Biomedical Sciences (Life Sciences) MScR

The programme includes core skills, seminars, taught modules and laboratory projects in our well-resourced laboratories which are at the cutting-edge of biomedical research.

You will carry out two 20-week long research projects selected from the themes available. An assessed research proposal is also required for the second project.

• Research themes

You will normally specify preferences for two research themes before the programme begins.

Core skills week

The programme begins with a core skills week designed to explore areas relevant to a career in the biomedical sciences through a series of lectures, tutorials, and workshops.

• Core skills week

Research projects

After core skills week, you will choose a research theme and meet supervisors and discuss the research projects available. A diverse choice of projects is offered specifically to provide experience in a wide range of experimental techniques and research laboratories.

You will continue to develop your core skills relevant to biomedical sciences through a taught component of seminars, workshops, presentations and tutorials.

• Research project one

At the end of the first research theme, you will again meet supervisors and discuss the projects available for the second research theme. You will carry out a research project based on this theme, during which a series of masterclasses in Biomedical Sciences will be given by leading Edinburgh researchers.

• Research project two

• Skills development

Throughout the year, you will also study transferable and research skills.

Semester Dates

Our programme is full-time for twelve months, beginning in September and ending in August the following year. You are expected to be on campus from week one.

Teaching breaks for 2024/5 include:

• 13 December - 6 January
• 3 March - 7 March

Successful MSc and Diploma candidates graduate in November/December of the following year.

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.

This programme is an excellent stepping-stone to a PhD, or a career in biomedical research or industry.

In addition, every year there are vacancies for PhD studentships in the School of Biomedical Sciences and staff are always on the lookout for the outstanding postgraduate students who are on this programme to encourage them to apply.

Read testimonials from some of our successful students:

• Student testimonials

The best part about our programme is that it is completely research oriented, which gives us a picture of how a career in Biomedical Sciences would be. I had no previous research experience; however, both my lab supervisors and the school helped me learn the basic essentials and built a strong base, along with my projects.

This programme is designed in such a way that it builds your skills and techniques, beneficial for both an academic or an industrial career, irrespective of your background. It also gives you the valuable experience of meeting and interacting with various renowned scientists from across the biomedical sector. It gives us opportunities to explore the various branches of Biomedical Sciences and helps us to decide which one would be the most appropriate for our future career.

I was pretty much confused if I should go for a career in academics or industrial work. This programme gave me the chance to work with two projects, one which related more to an academic lab-based environment and the second one was based on clinical research and had an industrial environment. This helped me to decide which one would work the best for me along with building my skills for both academic and industrial careers.

Nithya Nair, Biomedical Sciences (Life Sciences)

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 biological, chemical or physical sciences.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

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 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 65 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 7 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

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:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

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).

• Approved universities in 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:

• English 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.

• Academic Technology Approval Scheme

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 tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding