MSc Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Cardiff, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 27,450 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for overseas | for home: £11,950
Key Summary
With an ageing population and chronic diseases on the rise, there is a need for more effective medical treatments and therefore a need for trained tissue engineering researchers to deliver these technologies.
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is an ever-emerging interdisciplinary field of biomedical research; which combines life sciences, biology and engineering, to progress the repair, replacement and enhancement of diseased and damaged tissues.
It’s a field that has the potential to deliver treatments for diseases, injuries and disorders where currently people have no options.
The Programme provides in-depth training in this branch of biomedical science, including stem cell biology, biomaterials and tissue/organ engineering. The MSc offers a balanced combination of theory and practice; and can serve either as preparation for a PhD or as a self-contained master’s qualification.
The programme is both lecture and laboratory-based; benefiting from taught modules that cover areas such as Cellular & Molecular Biology and Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine and culminating in a hands-on 5-month research project. It also includes several opportunities to visit relevant clinical settings and local industrial partners.
Students are taught by academics from across the School of Biosciences, Dentistry, Medicine, Optometry and Pharmacy. You will therefore study within a multidisciplinary community with internationally excellent academic, research and clinical expertise not available at many other institutions.
Based at The University Hospital of Wales (the 3rd largest university hospital in the UK), you will develop technical laboratory skills and will be presented with a number of opportunities to extend your communication and presentation skills, both written and oral.
You will acquire a number of specific skills, such as the ability to collect, analyse and interpret a range of complex quantitative and qualitative data. You will also develop a number of valuable laboratory research-based skills, through the completion of a 5-month research project of your choice*, which will be presented as a poster.
Graduates from this Programme will have a broad spectrum of knowledge and a variety of skills, making them highly attractive both to potential employers and research establishments in this fast-developing sector.
Why Study this Course
The Programme provides in-depth training in this branch of biomedical science, including stem cell biology, biomaterials and tissue/organ engineering.
First of Its Kind in the UK
Our course was the first of its kind in the UK, building on Cardiff University’s research excellence and critical mass of tissue engineering researchers.
Our Interdisciplinary Network
Teaching is delivered by academics across the University.
Visit Clinical Settings
Opportunities to visit clinical settings and local industrial partners to speak with clinicians with keen interests in tissue engineering and repair.
Research Project
The MSc combines both taught modules and a 5-month research project which can be chosen by you. Previous student projects have been in research areas such as stem cell biology, bone, skin, oral tissues and drug delivery.
We are committed to investing up to a total of £500,000 in this high-value competitive scholarship scheme to support UK students who are planning to start an eligible Master’s programme in 2024/25.
Each Scholarship is worth £3,000 and will be awarded a tuition fee discount.
Eligibility
UK students are eligible to apply for the Scholarship. You normally need to have achieved at least a 2.1 or equivalent in your first degree to be eligible. You need to submit an application to study at Cardiff University and be made an offer to study before your fee status can be confirmed.
MSc Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine commence in September each year with Stage 1, a 6-month, taught component.
Stage 1 is taught almost entirely at a small group teaching level, supported by laboratory sessions, interactive workshops and tutorials, in addition to visits to relevant hospital clinics and local companies involved in producing tissue engineering and repair therapies. Modules are assessed by various written assignments, presentations and formal examinations.
On completing Stage 1, students undertake a 5-month, laboratory-based research project between April and September (Stage 2). Projects are chosen by students from topics supplied by academic supervisors across the University. Previous student projects have been in research areas such as embryonic or mesenchymal stem cell biology; cartilage, bone, skin or oral tissue repair; fibrosis; and biomaterials and drug delivery. Stage 2 culminates in the submission of an MSc Dissertation, based on MSc Project findings
The MSc in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine is a one-year, full-time Programme. The MSc Programme commences in September each year with Stage 1, a 6-month, taught component involving four compulsory Modules.
On completing Stage 1, students undertake a 5-month, laboratory-based research project, between April-September (Stage 2). Stage 2 culminates in the submission of an MSc Dissertation, based on MSc Project findings.
Core Modules for Year One
- Dissertation
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Tissue Engineering from Concept to Clinical Practice
- Research Methods
- Stem Cells, Regenerative Medicine and Scientific Methods
How Will I Be Assessed?
The four taught Modules within the Programme are assessed through in-course assessments, including:
- Extended essays
- Oral presentations
- Poster presentations
- Statistical assignments
- Critical appraisals
What Skills Will I Practise and Develop?
The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you.
The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:
Knowledge & Understanding
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:
- Systematic understanding of the multi-disciplinary nature of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine and the need for integration of knowledge from different fields
- An understanding of the cellular/tissue alterations which occur during various disease states and ageing in humans
- A comprehensive knowledge of the core principles of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
- An understanding of the physical and biochemical techniques available for the assessment and development of tissue-engineered and regenerative medicine products for clinical use
Intellectual Skills
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
- Critically evaluate knowledge at the forefront of a range of disciplines, such as stem cell biology, biomaterials and tissue/organ engineering
- Utilise knowledge and scientific evidence-based methods in the assessment and solution of challenges in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
Professional Practical Skills
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
- Collect, evaluate, synthesise and interpret qualitative and quantitative data in a variety of ways; and identify means to gather new data where required
Transferable/Key Skills
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate:
- Analytical skills
- Communication and presentation skills
After successfully completing this MSc, you should have a broad spectrum of knowledge and a variety of skills, making you highly attractive both to potential employers and research establishments.
Since its introduction in 2006, 95% of our MSc graduates have progressed onto career paths highly relevant to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. These include PhDs within Cardiff and at other UK, EU and USA Universities, Graduate-Entry Medicine, Specialist Registrar Training, Teaching, and positions in Industry and Clinical Laboratory settings.
How will I be Taught?
Teaching is delivered via lectures, laboratory sessions, interactive workshops and tutorials, in addition to visits to relevant hospital clinics, such as orthopaedics, nephrology and dermatology, and local companies involved in producing tissue engineering and repair therapies.
This programme is based within the School of Dentistry and taught by academic staff from across Cardiff University and by external speakers.
All taught modules within the Programme are compulsory and students are expected to attend all lectures, laboratory sessions and other timetabled sessions. Students will receive supervision to help them complete the dissertation but are also expected to engage in considerable independent study. Dissertation topics are normally chosen by the students from a list of options proposed by academic staff in areas relevant to the MSc in Tissue Engineering.