Program Overview
The Sensory Disability specialization at Macquarie University provides advanced knowledge in hearing and vision within contemporary studies in disability, preparing students for roles that support the needs of children and adults with hearing and/or vision loss. This specialization is suitable for allied health professionals, disability professionals, and teachers who currently teach or wish to teach students with sensory disability. Students will gain theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and professional collaboration skills to optimize outcomes for people with sensory disability.
Program Outline
Bioscience MSc - University of Leeds
Degree Overview:
This MSc program equips students with the expertise necessary to work at the forefront of modern bioscience. The knowledge and skills gained are applicable to diverse fields such as health, renewables, food, and agriculture. The program addresses the current shortage of qualified STEM graduates in the bioeconomy, a sector experiencing rapid growth.
Objectives:
- Develop essential core skills and competencies in bioscience.
- Provide a flexible program allowing students to tailor their studies to their interests.
- Introduce students to cutting-edge techniques used in scientific discovery.
- Offer an immersive research experience through an independent advanced research project.
- Prepare students for a wide range of careers in academia, commercial, and public sector organizations.
Outline:
This is a full-time, 12-month MSc program assessed entirely through coursework. Students select up to 2 additional optional modules per semester (maximum of 30 credits total) to tailor the program to their interests and career aspirations.
Semester 1:
- Compulsory Modules:
- Practical Bioinformatics: Introduces relevant tools and approaches, providing hands-on experience with bioinformatics methods for exploring and evaluating sequence information.
- Research Planning and Communication: Develops transferable skills essential for scientific research, including reading and understanding research papers, literature searching, writing a literature review, and writing a grant proposal.
- Optional Modules:
- Bioimaging
- Global Challenges in Sustainable Agriculture
- Crop Production in a Changing Environment
- High-Throughput Technologies
- Advanced Immunology
- Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases
Semester 2:
- Compulsory Modules:
- Advanced Biomolecular Technologies: Provides theoretical background to cutting-edge techniques and develops skills in data analysis and interpretation.
- Protein Engineering Laboratory Project: Offers practical training in modern molecular biology and protein engineering techniques such as gene cloning, PCR, mutagenesis, protein expression, protein purification, and analysis.
- Optional Modules:
- Treatment of Infectious Diseases and Cancer
- Medical Diagnostics
- Crop Science and Biotechnology
- Introduction to Genetic Epidemiology
- Cancer Biology and Molecular Oncology
Semester 3:
- Compulsory Module:
- Bioscience MSc Research Project: Students choose and undertake an independent research project on a specific topic aligned with their interests. They receive extensive specialist training in experimental design, advanced techniques and technologies, and data analysis with interpretation. A research project supervisor provides support and guidance throughout the project.
Assessment:
The course is primarily coursework-based. Assessments include:
- Practical work
- Data handling and problem-solving exercises
- Group work
- Literature reviews
- Research paper critiques
- Posters
- Oral presentations
- Individual research project written up in research paper format These assessments develop skills relevant to future careers in academia, public, and commercial science.
Teaching:
- Taught by expert academics, including lecturers, professors, industry professionals with years of experience, and trained postgraduate researchers.
- Teaching methods include formal lectures, interactive workshops, seminars, tutorials, problem-solving, practical classes, and demonstrations.
- A significant component of the course is delivered via small group sessions.
- Substantial subject-specific training is provided through the research project and selected optional modules.
- Teaching and assessment methods are designed to develop students into scientists who can think independently, solve problems, communicate effectively, and demonstrate a high level of practical ability.
Careers:
The strong research element of the course, along with the specialist and generic skills developed, equip graduates for a wide range of careers. Graduates work in diverse areas, including:
- Bioscience-related research
- Scientific publication
- Teacher training
- Health and safety
- Pharmaceutical market research
Other:
- The Faculty of Biological Sciences is one of the largest groupings of life science researchers in the UK.
- The University of Leeds has a proactive Industrial Advisory Board who advise on what employers look for in graduates and on employability-related skills within the program.
- The University collaborates with a wide range of organizations in the public and commercial sectors, many of which are represented on the Industrial Advisory Board.
- The University has a dedicated employability and opportunity team who ensure students are aware of events and opportunities to increase their employability.
- The Masters career development program supports students to:
- Explore career options and career planning.
- Understand the PhD application process and optimize PhD application.
- Practice interviews for both job and PhD applications.
- Regular research seminars are presented by leading academics from around the world on their specialist subjects.
- A substantial proportion of graduates undertake further study at Leeds or elsewhere.
- Recent graduates have gone on to PhD positions in the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, and Australia.
- The Careers Centre and staff in the faculty provide a range of help and advice to help students plan their career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after graduation.
UK fees: £13,500 (Total) International fees: £31,000 (Total)
