MSc Genomic Medicine (online)

Entry requirements

Normally a min 2.2 Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. Relevant clinical or professional experience may be taken into consideration as evidence of equivalency.  A personal statement, detailing your reasons for seeking to undertake this subject, will be required. 

The University is committed to an equal opportunities policy with respect to gender, age, race, sexual orientation and/or disability when dealing with applications. It is also committed to widening access to higher education to students from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience.

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Course content

Enhance learning. Redefine patient care

• Study Genomics fully online with world leading researchers
• Practice in the clinical professions will be transformed by genomic technologies and information within the next decade.

Our innovative fully online programme can be studied either as a full Masters degree, a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip), a Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) or individual modules in Genomic Medicine.  This online programme has been developed from our successful and well-established MSc Genomic Medicine, as part of the ambitious 100,000 Genomes Project. There is also the flexibility to combine modules from the traditional MSc with this fully online version.

These options for online study are designed to equip you with the skills to succeed in a wide variety of contexts. The modules offer a rich curriculum examining theory, research, policy and practice in the field of genomic medicine, and provide a unique student experience, where you will gain an insight into applying genomic medicine for patient benefit.

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Module Delivery dates

View Genomic Medicine 2024-2025 module delivery dates

Please note: these dates are draft and subject to change.

The last contact day and assessment deadline for the programme will be earlier than the actual end date of your registration with the University, to allow a period of time at the end of your active studies for further support and mitigation, if needed.

Modules

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.

Fees

 2025/26 entry

Fees are subject to an annual increment each academic year.

UK fees

• MSc: £13,200 full-time; £6,600 pa part-time (2 years); £4,400 pa part-time (3 years)
• PGDip: £4,400pa (2 years)
• PGCert: £4,400 (1 year)

Standalone module fees: UK: £1,250 per 15-credit module

Credit bearing modules: If you opt to take a non-accredited module and wish to then fully accredit this with the University of Exeter, you will need to pass the assessed elements of the course within 6 months of completion and there is an additional £200 accreditation fee.

International fees 

• MSc: £30,900 full-time; £15,500 pa part-time (2 years); £10,300 pa part-time (3 years)
• PGDip: £10,300 pa (2 years)
• PGCert: £10,300 (1 year)

Standalone module fees: International £2,800 per 15-credit module

Scholarships

We invest heavily in scholarships for talented prospective Masters students. This includes over £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*.

For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

^{*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.}

Funding and Scholarships

UK government postgraduate loan scheme

Postgraduate loans of up to £12,167 are now available for Masters degrees. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply.

Funding

There are various funding opportunities available including Global excellence scholarships.
For more information visit our  Masters funding page.

Scholarships 

Details of scholarships, including our Global Excellence scholarships for international fee-paying students, can be found on our dedicated funding page.

Funding for NHS professionals

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Teaching and research

Our purpose is to deliver transformative education that will help tackle health challenges of national and global importance.

How you will learn

Using a mix of learning formats, our modules each run over an eight week period during which you can work at your own pace. You’ll be learning through an exciting mixture of video, animations, quizzes, tasks and webinars. You will be supported by the module lead, a personal tutor, peer discussion forums and you will have full support from allocated module-specific online tutors.

The online discussion and tutoring discussions are generally divided into three learning blocks and you will complete summative assessment for each module during the 8 weeks of the module.

Teaching

Teaching will be delivered by experts from a range of academic and health care professional backgrounds are chosen to ensure a breadth and depth of perspective, giving a good balance between theories and principles, and practical management advice.

Your online learning is delivered through a virtual learning environment, delivering a library of study materials including virtual patients and independent learning tasks, reference materials and links to online tutorials.

What you will gain

Students who complete the programme will gain an in-depth understanding of the current state of genomics knowledge and how it will bring benefit to patients through improved diagnosis and personalised treatment, and how to disseminate knowledge to peers, patients and the public.

Pre-learning

Before the start of your course please use this material as an introduction to some of the basic concepts in genomics. If there are gaps in your knowledge please use the learning resources provided below.

By the end of this pre-learning you should be able to:

1. Describe how the genome is structured and organised; using terms such as DNA, nucleotide, gene and chromosome.
2. Explain how the information encoded in DNA is decoded resulting in the production of proteins; using terms such as codon, mRNA, transcription, translation and tRNA.
3. Explain how a genetic variant can result in an observable trait; using terms such as gene expression, genotype, mutation, phenotype and protein function.
4. Use pedigree charts to deduce common modes of Mendelian inheritance; using terms such as allele, autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, carrier, homozygote and X-linked.
5. Appreciate that environmental factors affect gene expression. Terms to be understood here include epigenetics, histone and methylation.
6. Understand that common diseases result from a complex interplay involving multiple genes and environmental factors. Terms to be understood here include polygenic and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).

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Careers

Who is this course for?

Students who study this programme are likely to be clinical practitioners, diagnostic service providers, scientists, researchers and those aspiring to specialise within an academic career pathway.

Employer-valued skills this course develops

The course is especially designed for healthcare professionals working within the National Health Service, to improve their capabilities and support career progression. It could be similarly beneficial for those working or aspiring to work in other healthcare systems.

Students who complete the programme will gain an in-depth understanding of the current state of genomics knowledge and how it will bring benefit to patients through improved diagnosis and personalised treatment, and how to disseminate knowledge to peers, patients and the public.

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