Overview
- Both clinical and non-clinical applicants are welcomed: with qualifications available at PGCert, PGDip and full MSc level.
- Modules will be jointly taught by mycology experts at the British Society for Medical Mycology, and the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology – a world-leading research centre that is helping to tackle the major global threats to human health caused by fungal diseases.
- This online course covers aspects of medical mycology, immunology, genomics of infectious disease, antifungal therapies, diagnostic and histopathology techniques.
- You will have access to online tools that promote engagement, University of Exeter library resources and virtual laboratory environments.
- Network with a community of students and faculty to engage with colleagues around the world.
Top 20 in the UK for world-leading research in Biological Sciences
90% of our Biological Sciences research is internationally excellent
Top 20 in the UK for world-leading research in Biological Sciences
90% of our Biological Sciences research is internationally excellent
Entry requirements
For the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert):
A degree in a relevant biological science (e.g. microbiology or another biomedical science course), or suitable professional experience.
For the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and MSc:
A degree at 2:2 level with 57% and above in a relevant biological science (e.g. microbiology or another biomedical science course), or a medical or dental degree with a minimum of 12 months postgraduate clinical experience (completion of UK Medical or Dental Foundation Year 1 competencies) or satisfactory completion of the PGCert.
Entrants for the MSc and Postgraduate Diploma must be working in a suitable professional setting to complete the project-based elements.
Entry requirements for international students
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course.
The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2.
Find out more about our English language requirements.
Course content
This programme will enhance the knowledge, skills and experience of individuals working in the field of medical mycology via online and reflective learning, and for the full Master's qualification, a research project / dissertation.
The objectives of the programme are to provide knowledge in all aspects of medical mycology including:
- fungal taxonomy and nomenclature
- physiology and metabolism of fungal pathogens
- fungal cell structure and organisation
- diagnosis of fungal infection
- fungal pathogenicity
- medically important fungi
- fungal diseases
- fungal genetics and evolutionary pathways
- fungal diagnostic tools
- molecular methods for diagnosis, identification, taxonomy and strain typing (laboratory pathway only)
- identification of fungi, microscopy and histology (laboratory pathway only)
- the epidemiology and changing spectrum of fungal disease
- antifungal therapy, antifungal resistance and antifungal stewardship
- immunology of fungal diseases (clinical pathway only)
- fungal diseases in specific patient groups (clinical pathway only)
Modules
- For the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification you will take the modules in stage 1 only.
- For the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) you will take stages 1 and 2.
- For the full Master's (MSc) you will complete all three stages.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
60 credits of compulsory modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module |
Credits |
|---|
| BIOM700Z |
The Principles of Medical Mycology | 15 |
| BIOM701Z |
Medically Important Fungi | 15 |
| BIOM702Z |
Fungal Diseases | 15 |
| BIOM703Z |
Diagnosis and Antifungal Therapy | 15 |
30 credits of compulsory modules, 30 credits of optional modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module |
Credits |
|---|
| BIOM704Z |
Molecular Mycology | 15 |
| BIOM709Z |
Communicating Science | 15 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module |
Credits |
|---|
| BIOM705Z |
Immunology of Fungal Diseases | 15 |
| BIOM706Z |
Fungal Diseases in Specific Patient Populations | 15 |
| BIOM707Z |
Microscopy and Histology | 15 |
| BIOM708Z |
Medical Mycology Diagnostic Aspects | 15 |
60 credits of compulsory modules.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module |
Credits |
|---|
| BIOM711Z |
Research Project | 45 |
| BIOM710Z |
Research Methodology and Grant Proposal | 15 |
Fees and funding
2025/26 entry
UK/International fees: £5,000 per stage (for completion in 3 years)
The University of Exeter is committed to ensuring that knowledge of Medical Mycology is disseminated as widely possible. Therefore, we are pleased to offer scholarships for candidates from low and middle income countries applying to study the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) Medical Mycology, which is Stage 1 of the MSc Medical Mycology Online programme, starting in January 2025. These scholarships will be awarded as a tuition fee discount of £1,050 for each module of the PGCert, offering a total saving of £4,200 on the cost of Stage 1. Full details can be found on the scholarship award page.
Teaching and research
How you'll learn
- Online lectures
- Interactive quizzes
- Online workshops
- Virtual laboratory environments
- Hands-on research projects
- Independent study
Learning from experts
The programme consists of core modules that provide you with a learning framework for directed student-centred learning in which you will develop knowledge, skills and experience in the fields of medical mycology. The course will be run by academics residing within the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology and members of the British Society for Medical Mycology.
Professor Mark Ramsdale
Programme Director
Professor Adilia Warris
Deputy Programme Director
Professor Mark Ramsdale
Programme Director
Professor Mark Ramsdale is a fungal cell biologist with interests in host-pathogen interactions and the link between cellular stress responses and programmed cell death in fungi. Past research has also focussed on antifungal drug discovery, fungal circadian rhythms and fungal population genetics. Professor Ramsdale was Director of Education for Biosciences at Exeter from 2015 to 2020. He is the programme lead for the online MSc in Medical Mycology and has a long standing interest in supporting students in higher education.
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Professor Adilia Warris
Deputy Programme Director
Professor Adilia Warris is a paediatric infectious diseases specialist and a co-director of the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology. Her research interest focusses on fungal infections in children, host-fungus interactions in special patient populations (cystic fibrosis, primary immunodeficiencies), antifungal resistance and antifungal stewardship. She has trained several clinical fellows in paediatric infectious diseases and medical mycology and is involved in numerous teaching activities focussing on medical mycology. Professor Warris is the deputy programme lead for the MSc in Medical Mycology.
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Careers
Employer-valued skills this course develops
Graduates from this programme will have a wide knowledge of medical mycology, fungal immunology, infection, mycoses, antifungal therapy and fungal diagnostics. Thus, graduates will contribute to the development of capacity in the field of medical mycology.
We will help direct you towards careers in support of clinical services in the NHS and other healthcare providers around the world, as well as commercial enterprise in the pharmaceutical and diagnostic industries.
The programme will build confidence in research skills and provide a network for students to engage with colleagues around the world, enabling you to develop national and international profiles aligning with the University of Exeter mission to train active global citizens.
Careers services
Our careers teams at the Career Zone can help guide you through a wealth of information to match your skills and interests to a career that will suit you. Our staff work with regional, national and international employers to develop new work placement, project and graduate opportunities.
