Course summary
This 10-month MPhil will consist of taught and research elements focusing on key areas of research excellence of the Department of Medicine: translational immunology, pandemic preparedness, cardiovascular and respiratory research, and acute and emergency care. Core taught elements will cover transferable skills; patient and public involvement, engagement and participation in research; and interfacing with the pharmaceutical industry. The key educational objectives of the course are to: Provide postgraduate-level knowledge and expertise in translational medical research, understanding how this leads to generating discovery research outputs with direct therapeutic applications and impacts on clinical practice and patient wellbeing. Train students on the clinical and translational aspects of biomedical research, with particular emphasis on clinical trials, bench to bedside research, the patient-physician interface, the academic-pharmaceutical interface, and research involving the NHS. Provide transferable knowledge and expertise in the design, analysis and critical appraisal of biomedical research as well as communication and team building in a research environment. Develop skills in planning, conducting, and delivering a research project. Learning Outcomes Students will be able to: Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the sciences relevant to the study of their specialisation, through engagement with the lecture series. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the background to their selected research project including the research methods and methods of data analysis used. Demonstrate a broad understanding of modern research techniques applicable to the course from the series of technical lectures. Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical approaches relevant to their specialisation and training in critical thinking in the area, assessed by the written and oral presentations. Demonstrate expertise in research methods, data analysis and statistics, assessed by the short biostatistics assessment and application of the methods to interpret the data collected during the research project. Demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with the practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the field, obtained through the research project. Have a broad overview of research in medical science as well as career opportunities both in research and industry. Continuing Students who take full advantage of the MPhil experience and graduate with good outcomes will be well prepared to apply to PhD schemes in the Department, listed here, with entry criteria.
Assessment method
Thesis / Dissertation A two-part dissertation on the research project will be due, comprising a literature review of the relevant field (part 1) and an account of the methods and outcomes of the project (part 2) - see below for details. Part 1 of the dissertation (a maximum of 5,000 words) will be a literature review article around the topic of the student’s research project . This may include a section structured like a research grant proposal, outlining a central unresolved question/hypothesis in the field, followed by an experimental plan to investigate this. This work will be considered to constitute the Introduction section of the dissertation. Part 2 of the dissertation (a maximum of 5,000 words) will describe the outcomes of a 32-week research project. Together, dissertation parts 1 and 2 will constitute the dissertation approved or prescribed by the Degree Committee. The examination may include, at the discretion of the Examiners, an oral examination on the work submitted by the candidate and on the general field of knowledge within which such work falls. Other Assessment will be through a range of formats which may include coursework, written and oral examinations, posters, presentations and projects. An oral presentation in the form of a seminar-style presentation to other students on the cohort, course leads and other researchers, on a topic such as a laboratory/analytical method, a public engagement activity, a piece of (non-lab-based) research work distinct from the research project or a mini-project proposal. Topics for presentation will be discussed and agreed with the students in the Michaelmas term. Presentations will be assessed by the academic course leads, considering the scientific content, clarity of the slides, clarity of the presentation and responses to follow up questions from the audience. Alternative modes of assessment for students with disability/accessibility requirements may be arranged on a student-by-student basis. Contact us if you have any questions after reading the Course Page.
Entry requirements
Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Good II.i Honours Degree.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
University of Cambridge
The Old Schools
Trinity Lane
Cambridge
CB2 1TN