Take your passion for biological sciences further and develop your knowledge and practical skills in an area of your choice with Southampton’s MRes Advanced Biological Sciences degree.
Introducing your
degree
This flexible masters degree in Biological Sciences can be tailored to your particular interests, allowing you to specialise in an area of your choice. You will become a part of Southampton’s biological sciences community which has a leading international reputation for its research across a broad range of biological disciplines. We offer MRes courses with a focus in one of the following research areas:
See our contact us page for our telephone, email and address information.
Programme Overview
Distinctive benefits of your course:
Four taught modules at postgraduate level to enable you to broaden your scientific knowledge in your chosen area and enhance your hands-on skills in research, presentations and scientific communication.
Carry out an original independent research project in our state-of-the-art research laboratories, supervised by a leading academic in the specialism.
Gain transferable skills that will be invaluable later in your career whether you are aiming for academia, industry or non-traditional science careers.
This MRes degree can provide you with a stepping stone to further study at PhD level or a gateway to many careers in industry (e.g agriculture, pharmaceutical and the healthcare sector), scientific services, science communication, teaching or in scientific policymaking.
If applicable, ensure that you will be able meet any special requirements for international students. You will need an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or an equivalent qualification.
Identify how you will fund your postgraduate study
If you wish to read more about the research of our supervisors click here.
FEES - MRes in Advanced Biological Sciences 2018 entry
As a postgraduate student you will need to pay annual tuition fees to the University for your course of study.
UK and EU Fees - The standard fee for the 1 year full-time course is £9,250
Overseas (non-EU) - The standard fee for the 1 year full-time course is £21,578. Overseas students commonly have financial support from their own government or another funding source within their country. We are also currently offering a £2,000 fee waiver on this fee. This is designed to reward talented high-quality students who study for the MRes degree at Southampton and recognise the increased costs associated for overseas students. The bursary is awarded in 4 x £500 payments through the year and is subject to review.
General - Fees charged include the full cost of tuition, examinations, Students' Union membership and research support expenses including computer use. When planning your finances, you will also need to consider other expenses such as living costs, accommodation fees and study materials.
Discount on postgraduate courses - 10% discount on postgraduate courses for University of Southampton final-year students and alumni is available.
Key facts
Our students benefit from £50 million investment in our purpose built Life Science building
100 percent of our research has been rated world leading or internationally excellent for its impact on society (REF2014)
The University of Southampton was awarded Silver for teaching by the Teaching Excellence & Student Outcomes Framework Panel (TEF, 2018)
We are a diverse multicultural community and throughout your degree you will be supported by an integrated support system of tutors and students
One of the strengths of the department is the opportunities we are given to network and collaborate, and obviously the great academics that we can look up to.
The MRes in Advanced Biological Sciences is designed for graduates of biological sciences or closely related disciplines.
Honours degree
Upper second class honours degree (2:1 or equivalent) or first class honours degree in Biological Sciences or a closely related subject. A key feature of your first degree studies is that they must demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes (both content and level) that will ensure that you can integrate into our teaching and research experience.
Non-UK applicants will usually have completed 4 years or more in higher education.
Students who have achieved a lower second honours degree will only be admitted onto this masters in advanced biological sciences in exceptional circumstances.
Research
Your application to Biological Sciences will include your specification of the area of research you wish to work in. It is assumed that this expression of interest implies that you have an academic and experience background that is suitable for Masters level research in this area. Our admissions process will seek to confirm that this is the case prior to offering you a place
English Language requirements
If your first language is not English, we need to ensure that your listening, written and spoken English skills would enable you to enjoy the full benefit of your studies. For entry onto our courses, you will need an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or an equivalent standard in other qualifications approved by the University. We are happy to offer guidance as to the courses available to improve the standard of English before the MRes course commences.
The course is research focussed with the addition of taught courses by academic staff in Biological Sciences.
The larger research component consists of a novel, independent (supported) research project which will be carried out in the state-of-the-art research facilities of Biological Sciences. The smaller taught component is composed of four courses that will broaden your skills in appropriate areas related to the research project. The exact portfolio of courses is selected with the advice of the academic supervisor of the research project. This course will provide you with an education and training suitable for a wide variety of careers and also will prepare you for higher degrees.
By the end of your MRes degree you will have extended your subject-specific and employability skills beyond the level of your undergraduate degree. A Master of Research course differs from a conventional MSc course in the balance between teaching and research. As an MRes student you will spend more time on the research project and correspondingly less time will be devoted to formal teaching.
The aims of the course are to:
Provide advanced knowledge in a particular area within the field of biological sciences research;
Provide an opportunity to work in a research environment in state-of- the art laboratories
Provide training in biological laboratory skills;
Provide a stimulating, informed environment through a range of courses;
Provide an opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills (written and oral communication, time management, project management, team working, information and communication technology, data collection and analysis);
Provide awareness of good laboratory practice and safety issues in a modern research laboratory.
Provide a sound and suitable qualification that would enable you to proceed to a more specialist higher degree at the PhD level or a career in biological sciences
The MRes in Biological Science is a one-year course. The research component features throughout this period while the taught part of the programme is confined to two teaching semesters (Oct to Jan followed by Feb to June). Each semester includes twelve weeks of study followed by an examinations period (2 weeks). The exam for the end of module assessments will take place during this period. The compulsory research module (BIOL6068) provides two-thirds of the content for the MRes in Advanced Biological Sciences course. Each student undertakes an extensive research project, which is laboratory and/or fieldwork based, depending on the specialisation. In addition to the compulsory module you will need to choose your four optional modules with your chosen supervisor from the optional module list prior to starting the MRes course.
Scholarships, bursaries, sponsorships or grants may be available to support you
through your course.
Funding opportunities available to you are linked to your subject area and/or
your country of origin.
These can be from the University of Southampton or other sources.
To develop your knowledge and understanding of Biological Sciences a wide range of teaching methods will be used. You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and coursework to help develop your core knowledge and understanding. You will undertake an extended research project in one of the specialisation areas and will be supervised throughout by a tutor with leading research experience in that area. Four taught modules will be chosen with the help of your supervisor to provide a solid foundation of knowledge. Throughout the programme you will undertake independent reading both to supplement and consolidate taught material and to broaden your knowledge and understanding.
Assessment
Taught component
The taught component will be assessed by a mixture of coursework (eg. essays, poster presentations, oral presentations) and examination. Some modules are not exam based. All biological sciences and skills centred learning is taken at FHEQ Level 7 (which maps to BIOL6XXX modules). The exams and coursework are designed to ensure that the learning outcomes have been achieved. The proportion of coursework and exam is that which is judged to most suit student engagement with the content of the course as well as judging the level of understanding.
Past examination papers are available through the library website www.soton.ac.uk/library/resources/index.html under ‘exam papers online’ and also on the Staff Student Liaison Blackboard site under the appropriate heading.
Research component
The research component will be assessed on the basis of the practical outcomes of the project work, ability to communicate these and also the understanding of background literature, all of which is judged through the production of a scientific dissertation. This will be assessed independently by an internal academic examiner within the University of Southampton in addition to the supervisor.
Student support
Every student is assigned a personal tutor from the start of their degree who will meet you when you enrol.
Administration
We have our own team of administrators who act as a point of contact for day-to-day advice and information for postgraduate students. They are also responsible for collecting assignments and issuing the documents and forms which are required during your period of study.
