MSci Integrated Natural Sciences

Course structure

CF10 MSci Integrated Science begins with the first year in which you will spend almost half your time in the lab, with lectures and problem-solving running in parallel and geared to the scientific questions you are asking in the labs. In your second and third years, you will learn about the mechanisms of life in more breadth and detail. In your fourth year, you will spend almost all your time working on your own, self-designed experimental project.

Year One

You will be taught by active research scientists with international reputations, who will help you to think creatively and quantitatively, formulate problems, and work effectively to solve them by drawing freely on the methods and mindsets of different scientific disciplines.

Laboratory experimental work in small teams begins right from the outset, with parallel classroom sessions to teach you relevant scientific concepts and methods, ranging across multiple disciplines.

Years Two and Three

The Integrated Science approach continues, running alongside a more in-depth look at the molecular and cellular basis of life, including modules in biochemistry, molecular cell biology, protein targeting and structural molecular biology.

Year Four

You will focus almost exclusively on lab-based experimental research, pursuing your own project, and will write a Master’s thesis. Alongside this, you will take modules in frontier biological techniques and research skills, research topics in interdisciplinary biomedical research, and transferable skills.

Modules

Year one

Year one is divided into two-week blocks, with each block defined by a scientific question. We begin Term 1 with four weeks (2 blocks) of introductory experimental skills and computer skills and then progressively increase the size-scale of the problems, moving on from Atoms and Molecules (Term 1) to Organelles and Cells (Term 2) and finally Organisms and Populations (Term 3).

Years two and three

In years 2 and 3, your course will make extensive use of existing, highly successful modules within the School of Life Sciences. To do this, your cohort will largely merge with a much larger cohort of SLS students for classes, alongside an ongoing programme of WMS integrated science labs and tutorials that aims further to develop your integrated science skills.

Year four

In year 4 you will pursue your own original research project, joining a WMS research laboratory and working alongside PhD students and postdocs

who do research for a living. You will also gain advanced interdisciplinary training in Frontier Techniques and Research Skills in Biomedicine and Research Topics in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research. Finally, you'll have the opportunity to build your transferable skills through Warwick’s Interdisciplinary Transferable Skills module.

Core modules:

• Integrated Science Extended Research Project (Students join a WMS laboratory)
• Frontier Techniques and Research Skills in Biomedicine
• Research Topics in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
• Warwick Interdisciplinary Transferable Skills (Chemistry)

How will I learn?

This is an innovative programme and you will learn in many different ways. As well as lectures, seminars, group work and tutorials, you will spend a significant amount of time carrying out laboratory experimental work. This will enable you to learn experimental approaches and techniques and be actively engaged in science and research from the start of the course.

Class size

In Year One you will learn entirely with your Integrated Science cohort of around 12 students, ensuring that you have a high level of academic support. In Years Two and Three you will join a larger cohort in SLS, but retain small-group labs and tutorials for Integrated Science. In Year Four you will predominantly be based in a laboratory as a member of your supervisor’s lab, whilst joining classes of up to approximately 30 students for skills training.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment for the course ranges from traditional examination and assignment-based work through to peer-reviewed group assignments, presentations, lab reports and individual oral assessment.

UCAS code: CF10
Award: Degree of Master of Science
Duration: 4 years full time (30 weeks per year)
Location of study: University of Warwick

This is a new course so there are as yet no previous graduates. We expect that this course will appeal to passionate scientists wishing to pursue an academic career in scientific research. Other potential career paths may include medicine, following a graduate-entry medical programme on completion of this degree.

Graduates of biomedical, biological and biochemistry undergraduate degrees from the University of Warwick have gone on to work for organisations including:

• NHS
• AstraZeneca
• KPMG
• Taylor and Francis Scientific Publishing
• Diabetes UK

Warwick is currently the third most targeted university for graduate recruitment in the UK (The Graduate Market in 2020, High Fliers Research Ltd).