BSc Medical Genetics with an Industrial Placement Year

This course gives you a broad understanding of genetics, with an emphasis on topics of medical relevance. You’ll take a year-long, paid work placement as part of your degree to help you better understand how genetic information can be used in medicine.

Our students have found placements at global pharmaceutical companies, such as GSK and Pfizer, but your placement doesn't have to be in the lab. You could apply your scientific knowledge outside of the bioscience industry, in areas including market research, communications or business development.

A placement is a great opportunity to test out a career path and many students are offered a graduate-level job at the end. You'll pay reduced fees for the year you're on placement and you'll still have the support you need from your tutor and the University.

You’ll learn about human, plant and microbial genetics, genomics, and molecular biology and explore the genetic basis of cell function and disease. You'll study the structure and expression of genes, inheritance and mutations and the latest molecular techniques for modifying genes, including CRISPR. We'll introduce you to how modern genetics helps us to understand and treat a range of diseases, as well as tackle global challenges like food sustainability and security.

From your first year, you’ll study modules that span the molecular biosciences covering genetics, biochemistry and molecular and cell biology. Alongside these modules, you’ll have the freedom to explore complementary topics across the breadth of bioscience, such as microbiology, biomedicine, ecology, plant science and zoology, so you have the option to study medical genetics in greater depth, keep your interests broad or even switch to another degree programme within the biosciences.

No matter what modules you choose to study, you’ll develop the practical laboratory and transferable skills that make our graduates attractive to employers, including project management, problem solving, communication skills and data analysis.

Whether you choose to focus solely on medical genetics or study a range of topics across the molecular biosciences and beyond, your personal tutor will assist you in tailoring your degree to your interests and career goals.

This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, which shows employers that you've developed the practical skills and scientific knowledge that they're looking for.