Hi there! MRes is definitely better in my opinion, since it gives you extensive hands on research experience as part of your degree. Since you did a BSc in Biotechnology, it would probably be useful for you to get this experience under your belt.

Hi! I didn’t pursue a degree in Natural Computing myself, but since it is a research Masters, I would advise definitely contacting the course supervisor to get an idea of what you need to do to apply for the course.

Hello! Techniques in MCB module involves practical demonstration as well as theory about specific lab techniques. However, it is the research projects portion of your degree that actually helps you learn specific techniques you are further interested in.

Hi there!

You could apply for research technician or research assistant positions in various labs once you are done with your MRes. The chances depend on how well connected you are and how strong your research experience was. Chances of getting into a PhD program are definitely going to skyrocket once you finish the program successfully!

Appy

Hi! I would need more details of which exact courses you are comparing to make a fair assessment. Both an MSc and a MRes could be useful toward areas of clinical research.

Hello! Back when I applied for MRes in MCB, I did not have to fill out the research details portion of the application. However, from what I understand, you have to now write a research proposal and also identify supervisors whom you may be interested in working with.

Hi!

Hope all is well with you! That’s exciting to hear that you’re planning to apply for the MRes in MCB program at UoB!
For the application, I would highly recommend having a strong idea of the two labs you would want to work in for your MRes program. To solidify the placements or get a better idea of whether the labs are a good fit for you, you can email the various principle investigators who’s labs you seem to have the greatest interest in. Having said that, the placements are not set in stone and can be changed during the course of your program.

I hope this helps! Feel free to ask more questions and I will do what I can to be of help!

Good luck and best wishes to you too!

Appy

Hello!

Hope all is well with you! Great to hear that you have successfully applied to the MSc in Clinical Trials program at UoB! I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

If you go through my other Q&A’s you will notice that I have written a bit about university life, which can be as vibrant as you would like to make it or have the time for. However, given the era of the pandemic we are living in, I highly doubt it will be nearly as vibrant in the coming year or so. I can imagine there being a lot of Zoom meetings or events being offered online for students in the postgraduate programs.
There isn’t a placement program necessarily for internationals, but there is a lot of help and support offered by the Career services, as well as the International office. You would need to reach out to them and make your needs known so they can help you with things ranging from reviewing your resume/CV, to helping you network or prepare you for interviews and inform you of job forums where you have your best shot. Life after Birmingham depends on what you want to do next. You could continue to work on campus if you can find a full-time position at the university as a researcher, or perhaps look into jobs around the UK or even around Europe. You could also apply for PhD programs, which is the route I took. I hope this helps a bit.

Good luck with your journey!!
Appy

Hi there,

In my personal experience a MRes program in the UK gives you very extensive practical experience in lab work performing science. I consider it like a mini PhD whereby you get to perform rotations in two different labs and gain two different sets of experiences. In my opinion, it definitely makes you a very strong candidate for PhD and other grad programs in the best universities. At least that is why I ended up doing my MRes and it has more than paid off!

Hope this helps! Good luck!
Appy

Hi!

Looks like you already have a good idea of the expectations. I am assuming that by a job, you mean your MRes project? Often for a Masters project, that kind of time commitment is more than enough. You can always run it by the PI during your interview as well, and make sure it works for their project.

There are also a few classes you will have to take during your MRes MCB program, including a grant-writing project that you will need to execute as a team: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/combined/biosciences/molecular-cellular-biology.aspx — (Look under Modules for details)

Hope this helps!

Hello,

Please check out the following links to help figure out your eligibility:
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/International/students/country/india/index.aspx#EntryRequirementsTab
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/combined/biosciences/molecular-cellular-biology.aspx#EntryRequirementsTab

Application process:
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/combined/biosciences/molecular-cellular-biology.aspx?OpenSection=HowToApply
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/apply-pg/application-guidance-notes.aspx

There isn’t campus placements in the west, unlike schools in India. However, there is a career and employment center which can help guide you with your resume, job applications and helping you with the interview process.

Hope this helps!

Hi there,

There a number of resources to secure a part-time job while you pursue your Masters in the UK. Birmingham’s cost of living is relatively low compared to other big cities like London, so that is helpful. I am not sure if you will be able to meet all your living expenses from working part-time as it depends on a lot of factors such as: your current skill set/hireability, the amount of time your studies allow you to work part-time, the number and kind of jobs in the market and the number of hours they are able to let you work (especially keeping coronavirus-related economic effects in mind), and lastly the quality of life you would be pursuing. This includes rent, bills, food, travel, entertainment, shopping and so on. I would recommend you to err on the side of caution and be prepared to cover at least 50% of your total expenses out of your own pocket. It may be possible for you to work 10-12 hours per week, but it is usually harder to secure a job that offers 20 hours/week. I wish you luck with your endeavors and hope this was helpful!
Take care,
Appy

Hi there,

When I was looking for projects/researchers to work with for my MRes MCB program, I went to the following web links:

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/molecules-cells-signalling-health/people.aspx

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/biosystems-environmental-change/staff/index.aspx

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/cancer-genomics/staff/pi.aspx

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/inflammation-ageing/staff/staff-principal-investigators.aspx

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/microbiology-infection/staff/index.aspx

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/metabolism-systems/staff/pis.aspx

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/immunology-immunotherapy/staff/staff-principal-investigators.aspx

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/cardiovascular-sciences/staff/Principle-Investigators.aspx

I checked out the research and profiles of the researchers under areas that interested me. Then I reached out to them by email to see if they were open to having a MRes student in the next year.

Hope this helps!
Appy

Hi again, I am not sure about Indian companies. If they base your qualifications based on your number of years in academia, then yes they may judge you negatively because you did a one year program, rather than two. However, it won’t affect your prospects of doing a PhD or other research opportunities.
Hope this helps! Good luck!

Hi there! Congratulations on your offer from UoB! Since you didn’t mention which course you’re being accepted into, I will assume it is a Masters in Molecular Biotechnology. From what I know, no campus in the UK including Birmingham does campus placements. The best way to land a job is to start looking for openings on various websites and to apply for them online, using your resume tailored to the job description. If they call you in for an interview, then you prepare for the interview and try to do your best. The greatest caveat in working in the UK after your Masters there, especially in the industry, is the lack of work visa sponsorships because it’s easier for the company to hire someone more local. Something to keep in mind as you plan your future in the UK. Its probably a bit easier to land an academic job, especially if it is in a field of your speciality/degree. Just search for jobs in the university websites (some of these may only be available to you once you have a university userID/password)

Hello

Thanks for reaching out. Your first step would be to decide what field you want to get into and based on that, you would have to narrow down the program you are interested in applying for (there are only a handful of MPhil programs offered at Bham: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/research/search.aspx?CurrentTab=Search&CourseKeywords=MPhil)

Check these out:

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/research/gees/earth-sciences.aspx
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/research/social-policy/health-services-management.aspx

Once you have decided on the course you want to apply for, just follow the instructions for Application Requirements on the relevant web page and you should be okay.

Hope this helps you get the ball rolling. Good luck!

Appy

I picked the University of Birmingham because of its location within the second city of the UK and its closeness to London and because of its extremely high international ranking and reputation in Biosciences and research work. Once I was admitted, it was the most obvious choice for me, honestly.

Outside of study, the cultural exposure to British and non-British values all conglomerating within a small space has really broadened my horizons, helped me push my comfort zone and given me a large number and variety of new friends here in the UK.

Well, academically, the opportunity to work in two very different labs under two supervisors with very different styles of research and supervision has opened my mind to the scope of research, and given me an invaluable understanding of the research world, that would have never been possible without my experience here.

I have been working part-time during the entire duration of my stay here, in addition to full-time research work, followed by full-time thesis writing currently. I went to an RNA Conference at the University of Exeter along with my lab group a couple of months back.

The reason I applied for postgraduate study was so I’d be able to get into a PhD programme of my choice, within the realm of Molecular Biology. I picked this program because it’s similar to a mini PhD programme and gives students a taste of what it feels like to be full-time research student, and an idea of different projects one could get involved in during their postgraduate study.

This degree laid the groundwork for a PhD programme so I can further train as a scientist in the future.

Following the completion of my Masters degree, I started a fully-funded PhD program in Molecular and Cellular Biology at State University of New York Medical Center.

Hi! The short answer is that you would encounter a mix of both forms of assessments when you start the MSc Molecular Biotechnology course at University of Birmingham.

Here’s a description of the kinds of exercises, right from the course website –

Assessments:

• Project reports and project talks, oral presentations, extended essays, written reports, practical reports — assignments
• Class tests on data-handling and data interpretation — examinations
• Written grant application or business plan — assignments

Hope this answers your question. Let me know if you need any other information.

Good Day!

The cost of living in Birmingham is quite moderate relative to other big cities in the UK. The student housing area named Selly Oak, which is within walking distance of the university campus has a lot of inexpensive housing for rent. Also, to get around, trains are very affordable (approx. £3 per round trip to city center, for instance), especially if you have a rail pass and you can get a student discount on all train tickets. Lastly, as a student, you are able to avail a large number of student discounts in shopping, restaurants, food, going out, as well as travel.

The following link gives you a (generous) estimate of living expenses at Birmingham:

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/support/moneyadvice/living.aspx

Keep in mind that the cost of living here is nearly half that of the living expenses in London, which is quite good for the second city of the U.K. However, I will say that ‘high‘ and ‘low‘ are very relative terms, depending on where you are coming from and what your personal budget is going to be like.

Hope this covers everything. Let me know if you have other questions.

Cheers!

You’re welcome. I am assuming that you’re planning to come to the UK as an international student. If so, I must let you know that all non-EU students come here on a student visa, also known as the tier 4 visa, that in turn, allows you to work part-time (upto 20 hours/week) on or off-campus, while you’re in school and full-time (upto 40 hours/week) during breaks. To answer your other question – you are not allowed to begin your own small scale business, or any business, for that matter, while you’re on a student visa. This permit is strictly meant only for individuals whose primary intention of coming in to the UK is studying and nothing more. Since you have given me no details of where you’re from and what exact course you are interested in, I am going to go ahead and give you a general idea of what the procedure to get into the UK is like. Basically, you’re required to first apply and get officially/unconditionally accepted into your course of your interest and then you’d need to apply for a Tier 4 visa in your home country’s British High Commission. Go to your course’s webpage for the school’s application details. Additionally, here is a link detailing the basics of the student visa application:

https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/overview

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/welcome/international/visas/student.aspx

Hope this is helpful! Good Luck!

I understand. Go ahead and have a look at the below links:

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/physics/postgraduate/physics-pg-contacts.aspx http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/apply-pg/index.aspx

in order to contact the Physcis department for postgraduate admission and to find out how to apply. The sooner you start the process, the better because visa application will consume some time as well.

Best wishes,

A

Hello!

I regret to say that Environmental Risk management is not my area of expertise but here is a list of scholarships that may apply to you:

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding/FundingFilter.aspx?levelOfStudy__taxonomyDropDownList=0%2f1%2f3112%2f3113%2f3119%2f3123&subject__taxonomyDropDownList=0%2f1%2f3112%2f3114%2f3134%2f3193&feeCat__taxonomyDropDownList=0%2f1%2f3112%2f3115%2f3130&country__taxonomyDropDownList=0%2f1%2f3112%2f3115%2f3130%2f3363&applicantStatus=Prospective

Here is another website that you might find useful:

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/dr-fees/index.aspx

You should check with your local government for more PhD funding options as well.

Feel free to email the department directly and ask them about your funding options as an international student.

Best wishes.

Hi!

It really all depends on your project and YOUR schedule, which could be different from what I had. Usually, people are quite flexible with their schedule in the lab and unless you have a meeting with your supervisor, you are able to leave for a short bit (say, an hour) and come back and work late, if you like. As long as you get the work done, while you are multitasking, that is all that ultimately matters.

So, in short, yes, you will be able to pursue extracurricular sports, along with the MRes program and practice on, say, Wednesday afternoons. Just make sure you communicate that to your labmates and your supervisor.

Hope this helps!

Hello!

To be honest, when I applied for my MRes program in 2012, I didn’t have to do a research proposal, so I am assuming things have changed now. I just had a look at the website and this is what it says:

*Research summary (maximum 2000 characters)

Provide a brief outline of your likely topic of research or which research group you wish to be attached to. A scanned copy of your full research proposal will be required at the upload documents section of the application.

So, I’d say don’t go overboard. Keep it succinct. Also, it might not hurt to email the admissions person or even the program director directly for specific instructions before you go on to write your research proposal.

Hope I could be of some help.

Good Luck,

Appy

Hello!

I honestly don’t understand your question. Let me clarify certain things: first, all PhD programs are independent projects, under the guidance of a mentor or PI, who has hopefully accepted them into your lab. There is some structure to the program obviously, but overall, you choose which lab you want to do your PhD in, and depending on their availability, you go from there. Besides, I am not sure if the university has a PhD specifically has a doctoral course in Molecular Biotechnology, per say. It has projects from different domains of Biosciences available for you to apply in, however. Please have a look at this link for more clarification:

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/research/bio/biosciences.aspx#ResearchInterestsTab

Lastly, since you haven’t mentioned whether you’re an international, I am going to answer the question from my perspective as a non-EU student. A small number of PhD’s come with funding for non-EU students. However, its best to look for your own funds, such as Darwin Scholarship. If you look into the projects available in the above link, you will get an idea of how they are funded.

I only did a Masters in the UK, so I don’t have a very thorough idea of the PhD application process in the UK. However, I hope this helps.

Appy

Hello!

You can certainly apply to do one or both of your projects in the Institute of Cancer Sciences. Please have a look at the following links:

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/cancer-genomics/research/index.aspx

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/cancer-genomics/research/genetics-biology.aspx

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/cancer-genomics/research/genomics-statistics.aspx

You can click on the blue hyperlinks and obtain information about the wide variety of ongoing cancer research, the names of researchers and if you click on their names, you’ll be directed to their contact information as well.

My advice would be to first create a list of all the researchers whose work you are interested in and then email them a short cover letter, letting them know of your interest and why you think you would be a good fit for their lab. Besides, make sure to send your CV or professional resume with the email and ask to make an appointment with the ones that get back to you.

Emailing professors/supervisors is the best strategy to get a hold of them, to learn more about their work, and to gauge their interest in taking in MRes students for short projects.

I wish you all the luck in your endeavour!

Sincerely,

Appy

Hello!

I am excited to hear that you’re considering the Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) MRes program! Its really opened up some big opportunities for me.

In addressing your question regarding the research proposal: when I applied for my MRes program in 2012, I didn’t have to write one, so I assume things have changed now. Because the proposal is a summary of your intended topic of research, and since you are at the application stage (i.e. you are not accepted into the program yet), I’d recommend that you go through the website descriptions of labs you are interested in. Use this to guide your brief research proposal. Besides, you can always email research investigators directly expressing interest in joining their labs for short-term MRes projects for the upcoming year and ask them questions. It also doesn’t hurt to clarify these things with the academic coordinator of the course, Dr. Peter Winn or the admissions in-charge for the program.

Hope I could be of some help. Feel free to write back if you have any follow-up questions.

Good Luck,

Appy

Hi there!

I am glad you’re considering applying to UoB. Usually a good measure of the expertise of professors comes from their academic credentials, such as their educational and research backgrounds. You may go to the website of the department of interest and look for names of professors that fall under that department. You may then go to their specific websites and research their bios to ensure that they have expertise in the subjects you’re applying for.

Hope this helps.

Appy

Hi there!

The way the MRes programs work is that you pick one from the list of available programs at University of Birmingham based on your future goals and its compatibility with your academic and professional profile, and apply to that specific program to be accepted first. Once accepted, you have a chance to communicate with a wide array of labs and potential mentors and see if there is an availability in their lab for a new MRes student. This is where you can choose from many different schools and from a list of labs working on a wide variety of research topics. Just make sure to do your research online first. The Birmingham website is very thorough and gives you information about all kinds of research taking place on campus. For the MRes in Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) program specifically, you get to choose two different labs in order to execute two different thesis-based research projects over the course of your one-year program. Its the equivalent of what we call ‘lab rotations’ in the United States.

Additionally, you can certainly deviate from the original research proposal you submit and you can definitely seek help from the course supervisor to decide what area to work in.

Lastly, back when I applied for the MRes in MCB program, there wasn’t an interview process. There was an application process however, which included submitting one’s academic portfolio as well as a detailed statement of purpose describing what your future goals are and how applying for the particular program fits into them.

Let me know if you have any further questions. Remember that the more specific your question is, the better I will be able to answer it. I wish you luck with your application process!

Appy

Hello! It is wonderful to hear that you’re excited about immunology and cancer research. Yes, you have a chance to email and contact professors/labs from the area of your research interest, once you are accepted into the program. Since Birmingham is known for its world-class cancer research, there are some really good options that you can first research on the website. Here are a couple of links to get you started:

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/immunology-immunotherapy/research/index.aspx

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/immunology-immunotherapy/staff/staff-principal-investigators.aspx

As far as your personal statement goes, I would recommend making a compelling argument, logical as well as passionate, convincing the admissions committee that you’d be a good candidate for the MRes program in Molecular and Cellular Biology. You should focus on making sure your future goals are clearly written, and that they are in alignment with your past academic and work experience so that the MRes looks like a connecting link between the two. Also, definitely make it a point to mention your interest in cancer and immunology. The more specific your short and long-term goals are, the better prepared it makes you look. This definitely makes a better impression on the AdCom.

When I did my MRes program back in 2013, ours was a small group of fewer than 20 students. Since Birmingham has a world-class reputation in higher education, particularly in biomedical research, most of these programs are competitive but the admissions process is fair. If you make a strong case in favor of your career goals, you will definitely get in. Hope this helps! I wish you luck with the application process!

Hi there!

The scope of the MRes program is that it will allow you to work toward your further studies or work as a research assistant in a lab and perhaps rise to the position of a lab manager over the years. However, its scope is limited in that most good/well-paid research positions are going to look for individuals with a PhD. You can possibly be a lecturer at a small university but I doubt you could do it at a large university such as University of Birmingham. I would recommend you to do your own research in this regard as well.

Hope my answer helps inform your application process.

Hi!

Congratulations on receiving your conditional offer for the MSc program in Immunology and Immunotherapy! That’s very exciting!

The university of Birmingham as well as the city of Birmingham are full of opportunities for international students. Not only does the campus attract students from all over the world, but the city is one of the most diverse places in the UK. There are over 250 clubs and societies to choose from and become a part of:  https://www.guildofstudents.com/studentgroups/

Usually, international students are able to meet students from their home country, other countries and make friends with students, based on their shared interests. Its a great way to socialize and make the best of your experience in Birmingham. You can and should definitely join social clubs during your course period. They will give you a more wholesome experience during your postgraduate program.

As far as finding projects that are suitable for you, please email and contact professors/labs from the area of your research interest, stating your acceptance into the program. Since Birmingham is known for its world-class cancer research, there are some really good options that you can first research on the website. Here are a couple of links to get you started:

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/immunology-immunotherapy/research/index.aspx

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/immunology-immunotherapy/staff/staff-principal-investigators.aspx

Lastly, assessments for your course are broken into the following:

“Taught Modules
Modules are assessed through a variety of means including extended essays (up to 3000 words), preparation of a research proposal, preparing and conducting a short presentation on a defined topic related to the module content, and unseen written examination (essays, short answer, MCQ).

Dissertation
This is defined as a substantial body of work containing some new findings or thoughts. It is envisaged that this will be 10,000-15,000 words in length. You will be assigned to a suitable supervisor and agree the nature of the research at the start of their programme.”

(https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/taught/med/immunology-and-immunotherapy.aspx#LearningAndTeachingTab)

Hope this is helpful! Good luck!