Reproductive Sciences MScR
Awards: MScR
Study modes: Full-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Reproductive Sciences
I chose this programme because I'm really interested in reproductive sciences but I also love being in the lab. When I found this Masters I thought it was perfect because it combined my two greatest passions.
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This one-year, full-time, on campus MSc by Research (MScR) programme aims to introduce you to state-of-the-art biomedical, bioinformatics and molecular and cellular biological research in the field of:
- reproductive sciences
- reproductive health
The MScR programme is hosted at the Institute for Regeneration and Repair's Centre for Reproductive Health (CRH).
CRH is an interdisciplinary research and teaching hub, bringing together internationally renowned scientists and clinicians to push the boundaries of knowledge in reproductive biology and its practical applications in medicine.
You will study in a stimulating, challenging and vibrant interdisciplinary research atmosphere, at the interface between fundamental and translational reproductive science and health.
Student projects and activities are organised with other centres based within the Insitute for Regeneration and Repair and collaborating labs, reflecting the interdisciplinary research environment, where students and trainees are regarded as the ‘lifeblood’ for the future.
Institute for Regeneration and Repair’s Centre for Reproductive Health
Who is this programme for
The programme is intended for high-calibre students with biological sciences, medical or veterinary backgrounds, who wish to undertake research projects.
As part of the application process applicants may be invited for an online interview so the programme directors can assess whether the programme meets the applicant’s academic aims.
Research topics and themes
The main components of the programme are two 20-week research projects withinreproductive sciences and health. CRH has three overarching research themes:
- Gonadal function: This includes prenatal gonad and germ cell development; spermatogenesis; oocyte maturation and competence; and fertility preservation.
- Pregnancy and early life: This includes stillbirth and preterm birth; and in-utero programming.
- Translational gynaecology: This includes pelvic pain and heavy menstrual bleeding; endometriosis, adenomyosis and fibroids; sexual health; and reproductive cancer.
Research projects will offer you opportunities to work within those themes on a range of animal and human models to address a number of important problems associated with human reproductive health and disease.
(Revised 14 March 2025 to amend description of the Centre for Reproductive Health and research topics and themes)
The programme provides a core grounding in fundamental science and interlinked clinical translational aspects of reproductive sciences.
Students on the programme perform two 20-week research projects, write a research proposal, and participate in various programme-specific masterclasses. They can also join various postgraduate transferrable skills courses offered for free by the University’s Institute for Academic Development.
Research projects
These research projects provide you with hands-on laboratory experience and training in a wide range of up-to-date techniques in biomedical sciences, molecular and cellular biology, and bioinformatics.
Skills development
You also gain a range of transferable professional and scientific skills, such as:
- developing effective communication skills through research talks, journal clubs and a poster presentation
- scientific writing, through two research dissertations and a research proposal in the style of a small grant application.
Seminars
Throughout the academic year students can attend seminars at the Centre for Reproductive Health, the Institute for Regeneration and Repair, and wider University, delivered by internationally recognised experts in the field of reproductive health and related biomedical fields.
(Revised 14 March 2025 to expand research projects and skills development sections)
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MScR | Reproductive Sciences | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2024/25 |
This programme offers students a unique chance to explore, and prepare for, undertaking a PhD or research assistant role in academia or bio/health tech in the field of reproductive sciences and health, or spanning the biosciences, clinical and veterinary fields.
The broad range of skills gained is also readily transferable into careers at the clinical-laboratory interface and in the broader biosciences industry opportunities.
This programme does not amount to specific training to become a clinical embryologist.
(Revised 14 March 2025 to update career opportunities wording)
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant biological, medicine or veterinary medicine discipline.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.
Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Academic Technology Approval Scheme
If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss national, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme.
Tuition fees
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MScR | Reproductive Sciences | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
borrowing money
taking out a loan
family support
personal savings
income from work
employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your residency status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- IRR Postgraduate Team
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 8100
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Centre for Reproductive Health
- Institute for Regeneration and Repair
- 5 Little France Drive
- Little France
- Edinburgh
- EH16 4UU
- Programme: Reproductive Sciences
- School: Edinburgh Medical School: Clinical Sciences
- College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MSc by Research Reproductive Sciences - 1 Year (Full-time)
Programme start date | Application deadline |
---|---|
8 September 2025 | 25 July 2025 |
We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. Students requiring visa entry to the UK should have completed their application at least 6 weeks before the start of programme.
If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.
You must submit two references with your application.
When completing the online application form you are not required to complete a research proposal. You will select your first research project at the beginning of the programme. (Please ignore any automatically generated emails requesting this information from you during the application process.)
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- IRR Postgraduate Team
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 8100
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Centre for Reproductive Health
- Institute for Regeneration and Repair
- 5 Little France Drive
- Little France
- Edinburgh
- EH16 4UU
- Programme: Reproductive Sciences
- School: Edinburgh Medical School: Clinical Sciences
- College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine