Biomedical Science - Medical Immunology MSc

Why choose Biomedical Science (Medical Immunology) MSc at Middlesex?

This MSc programme will allow you to develop your knowledge and understanding of advance Immunological concepts.

On our master's degree you will learn about how the immune system protects the host from infection by microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria but how it can also, when deregulated, give rise to immune system disorders such as autoimmune disease.

You will learn how immunological reagents may be used as immunotherapeutics to treat cancers and inflammatory disease and how immunoassays are used in the diagnosis of disease.

We also cover the framework and vocabulary in essential and advanced aspects of Immunology.

What you will gain

You will learn analytical and technical skills that will prepare you for a career within the NHS, the private health sector, pharmaceutical industry, education, or to work in training or research.

You will work on your own research project, under supervision, which may lead to inclusion in a scientific publication, resulting in an improved research profile.

Specialist external lecturers will share their knowledge with you from their areas of expertise. This broadens your knowledge resources and network opportunities. For example, during your immunopathology module, you will be taught about how a recipient is matched to a donor kidney that has suddenly become available by the blood and transplant team at St. Georges Hospital Medical School.

You will be taught about the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiencies in children by a clinical scientist based in Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital and finally, you will be taught how to diagnose allergy and hypersensitivity by an expert in the area based at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS trust.

Accreditations

This programme is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).

Accreditation of this course is a recognition that it will provide qualified biomedical scientists, who are specialist practitioners or intend to specialise, with advanced knowledge and skills required for clinical practice.

Non-members are eligible for membership of the IBMS MSc after completing the course. However, the course in itself does not lead to registration with the HCPC as a biomedical scientist.

To find out more about this course, please download the Biomedical Science (Medical Immunology) MSc specification (PDF).

Facilities and support

Cell and tissue culture lab

This lab focused on the culture of mammalian cell lines. Its outstanding facilities include:

• Biological safety cabinets for the sterile handling of cells
• Four phase-contrast microscopes
• Several atmosphere-controlled incubators for growing cells.

Use the lab to discover new biomarkers which can be used to detect disease, as well as in vitro models to determine the efficacy of many potential treatments for disease. This facility is essential to cancer, reproductive, stem cell and nano-pharmaceutics research at Middlesex.

Flow cytometry facilities

We have two flow cytometers located within the laboratories in the Hatchcroft building. Students will be taught how to use flow cytometry to:

1. Immunophenotype immune cells
2. Determine apoptosis induced by cancer-treating drugs.
3. Determine the impact of various hormones and growth factors on the proliferation and differentiation of cells of the immune response.

Mass spectrometry and analytical facilities

Our exceptional array of high-end equipment can support your research in:

• Investigative and diagnostic oncology
• Urban pollution control
• Biophysics and bioengineering
• Molecular biology
• Reproductive biology.

Microbiology and molecular biology labs

There's everything you need to develop advanced microbial techniques, infectious sample processing and the culture of microorganisms.

You can develop molecular biology techniques such as:

• Cloning and analysing DNA and RNA sequences
• Quantify RNA levels
• Separate DNA molecules.

You’ll be able to use industry-standard equipment including:

• A Leica SP2 confocal microscope for the high-resolution analysis of protein sub-cellular distribution
• Our tissue culture facility for the large-scale production of monoclonal antibodies and proteins.
• A Nikon live cell microscope system for time-lapse imaging.

The Sheppard Library

Our library is open 24 hours a day during the term and includes:

• Over 1,000 study areas with rooms for group study and over 600 computer spaces
• 350,000 books and e-books and more than 24,000 online journals
• Free laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing

Fees and funding

The fees below are for the 2025/26 academic year.

UK students¹

Full-time students: £10,700
Part-time students: £71 per credit
Part-time students: £35 per dissertation credit

International students²

Full-time students: £17,100
Part-time students: £112 per credit
Part-time students: £56 per dissertation credit

Additional course costs:

We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.

• Free – laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing
• Free specialist software for your course
• Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

The following course-related costs are not included in the fees, and you will need to budget for these:

• Additional printing over and above the £50 annual allowance
• The cost of books that you might wish to purchase.

Financial support

We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Check out our guide to student life on a budget and find out more about postgraduate funding.

Postgraduate scholarships

You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:

• The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
• The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
• The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
• The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
• Regional or International Merit Award –up to £2,000 towards course fees.

For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.

Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.

Help from your employer

Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.

Work while you study

If you are not currently working, we can help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.