Bioscience (Structural Biology) - MRes
Our MRes Bioscience (Structural Biology) allows you to embark upon a major project in our research laboratories and enhance your bioscience graduate knowledge and expertise in leading research in the field. You will develop specialist knowledge and improve your research skills enabling you to advance on to PhD study or progress to a career in a variety of industries.
Month of entry
- September
Mode of study
- Full time
Fees for 2024/25 academic year
- UK - Full time £11,000 per year.
International - £20,700 per year.
Duration of study
- 1 year
Why study Bioscience (Structural Biology) at Keele University?
Course summary
Our MRes in Bioscience (Structural Biology) is a one-year research-based master's degree. The programme provides you with an excellent opportunity to spend concentrated time in a research environment to prepare you for further study at PhD level or a career in a variety of industries.
The core part of the programme is a major piece of independent research in the field of structural biology which you will undertake in semesters two and three. This full-time project enables you to experience working at the current and cutting edge of research in your chosen area.
You may undertake the project at an external institution, nationally or internationally to increase your experience of working in a subject-related laboratory. This is dependent on the type of project being undertaken and the research links of the lead project supervisor.
Taught modules in semester one will establish the key research skills and knowledge you will need in your independent research project such as critical literature searching, advanced research techniques, grant writing and experimental design.
Your research project will develop your individual research skills to an advanced level. You will formulate a research strategy, carry out thorough investigations, plus analyse and critically evaluate data in the context of current literature in your field. This data will then be presented in multiple scientific formats such as in your dissertation, viva, poster and presentation at our postgraduate student research conference. Overall, the programme will provide you with a set of transferable skills in practical research, problem solving, organisation, time management, collaboration and scientific communication.
The culmination of the project will be the production of your dissertation where you will be able to demonstrate your ability to identify problems, synthesise hypotheses, design and perform experiments, extract, analyse and interpret data, critically evaluate and apply the results to current literature, and present complex research in scientific writing.
This specialist pathway in Structural Biology aligns with the School of Life Science’s research themes and you will be supported throughout the year by expert academics who will develop your understanding of the various theoretical perspectives, different methodological approaches and the practical application of research within the biosciences field.
Other courses you may be interested in
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Course structure
Modules
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
Core modules
SEMESTER 1
CORE MODULE
LSC-40065 - Literature Review & Grant proposal, 30 credits, existing level 7 module.
In this module you will further develop skills in the evaluation of scientific literature and experimental design. In addition to producing a comprehensive literature review, you will also formulate research questions/hypotheses and design appropriate research strategies to address these in the form of a mini grant proposal and lay summary.
LSC-40111 - Advanced Research Topics in Structural Biology (30 credits)
This module will develop skills in the acquisition and critical analysis of primary scientific literature of relevance to a range of research methodologies, tools and techniques in structural biology and the broader biosciences disciplines. Research-level content will be delivered by staff and/or invited speakers and you will critically evaluate the primary literature of relevance to your subject area. You will develop a deeper understanding of appropriate experimental design, data analysis, presentation and evaluation, and the application of a wide range of molecular, biochemical, biophysical and/or cell biology techniques in a discipline-specific manner.
SEMESTER 2 AND 3
CORE MODULE
LSC-40105 - MRes Biosciences Extended Research Project (120 credits)
Within this module you will develop higher-level research skills in a selected area of the Biosciences. Working closely with an academic supervisor you will formulate a research project and design and conduct appropriate investigations to address this over an extended period. You will develop further skills in experimental design and the critical analysis of scientific data, communicated in the format of a substantial research report. You will also develop higher-level communication skills in the presentation of outcomes of the research project as either an oral presentation or poster, and will also undertake a professional discussion (viva) to discuss and defend your findings in front of a panel of experts.
Next steps
Entry requirements
Next steps
Entry requirements
The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don't see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications.
Typical offer
Please ensure that you read the full entry requirements by selecting your qualifications from the dropdown menu below. This will include any subject specific, GCSE/Level 2 Maths, and English language requirements you may need.
Please select your country from the drop-down list below for the full entry requirement information
UK
2:2 degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Bangladesh
60% in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject from a public university
or
CGPA 2.8 in a 4-year degree or 3-year degree with a 2-year Master's in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject from a private university
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
We don’t accept degrees from certain universities, please see our Bangladesh Country Page for more information
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Canada
70% or C or a GPA of 2.5 in a degree (Ordinary or Honours) in a biomedical, pharmacology or bioscience related subject
or
demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
China
70% in a degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
65% in a degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject from a '211' university
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Ghana
Second class degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
India
55% or CGPA 6/10 in a degree of at least 3 years in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Kenya
Second class degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nepal
60% / 2.4 in a 4-year Bachelor's degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
65% / CGPA 2.8 in a 3-year Bachelor's degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Nigeria
Second class degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Pakistan
We accept a range of qualifications from Pakistan. Please visit our Pakistan Country Page for more information
or we will consider demonstrated relevant professional qualifications or experience
You will also need an English language qualification (see below)
South Africa
Second class division 2 / 60% in a Bachelor's degree with Honours in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
Second class division 1 / 70% in an Ordinary Bachelor's degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Sri Lanka
55% in a Special Bachelor's degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Uganda
Second class degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
Zimbabwe
Second class degree in a bioscience, medical, or pharmacology related subject
or
demonstrated professional or relevant qualifications or experience
You will also need: an English language qualification (see below)
English language requirements
All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from Group C.
References
Normally, you will need to provide at least one academic reference to support your application unless you have been out of study longer than two years. If it has been more than two years since you last studied on a degree-level programme, you will normally need to provide an employment reference instead. For more information about Academic References, please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages.
Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose
Please see our Postgraduate how to apply web pages for guidance on what to include in your personal statement.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process which enables applicants to receive recognition and formal credit for learning acquired in the past through formal study or work and life experiences.
RPL can also be requested for admission onto the start of a programme in lieu of the admission requirements. For more information, see our Recognition of Prior Learning web pages.
Professional qualifications and work experience
The majority of our courses will consider relevant work experience and/or professional qualifications at the appropriate level, as an alternative to an undergraduate degree for entry. The work experience should be for a sustained period and at a suitable level, based within a relevant sector to your chosen course.
Admissions staff will review your work experience and/or professional qualifications during the assessment of your application to ensure suitability in terms of relevancy, level and appropriate learning outcomes.
General information
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.
Funding
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2024 start date falls in the 2023/24 academic year. Please see the 2023/24 academic year fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2024.
Planning your funding
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.
For continuing students, fees will increase annually by RPIX, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.
Next steps
Your career
MRes Bioscience pathways provide you with the opportunity to develop high-level research skills that could enable you to pursue a variety of paths if you successfully complete the programme. This could include progressing on study at PhD level or employment in industry.
Next steps
Teaching, learning and assessment
How you'll be taught
Our programme is delivered through a variety of activities including tutorials and workshops that will deepen your understanding of core methodologies, allow you to reflect on your own learning and have discussions with other students and tutors.
Seminars and journal clubs will develop your research skills particularly in the Advanced Research Techniques module. We also run weekly seminars with internal and external speakers currently working across the Bioscience discipline.
Independent study will further improve your subject understanding as you gather knowledge of core material from text books, research papers and research reviews.
The extended research project, which is the main focus of this MRes programme, will see you undertake an in-depth research project with the the support and supervision of academic staff from the School of Life Sciences.
How you'll be assessed
We have an assessment strategy that aims to evidence your abilities. The work you undertake in the extended research project module will assess your skills in designing hypotheses-led investigations, plus demonstrate that you can perform research at an independent level, conduct reliable experiments and evaluate outcomes.
Your research project along with the literature review and grant proposal modules will highlight your abilities in contextualising and critically analysing data. You will also be required to present your scientific findings at an advanced level. Again, your project and the literature review module will give you the opportunity to create a research topics portfolio and journal club-style presentation which will focus on the critical evaluation of recent articles in your chosen specialism. The outcomes of your research project will also be presented as research posters and/or an oral presentation at our postgraduate research conference and through a professional discussion to an academic panel.
We will assess the range of professional skills you will develop undertaking your individual project including leadership, innovation, timekeeping, communication, experimental design and the ability to work safely and ethically - all essential qualities in developing greater autonomy in the conduct of authentic research studies.
Next steps
Keele Postgraduate Association
Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.
Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.
Our expertise
University life is not just about the content of your programme, it is also an opportunity to network with people working in fields that excite you.
At the School of Life Sciences you will meet a diverse range of staff including world-leading researchers, clinical practitioners and experts in learning and teaching from across the School’s research themes, which means that you will benefit from being embedded into an environment of expertise.
Teaching Team
Key staff whose specialism is structural biology include:
You can find out more by visiting our molecular structure and signalling research page.
Next steps
Facilities
The School of Life Sciences has invested £45m in the creation of state-of-the-art science facilities on campus, including new research and teaching laboratories. In 2019, the opening of the David Attenborough Laboratories greatly increased our teaching and research areas, providing two additional state-of-the-art teaching laboratories with space for 120 students between them.
Courses focus on human, animal and plant life and you may choose to study areas from essential biochemistry, health and disease, cognition, biodiversity, evolution or our impact on the world around us. Students can access scientific equipment, such as fluorescence microscopes, electron microscopes, tools for molecular biology (e.g., PCR, western blotting), electrophysiology apparatus, and behavioural equipment housed in the Biomedical Services Unit.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPE UNIT
The Electron Microscope Unit has a range of microscopic techniques available to capture images, make slides and acquire data from biological, geological, physical and chemical specimens. These include: visible and electron microscopy; light microscopy; confocal/two photon imaging; field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM); conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray microanalysis; atomic force microscopy (AFM); ultramicrotomy; vibratome; and microslice.
PROTEOMIC MASS SPECTROMETRY FACILITY
Run in collaboration with Guy Hilton Research Centre (GHRC) and the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Oswestry, this facility offers a range of mass spectrometry equipment based at Huxley Building on Keele campus. Providing proteomics and mass spectrometry services for UK based researchers, equipment includes a 4800 MALDI TOF/TOF and 3200 QTRAP tandem quadrupole mass spectrometers, with nanoflow HPLC interfaces.
CENTRAL SCIENCE LABORATORY (CSL)
The University’s £34m Central Science Laboratory (CSL) opened its doors to students in September 2019 and provides 5,300m2 of modern, co-located science laboratories. Over £2m alone has been spent on industrial research-grade analytical and laboratory equipment that will be used by students in their day-to-day laboratory teaching. Access to state-of-the-art facilities and high specification equipment will ensure you are well prepared for scientific or industrial employment post-graduation. The environment mirrors the multi-faceted nature of working life and the shared space allows group working and collaboration between disciplines, building the skills and experience much valued by employers.
Next steps