate disease mechanisms and biology. You will examine the range of ‘omic’ technologies: their interpretation and application in key areas of healthcare such as cancer, rare inherited diseases and infectious diseases, as well as research.

With the development of bioinformatics now playing such a crucial role, you will gain sufficient knowledge and understanding required to critically interpret existing genomic research and develop the skills to collect, analyse and interpret data using a range of statistical and bioinformatics techniques.

As a key part of the MSc course, you will get the opportunity to develop research skills by conducting a 60 credit laboratory/computer/counselling research project or a 30 credit literature review. Many of our part-time students choose a project which can be incorporated within their work, such as genetic analysis of particular patient samples. Others have studied diverse topics such as neurological genetic disease or patients with tuberculosis. One recent student conducted a project on how genomic education could be incorporated into and benefit midwife training.

MSc Genomic Medicine has been structured to provide options to study for PgCert and PgDip awards, as well as the MSc. At PgDip level, we offer two study routes (Option 1 and 2), which enable you to focus on different diseases. At PgCert level, we offer three different pathways:

• Genomic Medicine (Standard): The majority of PgCert students follow this pathway as it includes the core elements of the MSc programme.
• Genomic Medicine (Medical): If you already have significant knowledge of genomics, this pathway allows you to opt out of the Fundamentals of Human Genetics and Genomics module.
• Genomic Medicine (Bioinformatics): This pathway is ideal for those with an interest in big data and data handling.

Our wide range of specialist modules can also be studied individually as part of Continuous Personal and Professional Development (CPPD). If you work in the NHS our modules are available with or without assessment, fully funded by NHSE as part of your ‘workforce development’ (subject to available commissions). In recent years, a broad range of health professionals have chosen to study with us, including GPs, surgeons, consultants, research nurses, genetic technologists, pharmacists and biomedical scientists.

Course start date

The course will start with enrolment and induction activities on 9 - 10 September 2024. Topics covered will include the virtual learning platform, library and careers service as well as course specific sessions. There will also be keynote speakers and a social event where students from a variety of postgraduate taught courses can get to know each other.

Genomic Medicine MSc example timetables

• 2023/24 timetable (PDF)
• 2024/25 timetable (PDF)

Modules required

The modules required for each award are detailed below:

MSc (180 credits, 8 - 10 modules plus research project)

Compulsory modules:

• Bioinformatics, Interpretation and Data Quality Assurance in Genome Analysis (15 credits)
• Fundamentals of Human Genetics and Genomics (15 credits)
• Omics Techniques and Technologies; Their Application to Genomic Medicine (15 credits)
• Research Project (60 credits or 30 credits)

Plus at least three  from:

• Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease (15 credits)
• Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases (15 credits)
• Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Screening and Treatment (15 credits)
• Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare (15 credits)

Plus between one and four from:

• Advanced Bioinformatics (15 credits)
• Cardiovascular Genetics and Genomics (15 credits)
• Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics (15 credits)
• Fetal Genomics (15 credits)
• Genomics of Neurological Disorders (15 credits)
• Introduction to Counselling Skills in Genomics (15 credits)

PgDip (120 credits, 8 modules)

This award can be tailored to suit your career goals and interests.

If you would like to discuss the module options available, please contact the Course Director Dr Kate Everett-Korn for more information. 

• Bioinformatics, Interpretation and Data Quality Assurance in Genome Analysis 
• Fundamentals of Human Genetics and Genomics 
• Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Screening and Treatment
• Omics Techniques and Technologies; Their Application to Genomic Medicine 
• Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare

Plus 3 from:

• Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease
• Cardiovascular Genetics and Genomics
• Fetal Genomics
• Ethical, Legal and Social Perspectives on Genomics or An Introduction to Counselling Skills in Genomics
• Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Disease
• Genomics of Neurological Disorders
• Bioinformatics, Interpretation and Data Quality Assurance in Genome Analysis
• Ethical, Legal and Social Perspectives on Genomics or Cardiovascular Genetics and Genomics or An Introduction to Counselling Skills in Genomics
• Fundamentals of Human Genetics and Genomics
• Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases 
• Omics Techniques and Technologies; Their Application to Genomic Medicine
• Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare or Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Screening and Treatment 
• Plus any one other module (not excluding those already listed)

PgCert - Standard Pathway (60 credits, 4 modules)

Plus two from:

• Advanced Bioinformatics
• An Introduction to Counselling Skills in Genomics or Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Applied Genomics
• Genomics of Neurogoloical Disorders

Note that students must have completed the Bioinformatics, Interpretation and Data Quality Assurance in Genome Analysis module before starting the Advance Bioinformatics module. 

PgCert - Medical Pathway (60 credits, 4 modules)

Compulsory module:

• Omics Techniques and Technologies

Plus  one from:

• Bioinformatics
• Molecular Pathology of Cancer
• Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare.
• An introduction to counselling skills in genomics or  Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Applied Genomics
• Application of Genomics to Infectious Disease

PgCert - Bioinformatics Pathway (60 credits, 4 modules)

• Genomics of Common and Rare Disease

Module information

The institution module leads have been indicated alongside each module below:

• St George's, University of London - SGUL
• King's College London - KCL

Advanced Bioinformatics* (15 credits) - KCL

This module builds upon and extends the module “Bioinformatics, interpretation and data quality assurance in genome analysis ” and further explores state of the art bioinformatics pipelines for genetic data in a clinical context, suitable for studying genetic variants underlying Mendelian diseases, cancer genetics, and RNA expression data using Galaxy, and also introduces the student to basic Bioinformatic data skills using the command line, R/RStudio and Bioconductor. The student will learn about the landscape of tools for read mapping and variant calling and how they are suitable for different types of genetic data and analysis. Lectures will be combined with hands on computer workshops/tutorials, where students can practice designing their own bioinformatics pipelines in the Galaxy environment. They will work with real gene expression, rare disease and cancer genomics datasets. The course will also provide a primer for working with large genetic datasets using command line tools, scripting bioinformatics pipelines and using R/RStudio and Bioconductor to analyses and explore and visualise NGS and other ‘Omics data.

*Students aiming to do the Advanced Bioinformatics module will have to complete the Bioinformatics module first. No prior knowledge in programming is required for either module. You will learn R-coding in the Advanced Bioinformatics module and, although you might find it challenging at first, your module leads will provide you with plenty of support and guidance.

Students doing the Advanced Bioinformatics module will need to download free VPN software and set up a VPN connection to be able to access our cloud computing facilities in advance. You can find a guide about how to do this on macOS, Linux or Microsoft Windows and the VPN configuration file .

Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease (15 credits) - SGUL

The teaching sessions of this module will cover the basics of pathogen genome biology, methods for whole genome sequencing (WGS) applied to pathogens and bioinformatic analysis of pathogen genomes. Numerous examples will demonstrate the relevance of infectious disease genomics to key topics such as antimicrobial resistance, diagnostics, vaccine design, disease surveillance, host susceptibility to infection, public health epidemiology and clinical management of patients.

The application of WGS and implications of pathogen genomics from a perspective of healthcare pathways and public health for its future impact will be the key focus for your study. The sessions will be interspersed with a series of case studies and research papers for self-directed study, taken from a limited reading list comprising exemplar organisms from the recent literature. The sessions explore and present multiple examples of pathogens and genomics: TB drug therapy; Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli outbreaks; Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA; STI diagnostics and resistance; HIV, influenza and the COVID-19 pandemic; pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccine design and surveillance.

Together the sessions, self-directed learning and associated resources form the defined knowledge base for the module. The literature and other reading materials provide the students with the basis for extended self-study and as a foundation for the module’s summative assessments.

Bioinformatics, Interpretation and Data Quality Assurance in Genome Analysis* (15 credits) - KCL

The module will cover the fundamental principles of informatics and the impact of bioinformatics on clinical genomics. Students will be expected to be able to find and use major genomic and genetic data resources; use software packages and analysis tools for big data and undertake literature searches to critically assess, annotate and interpret findings from sequence data and genetic variants. Theoretical sessions will be coupled with practical exercises involving the analysis and annotation of predefined data sets.

This module will equip the student with the essential skills to analyse genomic data, applying professional best practice guidelines. Upon completion of this module students will be able to understand how bioinformatics is used to analyse, interpret and report genomic data in a clinical context. Students will also be equipped to utilise the 100,000 Genomes Project data set if relevant for their research project.

*No prior knowledge in programming is required for this module

Cardiovascular Genetics and Genomics (15 credits) - SGUL

This module explores the burden of cardiovascular disease and the underlying contribution of genetics to these diseases. Students will receive refresher sessions focused on cardiac function as well as being introduced to the key diagnostic tools used in cardiology. They will learn about the major arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies which can lead to premature and sudden death. By studying genetic causes of lipid disorders students will understand the impact of rare and common genetic variants on the risk of coronary heart disease. The contribution of "big data" and the development of gene panel tests will be discussed to demonstrate some of the benefits that genomic medicine can offer to this group of diseases. Students will hear about the role and challenges of genetic counselling in inherited cardiac conditions.

Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics (15 credits) - SGUL

Students will be provided with a platform of ethical understanding from which to consider issues of confidentiality, privacy and disclosure, autonomy, welfare, informed consent and justice. Upon this platform, students will consider the impact of genomic technologies on individual lives and public discourse. The social implications of the availability of genetic testing and screening will be considered, especially in the context of reproductive technologies. Finally, students will be provided with a discussion of legal issues surrounding the use of genetic information as well as the use of genetic data for research, diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Fetal Genomics: Decoding the Blueprint of Human Development (15 credits) - KCL

There have been rapid advancements in genomics technologies and their increasing application in prenatal medicine. In today's modern age, where litigation rates in obstetrics and fetal medicine are increasingly high, the need for accurate diagnosis, interpretation, and transparent communication of genomic results has never been more pressing. This climate demands practitioners are adept in employing the latest technologies and conveying complex genetic information clearly and compassionately to patients.

The fetal genomics module aims to bridge this critical gap, providing the necessary training and insights to support precise diagnostics, risk assessments, and patient-centric communication, thereby reducing the potential for legal complications and enhancing trust within the patient-provider relationship. This module ensures that students are proficient with the latest techniques and are attuned to the societal, legal, and ethical aspects of prenatal genetic testing. The module reflects the need for a multidisciplinary approach in genomics medicine, paving the way for more informed decisions and personalised care in maternal and child health.

Fundamentals of Human Genetics and Genomics (15 credits) - SGUL

This module will cover the structure and variations in the human genomics, including fundamental principles of genetics and genomics. Students undertaking this module will review the architecture of the human genome and the functional units embedded in it. Students will also cover aspects of gene regulation and chromatin structure and consider the importance of the epigenome in these processes. In addition, this module will cover DNA sequence variation and structural variation; how this sort of variation is normal but that sometimes it can be associated with disease. Classic chromosomal abnormalities will be described and the mechanisms that lead to them explained. Students will learn about monogenic and multifactorial genetic disorders and how gene mapping and sequencing can be used to identify causal and contributory variants. In essence, this module covers what the genome is, what abnormalities can arise and how they arise, as well as how they can be detected.

Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases (15 credits) - SGUL

This module uses exemplars of both common and rare diseases from across the entire healthcare spectrum to demonstrate the clinical utility of genomic data in the healthcare setting.

The module examples give an insight into how advances in genomic technologies and integration of genomic data into clinical pathways are impacting on the management of patients from the prenatal setting, through paediatrics and into adult medicine and cancer.

The module will explore the clinical presentation and genetic architecture of disease, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of genomic data for a myriad of common and rare inherited conditions using expertise from across SGH/GSTT/SGUL/KCL. We will explore traditional and current approaches used to identify genetic predisposition to common and rare inherited diseases, focusing on the latter, within the context of clinical diagnostics.

We will learn how to select patients with unmet diagnostic needs that will benefit from exome or whole genome sequencing, and some of the complexities involved in the interpretation of genomic data in the clinical context. We will also discuss the Genomics England, genomics medicine services and data infrastructure.

Genomics of Neurological Disorders (15 credits) - SGUL

This module explores the contribution of genomics to neurological disorders. Students will receive refresher sessions focussed on neuroanatomy and the development of the neurological system followed by an introduction to the key diagnostic tools used in neurology. They will learn about the major neurological disorder categories which have a high genetic contribution. The module will explore the value of the multidisciplinary team in phenotyping, interpretation of results, management and family communication.

Introduction to Counselling Skills in Genomics (15 credits) - SGUL

This module will provide students with an introduction to general communication skills and specific counselling skills used in genomic medicine. Students undertaking this module will be taught how to communicate and provide appropriate support to individuals and their families. Development of counselling skills will be achieved via theoretical and practical sessions through the use of role play within an academic setting. Students will understand the importance of a family history and communication of pathogenic and/or uncertain results.

Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Screening and Treatment (15 credits) - KCL

The module will guide the students from a basic introduction in cancer biology, to comparing molecular and pathological information applied in the diagnosis, classification, treatment of cancer. We will look at immuno-oncology, early detection, and predisposition of cancer, and the use of molecular data and diagnostics in clinical trials. In addition, we will introduce basic machine learning methodologies and different molecular technologies of tumour tissue in the context of target identification, and biomarker development to capture their clinical relevance.

Omics Techniques and Technologies; Their Application to Genomic Medicine (15 credits) - KCL

This module explores current genomics techniques used for DNA sequencing (e.g. targeted approaches, whole exome and whole genome sequencing) and RNA sequencing, using highly parallel methodologies, together with current technologies routinely used to investigate genomic variation in the clinical setting. This module will introduce the bioinformatics approaches required for the analysis of genomic data. The module will also cover the use of array-based methodologies and RNA sequencing in estimating levels of protein expression, micro RNAs and long non–coding RNAs. An introduction to metabolomics and proteomics, which are important for the functional interpretation of genomic data and discovery of disease biomarkers will also be included. Students will also learn about the strategies employed to evaluate pathogenicity of variants for clinical reporting.

Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare (15 credits) - KCL

The module will provide an overview of the techniques and analytical strategies used in pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics and explore some of the challenges and limitations in this field. Moreover, the module will use examples of known, validated pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomic tests, relevant to the use of drug treatments.

Research Project (30 credit option)

This is an ideal option for students taking the MSc part-time and working at the same time.

Students will be undertaking original research and writing it up in the style of a journal review. They will need to use language, style and formatting of the scientific literature that they have read when it comes to writing up.

The project can be carried out in any appropriate research university or hospital department or industry environment with joint supervision, i.e., supervisors from both the hosting department and the course.

Research Project (60 credit option)

Students will use both the theoretical knowledge they will acquire throughout the taught part of the course and the analytical skills they will develop in order to tackle a research question by themselves. Undertaking of the research project will involve formulating the question, acquiring and analysing the data and finally presenting and discussing the results. The project can be carried out in the hosting NHS laboratory, research department and industry under joint supervision i.e. tutors from both the hosting department and the programme. Research projects should be presented in the format of a paper for publication (additional figures and tables can be presented as supplementary material).

Teaching will be delivered at both St George’s and King’s College London. Teaching methods combine a mixture of lectures, to provide key theory and concepts, and interactive tutorials and workshops, allowing you to apply your new knowledge and skills.

Unlike traditional degree programmes in which you might expect to attend teaching sessions most days of the week for the duration of each semester, teaching occurs in blocks of five consecutive working days for each module (see module dates). You are expected to attend all teaching sessions on those days and you should expect the timetable to run from 9am to 5pm each day.

Three Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) have been designed to support student learning outside of this face-to-face teaching time. One of these, The Genomics Era: the Future of Genetics in Medicine , usually runs in July to August and is expected as pre-course learning for all students, including those doing CPPD and PGCert. You will need to use your time between teaching blocks to embed your knowledge through recommended reading and to prepare assignments.

St George’s adopts a patient-centred approach to its education. The optional ‘ An Introduction to Counselling Skills in Genomics’ module supports the development of appropriate attitudes and behaviours towards the diagnosis and management of patients whose care will be influenced by genomic investigations. As such, where possible, we will invite representatives from patient groups or someone who has actually been through a genetic process to share their own experience and what it meant to them.

Our expertise

One of the things students tell us they like most about the course is the passion, knowledge and experience of our lecturers. You’ll be taught by clinicians actively involved in the 100,000 Genomes Project and scientific experts in drug discovery, direct-to-consumer genomic testing and the genomics of Covid-19. Previous guest speakers have included the Head of the south-west Thames Pathology Service and the Head of Genome Analysis and Genomics England.

For over two centuries, St George’s has been at the forefront of developing new and innovative solutions to enhance the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease with a global reputation as experts in genomics, population health, infection and immunity, and molecular and clinical sciences. We enjoy a close relationship with the hospital as exemplified by the recent establishment of the Genomics Clinical Academic Group – a cross-institutional group comprised of scientists, clinicians, nurses and bioinformaticians all working together in both research and education.

Recently, clinicians and researchers from across the University and Hospital have been leading urgent public health studies and trials into Covid-19 and testing different treatments as part of the national recovery trial. St George’s is also leading on studies to develop rapid antibody tests for the disease and understand whether pregnant mothers can pass coronavirus on to their babies in the womb.

Assessment methods

Progress throughout the course will be assessed through a variety of methods, including single best answer questions, short answer questions, multidisciplinary group discussion, essays and oral presentations. As this is a modular course, there is no final exam. Instead, each module has two online assessments which must be passed for academic credit (15 credits per taught module).

This course is designed for students and healthcare professionals who wish to acquire training in genomic technologies and their interpretation within a medical context. Genomics is an area of rapid change, with a particular skills shortage in the area of bioinformatics, an area you can specialise in through this programme.

An MSc in Genomic Medicine will provide career opportunities for a range of professions, from laboratory-based researchers to diagnostic and healthcare professionals. Our graduates have gone on to work in clinical diagnostics, clinical trials, scientist training programme, bioinformatics, laboratory research assistant, and have continued on to study postgraduate medicine and PhDs.

Example career routes:

• Clinical diagnostics
• Clinical trials
• Genomic counselling
• Graduate entry medicine
• Research in academia, industry or hospital (e.g. as a research assistant, scientific officer, clinical research associate, etc.)
• NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP)
• Pharmaceutical company
• Teaching/training
• Further postgraduate studies

Careers support for new graduates

Graduates from St George’s have access to support from the careers service for two years after graduation.

“I learned laboratory skills, basic bioinformatics, genetic counselling, and ethical reasoning skills; all of which helped boost my profile in medical genetics and made me more confident in applying to PhD positions and to the STP in genomics by the NHS.”

PhD candidate at University of Aberdeen

“I really enjoyed my time studying at St George's and I could not recommend it enough. The MSc prepared me very well for my role as a neurogenetics clinical nurse specialist. The clinicians, teachers and researchers have been a source of inspiration to pursue genomic medicine.”

- Mark Mencias

Neurogenetics Clinical Nurse Specialist at St George's Hospital

“The course stands out to me because of the curriculum and the structure. It gave me a holistic experience of studying different aspects of biology and disease vertices. The research project component helped me develop skills that were necessary to apply for relevant roles in reputed companies and scientific institutes.”

Scientific data associate at Abcam PLC, Cambridge

Everything you need for success in the health and life sciences profession is here – from opportunities to learn from professionals working on the clinical frontline to cutting-edge laboratory facilities and bio-imaging technology.

We’re the UK’s only university dedicated to medical and health sciences education, training and research. We share our site with a major London teaching hospital. This means you’ll become part of a unique clinical and academic research community, mixing with the many different healthcare professionals you will go on to work alongside throughout your career.

Laboratories

Our teaching laboratories at St George's and King's are fully fitted with equipment for biological, chemistry, biomedical, molecular biology and pharmacy practicals. This includes:

• Microscopes
• Spectrophotometers
• DNA amplifiers
• Organ baths
• Specialist glassware

We’ve installed audio-visual equipment so microscope images can be projected onto large screens. You’ll also be able to use our tissue culture facilities, flow cytometry, pathogen containment facilities.

Image Resource Facility (IRF)

The IRF is designed for Light Microscopy, Electron Microscopy, and sample preparation. Here you can image histology samples, cells and molecules of all varieties, and model organisms such as zebrafish using any of the light microscope, slide scanning, or electron microscope systems.

Pathology museum

Our on-site  Museum of Human Diseases  houses a collection of over 2,000 pathological specimens, including those donated by Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie in 1843. This space is used for small group tutorials exploring the mechanisms of disease.

Anatomy Suite

The  Anatomy Suite  is where present and future healthcare professionals and scientists in the hospital and University learn or expand on their anatomy knowledge directly from the human body.

We give students access to high-quality anatomy resources including:

• Plastinated (preserved) specimens
• Osteological materials
• Anatomical models
• Digital/imaging resources (such as Anatomage tables and Complete Anatomy)

Library and learning technology

Our library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You’ll find silent, quiet and group learning spaces, as well as group discussion rooms.

We have a wide range of books, e-books, academic journals and other resources. You’ll also have access to online resources, such as the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment and our Hunter discovery service.

Need accessibility equipment? The library also loans noise-cancelling headphones, laptop stands, coloured overlays, desktop whiteboards, and more.

IT facilities

We have an extensive range of IT facilities, including:

• 260 workstations in five computer suites, three of which are open 24 hours a day
• 75 self-service laptops available
• Free Wi-Fi covering the whole campus, including our halls of residence accommodation.

You can use these resources to access your course materials, discussion boards and feedback through Canvas.

Looking for a free space? Simply use our handy real-time computer locator.

State-of-the-art facilities

Based in a major teaching hospital, our students are immersed in a professional clinical and research environment from day one. Read more about our state-of-the-art facilities.

Student support

From day one, you’ll become part of a community of staff and students of different ages, ethnicities, nationalities and backgrounds. everyone you meet will have one thing in common – a passion for healthcare, science and medicine..

Whether you’re an existing healthcare professional, returning to education after a break or joining us after graduating from an undergraduate degree, we want to help you make the most of your time here. To do this, we offer a full range of academic support and student services.

Careers service

We offer 1:1 career guidance to undergraduate and postgraduate students at every stage of your professional development, from the start of your course through to graduation and beyond. As a student, you’ll also benefit from career development activities that are specifically tailored to your course.

What we offer:

• Career guidance: We offer 30-minute 1:1 careers guidance sessions to support you in your career planning, build your confidence, and help you identify next steps on your career journey.
• CV and application advice: We can review your applications with you, support you in presenting yourself to potential employers, tailor your applications to a particular role and help you stand out from your competition.
• Practice interviews: Work on the content, structure, and delivery of your answers, whether that’s motivation questions, competency questions, role-specific questions or Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).
• Interactive workshops: Our career education workshops are tailored and delivered within courses. Topics may include understanding the graduate job market, learning through reflection on career decision-making, making successful applications and making an impact at interviews.
• Careers fairs: These are opportunities to explore career paths in different areas and specialities, meet with employers, and have valuable conversations to inform your career thinking.
• Online support: We offer specific information tailored to each course, plus general careers support and resources relevant to whatever your career choices and direction via our Canvas Virtual Learning Environment.

Cost of Living

We know that this may be a worrying time for our students and their families. Our Cost of Living Hub contains the latest information to our community affected by the rising cost of living. We provide students with various financial support, budgeting advice as well as employability options.

Disability support

If you require reasonable adjustments or disability services, you can find information on our disability information for students pages. For any further information please contact the disability adviser .

The Graduate School

Our Graduate School brings together postgraduate students from different disciplines, allowing you to support and learn from each other while expanding your professional networks.

The Graduate School works closely with our research institutes and provides opportunities for personal and professional development. You’ll also have access to a postgraduate common room where postgraduate students and early career researchers can study and socialise.

Induction programme

Our induction sets you up for your studies and helps you feel part of the University. As well as course-specific activities, we run an online ‘ Get Started ’ module which provides information about:

• Social and enrichment activities
• Student safety
• Wellbeing and learning support
• Study skills
• Our library facilities
• Careers and employability services

International student support

Our International Students Support service is part of the Student Life Centre and provides information on visas, settlement schemes, enrolment and more. To find out more, visit our EU and international support pages.

If you’re an international student, get in touch with the team as soon as you accept your offer via [email protected] .

Mental health support

St George’s has a confidential, free and impartial counselling service available to all students. You can also access services through our Student Life Centre and our online resources. This includes links to NHS resources, apps, podcasts and websites dedicated to mental health and wellbeing.

Personal academic tutor

When you start your course, we’ll allocate you a personal tutor. This is a member of the academic team who you’ll see regularly to monitor your progress and pick up any problems, both academic and personal. Even if they don’t have the answer, they’ll point you in the right direction towards the support you need.

Student Ambassador Scheme

Our Student Ambassadors support student recruitment events, widening participation activities such as Science Stars and schemes such as Unibuddy Reps. Our Student Ambassadors also help with one-off or less regular events and creating student generated content like blogs and videos.

Student Life Centre

Our Student Life Centre team can help you with every aspect of student life including:

• Accommodation
• Exams and assessment
• Academic procedures
• International queries
• Disability and wellbeing
• Confidential counselling service

Your personal tutor can also signpost you to relevant support.

Students’ Union

St George's Students' Union (SU) is an independent organisation run by students for students. The SU runs a wide range of events and is home to the SU Bar and Shop, music room, dance studios and meeting rooms. The team also provides welfare support for all students, with an open-door policy.

Want to join a sports team? Eager to try something new? We encourage you to take part in the wide range of sports, social and cultural activities and events on offer. From fencing to hockey, yoga to hiking, we have over 100 clubs and societies so you can be sure to find something that will interest you.

Our popular ‘Mums and Dads’ buddy scheme is organised by the Students’ Union. Every first year has the choice of being assigned a ‘parent’ from the year above in their respective course. The returning student acts as a go to for advice about courses and university life.

Students with children

Juggling study and parenthood can be difficult, particularly if you’re taking a demanding medical or healthcare degree. Our Student Parents and Carers Empowered (SPACE) society is a group run by studying parents that meets monthly to support each other and discuss how to balance family life with studying. For more information, email the SPACE society .

We’re here to help you develop the academic skills you need to succeed and make the most of our library collections.

• Sessions and tutorials on literature searches, keyword searches and using databases
• Training materials for academic planning, reading and writing to develop key transferable skills
• 1:1 meetings for a tailored approach to your academic support needs

Student support services

We have a full range of services available to support you during your time at St George's.

How to apply

Before beginning your application please check the entry criteria of the course you wish to study to ensure you meet the required standards.

If you work for the NHS and wish to be considered for NHSE funding, please make this clear on your application.

Guidance on submitting an application can be found on our  how to apply webpage .

Access our online application system

Select the relevant application link and create an account:

• MSc Genomic Medicine - Full Time
• MSc Genomic Medicine - Part Time
• PG Diploma Genomic Medicine - Full Time
• PG Diploma Genomic Medicine - Part Time
• PG Certificate Genomic Medicine - Part Time
• To apply for Genomic Medicine modules please see further guidance in Applying for a module section below
• Once you have created your account, you will be able to complete an application form and upload any relevant documents. You can save a partly completed form and return to it later. Please make sure you complete all sections. Please make sure that the information you provide is accurate, including the options you select in menus.
• Add [email protected] to your address book to ensure you do not miss any important emails from us.
• When you have checked that your application is complete and accurate, click ‘submit’.

You can track your application through your online account.

Applying for a module

Genomic Medicine Modules 2024/5 entry

Modules starting September – November 2024

• Fundamentals of Human Genetics & Genomics : 11 - 17 September
• Genomics of Common & Rare Inherited Diseases : 25 September -1 October
• Omics Techniques & Technologies : 24 - 30 October
• Genomics of Neurological Disorders : 11-15 November
• Bioinformatics, Interpretation & Data Quality : 20 - 26 November

Modules starting December 2024 – January 2025

• Application of Genomics in Infectious Diseases : 2 - 6 December 
• Pharmacogenomics & Stratified Healthcare : 15 - 21 January 2025
• Cardiovascular Genetics & Genomics : 30 January - 4 February

Modules starting February – April 2025

• Ethical, Legal & Social Issues in Applied Genomics : 12 - 18 February
• Molecular Pathology of Cancer : 19 - 25 February
• Advanced Bioinformatics : 6 -12 March
• An Introduction to Counselling Skills in Genomics : 20 - 26 March
• Fetal Genomics : 3 - 9 April
• Research projects onsite presentations will take place on 31 July

If you are applying to study a module please note the following:

If you wish to do more than one module, please use the application link for the module which occurs first.  Please state in your personal statement exactly which modules you wish to do.

Current students: Students currently studying a Genomic Medicine standalone module at St George's should contact [email protected] to enquire into studying further modules. Please do not use the above links.

Please note applications for all modules close one month before the module start date.

Guidance for completing your references

When completing your application, you will be asked to provide contact details of two referees. Please ensure these details are accurate. As soon as you have submitted your application, your referees will be contacted by the university asking them to upload a reference to your online application.

One must be a recent academic reference. The other should be either a second academic reference or a professional/employer reference. They should cover your suitability for the course and your academic ability.

Your referees should know you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. We do not accept references from family, friends, partners, ex-partners or yourself.

We will send reminder emails to your referees but it is your responsibility to ensure that contact details are correct and referees are available to submit a reference. References should be uploaded within two weeks of making your application.

Speak to the course organiser

If you have any questions about the Genomic Medicine course and would like to speak to the course organiser, please submit your questions to us.

“My favourite part of the Genomic Medicine course was interacting with many different healthcare professionals from a variety of backgrounds such as GPs, nurses, and other allied healthcare workers. This resulted in an enhanced learning experience, which in combination with the number of modules available within the course, gave me a richer understanding of how genomics is being applied across the NHS.”

- Stephanie

Research Team Leader

“Looking ahead, the MSc in Genomic medicine has helped me understand the advancements in omic technologies, provided direction in my research interests, and given a clear roadmap for integration of genomic techniques into my own medical practice.”

Final year MBBS4 student at St George's, University of London

“The module leads and lecturers were so knowledgeable and approachable; the passion for their subjects was obvious. The modules were very well structured with plenty of resources available; pre-session reading, and activities supported the learning and aided the embedding of knowledge and understanding.”

Paediatric Research Sister

In this tab you will find the financial information for this course of study, including details of financial support.

Tuition fees

2024 UK entry (home)

Full-time MSc: £15,250

Part-time MSc (2 years): £8,150 per annum

• Full-time PgDip: £10,250

Part-time PgDip (2 years): £5,500 per annum

Part-time PgCert : £5,800

Genomic Medicine module: £1,450

2024 International (including EU)

Full-time MSc: £25,200

Part-time MSc (2 years): £13,400 per annum

• Full-time PgDip: £18,650

Part-time PgDip (2 years): £10,000 per annum

Part-time PgCert: £10,000

Genomic Medicine module: £2,450

Additional costs

We do not expect students to incur any extra costs over and above those that we have advertised on the course page. To get the most from your studies, you will need your personal computer or laptop (Windows 10 or macOS) and an internet connection in your home. Find out more about technology requirements associated with online learning.

Students doing the Advanced Bioinformatics module will need to download free VPN software and set up a VPN connection to be able to access our cloud computing facilities in advance. You can find a guide about how to do this on macOS, Linux or Microsoft Windows here and the VPN configuration file here .

Personal protective equipment (PPE), if needed, will be provided for you by the University.

Funding your study

If you work for the NHS then you may be eligible for funding from NHS England (NHSE) for up to four taught modules. NHSE funding is limited so please liaise with our Admissions Tutor Dr Kate Everett-Korn as soon as possible. Then, if applicable, we will guide you through the application process and will forward your information to NHSEfor consideration. Visit Genomics England Education for more information.

We have a range of funding opportunities available for students. You may be eligible for the following.

• The St George's postgraduate scholarship (deadline 1 May 2024)
• The GREAT Scholarship (deadline 1 May 2024)
• A Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK Government
• Other financial support for Postgraduate Study
• An alumni discount – if you're a former St George’s student you can qualify for an additional 10% discount from this course if you're self-funded

Postgraduate scholarships

We offer a number of scholarships for outstanding students wishing to study a postgraduate course with us.

Application Deadline

Related courses, interpretation and clinical application of genomic data.

This training includes bespoke education and training, recognising the unique needs of an expert workforce in the genomics era.

Duration: Two years, maximum of four years to complete

Genomic Healthcare

This course is aimed at professionals such as clinicians, nurses, pharmacists and midwives who want a patient-centric study experience in genomic healthcare.

Duration: One year, part-time

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Master’s in Genomic Medicine

Changing practice and building a cohort of ‘genomics ready’ health professionals.

The Master’s in Genomic Medicine framework is an educational programme designed to provide healthcare professionals with a multidisciplinary perspective on genomics and its applications in healthcare.

It is a flexible framework offering a range of qualifications. Individuals can undertake continued personal and professional development (CPPD) modules, a postgraduate certificate or diploma, or a full Master’s degree.

NHS professionals can apply for course funding. Funding is currently available for standalone CPPD modules up to March 2024, though you may be able to complete further modules to lead to a postgraduate qualification. Please see the ‘Funding rules’ section of your chosen module(s) for information.

The purpose

The Master’s framework is intended to support NHS healthcare professionals in developing their knowledge of genomics and how it can be applied to clinical practice and medical research, so they can:

Liaise with specialist services, colleagues and patients.

Be involved with the teaching and training of colleagues and students.

Take part in policy discussions.

Develop clinical academic research careers.

The history of the Master’s

Initiated in 2014, the Master’s was one of the first major initiatives devised and delivered by the Genomics Education Programme (GEP).

The curriculum was first developed by the GEP in collaboration with NHS England and Genomics England, and was fully reviewed and revised in 2018.

A selection of Russell Group universities were commissioned to deliver the framework, and the first intake of funded students began study in 2015.

To date, the GEP has funded more than 1,500 NHS professionals to participate. Read on for some of our alumnis’ feedback.

Katherine , Nurse

Dr Farrugia , Clinical Scientist

Ruff , Master's student

Natalie , Second year STP student in bioinformatics (genomics)

Brenda , Master's student

The curriculum

The Master’s framework curriculum comprises the following modules – click on each module’s link for further information about the course content.

Some universities have developed additional modules to further enhance and expand the Master’s framework. View our Education page to see all the available courses.

• Fundamentals in Human Genetics and Genomics
• Omics Techniques and Technologies and their Application to Genomic Medicine
• Bioinformatics, Interpretation and Data Quality Assurance in Genomic Analysis
• Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease
• Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases
• Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment and Monitoring
• Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Healthcare
• Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics
• Introduction to the Counselling Skills used in Genomic Medicine
• Health Economic Evaluation in Genomics
• Professional and Research Skills

Our university partners

We are proud to work with these world-leading universities to deliver the Master’s in Genomic Medicine framework.

Developing people for health and healthcare

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Medicine Personal Statement Examples

Get some inspiration to start writing your Medicine Personal Statement with these successful examples from current Medical School students. We've got Medicine Personal Statements which were successful for universities including Imperial, UCL, King's, Bristol, Edinburgh and more.

Personal Statement Examples

• Read successful Personal Statements for Medicine
• Pay attention to the structure and the content
• Get inspiration to plan your Personal Statement

Personal Statement Example 1

Check out this Medicine Personal Statement which was successful for Imperial, UCL, QMUL and King's.

Personal Statement Example 2

This Personal Statement comes from a student who received Medicine offers from Bristol and Plymouth - and also got an interview at Cambridge.

Personal Statement Example 3

Have a look at this Medicine Personal Statement which was successful for Imperial, Edinburgh, Dundee and Newcastle.

Personal Statement Example 4

Take a look at this Medicine Personal Statement which was successful for King's, Newcastle, Bristol and Sheffield.

Personal Statement Example 5

Pick up tips from this Medicine Personal Statement which was successful for Imperial, Birmingham and Manchester.

Personal Statement Example 6

This Personal Statement comes from a student who got into Graduate Entry Medicine at King's - and also had interviews for Undergraduate Medicine at King's, QMUL and Exeter.

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Biological sciences/genetics personal statement example.

DNA is like a computer programme but far far more advanced than any software ever created” - Bill Gates, the mastermind behind Microsoft himself admits the intricacy of such a molecule. Geneticists working alongside innovative technology have created a huge impact on the modern world.

Starting with four chemicals and digital codes from DNA sequencing now results in one of the most astonishing creations ever, the ability to synthesize life. The development of synthetic bacteria provides future possibilities of an alternative for fossil fuels through bioremediation, a perfect solution for biotechnology companies as well as the energy industry.

I find it compelling that within the field of genetic research such discoveries made by humankind can possibly refine the natural world.

I discovered my enthusiasm for Biology, especially human genetics, during IGCSE. I was intrigued by the idea that a simple alignment of four alphabet letters could construct such complexity as that found in the human body. Reading ‘Genes and Cloning’ by Jess Buxton and Jon Turney and ‘Darwin’s Island’ by Steve Jones captivated my attention of the individuality of different qualities each gene possesses, and how very small mutations in the DNA can be responsible for genetic diseases such as Neurofibromatosis, Huntington’s disease and Duchenne’s multiple sclerosis.

I believe within the near future, more great discoveries are yet to come, as I consider the prospects of cancer treatment involving the use of RNA interference which has become the centre of attention in the scientific world, with extensive research taking place within industry.

During my work experience, I had the opportunity to visit the Ministry of Public Health in Bangkok where I toured the department of Medical Sciences. I was able to observe technicians operating both the scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope where samples of bacteria and moths were being examined.

I particularly enjoyed my visit at the Medical Biotechnology centre where, accompanied by a geneticist, I observed the extraction of DNA from a blood sample for a prenatal DNA test. This would then identify any gene abnormalities that could result in birth defects such as Down syndrome.

Along with laboratory experience, I was permitted to enter observation rooms during patient examinations at a hospital and witness how blood samples were obtained by doctors to be subsequently processed in the Science Laboratories behind the scenes. With these experiences, I believe I have a wider insight into the basic procedures and preparations within the laboratory.

My personal achievements include completing the Duke of Edinburgh Silver award and recently a comprehensive First aid course. These activities have given me the chance to show initiative and perseverance in the face of adversity in difficult circumstances.

I was a member of Amnesty International, which has developed my communication skills during discussions of recent issues concerning human rights within Thailand and I have enjoyed the challenge of promoting such issues to younger students who have less awareness of the work of Amnesty.

My personal hobby has been Art, in which nature has inspired me to create artworks in my additional time such as batik, carving and designing textiles, teaching me patience and giving me means relax.

From the medical industry to energy industry, gene technology has played a major role in the world in which we live.

I am an independent learner who always strives to motivate myself in order to develop my skills further. My goal is to excel within the field of Genetics and make a significant contribution to this field. I am excited about the opportunity to achieve my goal studying at university in the UK.

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Author's Comments

DNA is like a computer programme but far far more advanced than any software ever created” - Bill Gates, the mastermind behind Microsoft himself admits the intricacy of such a molecule. Geneticists working alongside innovative technology have created a huge impact on the modern world. Starting with four chemicals and digital codes from DNA sequencing now results in one of the most astonishing creations ever, the ability to synthesize life. The development of synthetic bacteria provides future possibilities of an alternative for fossil fuels through bioremediation, a perfect solution for biotechnology companies as well as the energy industry. I find it compelling that within the field of genetic research such discoveries made by humankind can possibly refine the natural world...

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