Medicine MRes

Course overview

Research stands at the forefront of science to prevent illness, develop therapies and improve human health. At Leeds, our ambition is to drive forward research to make impactful changes on both local and international levels.

The MRes Medicine is designed to resemble a mini-PhD. It is an exciting research-based course designed to challenge your critical and creative approach to current issues in medicine and health. We will provide you with training and opportunities to develop as a scientist or scientifically literate clinician, resulting in a comprehensive understanding of the concepts and techniques relevant to medical research.

MRes students frequently use the experience gained as a springboard to a PhD, a career in industry, or a clinical academic position.

Course highlights

• Be part of a major international centre for research and education.
• Take on a nine-month research project to develop your specialised knowledge.
• Choose from a range of research opportunities including:
  • applied health
  • cancer and pathology
  • cardiovascular
  • genes and development
  • medical education
  • musculoskeletal topics.
• Grow and refine your skills and knowledge to improve the lives of others.
• Design and undertake a substantial piece of publishable research.
• Study in one of our internationally renowned institutes and learn from leading experts in their field.
• Self-designed projects are possible.
• Gain experience formulating new hypotheses.
• Explore the causes and consequences of diseases by conducting rigorous scientific research in a laboratory with patients and patient data.

Course details and modules

The taught modules are designed to stimulate a deep and critical knowledge of research, while our offer optional modules to allow you to develop a comprehensive knowledge of different approaches to medical research.

Between them, these modules will give you the skills you need to complete your research project, and help you understand how individual research projects fit in with the wider scientific community.

The Methods in Biomedical Research module will introduce many of the methods used across a variety of research settings. This will enable you to see patterns, whereby multiple different specialist technologies are actually answering similar questions in different contexts.

The Paper Criticism and Publication Review and Dissemination modules allow you to understand how research is then presented to the world, how papers are written, and how the gradual progress of a research project is converted into disseminated information. This will enable you to read scientific papers and understand how those studies were carried out, which findings were then made public, and why.

As optional modules, you can choose between Informatics and Data Science in in Health Care and Research or Applied Qualitative Health Research. The data science module provides advanced techniques to analysis quantitative data. The qualitative module provides similar instruction for qualitative research. Your choice should reflect the nature of your research project, so you will be best placed to analyse the data you produce.

Course structure – term dates

The MRes Medicine does not follow standard term dates. The Research Project starts early September with the writing of a proposal, and the final project report is due mid-June with oral presentations taking place in July. This gives you nine months of research experience on the project. We’ll expect you to work on your project when you’re not attending taught modules. On average you can expect to work two to three days a week on your research project in semester 1 and four to five days a week in semester 2. The MRes Medicine holidays are when the University is officially closed at Christmas, Easter and bank holidays.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Medicine MRes in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Learning and teaching

The MRes Medicine is designed to resemble a mini-PhD. The main part of the academic year is dedicated to the Research Project. You’ll be involved in assessments likened to those of an academic researcher. For instance, you’ll have to write:

• A research proposal.
• A literature review.
• An impact statement.
• A press release.

You’ll then be expected to critically analyse your data to form a final report that you will present orally.

You’ll experience a mixture of stimulating lectures and interactive small group teaching sessions.

The taught modules will develop your numerical and qualitative skills that are essential in medical research such as data analysis and paper appraisal. All teaching is research-led and you’ll be taught by experts in the field.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

All modules are assessed by the submission of coursework, workbooks, reports and reviews.

Applying

Entry requirements

Applications will be considered from:

• Non-graduates who have successfully completed three years of a UK medical degree (or equivalent), and wish to take the MRes course as an intercalated course.
• Applicants with a first class or second class first division degree in a science allied with medicine (including anatomy, biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, or biomedical science).
• Applicants with a MBChB, BChD or BVMS from a UK or EU University graduates with a second class second division science degree normally with appropriate work experience (two years or more) in a health subject area.

This course is also available as an intercalated programme to students who have completed three years of a UK medical degree. Read more at Intercalation.

Students taking this course as an intercalated degree are subject to different deadlines of application.

Find out more about applying to intercalate.

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other components.. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional. 

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Application deadline: 27 June 2025.

Applications considered based on qualifications and experience.

The course may close before the deadline if capacity reached.

Documents and references for your application:

• An academic reference may be requested if required and therefore contact details should be supplied at the point of application.
• Personal statement explaining your research interests and stating your three preferred research projects.

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

As part of your application you will need to choose three research projects, listed in priority order and and identified by the stated supervisor(s). The list will be made available via a link which will be published on this page before the Christmas break.

The deadline for applications is usually in June each year.

Leeds intercalating students need to apply via the Intercalation page. Application deadline is usually towards the end of January each year.

You will need the following documents and information:

• A transcript of the grades you have received so far in your degree (accompanied by a certified English translation if your transcripts are not written in English).
• A degree certificate if you have already graduated (accompanied by a certified English translation if your certificate is not written in English).
• A personal statement explaining your research interests and stating your three preferred research projects.
• At least one academic reference.

Read more information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system. If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

School of Medicine Taught Postgraduate Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Medicine

Contact us

School of Medicine Postgraduate Admissions

Email: pgmed-admissions@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £14,250 (Total)

International: £33,000 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Studying in the School of Medicine at Leeds is an amazing opportunity, but we know that the cost can be difficult for many people to meet. If you are keen to join us, a range of funding opportunities are available.

Career opportunities

The Master of Research in Medicine is for people who want to pursue a lifelong career in academic medicine research.

For medical students, the addition of the Medicine MRes on your CV is an advantage when applying for Academic Foundation Posts and Specialist Training Posts in the NHS.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.