The range of research in the School of Biosciences enables you to tailor your Master's degree to your career requirements. Expertise in biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, cancer biology, protein biochemistry, reproductive biology, computational biology and aging, allows you choice and flexibility in your studies.
The MSc in Infectious Diseases provides advanced research skills training within the context of diseases that affect significant proportions of the UK and global populations. With the UK being a world leader in infectious diseases research and pharmaceutical development, and Kent having a strong research focus in this area, there are significant opportunities for career progression for graduates of this programme in both academia (PhD) and industry.
Learn skills in experimental design using appropriate case studies that embed you within the relevant research literature, and gain experience of analysis and statistical interpretation of complex experimental data. The course culminates with a research project under the supervision of faculty that currently perform research on disease-causing microorganisms.
Minimum 2:2 honours degree in a biosciences-related subject.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.
Examples:
IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test
A degree from a UK university
A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
We’ve created the most progressive approach to higher education, developing and modernising our curriculum. For 2025 our courses will be designed with you at their heart to deliver a top-class student experience and career outcomes.
The following modules are what students will typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.
You take all compulsory modules.
How do we effectively develop both understanding and practical skills in the evolving field of molecular biology? How do we assess the impact of CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing on current biological research and its broader applications?
In this module, you will embark on a journey to deepen your understanding and enhance your practical skills in molecular biology. Through interactive workshops, hands-on practical sessions, and collaborative group work, you'll be actively engaged in learning key practical and transferable skills vital for any field of biology. You will take part in an extended mini-project that places you at the forefront of biological innovation, utilising CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing. This cutting-edge technology, complemented by modern genome sequencing technologies, opens a wide array of applications in the biological sciences. By mastering these skills, you'll be equipped to contribute to ground-breaking research and advancements in fields ranging from agriculture to medicine. This module not only prepares you for a career in molecular biological research by giving you a competitive edge in technology but also empowers you to contribute to future scientific breakthroughs.
Why are some microbes pathogenic and others not? How do pathogens cause infection, and how evolutionary conserved are these mechanisms of pathogenesis among different microbes? In this module you will delve into the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis for a broad range of clinically relevant microbes including examples from virus, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. You will combine immunology and microbiology to discover how pathogens evade the actions of the human immune system and draw on links between pathogens to understand how different pathogens have evolved similar infection processes.
What are the limits of scientific research? Are scientists allowed to do whatever they like? Which risks (for individuals and/ or society) are acceptable for research? Which responsibility have researchers for how their research findings will be used (for the benefit of humankind or for malevolent causes)? What responsibility do scientists have for the subjects of their research (humans or animals)? Do scientists have to ensure the validity of their research findings (and, if yes, to which extent)? How should scientists communicate their research findings? Are scientists responsible for the (mis)interpretation of their findings? Can scientists also be activists in their field of research (without affecting their scientific credibility)? Do research ethics differ between different settings (e.g. between academia and industry or between basic and applied research)? These are just some questions that you will consider to think about implications of research beyond the immediate scientific content. By doing this, you will acquire core skills on the ethics conduct in the biosciences and beyond. This module will help you to develop into a mature, responsible scientist who does not only know how to tackle a research question but who is also able to consider and judge the ethical and societal implications of their research.
The threat posed by new pandemics and the possibility of entering a post-antimicrobial era highlights the urgent need to improve our understanding of disease outbreaks and how microorganisms cause human disease. In this module you will cover epidemiology, clinical microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, and the host:pathogen interactions that influence pathogenesis. Through application of this knowledge and understanding you will gain critical insights into how globally-important pathogens can infect populations, cause disease, and evade toxicity imposed by antimicrobial drugs.
Understanding infectious diseases is fundamental to safeguarding public health, promoting social well-being, and ensuring economic and global health security. In this module you will develop your skills to become a well-rounded and professional scientist who is capable of conducting high-quality and original research. You will discuss how to identify and articulate research questions and hypotheses that are relevant to the current challenges and opportunities within the field of biomedicine. You will focus on how to critically evaluate the scientific literature, discerning the quality and relevance of research articles, reviews, and reports in the field of biomedicine, so that you remain up-to-date with the latest research developments to ground your own original research on a solid theoretical framework. With the help of advanced statistical software you will further develop your skills in critical analysis of scientific data, including training in data management, statistical analysis, and interpretation of results, ensuring that you can draw valid conclusions from your research findings. Finally, you will be shown how to effectively design and communicate an original research proposal to the wider scientific and non-scientific community. Upon completion of this module you will be a confident research professional, able to lead your own research project independently.
Which pathogens pose a threat to us? What can we do to protect ourselves and to treat infectious diseases?
These questions have been brought into the centre of public attention by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, including an additional one: Are we well-prepared for future pandemics? You will understand how we can diagnose and treat diseases caused by different pathogens and also why we do not have appropriate therapies for others. You will also establish a profound understanding of how we can protect ourselves from infectious diseases by vaccination. Hence, you will develop a profound understanding of why we can or cannot successfully treat certain infectious diseases and of the challenges and threats that new pathogens pose to us.
Careers in science and technology involve critical thinking, problem solving, communication and creativity. In this module, you will undertake an independent research project to develop these skills. You will work together with an academic supervisor to address specific scientific questions and design a research project.
You will be trained in key techniques relating to the project, and work independently under the supervisor's guidance to design and execute experiments to address your research questions. You will learn how to effectively communicate your project and findings in style with scientific conferences and journals.
Assessment is by examination, coursework and the research project.
For course aims and learning outcomes please see the course specification.
The School is well equipped, with excellent general research laboratories, together with a range of specialised research resources including facilities for growing micro-organisms of all kinds, extensive laboratories for animal cell culture and monoclonal antibody production and an imaging suite providing high-resolution laser confocal and electron microscopy. Additionally, the macromolecular analysis facility provides resources for protein and mass spectrometry, CD and fluorescence spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance, and HPLC and FPLC systems for all aspects of biochemical and microbiological research. Notably, the School has a new state-of-the-art Bruker Avance III four-channel 600 MHz NMR spectrometer equipped with a QCI cryoprobe. Our NMR spectrometer was upgraded to this status via an equipment research award from the Wellcome Trust.
All postgraduate students have access to electronic and other resources providing information regarding technical issues relevant to their degrees, as well as subject-specific and transferable skills training.
Students on taught programmes are assigned a personal academic tutor to provide additional support in their postgraduate study. Throughout the course, you are fully embedded in the research culture of the School by attending research seminars and careers guidance sessions, and also participating in our vibrant outreach programme within the local community. In addition to taught modules, an in-depth research project takes place during the summer under the guidance of members of academic staff. These projects benefit from our outstanding research environment and first-class facilities.
Every week we runs school seminars where external guest speakers or staff, talk about recent research. In addition, the department runs FIREBio (Forum for Innovation, Research and Enterprise in Biosciences), which is a weekly informal meeting for staff, postdocs and postgraduates involving short presentations and discussions. Postgraduates can use the opportunity to present unpublished research findings and discuss them in a supportive environment.
Staff not only collaborate extensively with other universities in the UK (Cambridge, Cardiff, King’s College London, University College London, Newcastle, Oxford, Sussex, York, Manchester, Durham and Sheffield), but also have a wide-ranging network across the world with institutes including: the Boston Biomedical Research Institute; University of Hanover; Monash University Melbourne; Harvard; University of California, Davis; Université Claude Bernard – Lyon 1; Goethe-Universität Frankfurt; University of Queensland, Australia; University of Utah; Texas A&M University; and Braunschweig University of Technology. We also collaborate with organisations such as the Marie Curie Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, National Institute for Medical Research, MRC London, GlaxoSmithKline and the European Union Framework 5 CYTONET.
The School currently receives funding from: BBSRC; Biochemical Society; British Heart Foundation; E B Charitable Hutchinson Trust; the EC; EPSRC; Kent Cancer Trust;The Leverhulme Trust; National Institutes of Health (USA); Nuffield Foundation; Royal Society; Wellcome Trust. It also receives funding on specific projects from a number of industrial organisations and collaborators.
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Nature Chemical Biology; Journal of Biological Chemistry; Cell; Molecular Cell; Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA; PLOS One; and Journal of Cell Science.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
The MSc in Infectious Diseases provides advanced research skills training within the context of diseases that affect significant proportions of the UK and global populations. With the UK being a world leader in infectious diseases research and pharmaceutical development, and Kent having a strong research focus in this area, there are significant opportunities for career progression for graduates of this programme in academia (PhD) and industry.
There are also opportunities for careers outside the laboratory in advocacy, media, public health and education.
Recent kent graduates have gone on to the following roles: Healthcare Scientist at Public Health England, QC Microbiologist at ThermoFischer, Medical Lab Assistant at Guy’s Hospital, Environmental Health Technician in the Royal Air Force, Microbiologist at Leatherhead Food Research, and onto PhDs at the University of Kent, Lancaster University and University of Southampton.
The School of Biosciences has a dedicated Placements and Employability Team and your academic supervisor will be able to advise you and give you access to professionals in their network.
The University has a friendly Careers and Employability Service, which can give you advice on how to:
These services are available to you for 3 years after completing your course.
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
You'll need regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. We've listed some guidelines for the technology and software you'll need for your studies.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, as well as general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement, plus international scholarships up to £5,000.
Next steps
Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.
Supporting your success
Kent ranked top 40 in The Times Good University Guide 2025.
Fees and funding
Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.
Accommodation
