MSc in Systems and Synthetic Biology

We offer an opportunity to train in one of the newer areas of biology: the application of engineering principles to the understanding, control, and design of biological networks. This approach promises solutions to some of today’s most pressing challenges in environmental protection, human health, and energy production.

The MSc in Systems and Synthetic Biology will provide you with a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and biotechnological tools used in systems and synthetic biology, with applications ranging from understanding genome-wide data to designing and synthesising intracellular logic gates. The programme is highly customisable, allowing you to choose courses across the University that match your goals.

You will have the opportunity to perform research, either wet, dry, or both, in a world-leading laboratory. The University hosts SynthSys, one of the country's largest research centres in systems and synthetic biology, and the UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology.

Programme structure

The MSc comprises two semesters of taught courses followed by a research project and dissertation. Semesters 1 and 2 include 60 credits each of compulsory and optional courses.

Teaching is delivered using different ways:

• lectures
• tutorials
• seminars
• practicals
• presentations

On completion of this programme, students will be able to:

• identify and characterise the key methods, approaches and theories from science and technology studies as they apply to the study of systems and synthetic biology
• describe a range of examples of information processing in biological cells
• understand the literature in the field and interpret it critically
• perform basic programming and run computer simulations, and be acquainted with the theoretical methods such as mathematical and computational modelling
• use analytical skills and have the ability to assess the relative merits of new methods and application of these
• look at a wide range of problems from the perspective of solving these with innovative bio-based solutions

The programme is designed to prepare you both for a competitive PhD programme and to enter the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries.