Overview

Overview

I picked the course because I wanted a career in bioscience, and have really enjoyed it. The course was very practical and covered a whole range of current biological and analytical techniques.  

(Roger, former student)

This course may be for you if you want to:

• Learn more about the very latest technologies that are driving bioscience research
• Gain extensive practical experience and knowledge by working with the experts
• Develop your business and interpersonal skills to maximise employment potential
• Obtain a valuable postgraduate qualification

How much will I pay?

http://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/fees-funding/

Alternatively please visit the funding tab for further details about funding options for the course.

Topics

Involving extensive input from our internationally recognised Technology Facility, this is an unrivalled opportunity to learn from the experts.

This course covers both a broad range of interrelated technologies and provides the opportunity to explore selected areas to a much greater depth.  It is designed to produce highly skilled and flexible technologists for the future. Through a mixture of lectures, tutorial style workshops and hands-on sessions you will gain both theoretical understanding and extensive practical experience.

This course is primarily aimed at students with an honours degree in a biological science. There are opportunities for students with backgrounds in other disciplines, provided that they have a substantial knowledge of biology.

Programme content

Programme content

The course involves four distinct aspects:

Technology training

Fourteen weeks of intensive one and two week workshops in:

• Basic science
• Protein production
• Biophysical techniques
• Genomics
• Proteomics
• Microscopy and cytometry
• Bioinformatics

Business and leadership skills

A range of workshops designed to develop a strong portfolio of business and employability skills.  The sessions are delivered by a variety of experts and your career development is supported by a dedicated careers advisor. Sessions include:

• Business planning
• Finances and accounting
• Management skills
• Participation in meetings
• Marketing and communications
• Negotiation skills
• Quality management systems
• Time and project management
• Staffing
• Career planning

Placement

A 27-week placement, often undertaken in industry, enabling students to obtain in-depth practical and work experience. Further information on placements can be viewed by visiting our placements information page.

Applying

Applying

Details on how to apply and application forms can be found on the 'How to apply' page. Applications are normally considered as they arrive.

What qualifications do I need?

For entry to the MSc degree programme, applicants will normally be expected to have a good honours degree in any Biological Science (including Biochemistry and applied sciences such as medicine, pharmacology, etc.) There are opportunities for students with backgrounds in other disciplines, providing they have substantial knowledge of biology. Please contact the Biology Admissions Office on biol-pg-admissions@york.ac.uk if you have alternative qualifications and would like to discuss your application

If you have any general queries on any aspects of your application, please do not hesitate to contact us on biol-pg-admissions@york.ac.uk

What happens after I apply ?

All applicants are interviewed before a place is offered. For UK applicants this will normally be in person. For EU and Overseas applicants, unless they are visiting the UK, interviews will normally be conducted by skype.

Conditions

Applicants offered places must fulfil all conditions for the uptake of their place (financial, language, and degree results where appropriate) by the deadlines given in the conditional offers.

How can I find out more about applying?

If you have any queries about the application process, or more specific enquiries about the programme content then please contact the Biology Admissions Office at biol-pg-admissions@york.ac.uk.

• How to Apply - Application Forms, and details of how to apply.
• Information on accommodation - Information on accommodation on Campus, and in the private sector.
• Information on fees - Information on how much the course costs.  

English language requirements for EU and international applicants

EU and overseas applicants' interviews are conducted by skype. For this reason we require a proficiency in English prior to interview for applicants whose education has not been in English. The Department's requirements are as follows:

TOEFL - paper-based: 600; CBT: 250; iBT: 87 overall (minimum of 21 in each section)
IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum of 6.0 in each section)
Pearson: 61 overall (minimum 55 in each section)

Based on the feedback from our current and previous EU and international students, we strongly recommend that, if offered a place on the course, you plan to arrive in the UK well before the start of the MSc in Bioscience Technology and ideally take a pre-sessional language course. We would highly recommend the 4-week 'English for Academic and Research Purposes 2' programme that is offered by the University.

Places are limited and early booking is recommended.  Please note that the MSc starts one week before the formal start of term so it is not possible to attend the central orientation programme for international students.

Funding

Funding

What funding options are available?

The majority of students will attend on a self-funding basis, by way of parental support, career development bank loans, and savings. Fees and maintenance can sometimes be paid by an employer if the student is already working.

• UK applicants: Some students have taken out Career Development Loans to support their studies
• Overseas applicants: often win scholarships in their own countries, or from sources such as the British Council and Commonwealth Scholarships
• Full fee paying International Students may also be eligible for support from a Biology Department bursary.

Where can I find further information on funding?

• Further information is available on Fees and Funding from the University’s Graduate Student Office.
• York Alumni Fund Postgraduate Studentships can be applied for. These provide partial funding.
• Information on tuition fees is available on the Graduate Study fees website.

Career Prospects

Career prospects

The MSc in Bioscience Technology gives you practical experience in the range of bioscience techniques that are used in cutting edge research. The employment rate for York MSc graduates is very high. The table below shows the first destinations of graduates between 2007 and 2011 who responded to our requests for information:

MSc Bioscience Technology First Destination Summary.

The course includes training and practice in management and employability skills to enable you to move on successfully into your chosen career.

Career opportunities for graduates of the MSc in Bioscience Technologyinclude:

• Research positions in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries
• Expert roles in academia and industry
• PhD study
• Management positions in bioscience companies
• Medical sales positions
• Science communication careers
• Clinical research positions

Graduates

Here's what some of our graduates went on to do:

• Christopher Adams
  "I'm doing a PhD research project in regenerative medicine"
• Jue Lin
  "I am working in a small biotech company - it's the one I did my placement with"
• Ben Johnson
  "Employed as a medical representative with a pharmaceutical company "
• Roger Leigh
  "I'm doing a PhD research project jointly funded by AstraZeneca where I did my placement, and the University of York"
• Nikos Tsolakos
  "I'm doing a PhD with the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control"
• Rebecca Shreeve
  "Im completing a funded PhD at St. James' University Hospital, Leeds"

Student profiles

dent profiles

Lotta Raty, Finland ‌

• MSc Bioscience Technology

I chose the course because it was clear to me after my undergraduate degree that I wanted to work in the industry, at the intersection point between science and business. It wasn't easy finding courses that prepare you for both, but the MSc Bioscience Technology course offered the perfect tools for this: theoretical and practical knowledge about current technologies, but also a broad range of transferable and business skills. I am currently working as a Genomic Sales Specialist for an international company, and use bits of marketing, negotiation skills, finance and interpersonal skills every day. The course has given me the background and confidence I need to discuss any scientific project with my customer at eye level. I also liked the fact that your feedback about the course is taken seriously, and the group size is small enough for you to get individual guidance whenever you need it.

Ying Zhang, P.R. China ‌

• MSc Bioscience Technology

When I finished my undergraduate study in China, I wanted to pursue a bio-related master degree in the UK. This programme is well-organized as it provides many practice opportunities in lab experience and placement as well as lectures. About 25 weeks of full-time   working in the lab helps me to be a professional lab technician. Besides good course structure, I got a wide range of knowledge from different modules, which helps me find my interest and finally focus on a particular area for my future career. The small class size makes every lecture or demonstration like a discussion. Now I pursue another degree in a US university and keep working on my interested area.

Graham Brand, UK  

• MSc Bioscience Technology

I chose the MSc BT course because I was looking to get back into science after a few years away. Biotechnology was something that interested me from my undergraduate course and the Masters degree at York offered incredible practical experience. During my time at  York I enjoyed working on a project within the proteomics department where I was made to feel a valuable team member whilst having access to state of the art mass spectrometry equipment. I then took an external placement with York-based Paraytec who were kind enough to invite me to the AAPS conference in Washington DC! Following the masters course at York I am continuing my studies with a PhD in Microbiology and Biochemistry at the University of Aberystwyth.

Contact Us

For enquiries contact the Biology Admissions Office: