MSc
ECTS: 90 ECTS credits
(including PG Cert and PG Dip)
Postgraduate Certificate
(standalone course)
Postgraduate Diploma
ECTS: 60 ECTS credits
(including PG Cert)
Overview
Our degrees in Genomic Medicine cover all aspects of genomic science and medicine, and will equip you with the knowledge and skills to be able to interpret and understand genomic data that increasingly impacts on service delivery to patients and the community.
The programme is aimed at students from a wide range of backgrounds, from basic scientists to all levels of healthcare professionals, and will provide a flexible, multi-disciplinary and multi-professional perspective in genomics, applied to clinical practice and medical research.
It is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to be able to interpret and understand genomic data that increasingly impacts on service delivery to patients and the community.
The training provided covers all aspects of genomic science and medicine (not merely DNA sequencing or detection of genetic variation), undertaken in one of the most cutting-edge scientific environments.
The course includes collaborations with:
- the Institute of Cancer Research (providing the core Cancer Genomics Module)
- Brunel University London (providing the optional Economic Evaluation in Human Genomics Module)
Study programme
This course is made up of three progressional levels (PG Cert, PG Dip and MSc), and you can apply to any level in the first instance. Read more about how this works under ‘Choosing your course’ in the how to apply section.
One of the core modules available within the Master’s degree (MSc) includes opportunities to access the emerging data from the 100,000 Genomes Project through the Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnership (GeCIP) training domains.
Structure
Modules shown are for the current academic year and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.
Please note that the curriculum of this course is currently being reviewed as part of a College-wide process to introduce a standardised modular structure. As a result, the content and assessment structures of this course may change for your year of entry. We therefore recommend that you check this course page before finalising your application and after submitting it as we will aim to update this page as soon as any changes are ratified by the College.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.
As a preferred training provider for Health Education England, this course plays an important role in ensuring NHS staff have the knowledge, skills and experience required to stay at the forefront of this essential field. We have made minor improvements to the course content that will come into effect in October 2018 to ensure that our education continues to respond to the needs of modern healthcare practice.
NHS and Public Health England employees can now apply for a HEE Genomics Education Programme scholarship to cover the tuition fees for individual modules, or longer programmes such as the PG Cert, PG Dip or the Masters. To find out more about this funding and apply please visit the HEE GEP website.
Please note that due to funding restrictions there are limited HEE GEP-funded places available on the October intake. Success in the HEE GEP scholarship application does not guarantee an HEE-funded place at Northampton College .
Core modules
Fundamentals in Human Genetics and Genomics
Provides the basic genomic science knowledge required in later modules, including genomic architecture, regulatory systems, generic variation, function and how this impacts upon disease processes and clinical outcomes.
Omics Technologies and their Application to Genomic Medicine
Provides an in–depth description of the genomic techniques that are used to assess genomic variation in clinical problems, allowing you to critically evaluate which techniques can be used and their limitations in analysing different disease states.
Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease
Explains how pathogen genomics inform the epidemiology of infections, impact drug development and resistance, lead to novel diagnostics/therapeutics/stratified healthcare, and provide insights into host susceptibilities to infection.
Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Screening and Treatment
Delivered by the Institute of Cancer Research. Explains the principles of cancer genomics, including predisposition, diagnosis, classification, treatment and patient monitoring with particular emphasis on how genomic analysis impacts these factors and ethical issues.
Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases
Explains the different types of genetic variation, their contribution to rare and complex disease, and how they are detected (with emphasis on the 100,000 Genomes Project), interpreted and communicated.
Bioinformatics, Quality Control, Analysis and Interpretation of Sequencing Data
Provides the principles of computational DNA sequence analysis, including sequence alignment methods and statistical tests, to identify and correctly communicate pathogenic mutations and assess possible functions through database and network programs.
Optional modules.
Group 1
You choose one optional module from below.
Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics
Explains the principles and subtleties of ethics in evaluating genetic/genomic data with an emphasis on emerging genomics technologies and the ways ethics issues are handled around the world.
Genomics and the Patient
Concentrates on the identification and interpretation of final Next–Generation DNA sequencing reports with an emphasis on calculating genetic risk and ethical considerations (less computationally intense).
Group 2
You choose one optional module from below.
Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Medicine
Explains how genomic approaches can be used to understand the mechanisms of differential drug responses and reactions, and to inform patient stratification. An emphasis will be placed upon the current limitations and future prospects of pharmacogenomic studies.
Economic Evaluation in Human Genomics
Delivered by Brunel University London. Explains the methods, assumptions, decision models, and interpretation of, cost estimate analysis, for health care interventions and health outcomes, with a particular emphasis on genomic medicine.
Genome-Based Therapeutics
Covers key concepts in developing gene and nucleic acid-based therapies from genomic studies including efficacy and toxicity.
Professional and Research Skills
An e-learning module. Teaches the differences between audit, research, qualitative, quantitative and systematic review methods, how to conduct literature searches, appraise published data, conduct appropriate statistical tests and understand the data management, ethical and reporting requirements in research studies, with a particular emphasis on the 100,000 Genomes Project and translational research.
Research project
You will complete a 14 week-full time or one-year part-time research project as part of the MSc. We offer four types of project:
- laboratory-based
- clinical-based
- computer-based
- literature-based
Assessment is by written dissertation and an oral presentation.
Core module
Fundamentals in Human Genetics and Genomics
Provides the basic genomic science knowledge required in later modules, including genomic architecture, regulatory systems, generic variation, function and how this impacts upon disease processes and clinical outcomes.
Optional modules
You choose three optional modules in total.
Group 1
You choose between one and three optional modules from below.
Omics Technologies and their Application to Genomic Medicine
Provides an in–depth description of the genomic techniques that are used to assess genomic variation in clinical problems, allowing you to critically evaluate which techniques can be used and their limitations in analysing different disease states.
Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease
Explains how pathogen genomics inform the epidemiology of infections, impact drug development and resistance, lead to novel diagnostics/therapeutics/stratified healthcare, and provide insights into host susceptibilities to infection.
Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Screening and Treatment
Delivered by the Institute of Cancer Research. Explains the principles of cancer genomics, including predisposition, diagnosis, classification, treatment and patient monitoring with particular emphasis on how genomic analysis impacts these factors and ethical issues.
Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases
Explains the different types of genetic variation, their contribution to rare and complex disease, and how they are detected (with emphasis on the 100,000 Genomes Project), interpreted and communicated.
Bioinformatics, Quality Control, Analysis and Interpretation of Sequencing Data
Provides the principles of computational DNA sequence analysis, including sequence alignment methods and statistical tests, to identify and correctly communicate pathogenic mutations and assess possible functions through database and network programs.
Group 2
You can choose up to one optional module from below.
Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics
Explains the principles and subtleties of ethics in evaluating genetic/genomic data with an emphasis on emerging genomics technologies and the ways ethics issues are handled around the world.
Genomics and the Patient
Concentrates on the identification and interpretation of final Next–Generation DNA sequencing reports with an emphasis on calculating genetic risk and ethical considerations (less computationally intense).
Group 3
You can choose up to one optional module from below.
Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Medicine
Explains how genomic approaches can be used to understand the mechanisms of differential drug responses and reactions, and to inform patient stratification. An emphasis will be placed upon the current limitations and future prospects of pharmacogenomic studies.
Economic Evaluation in Human Genomics
Delivered by Brunel University London. Explains the methods, assumptions, decision models, and interpretation of, cost estimate analysis, for health care interventions and health outcomes, with a particular emphasis on genomic medicine.
Genome-Based Therapeutics
Covers key concepts in developing gene and nucleic acid-based therapies from genomic studies including efficacy and toxicity.
Professional and Research Skills
An e-learning module. Teaches the differences between audit, research, qualitative, quantitative and systematic review methods, how to conduct literature searches, appraise published data, conduct appropriate statistical tests and understand the data management, ethical and reporting requirements in research studies, with a particular emphasis on the 100,000 Genomes Project and translational research.
Core modules
Fundamentals in Human Genetics and Genomics
Provides the basic genomic science knowledge required in later modules, including genomic architecture, regulatory systems, generic variation, function and how this impacts upon disease processes and clinical outcomes.
Omics Technologies and their Application to Genomic Medicine
Provides an in–depth description of the genomic techniques that are used to assess genomic variation in clinical problems, allowing you to critically evaluate which techniques can be used and their limitations in analysing different disease states.
Application of Genomics in Infectious Disease
Explains how pathogen genomics inform the epidemiology of infections, impact drug development and resistance, lead to novel diagnostics/therapeutics/stratified healthcare, and provide insights into host susceptibilities to infection.
Molecular Pathology of Cancer and Application in Cancer Diagnosis, Screening and Treatment
Delivered by the Institute of Cancer Research. Explains the principles of cancer genomics, including predisposition, diagnosis, classification, treatment and patient monitoring with particular emphasis on how genomic analysis impacts these factors and ethical issues.
Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Diseases
Explains the different types of genetic variation, their contribution to rare and complex disease, and how they are detected (with emphasis on the 100,000 Genomes Project), interpreted and communicated.
Bioinformatics, Quality Control, Analysis and Interpretation of Sequencing Data
Provides the principles of computational DNA sequence analysis, including sequence alignment methods and statistical tests, to identify and correctly communicate pathogenic mutations and assess possible functions through database and network programs.
Optional modules
Group 1
You choose one optional module from below.
Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Applied Genomics
Explains the principles and subtleties of ethics in evaluating genetic/genomic data with an emphasis on emerging genomics technologies and the ways ethics issues are handled around the world.
Genomics and the Patient
Concentrates on the identification and interpretation of final Next–Generation DNA sequencing reports with an emphasis on calculating genetic risk and ethical considerations (less computationally intense).
Group 2
You choose one optional module from below.
Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Medicine
Explains how genomic approaches can be used to understand the mechanisms of differential drug responses and reactions, and to inform patient stratification. An emphasis will be placed upon the current limitations and future prospects of pharmacogenomic studies.
Economic Evaluation in Human Genomics
Delivered by Brunel University London. Explains the methods, assumptions, decision models, and interpretation of, cost estimate analysis, for health care interventions and health outcomes, with a particular emphasis on genomic medicine.
Genome-Based Therapeutics
Covers key concepts in developing gene and nucleic acid-based therapies from genomic studies including efficacy and toxicity.
Professional and Research Skills
An e-learning module. Teaches the differences between audit, research, qualitative, quantitative and systematic review methods, how to conduct literature searches, appraise published data, conduct appropriate statistical tests and understand the data management, ethical and reporting requirements in research studies, with a particular emphasis on the 100,000 Genomes Project and translational research.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
- Computer lab teaching
- Data analysis sessions
- Debates
- Discussion sessions
- Interactive content including video and module quizzes
- Journal clubs
- Keynote lectures
- Laboratory teaching
- Lectures
- On-line discussion forums
- On-line lecture materials
- Problem-based group work
- Seminars
Assessment methods
- Coursework
- Practical
- Research project (MSc only)
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Minimum academic requirement
Our minimum requirement is a 2.1 degree in a relevant medical, biomedical or healthcare subject.
In special cases students may be admitted to this course with high-quality work experience in place of the above requirement.
International qualifications
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications.
The academic requirement above is for applicants who hold or who are working towards a USA qualification.
For guidance see our Country Index though please note that the standards listed here are the minimum for entry to the College, and not specifically this Department.
If you have any questions about admissions and the standard required for the qualification you hold or are currently studying then please contact the relevant admissions team.
English language requirement (all applicants)
All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College.
For admission to this course, you must achieve the standard College requirement in the appropriate English language qualification. For details of the minimum grades required to achieve this requirement, please see the English language requirements for postgraduate applicants.
How to apply
You can submit one application form per year of entry, and usually choose up to two courses.
We will start reviewing applications in December and will invite successful candidates to interview in the new year.
We will schedule interviews on a rolling basis. Please note that there is not a set application deadline for the MSc Genomic Medicine course but we strongly encourage candidates to apply before 1 July.
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Choosing your course
This course is divided into three progressional levels of study:
- PG Certificate (PG Cert)
- PG Diploma (PG Dip)
- MSc
Each level of study has its own separate entry point; you can apply to any level in the first instance.
Making an application
All applicants to our Master’s courses must apply online.