Biomedical Science (Haematology and Transfusion Science) MSc

If you're currently working in haematology, this master's degree will help you progress to a more senior position

a close up of test tube vials filled with blood

Viewing course details for 2024 year of entry

Code
PGB90X (MSc)
Attendance
Full-time, Part-time
Start
September 2024
Fees
£10,500 (UK) £16,800 (INT)
Duration
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Course Leader
Zhanzhong Shi
Study mode
On campus
Location
Hendon campus
School / Department
Faculty of Science and Technology
Currently Reading: Course overview
Course overview

Why choose Biomedical Science (Haematology and Transfusion Science) MSc at Middlesex?

Haematologists specialise in disorders of the blood and blood-forming tissues, and their contribution to patient care is fundamental and wide-ranging. Whether you're analysing data from patients' samples, matching donated blood with someone who needs a transfusion or researching cures for blood cancers, your work will improve and save countless lives.

If you're currently working in haematology, this master's degree will help you progress to a more senior position. You might also wish to explore your options in research or academia, or even complete further study at a doctoral level.

Our courses have a strong international reputation and the University's strong links with London hospitals and NHS Laboratories ensures that you will be studying the latest developments, practices and research. Our Centre for Investigative and Diagnostic Oncology has pioneered techniques for cancer diagnosis and treatment, and the Haematology department is very active in research into blood cancers, HIV and AIDS.

This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills for a range of roles such as management, consultancy, lab supervision, or in international roles within hospitals, schools and universities. There are also opportunities in diagnostic laboratories within both the public and private sectors.

Accreditations

This degree is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). Accreditation is a recognition that it will provide qualified biomedical scientists, who are specialist practitioners or intend to specialise with advanced knowledge and skills required for clinical practice.

What you will gain

The Biomedical Science Haematology and Transfusion Science master's degree is taught by our experienced academics who have close ties to London hospitals and NHS Laboratories.

You'll learn about cutting-edge advancements, techniques, and research, and have the chance to tour nearby labs in London.

Haematologists specialise in disorders of the blood and blood-forming tissues. Their contribution to patient care is fundamental and wide-ranging. Whether you're analysing data from patients' samples, matching donated blood with someone who needs a transfusion or researching cures for blood cancers, your work will improve and save countless lives.

Our master's degree in Biomedical Science is very practical and you'll learn:

  • The latest laboratory skills and diagnostic techniques
  • Using our cell culture, proteomics and microbiology labs
  • Techniques such as DNA sequencing, real-time PCR, electrophoresis and HPLC
  • How to use MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers and flow cytometers
  • How to design and carry out experiments, statistical analyses and techniques for analysing samples and molecules
  • How to manage a laboratory proficiently; including people management, business plans, budgets, safety regulations, and quality management.

If you do not wish to study the full MSc, you can apply to PGCert where you study only four modules.

3 great reasons to pick this course

lan

Cutting-edge research facilities

Study at our £36 million Hatchcroft Building featuring state-of-the-art bioscience, cell and tissue culture, mass spectrometry, and medical engineering labs

apartment

Diverse career opportunities

Succeed in sectors like hospital laboratories, pharmaceuticals, academia, biotechnology, patent law, forensic science, and science journalism

public

Excellent reputation

Top 2 university in the UK – Times Higher Education Young Universities, 2022

About your course

About your course

We'll teach you how human blood works and about the disorders that can affect it. You'll study techniques for diagnosing and monitoring disease, and how to analyse blood test results.

You’ll study blood cell formation, full blood count, and different types of anaemic disorders – such as nutritional anaemia, haemoglobinopathies and immune haemolytic anaemia. You'll also explore normal haemostasis and haemostatic disorders as well as haematologic malignancies such as leukemias, lymphomas, myelomas, myelodysplasia and myeloproliferative neoplasms.

You’ll also study blood transfusions and blood donation including blood types, blood typing and tissue typing techniques as well as haemolytic disease of newborns, reactions to transfusions, and safety measures and care of blood products.

Also, we will explore the ethical and legal issues that affect some research areas such as assisted reproduction and genetics, and human or animal research.

Modules

The module aims to examine advanced bioanalytical techniques that are used in biomedical research, for the analysis of products, for improving diseases understanding and for the analysis of disease biomarkers. It also provides a detailed understanding of the principles, theory and practice of bioanalytical techniques, including safety, instrumentation, sample preparation techniques together with analysis and interpretation of analytical data.

The module aims to provide insight into a range of ethical and legal issues that relate to professional practice, to research with human and animal subjects and to human reproduction, particularly various forms of reproductive technology. It will also aim to give students a broad overview of the relevant current UK ethical and legal regulations for research using human tissues. The module will further explore the ethical issues present in the rapidly developing area of genetic technology, including genetic testing and selection, genetic engineering, and the concept of genetic disease. After an introduction to basic ethical theory and legal principles, the focus of the module will be on exploring ways in which, by applying theoretical considerations to practice, ethical and legal issues can be critically analysed and addressed.

This module aims to introduce principles and diagnostic techniques of general haematology. It looks at the individual components of normal human blood in detail, and explains the molecular mechanisms of haematological diseases affecting each component. The module also analyses the role of the haematology laboratory in diagnosis and treatment of patients with haematological abnormalities.

The module aims to provide students with the tools required to design effective and efficient experiments and to test scientific hypotheses. The module will also equip students with the tools necessary for statistical analysis in a hypothesis testing context.

This module aims to introduce specialist diagnostic techniques used in haemato-oncology. It provides deep appreciation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of leukemias, lymphomas and myelomas. It also analyses the role of the haematology laboratory in diagnosis and treatment of patients with these conditions.

The module aims to provide students with current theories and approaches to leadership and management in order they can bring about effect positive change in the team or organisation that they lead or manage.

Module aims to develop students' skills in planning and execution of an analytical, laboratory-based study and critical evaluation of real research results drawing on their acquired knowledge from other modules. In addition, the module aims to develop students' communication skills to enable them to communicate their findings in written and oral form.

This module aims to examine the science upon which blood transfusion is based (including measures to maintain and improve safe blood transfusion), and analyse the role of the haematology laboratory in diagnosis and treatment of patients with haematological abnormalities.

The module aims to provide you with deep understanding of diagnosis, management and treatment of patients with common clotting disorders through a case–study approach.

To find out more about this course, please download the Biomedical Science (Haematology and Transfusion Science) MSc specification (PDF)

Register your interest

Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.

Find out more video thumbnail

All the undergraduates and master's students, they will be taught about the machinery and the concepts and the basics, the principles as well. Then you will get a laboratory session where you will get hands -on experience on those techniques and it will develop your skills in the future if you're looking for a job.  

After completion of your studies, especially biomedical scientists, you can go into research like myself or you can do laboratory assistant jobs or you can move into teaching as well. There are lots of avenues after completion of biomedical sciences.  

It depends on what you want to achieve. With the use of new equipment and technology, you will be able to work at any place, especially the laboratories that run by the NHS. They have all new equipment so you don't have to be isolated when you go and work in a laboratory.  

You will know all the techniques. You don't have to depend on someone else to teach you the technique. You know how to do it and it's easier for you to go ahead and do your own experiments. The staff and the teachers are very helpful.  

They will help you from the beginning till the end so don't worry about anything. Everyone will be helping you so don't be afraid. There are a lot of social areas such as the MDX house, the cafeterias, there are lots of open areas where you can sit down, relax, have a chat with your friends and there are lots of areas where you can involve societies, games, sports so it's a very student-friendly university.

Find out more

Teaching and learning

Teaching

You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience.

The course is delivered by our experienced academics and industry partners in person and via digital platforms. Our learning activities include lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, laboratory practicals, interactive computer-based sessions and videos, and group projects.

Your timetable will be built around on-campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.

You will study at our north London campus, often at the Hatchcroft building, one of the UK's best-equipped laboratories.

 

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1200 hours on your course.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.

Typical weekly breakdown

The table below gives you an idea of what learning looks like across a typical week. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course. 

A typical week looks like this:

Learning

Hours per week

On-campus

10

Online

7

Independent study

3

For placement, there may be additional hours.

Learning terms

On-campus: This includes tutor-led sessions such as seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations as well as student-led sessions for work in small groups.

Online learning: This is teaching that is delivered online using tools like Skype or Zoom, as well as work that you do yourself using online teaching resources.

Independent study: This is the work you do in your own time including reading and research.

Part-time study

You can also study this course part-time.

We have a strong support network online and on campus to help you develop your academic skills. We offer one-to-one and group sessions to develop your learning skills together with academic support from our library, IT teams and learning experts.

As well as practical and theoretical exams and your research project and dissertation, you’ll be assessed through presentations and written assignments, including essays, laboratory reports and logbooks, critical reviews, data analysis and problem-solving exercises, quizzes, and papers made up of a literature review, hypothesis and research question. You will receive regular feedback on your work, including your assessed work, from your tutors and sometimes from fellow students. You will also be asked to evaluate your own work.

For your dissertation, you'll design, conduct and evaluate the results of your own independent and original research project. This will normally take place within our laboratories or your own clinical setting.

Feedback

You'll evaluate your work, skills and knowledge and identify areas for improvement. Sometimes you'll work in groups and assess each other's progress. Each term, you'll get regular feedback on your learning.

Four students walking through the Hendon campus

North London campus

Our north London campus is 23 minutes away by underground train, travelling from London Kings Cross.

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Facilities and support

Facilities

You’ll study in some of the best facilities in the UK with 30 + laboratories

close up on a student studying a slide under a microscope
The Cell and Tissue Culture Lab

With biological safety cabinets, phase-contrast microscopes and atmosphere controlled incubators

laboratory showing test tubes and machines
Mass spectrometry and analytical facilities

Our equipment supports research in investigative and diagnostic oncology, and molecular biology

male student in white coat and wearing gloves prepares a sample for analysis
Microbiology and molecular biology labs

Develop DNA / RNA sequencing, RNA levels quantifying and separating DNA molecules

Find out more about our facilities.

The Sheppard Library

Students will use up-to-date technologies for teaching and learning including software and labs.

Our library is open 24 hours a day during the term and includes:

  • Over 1,000 study areas with rooms for group study and over 600 computer spaces
  • 350,000 books and e-books and more than 24,000 online journals
  • Free laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing.

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Neurodiversity team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.

Financial support

You can apply for scholarships and bursaries. We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.

Careers

Careers

How can the MSc Biomedical Science (Haematology and Transfusion Science) support your career?

Our university's postgraduate courses have been recognised for their ability to support your career.

95% of our postgraduate students go on to work or further study – Graduate Outcomes, 2022.

Career paths

Biomedical science is the second largest profession registered by the Health Professions Council, and there is a high demand for well-qualified graduates.

There are many opportunities available in a variety of sectors including hospital laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry, academia, education, biotechnology, and even areas like patent law, forensic science and science journalism.

Biomedical scientists also work in primary care, in doctor’s surgeries and clinics, or there are opportunities with the National Blood Service, Public Health England, the Medical Research Council, and the Health and Safety Executive.

MDXworks

MDXworks, our employability service, will help you make the most of your experience and connections to achieve your career goals. You'll have unlimited access to one-to-one advice and support from specialists in your sector plus 24/7 online support. You can also make the most of events and networking opportunities, on and off campus.

Global alumni network

You’ll be studying with students from 122 countries who’ll become part of your personal global network. You'll learn how to work with a global mindset and make invaluable connections on your course for your chosen industry.

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements

We welcome your application regardless of your background or experience.

For this course, ideally, we are looking for these qualifications:

  • A 2:2 honours degree or above in an appropriate subject – typically Biomedical Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, or Medicine
  • We also consider applicants from other healthcare professions (registered nurse, clinical exercise physiologist, physiotherapist and medical practitioners).

 

 

 

If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements.

We welcome students from the UK, EU and all over the world. Join students from over 122 countries and discover why so many international students call our campus home:

  • Quality teaching with top facilities plus flexible online learning
  • Welcoming north London campus that's only 30 minutes from central London
  • Work placements and networking with top London employers
  • Career support to get you where you want to go after university.

Qualifications

We accept the below equivalents from a recognised overseas qualification:

  • We welcome applications from graduates with a 2:2 honours degree, or equivalent qualification, in an appropriate subject – typically Biomedical Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, or Medicine
  • We also consider applicants from other healthcare professions (registered nurse, clinical exercise physiologists, physiotherapists and medical practitioners).

We also consider candidates with other relevant qualifications and individuals with a minimum of three years of work experience. Those without formal qualifications need to demonstrate relevant work experience and the ability to study at postgraduate level.

If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements.

Visas

To study with us in the UK, you will need a student route visa.

Part-time study

Changes to the Immigration Rules introduced in January 2018 now allows international applicants to apply for student route (formerly tier 4) visas for part-time postgraduate study (courses leading to a qualification at RQF level 7 or SCQF level 11 and above).

Student route visa students studying part-time are subject to certain restrictions:

  • No work (paid or unpaid)
  • No work placements as part of the programme
  • No dependents
  • No extending under Student route visa in the UK. This includes Student route visa applications to work as a Students' Union Sabbatical Officer or for the Foundation Programme for postgraduate doctors and dentists
  • Not eligible for the Student route visa Doctorate Extension Scheme.

*Please note that, if the course of your choice involves work experience, unpaid work, placements or internships, we will be unable to sponsor you to study a part-time course under the student route (formerly tier 4) visa.

English language

You'll need good English language skills to study with us. Find out more about our English language requirements. And, don’t worry If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, as we offer an intensive pre-sessional English course.

Apply as early as possible to make sure you get a place. You can submit your application before you receive your final qualification.

Personal statements

Make sure that you highlight your best qualities in your personal statement that are relevant to this course, such as your ability to be forward-thinking, creative and collaborative.

Interviews

You won’t be required to attend an interview.

Find out how to apply for postgraduate taught courses and watch our step-by-step video.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding

The fees below are for the 2024/25 academic year.

UK students1

Full-time students: £10,500
Part-time students: £70 per credit
Part-time students: £35 per dissertation credit

International students2

Full-time students: £16,800
Part-time students: £112 per credit
Part-time students: £56 per dissertation credit

Additional costs

We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.

  • Free – laptop loans,Wi-Fi and printing
  • Free specialist software for your course
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

Financial support

We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Check out our guide to student life on a budget and find out more about postgraduate funding.

Postgraduate scholarships

You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:

  • The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
  • The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
  • The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
  • The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
  • Regional or International Merit Award –up to £2,000 towards course fees

For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.

Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.

Help from your employer

Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

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We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

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