MSt in Genomic Medicine

For the Michaelmas term of the 2020-2021 Academic Year this course is being taught remotely. This means there will be no face-to-face teaching and you will not need to be present in person in Cambridge.  The course content will be delivered, and the learning outcomes met, through the use of video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment. Face-to-face teaching will resume when it is safe and possible to do so.

The programme has been developed by the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education and Cambridge University Hospitals in partnership with Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus Advanced Courses and Scientific Conferences, and EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute.

This is a part-time course designed to fit with the demands of full-time employment. The course is delivered through a combination of face-to-face sessions requiring attendance in Cambridge, self-directed learning and supported through a virtual learning environment [VLE].

Aims of the programme

• To provide professionally relevant teaching and learning informed by research in an integrated clinical and research environment;
• To develop and create a cohort of doctors and other professionals allied to medicine able to pursue and develop their roles in a rapidly-changing and challenging environment of genomic medicine;
• To prepare healthcare professionals for the adoption of genomic technologies and the increasing use of genomic information as part of the diagnostic and treatment pathway;
• To develop a cohort of doctors and other professionals allied to medicine with the confidence to lead service improvement for safe and high quality patient care, and with the required knowledge, skills and capability to have a positive personal impact on the work of others;
• To develop a cohort of doctors and other professionals allied to medicine with an understanding of research methodologies and clinical opportunities relevant to genomic medicine;
• To encourage a commitment to intellectual challenge and evidence-based clinical practice informed by the latest conceptual and theoretical knowledge of genomic medicine;
• To develop students' intellectual, practical and transferable skills related to genomic medicine;
• To encourage critical thinking related to genomic medicine;
• To conduct systematic research relevant to their professional practice.

Teaching and learning

The modules offered as part of the MSt in Genomic Medicine are listed below:

Students are required to take:

• Eight modules, (4 modules to be taken in year 1) plus a 60-credit research project and associated dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words on an agreed topic in genomic medicine.

or

• Ten modules, comprising the eight modules, plus two additional modules (4 modules to be taken in year 1), plus a 30 credit literature-based research project and associated dissertation of 5,000-6,000 words on an agreed topic in genomic medicine.

Genomic Medicine Modules

Please note that dates for these modules are provisional and may be subject to change in accordance with government/University guidelines.

* Mandatory modules for all students

• An introduction to human genetics and genomics (GM1A): 12 -16 October 2020*
• Omics techniques and their application to genomic medicine (GM2): 9 - 13 November 2020
• Molecular pathology of cancer and application in cancer diagnosis, screening, and treatment (GM4):  1 - 5 February 2021
• Genomics of common and rare inherited diseases (GM3): 10 - 14 May 2021
• Bioinformatics, interpretation and data quality assurance in genome analysis (GM7): 6 - 10 December 2021
• Application of genomics in infectious disease (GM5): 10 - 14 January 2022
• Pharmacogenetics and stratified healthcare (GM6): 14 - 18 February 2022
• Advanced bioinformatics - from genomes to systems (GMO4): 14 - 18 or 21 - 25 March 2022 (TBC)
• Counselling skills for genomics (GMO2): 4 - 8 April 2022
• Epigentics and epigenomics (GMO5): 25 - 29 April 2022
• Expanding the content of the MSt in genomic medicine with a workplace-based module (GMO6): May-June 2022
• Research and statistical skills in genomic medicine (GMO7) various

To meet eligibility requirements, some funding providers such as HEE may require the study of specific modules.

Further study options:

The Genomic Medicine programme, provides the following additional course and study options:

• To study as a Postgraduate Diploma
• To study as a Postgraduate Certificate
• To study individual modules: It is possible to enrol for modules (dependent on places being available) on a stand-alone basis for Credit or CPPD (non-credit). 
  To note: all options will not necessarily be offered in any one year.

Entry requirements

1. Applicants are normally expected to a hold a 2i degree or higher from a UK university or an equivalent from an overseas university.
2. All applicants are required to demonstrate competency in English at a high level before commencing the programme (IELTS Academic test scores of: overall band score of 7.0, with not less than 7.0 in speaking, listening and writing, and 6.5 in reading). Evidence of competency in English is in accordance with the guidelines of the University of Cambridge.
3. International students must ensure they have the correct Visa documentation, and those in full-time employment, whether in the UK or abroad, to work and study at the same time.

Fees and funding

The fee for 2020 will be £6,000 per annum (£12,000 for the full 2 years) for Home/EU students and for overseas students the fee is £17,910 per annum (£35,820 for the full 2 years). An application fee of £65 is payable for all applicants.

Students are required to fund travel, accommodation and subsistence during the programme of study.

HEE funding is available for NHS staff wishing to apply to study Genomic Medicine at The University of Cambridge for study of individual modules or modules as part of a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or part-time Masters in Genomic Medicine.  Limited funding is also available for those wishing to extend their study from a Postgraduate Certificate or 4 modules to a Postgraduate Diploma or MSt. All funding is subject to availability.

Prospective students wishing to apply for HEE funding should apply for their course place in the first instance. HEE funding is accessed through the University following receipt of a conditional offer of a place to study (and not by applying directly to HEE).  For full details of details of the application procedure, including a useful flow chart, please refer to the HEE website here.

Other sources of funding

Sources of government funding and financial support - including Professional and Career Development Loans.

MSts (for courses starting after 1 August 2019). For information on a loan from Student Finance England for course fees and a contribution towards living costs, please see https://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/info/student-loans

Assessment

• Students are assessed formatively throughout the taught modules of the programme using a variety of techniques and interrelated strategies including evidence of regular reflection, demonstration of active participation in the programme will also be required. There may also a requirement for the students to take part in peer review of other students.
• For each of the four taught modules comprising the Postgraduate Certificate, students must complete summative assignments of 2500-3500 words or equivalent.
• For the additional modules comprising the  Postgraduate Diploma, students must complete assignments of 2500-3500 words for each of the taught modules (except where other methods of module assessment are indicated in individual module descriptions).
• For the MSt Masters, students must also complete a research project of 10,000 to 12,000 words or a literature-based research project of 5,000 to 6,000 words