Precision Medicine: Genomics & Analytics MSc

Transform healthcare through personalised genomic medicine

Across the world there is growing excitement about the transformation of healthcare through personalised medicine. From early diagnosis, to drugs based on our unique genetic codes, to disease prevention, this rapidly growing sector demands new skills from today’s biomedical scientists.

Whether you’re experienced with data analysis or not, this course will develop your skills in this critical field. Responding to the employment gaps in the sector, we can provide extra support for those students who are less confident in their mathematical ability, and believe the majority of biological scientists can develop the relevant data skills to succeed.

You will gain the skills to use large volumes of complex data, encompassing genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, phenotypic data, epidemiology and clinical trial investigations, to inform the understanding of disease mechanisms.

This unique course has been designed to directly meet the need for scientists with both biological knowledge and the computational, statistical and analytical skills to drive genomic precision medicine. You can expect to find work in the analytical genomics in industry, the NHS and academia.

Pioneering data science research at Leeds

The University of Leeds is now a partner of The Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s prestigious national institute for data science. The partnership is spearheaded by the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA) with contributions from researchers and data scientists from across the University. Research in LIDA sheds new light on health and human behaviour and the action needed to tackle a wide range of medical, social and environmental problems.

You’ll benefit from a research-led education at the forefront of the most innovative data analytics research at Leeds.

LIDA is supported by national programmes such as the MRC’s Medical Bioinformatics scheme who invested £5.7 million in Leeds to enable ground-breaking and productive bioinformatics research at the interface between the clinic, health records and high volume molecular and phenotypic data sets.

Leeds has also recently been the recipient of huge investments from funding councils across the UK, such as the recent £10 million investment in artificial intelligence and digital pathology.

HDRUK studentships

Following funding from Health Data Research UK (HDRUK) we are able to offer 4 fully-funded places to students who have applied to study MSc Precision Medicine: Genomics and Analytics starting in 2022. The funding is open to UK and international students and will cover the cost of UK fees as well as offering a stipend of around £14,785 to cover living expenses. This funding is awarded based on academic merit. Visit our scholarships page to find out more about how to apply.

This degree will prepare you for the rapidly expanding and developing field of precision medicine, equipping you with the diverse skill set needed to work in this data-centric discipline.

The modules on this course will introduce you to the advanced technologies used to generate large scale genomics data and the variety of statistical and computational methods used including:

• high throughput sequencing, proteomics and metabolomics

• regression, classification and random forests

• genome-wide genotype bioinformatic and gene expression data.

Highly interdisciplinary learning and teaching

You'll have access to the very best learning resources and academic support during your studies. The programme is highly interdisciplinary and combines academic expertise across three faculties: Biological Sciences, Medicine and Health, Engineering and Physical Sciences. You’ll be able to work with real-life data sets generated through our own research.

Some of your lectures will be delivered by external speakers from industry and the NHS who will use case studies to illustrate different approaches to using data analytics in precision medicine. You’ll also receive a solid grounding in a range of transferable skills, valued by employers, including: teamwork, project work, and knowledge of the legal, ethical and professional guidelines that are relevant to research data use.

Our cancer biology module is delivered at St James’s University Hospital campus site which is home to many cancer researchers located in the Wellcome Trust Brenner Building and the Clinical Sciences Building.

Research Project

You’ll complete a 60 credit research (computational) project where you will gain in-depth experience of the analysis of large-scale biomedical data to address problems related to health and disease and contribute to our world-leading research. You’ll be supervised by researchers who are active in the field of genomics and data analytics.

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 Precision Medicine: Genomics & Analytics MSc in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Learning and teaching

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.

Entry requirements

Applicants should normally have a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2:1 or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline which would normally be one of the biological sciences or natural sciences. Subject to University regulations, MBChB or BDS students who had completed 3 years of study would be eligible to intercalate.

While the course does not assume any prior knowledge of statistics, we require that students demonstrate their aptitude for statistics from either undergraduate teaching in statistics/mathematics, an A-level (or equivalent) in mathematics or other relevant experience.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any single component. 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 are now offering online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals.  To find out more, read Online Academic English pre-sessional (10 weeks) and Online Academic English pre-sessional (6 weeks).

Read about differences between our online and on-campus summer pre-sessionals.

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

How to apply

Documents and information you’ll need:

• completed online application form (for Taught Postgraduate Study)

• full CV

• transcript of degree examination marks achieved to date

• copy of final degree certificate (if completed)

• evidence of English language qualification (non-native English speakers only)

• copy of passport (if you’re an overseas student)

• completed supporting statement.

To help us assess your application, please write a supporting statement. As a guideline, we would expect this statement to be 1-2 pages in length. In your statement please:

• Provide a brief synopsis of any courses/modules you have studied that have covered statistics and/or statistical analysis. Please make reference to your academic transcript, as this information is not always apparent from the course titles.

• Provide details of any previous or current research experience (e.g. undergraduate project, vacation placements, fieldwork, internships). Describe clearly the aim of the work, your part in it, how long the project lasted and whether this research was carried out individually or in a group. Also mention the specific techniques you have used. Again, please ensure that you make reference to the statistical aspects.

• Outline the reasons why you wish to study this particular Masters programme. Explain how the skills and experiences you have outlined above are relevant to your programme of choice and the career you intend to pursue.

Find out more about how to apply

Apply

This link takes 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.

Next steps

• we process your application

• we inform you of our decision

• if we make you an offer, you respond by accepting, declining or deferring.

Taught postgraduate confirmation

Taught postgraduate applicants are required to submit their results for consideration as soon as possible. Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK are recommended to submit their results no later than 31 July, although they will still be considered if submitted after this date.

Interviews

It is standard procedure to interview applicants, prior to making a decision on their application, for MRes Neuroscience, MSc Biopharmaceutical Development (Industrial) and MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine. Interviews do not form part of the standard admissions process for other programmes in the Faculty of Biological Sciences.

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

University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2023

Fees

• UK: £12,250 (total)
• International: £25,750 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

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

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

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 about additional costs.

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.

Scholarships for Faculty of Biological Sciences students

We award a generous range of scholarships to UK and international students. We consider all eligible applicants who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and excellent personal and professional skills. Find out more about the range of scholarships we have to offer.

Government-backed loan up to £11,222. Find out more.

Alumni bursary - If you are a former student of the University of Leeds you may be eligible for a 10% alumni tuition fee bursary

You can also search our postgraduate scholarships database or you can also find information on MoneySavingExpert

HDRUK studentships

Following funding from Health Data Research UK (HDRUK) we are able to offer 4 fully-funded places to students who have applied to study MSc Precision Medicine: Genomics and Analytics starting in 2022. The funding is open to UK and international students and will cover the cost of UK fees as well as offering a stipend of around £14,785 to cover living expenses. This funding is awarded based on academic merit. Visit our scholarships page to find out more about how to apply.

As outlined in the recent publication ‘Science Industry Partnership: Skills Strategy 2025’, there is a demand for the skills that you will develop on this programme.

Upon completion of this programme you’ll be well-placed to undertake a PhD in this field. You may also be able to enter into a number of roles within the industry or NHS:

• Computational biology

• Data analytics functions

• Clinical genetics

• Disease Biologist

• Clinical Scientist

• Clinical leadership in genomic medicine.

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 at the Careers website.