Medical Biotechnology (with Bio-Business)

Syllabus

The programme will be based around three science modules, that will develop both knowledge and interpretation skills, and a fourth Biobusiness module. The programme will reflect recent developments in Biotechnology that underpin medicine, including Medical Genetics, Molecular Immunology (including biologic drug discovery), the Molecular Basis of Microbial Pathogenesis and Small Molecule Drug Discovery. Complementing the academic content will be an intensive training in Biobusiness. The programme also involves an extended project in the laboratory of an Institute Principal Investigator or, on occasion, in the laboratory of a local biotechnology company.

A full range of transferable skills will be developed over the programme, which places a strong emphasis on self-learning and on IT-based approaches. The University has excellent library facilities and strong support for IT, which will be exploited to the full in student-centred learning. Each student intending to undertake a laboratory project will receive an intensive training in laboratory skills and will be expected to pass a basic laboratory competency test before entering the research environment to undertake a 16-week project.

Assessment

Assessment will be primarily through course work (essays, oral presentations, laboratory performance or project development and project thesis or business plan). Two examination papers will be based on understanding of research techniques and the analysis of original data.

Teaching

The style of teaching is lecture, tutorial and practical based. Following the first introductory modules the teaching style becomes more "student-led" with the lecturing staff acting in a role as navigator to relevant information. Much of the study involves small group working and is designed to be both a confidence building and empowering learning experience.

Dedication

Full-time.