Postgraduate study
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Infectious Diseases MScR

Awards: MScR

Study modes: Full-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Infectious Diseases

This programme is organised by Edinburgh Infectious Diseases (EID), which is hosted by the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and the College of Science and Engineering.

It provides an introduction to research methodology for biologists, medics and veterinarians. The training also provides an entry into PhD studies.

Previous students have 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
  • the immunology of bacterial and parasitic infections (including major tropical diseases such as malaria, trypanosomiasis and schistosomiasis)
  • the pathogenesis of viral diseases (animal and human, including herpes and HIV)

The learning process focuses upon a one-year research project; during this period students are encouraged to attend research seminars and lectures, including those on the related areas of immunology, microbiology and pathology. Training in a wide range of transferrable skills is also provided via our Institute for Academic Development.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScRInfectious Diseases1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2023/24

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a biological science, or a medical or veterinary degree.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Academic Technology Approval Scheme

If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss national, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme.

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScRInfectious Diseases1 YearFull-timeTuition fees

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Biomedical Teaching Organisation
  • The University of Edinburgh
  • Medical School (Doorway 3), Teviot Place
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9AG

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

You must submit two references with your application.

Before making your application, you may wish to contact the programme team to discuss your area of interest with regards the research you would like to undertake. You should email Dr Kim Picozzi in the first instance.

Further information on making a research degree application can be found on the College website:

You will be formally interviewed (in person, by video-conferencing or Skype).

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Biomedical Teaching Organisation
  • The University of Edinburgh
  • Medical School (Doorway 3), Teviot Place
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9AG