How the programme works
10 months · Full-time
Choose one of two routes:
- Research project: eight taught modules and a research dissertation of approximately 10,000–12,000 words (60 credits).
- Literature review: ten taught modules and a literature review of approximately 5,000–6,000 words (30 credits).
Fundamentals of human genetics and genomics is compulsory. Choose the remaining modules to support your interests and research plans.
Your taught modules
Explore all available MPhil modules →
Familiar modules. New names.
If you expected to see Bioinformatics and Advanced Bioinformatics, both are still here under revised names. Each module retains its own content. See the old and new names →
Preparing for the course
- Choose your suggested preparation route.
- Work through the genetics knowledgebase.
- Explore the first-module reading, papers and databases.
Teaching begins with Fundamentals of human genetics and genomics, 12–16 October 2026. Attendance is in person. Most modules run across a teaching week; Research and statistical skills runs on individual dates.
Programme aims
- Provide professionally relevant teaching and learning informed by research in an integrated clinical and research environment,
- Develop and create a cohort of doctors and other professionals allied to medicine able to pursue and develop roles in the rapidly changing environment of Genomic Medicine,
- Prepare healthcare professionals for the adoption of genomic technologies and the increasing use of genomic information as part of the diagnostic and treatment pathway,
- Develop researchers competent in the use of genomic technologies for biomedical research,
- Develop a cohort of healthcare professionals with the ability and confidence to lead service improvement for safe and high-quality patient care,
- Develop a cohort of healthcare professionals allied to medicine with an understanding of research methodologies and clinical opportunities relevant to Genomic Medicine,
- Develop students’ intellectual, practical and transferable knowledge related to Genomic Medicine,
- Encourage critical thinking related to Genomic Medicine,
- Prepare students for undertaking research degrees (PhD) in Genomic Medicine related research field.
- Provide students from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other industries with an understanding of the relevance of advances in genomics for current and future healthcare.
Programme learning objectives
- Demonstrate a broad understanding of key concepts in genomics
- Appraise the factors contributing to disease causality
- Critically evaluate the role of genomic technology in healthcare
- Demonstrate an understanding of the use of patient data in healthcare
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles of human genomics, including the structure, function and regulation of genes and genomes
- Infer modes of disease inheritance and determine the appropriate methodology to use to identify genomic causality on a case-by-case basis
- Evaluate the molecular mechanisms underlying genetic diseases and their implications for human health and disease
- Critically evaluate the role of technology in genomic research and healthcare
- Apply ethical and professional principles to the role of genomics in healthcare to reach sound decisions that consider both individual patient and societal implications
- The ability to engage in focused, professionally relevant, independent and produce a dissertation.
- Interpret genomic variants and their clinical significance
- Apply appropriate tools to manage and interpret genomic data
- Employ advanced communication skills to convey complex genetic information clearly to, for example, patients, family members, the wider public, interprofessional colleagues and genomic science and healthcare specialists
- Design, plan and undertake an independent research project to test a hypothesis and/or critically evaluate current research in a specific area of genomic medicine
- The skills necessary to locate, read, interpret and analyse primary and secondary sources of material enabling the development of a conceptual and theoretical understanding of recent developments in genomic medicine.
Your course handbook
The full handbook is for registered students. Use your course Moodle/VLE or contact the programme team for access and the current timetable, assessment and supervision information.
Programme structure and objectives: 2026–27 handbook.