Why you should study this course
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Research-inspired teaching with input from experts in our Sports, Life and Exercise Sciences research centre (CSELS), which focuses on the themes of cellular and molecular biosciences; biological systems, health and disease; and physical activity, exercise and obesity.
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Our multi-million pound, state-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building features a suite of analytical and biological laboratories where you can gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge industry techniques.
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Guest lecturers from current practitioners in the pharmaceutical industry, laboratory research and other jobs in science (subject to availability).
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Industrial links with local companies such as Inocardia, BioCote and Ovo Biomanufacturing.
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Students enrolled onto MSc Molecular Biology with Professional Experience can undertake 6-8 months of professional experience, either externally or on campus.
Throughout the course you will investigate key areas of molecular biology at postgraduate level including synthetic biology and medical molecular biology and have the opportunity to further develop your laboratory skills. Core courses across Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s:
Modules
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Research Techniques in Molecular Biology (30 credits)
This module aims to ensure that you develop the necessary skills and competencies required for your course, and to enhance your employability after graduation. The content includes a comprehensive laboratory programme covering modern techniques used in molecular biology-based investigations, supported by workshops to discuss the underlying principles of these techniques and to analyse and interpret laboratory data. You will extend your knowledge of bioinformatics databases and their applications and learn and apply appropriate statistical analysis methods.
Compulsory
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Principles of Molecular Biology (20 credits)
This module aims to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of current knowledge in cell and molecular biology. You will be guided to develop your understanding of core topic areas such as –omics, the regulation of gene expression in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and the manipulation of genetic material to produce novel organisms, recombinant proteins, and gene expression control strategies. You will develop your critical analysis skills through the review of key primary literature, and your communication skills via regular workshop and seminar presentations, as well as blog-style reviews of current topics. This module provides a firm foundation for more specialised topic study.
Compulsory
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Critical Review in Molecular Biology (10 credits)
This module will develop your skills as a critical reader of scientific literature. It will bring together an understanding of the current knowledge base in molecular biology together with the laboratory and data analysis methods that are commonly employed. You will be instructed on the critical review process. You will have opportunities to practice this skill through discussion groups with your peers and tutor, before embarking on your own critical evaluation of a published scientific research article in molecular biology.
Compulsory
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Synthetic Biology (15 credits)
This module aims to provide an overview of synthetic biology and apply aspects learned to a mini project. Synthetic biology uses the principles of engineering to design new biological entities. This is a multi-disciplined science with molecular biology as one of the central components. You will learn how molecular circuits are made from genes and promoters. These circuits can be constructed to re-engineer cells to carry out desirable processes. Examples will be drawn from biotechnology and medicine to demonstrate these principles. You will apply your learning to a mini laboratory project to build a series of novel synthetic promoters and assay their expression. You will develop team working and team leadership skills and progress to more independent laboratory scientists.
Compulsory
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Medical Molecular Biology (15 credits)
This module aims to provide you with in-depth knowledge of molecular mechanisms of disease and the use of molecular biology for development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. You will also be guided to continue to develop your confidence in oral presentation and your skills as critical readers.
Compulsory
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Molecular Biology Scientific Presentation (10 credits)
You are asked to utilise your knowledge of contemporary challenges in disease diagnosis and therapy, and in synthetic biology, to design a creative solution to a problem. You will utilise your entrepreneurship skills gained in the CMI module to consider a suitable market. You will present your ideas in the form of a scientific poster at a School Symposium.
Compulsory
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Global Professional Development – Entrepreneurship Practice (CMI) (10 credits)
This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to effectively lead and develop people in a strategic and entrepreneurial way whatever the Master’s degree of specialisation you elect to follow. You will explore, for example, the influence and impact of leadership theories, culture, wellbeing, the principles of entrepreneurial practice and understand the different contexts in which entrepreneurship can flourish as well as the characteristics of entrepreneurial leadership within different types of organisational scenarios.
Ultimately, you will be given the opportunity to develop strategic priorities for entrepreneurial leadership.
Finally, the module requires you to reflect critically on your personal learning and development needs and how you work with others, from an ethical and professional standpoint to encourage your continuing professional development.
Compulsory
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Research Principles and Preparation (10 credits)
This module provides a detailed consideration of the complex processes necessary to formulate, develop and test a scientific/clinical hypothesis. You will apply these to the design of an individual research experiment in a chosen area including the consideration of appropriate controls and replicates. You will also be instructed on the ethical and health and safety requirements for research at Coventry University.
You will also be encouraged to consider and prepare for MSc graduation and your future career, through CV and application guidance and professional networking.
Compulsory
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Master’s Degree only
Research Project (60 credits)
In this module you will carry out a series of investigative, analytical or experimental studies in your selected field within biomolecular sciences and present your findings in a scientific manner. Approval of ethical and health and safety aspects must be complete before data collection is permitted.
You must demonstrate critical analysis of the literature, data collection and recording, data presentation, data analysis and data interpretation with reference to published literature. You are expected to work independently with limited supervision, be able to deal with complexity and uncertainty and identify and troubleshoot problems.
Compulsory
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With Professional Experience only
Professional Experience Preparation (10 credits)
The module aims to prepare you for your forthcoming professional experience. It introduces expectations of you in the workplace, with reinforcement of the transferable skills, attitudes and competencies expected by the employer. You will continue to be supported by the Employability Support Team with further guidance on writing CVs, cover letters and interview skills. Thus you will be supported to make applications and secure suitable professional experience opportunities.
Part of the Professional Experience will involve a research investigation. To support this element, the module will provide a detailed understanding of the complex processes necessary to formulate, develop and test a scientific/ clinical hypothesis in a realistic timeframe in a commercial environment.
Professional Experience Preparation 1 and 2
These modules aim to provide you with a substantive professional experience. This may take the form of a professional experience with a host organisation2, which may include the university, or a campus based professional experience. The module should help support the development of your personal and professional skills, including team working, communication, self-management and critical reflection, to enhance future employability.
Compulsory
MSc with Professional Experience
The MSc with Professional Experience2 provides you with the opportunity to undertake a six-month professional experience either on or off campus. Professional experience opportunities (whether within an external company or within the university) are subject to a competitive application and selection process. Such experiences may be paid or unpaid, and this will depend on what is being offered and agreed with the host organisation or university.
Professional experience opportunities are subject to competitive application and selection, will normally be undertaken for three to five days per week for 18-22 weeks over two semesters. If you are not successful in securing professional work experience outside the university, you will have the opportunity to undertake campus-based professional experience, which will deliver similar learning outcomes through supervised projects and activities designed to offer students the opportunity to integrate theory with an understanding of professional practice. Please note that fees for students on the Professional Experience route are higher than the standard fees payable by students on the MSc course without professional experience (see fees section for more information).
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
Teaching can be taken over a standard one year full-time course, a two year part-time course, or over 18-20 months with professional experience included. This incorporates two additional non-credit bearing professional experience modules - Professional Experience in Life Science one and two - where you have the opportunity to gain experience through either an internship with an external organisation or with the university2.
Internships, subject to competitive application and selection, will normally be undertaken for three to five days per week for 18-22 weeks over two semesters, though shorter internships are subject to approval.
Teaching across all versions can include:
You will have the opportunity to receive a series of lectures and seminars on selected contemporary topics in molecular biology, delivered by university teaching, research staff and invited speakers from other universities’ research institutes (subject to availability).
This course can be offered on a part-time basis. Whilst we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Request further information about part-time study.
Teaching contact hours
In a typical teaching week, you will have on average 15-18 hours of teaching contact based on lectures, tutorial and practical-based teaching sessions.
The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2022/2023 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Assessment
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.
Assessment methods include:
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
International experience opportunities
Coventry University is committed to preparing our students for the challenges of the global employment market and to strengthen and develop their broader personal and professional skills, through the many initiatives offered within our award-winning Global Leaders Programme (GLP) (subject to application and additional costs).
You may have the opportunity to present a poster in an international location as part of a Scientific Presentation module. You will work with other students on joint presentation projects, which allow you to learn from and interact with students from a different institution and culture.
Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed2.
