MSc in Bioscience Entrepreneurship

This programme is for individuals who want to build their career at the bioscience-business interface, either in a start-up, as innovators in a research-based organisation, as investors or consultants, or in technology transfer.

The expertise that you gain is a combination of bioscience and broader management knowledge. These cross-disciplinary transferable skills are in demand in many different translational and policy settings.

Applicants should have either a science- or technology-based first degree, or a business-related first degree plus demonstrable interests and/or work experience in an area of bioscience innovation such as digital health. This programme is also suitable for intercalating Medical Students.

Compulsory modules

• Digital Health and AI
• Digital Opportunities
• Research and Business Case Project
• Business for Bioscience
• Research in Practice
• Science of Diseases
• Bioscience Startups
• Strategy for Emerging Technology in Life Sciences

Optional modules

• Entrepreneurial Finance
• Decision and Risk Analysis
• Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice
• Strategic Project Management
• Managing Innovation

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a Bioscience Innovation and Enterprise.

UCL is embedded in a powerful entrepreneurial ecosystem in London. The program converges expertise from the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (IoO), the UCL School of Management, and the UCL School of Pharmacy. Students will discover many opportunities to connect with researchers and innovators to explore ideas. There is the chance to work with and learn from, world-leading scientists, clinicians, digital experts, and entrepreneurs. Graduates from this program have moved on to careers in life sciences consultancy, venture capital, science innovation, technology transfer, and start-ups.

Graduates can expect to gain:

• Deep system understanding of the challenges of new value creation from science
• Practical research and translational techniques to make knowledge transfer happen
• Ability to interrogate science to find innovative opportunities that work
• Skills in communicating potential to resource-providers
• Strategic insight into how to stage-gate the building of a new bioscience business
• An entrepreneurial mindset in leading for good change
• Expertise in navigating the values clashes between science and business
• Financial, operational, and business understanding to ask intelligent questions
• Specific communication and leadership skills for bio-business success.

The foundation of your career

Students from the first four years have gone on to careers in innovation management consultancy, venture capital, research translation, technology transfer, clinical trials, start-ups and spinouts, policy, PhD programmes and more. Science has achieved new prominence since the pandemic. Our boundary-spanning innovative students have many options in the UK and globally for purposeful careers.

Employability

This programme trains you for a career in life sciences consultancy, investment in innovation, technology transfer, clinical trials, start-ups and spinouts, management, regulation, policy, digital health and more.

Students who complete this programme will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to set up a new venture or pursue a professional career in a wide range of biotechnology and biopharmaceutical sectors.

Networking

UCL Innovation and Enterprise is the division of UCL that offers a range of off-curriculum entrepreneurial activities, as well as incubator space, networking opportunities and practical education. Students also make contact with parts of the wider UCL and London entrepreneurial ecosystem. These connections include with start-ups, spinouts, incubators and networking hubs. Opportunities also arise through events and guest speakers.