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King's College London
You are viewing a course in < Intercalated
Undergraduate degree

Medical Genetics iBSc

UCAS code: Not applicable. Apply direct to King's.

Key information

Course type:
Single honours
Delivery mode:
Classroom
Study mode:
Full time
Duration:
One year
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2022
Application deadline:
26 January 2022
King's Apply

The Medical Genetics Intercalated BSc is an exciting course covering the latest genetic concepts and advances, together with their application in medicine. Recent advances in genetics, including the 100,000 Genomes Project, are giving rise to a detailed understanding of the inherited and acquired genetic changes underlying a wide range of disease conditions. This knowledge is fuelling a move to more personalised medicine based on individual genetic information. In addition, the first gene therapy medicines targeting both genetically inherited and acquired diseases are beginning to be approved. The course also develops a critical approach to the acquisition of knowledge, problem-solving and communication skills, and an understanding of research methods and rationales. Please note the below application deadlines: - 26 January 2022 (King's applicants) - 2 March 2022 (External applicants)

Key benefits

  • The course covers fundamental human molecular and complex disease genetics, as well as cancer genetics, and the processes involved in medical genetics, including gene therapy
  • You will explore current trends in cutting-edge areas of research working alongside international experts at a leading research institution
  • Taught by internationally renowned scientists and researchers
  • Graduates have been published as a result of their iBSc project, and some have gone on to present their research at conferences

The Medical Genetics iBSc explores the importance and future potential of molecular and medical genetics in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human diseases. The course covers both a range of single gene disorders and complex disease genetics for conditions such as cancer, which have defects in multiple gene functions at their basis. It is now generally accepted that the health or disease status of an individual has as its basis a particular gene expression profile that can be determined by inherited genetic and acquired epigenetic factors. The Medical Genetics iBSc course is designed to highlight the impact advances in molecular genetics have made on our understanding of the mechanisms of human disease, and how they have provided novel diagnostic and therapeutic intervention strategies. You will study basic concepts, new discoveries, and potential or actual clinical applications. You will also learn how to appraise work critically, solve problems, and communicate your findings efficiently, while acquiring a fundamental understanding of research methods and rationales. This degree is a one-year course that comprises modules totalling 120 credits: taught modules totalling 60 credits take place in Semester 1. In Semester 2, all students take a transferable skills module where they learn how to compile and give oral presentations with the aid of PowerPoint illustrations, communicating science to the lay public and critically dissecting a scientific paper. In order to make up the remaining 45 credits students select to follow one of two separate pathways. The first of these, a key feature of this course, allows students to gain laboratory experience by completing an experimental research project. The projects on offer include the chance to work in both ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ labs. Projects undertaken in a ‘wet’ lab involve conducting an original piece of research leading to generating novel data. The ‘dry’ lab projects involve the computational (bioinformatics, statistics) analysis of data produced from large population genetics studies. The second option entails students opting to undertake a Library Research Project accompanied by two further 15-credit modules to be chosen from a list of five provided.

Base campus

campus guys
Guy’s Campus

The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine and the Dental Institute are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry requirements for MBBS students

King’s students must have passed Stage 1 and Stage 2.

External students must have first time passes for years 1 and 2 and all SSCs.

 

Entry requirements for Dental students

BDS students are required to pass year 2 at the first attempt and year 3 or 4 if applicable.

 

Entry requirements for Veterinary students

Veterinary students are required to pass year 2 at the first attempt and year 3 if applicable.

 

For further information please see the Intercalated webpage.

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures
Seminars
Tutorials
Self-Study
Laboratory-based Practicals

The following tables gives an indication of the contact and self-study time allocation you might expect from a typical academic year.

Semester 1: Students select four 15-credit modules from the following five options:

Module Lectures (hours) Seminars & Tutorials (hours) Practicals & Lab Work (hours) Private Study (hours) Other
Medical Genetics 21 2 - 127  
Complex Disease Genetics 20 7 - 123 -
Cancer Genetics 20 2 - 128 -
 Bioinformatics for Biologists  20  20    110  
 Advanced Molecular Genetics  22  22    106  

 

Semester 2: students are required to take a 15 credit module and can opt for one of two different ways in which to make up the remaining 45 credits to make a total of 60 credits.

Module Lectures (hours) Seminars & Tutorials (hours) Practicals & Lab Work (hours) Private Study (hours) Other

Research & Clinical Genetics: Transferable Skills (15 credits)

 - 8 14 128  

Option 1: Can be taken with the following 45 credit module:

Module Lectures (hours) Seminars & Tutorials (hours) Practicals & Lab Work (hours) Private Study (hours) Other
Extended Research Project in Molecular Genetics (45 credits) - - 240 160 50

 

Option 2: Can be taken with the following 15 credit module:

Module Lectures (hours) Seminars & Tutorials (hours) Practicals & Lab Work (hours) Private Study (hours) Other
Molecular Genetics Library Project B  - 15  -  135  - 

 

Plus any two of the 15-credit modules listed below:

Module Lectures (hours) Seminars & Tutorials (hours) Practicals & Lab Work (hours) Private Study (hours) Other
Immunology & Immunotherapy of Cancer 22 2 30 96 -
Forensic Genetics & Toxicology 16 4 16 114 -
Principles of Epidemiology 20 18 - 112 -
Epigenetics 20 5 6 119 -
Birth Defects  26 4 - 117 3

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change

Assessment

  • Exams
  • Essays
  • Oral Presentations
  • Dissertation

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations.  Forms of assessment may typically include an essay assignment on a given topic.  Coursework contributes 30 or 40% and examinations 60 or 70% to your final mark for 15-credit modules. For the 45-credit Extended Research Project in Molecular Genetics module 70% of the course mark is based on the project report, 20% on an oral exam and 10% on the supervisor’s laboratory performance evaluation.

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

The majority of learning for this degree takes place at the King’s College Guy’s Campus. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Structure

This is a one-year degree course in which you will take a combination of required and optional modules to total 120 credits.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Genetics is increasingly being recognized as a key measure in not only diagnosing ailments but also in devising more effective treatment options that are more ‘personalised’ The aims of this iBSc are aligned with those of the Health Education England Genomics Education Programme (see www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/). It will prepare medical school graduates to understand, and take full advantage of, new genetic and genomic diagnostic and treatment options, which are being developed by the NHS as a new core service provision for patients. The programme prepares students for pathways leading to consultant positions in Clinical or Medical Genetics.

Tuition Fees

Full time tuition fees UK:

The UK tuition fee for the 2022-2023 academic year is currently £9,250 per year. This is based on the UK Government’s cap.

Full time tuition fees International:

The International tuition fee for the 2022-2023 academic year is £29,460 per year.

Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2,000 against their first year’s tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King’s.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions  
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Graduation costs
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling.  

Funding

The Medical Genetics iBSc explores the importance and future potential of molecular and medical genetics in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human diseases. The course covers both a range of single gene disorders and complex disease genetics for conditions such as cancer, which have defects in multiple gene functions at their basis. It is now generally accepted that the health or disease status of an individual has as its basis a particular gene expression profile that can be determined by inherited genetic and acquired epigenetic factors. The Medical Genetics iBSc course is designed to highlight the impact advances in molecular genetics have made on our understanding of the mechanisms of human disease, and how they have provided novel diagnostic and therapeutic intervention strategies. You will study basic concepts, new discoveries, and potential or actual clinical applications. You will also learn how to appraise work critically, solve problems, and communicate your findings efficiently, while acquiring a fundamental understanding of research methods and rationales. This degree is a one-year course that comprises modules totalling 120 credits: taught modules totalling 60 credits take place in Semester 1. In Semester 2, all students take a transferable skills module where they learn how to compile and give oral presentations with the aid of PowerPoint illustrations, communicating science to the lay public and critically dissecting a scientific paper. In order to make up the remaining 45 credits students select to follow one of two separate pathways. The first of these, a key feature of this course, allows students to gain laboratory experience by completing an experimental research project. The projects on offer include the chance to work in both ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ labs. Projects undertaken in a ‘wet’ lab involve conducting an original piece of research leading to generating novel data. The ‘dry’ lab projects involve the computational (bioinformatics, statistics) analysis of data produced from large population genetics studies. The second option entails students opting to undertake a Library Research Project accompanied by two further 15-credit modules to be chosen from a list of five provided.

Base campus

campus guys
Guy’s Campus

The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine and the Dental Institute are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry requirements for MBBS students

King’s students must have passed Stage 1 and Stage 2.

External students must have first time passes for years 1 and 2 and all SSCs.

 

Entry requirements for Dental students

BDS students are required to pass year 2 at the first attempt and year 3 or 4 if applicable.

 

Entry requirements for Veterinary students

Veterinary students are required to pass year 2 at the first attempt and year 3 if applicable.

 

For further information please see the Intercalated webpage.

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures
Seminars
Tutorials
Self-Study
Laboratory-based Practicals

The following tables gives an indication of the contact and self-study time allocation you might expect from a typical academic year.

Semester 1: Students select four 15-credit modules from the following five options:

Module Lectures (hours) Seminars & Tutorials (hours) Practicals & Lab Work (hours) Private Study (hours) Other
Medical Genetics 21 2 - 127  
Complex Disease Genetics 20 7 - 123 -
Cancer Genetics 20 2 - 128 -
 Bioinformatics for Biologists  20  20    110  
 Advanced Molecular Genetics  22  22    106  

 

Semester 2: students are required to take a 15 credit module and can opt for one of two different ways in which to make up the remaining 45 credits to make a total of 60 credits.

Module Lectures (hours) Seminars & Tutorials (hours) Practicals & Lab Work (hours) Private Study (hours) Other

Research & Clinical Genetics: Transferable Skills (15 credits)

 - 8 14 128  

Option 1: Can be taken with the following 45 credit module:

Module Lectures (hours) Seminars & Tutorials (hours) Practicals & Lab Work (hours) Private Study (hours) Other
Extended Research Project in Molecular Genetics (45 credits) - - 240 160 50

 

Option 2: Can be taken with the following 15 credit module:

Module Lectures (hours) Seminars & Tutorials (hours) Practicals & Lab Work (hours) Private Study (hours) Other
Molecular Genetics Library Project B  - 15  -  135  - 

 

Plus any two of the 15-credit modules listed below:

Module Lectures (hours) Seminars & Tutorials (hours) Practicals & Lab Work (hours) Private Study (hours) Other
Immunology & Immunotherapy of Cancer 22 2 30 96 -
Forensic Genetics & Toxicology 16 4 16 114 -
Principles of Epidemiology 20 18 - 112 -
Epigenetics 20 5 6 119 -
Birth Defects  26 4 - 117 3

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change

Assessment

  • Exams
  • Essays
  • Oral Presentations
  • Dissertation

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations.  Forms of assessment may typically include an essay assignment on a given topic.  Coursework contributes 30 or 40% and examinations 60 or 70% to your final mark for 15-credit modules. For the 45-credit Extended Research Project in Molecular Genetics module 70% of the course mark is based on the project report, 20% on an oral exam and 10% on the supervisor’s laboratory performance evaluation.

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

The majority of learning for this degree takes place at the King’s College Guy’s Campus. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Structure

This is a one-year degree course in which you will take a combination of required and optional modules to total 120 credits.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Genetics is increasingly being recognized as a key measure in not only diagnosing ailments but also in devising more effective treatment options that are more ‘personalised’ The aims of this iBSc are aligned with those of the Health Education England Genomics Education Programme (see www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/). It will prepare medical school graduates to understand, and take full advantage of, new genetic and genomic diagnostic and treatment options, which are being developed by the NHS as a new core service provision for patients. The programme prepares students for pathways leading to consultant positions in Clinical or Medical Genetics.

Tuition Fees

Full time tuition fees UK:

The UK tuition fee for the 2022-2023 academic year is currently £9,250 per year. This is based on the UK Government’s cap.

Full time tuition fees International:

The International tuition fee for the 2022-2023 academic year is £29,460 per year.

Please note that the International tuition fee is subject to annual increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

All International applicants to Undergraduate programmes are required to pay a deposit of £2,000 against their first year’s tuition fee. This deposit is payable when you firmly accept an unconditional offer to study with us, and will be offset against your tuition fees when you join King’s.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions  
  • Library fees and fines
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Graduation costs
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses

You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling.  

Funding

Key information

Course type:
Single honours
Delivery mode:
Classroom
Study mode:
Full time
Duration:
One year
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2022
Application deadline:
26 January 2022
King's Apply

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