The University of Edinburgh – College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Infectious Diseases MScR
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Apr 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 39,200 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international/EU | for Scotland and rest of UK: GBP 10,920
Key Summary
This is an immersive degree, structured as a single laboratory placement where you undertake a year-long research project. It provides an introduction to research methodology for biologists, medics and veterinarians.
Our students have previously undertaken projects in the following areas:
- antibiotic resistance and hospital-acquired infections
- arthropod vector biology and vectorborne diseases
- epidemiology and mathematical modelling of animal and human infections
- molecular diagnosis and point-of-care detection of infectious diseases
- immunology of bacterial and parasitic infections, including major tropical diseases such as malaria, trypanosomiasis and schistosomiasis
- pathogenesis of viral diseases (animal and human, including herpes and HIV)
Edinburgh Infectious Diseases
This programme is organised in collaboration with Edinburgh Infectious Diseases (EID). EID is a network of researchers and clinicians from across the University of Edinburgh who share an interest across the spectrum of infectious diseases.
Why choose this programme
- Benefit from discipline-specific research training that encourages the development of an advanced skill set, preparing you well for PhD studies.
Many of our students will continue their interest in research, either by entering the workplace or continuing with further studies.
Further study
There is no direct programmatic pathway following completion of this degree.
If you wish to continue to a PhD, we encourage you to access resources, such as our Careers Service, the University website, and FindAPhD.
You can also seek advice from your programme and supervisory teams.
Our research community
You will be able to call upon research opportunities from across Edinburgh Infectious Diseases (EID), an organisation that brings together over 150 principal investigators and over 760 active researchers across the spectrum of infectious disease science and clinical medicine at Edinburgh.
The EID fosters interdisciplinary research that brings scientists, medics and veterinarians together with the latest technologies to investigate all aspects of infectious disease pathogenesis and control.
Programme structure
This MScR is an immersive degree, creating a stimulating environment for postgraduate training in well-equipped laboratories, with opportunities for collaboration with partner laboratories in other institutions.
The learning process focuses on a one-year research project. During this period, you are encouraged to attend research seminars and lectures, including those on the related areas of immunology, microbiology and pathology.
It is expected that you will gain expertise in specialised techniques and methodologies during the course of your project.
To gain broader skills which are required within a University setting, the ‘transferable skills’ courses offered by the Institute for Academic Development will be an invaluable resource available to you.
Assessment
Assessment is based upon the submission of a dissertation.
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
- Borrowing money
- Taking out a loan
- Family support
- Personal savings
- Income from work
- Employer sponsorship
- Scholarships
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan for study from one of the UK’s governments.
You should check that your chosen programme is eligible for the funding you want to apply for.