Parasite Control

Course Fees

Please see the tuition fee pages for current tuition fees. Please note that all fees are subject to an annual increase.

Funding

Funding opportunities may be available, please check the funding calculator for details.

Parasitism is the most successful lifestyle on the planet and leads to diverse and highly-damaging infectious diseases of agricultural, veterinary and biomedical significance. Therefore, a greater understanding of the parasite species responsible for these conditions and the means by which they are controlled remain a priority for scientists, health care professionals and farmers in the 21^st century. The development of novel, creative and integrated control strategies are urgently needed to combat the growing threat of changing parasite distributions due to climate change, human migration, animal transportation and farming practices. This MRes course will provide you with a range of vocational skills and prepare you for professional employment or further postgraduate PhD studies in Parasitology or related disciplines (such as infectious diseases, public health and epidemiology).

The MRes Parasite Control has a substantial component of independent supervised research (120 of 180 credits) and structured learning opportunities via 60 credits of taught modules, through which you will gain in-depth knowledge and an understanding of current issues of parasite control. The further development of generic attributes of decision-making, independent learning and communicating effectively to a range of audiences and in a variety of media will be developed in all modules.

An aspect of this course that uniquely positions itself from other Masters-level Parasitology courses in the UK is the 12-month dissertation project (Semesters 1-3). Working under the supervision of active researchers in the field, you will collaboratively develop a research project on diverse topics such as intermediate host and vector control, anthelmintic drug and target discovery, biomarker identification, visual cue selection for arthropod vectors, mathematical modelling of disease transmission, host responses to parasite biomolecules, parasite and host population studies and functional genomics manipulation of parasites.

A list of available projects and supervisors will be advertised closer to the start of each academic year.

Your supervisor/supervisory team will mentor you in hypothesis and discovery-driven experimental design, provide training in lab-based and computer-assisted methodologies, arrange instruction in analytical techniques, aid in the trouble-shooting of experimental challenges, assist you in the interpretation of results and prepare you for successful oral presentations. You will also be guided in how to most efficiently communicate your results during the dissertation write-up. It is expected that you will become an expert in your topic during this year-long research project.

Careers

This course is an ideal training programme for those wishing to:

• pursue PhD studies
• work in industry, charities or funding bodies
• improve animal and human health
• influence governmental policies.

 Skills

Throughout this course you will:

• develop strong data collection/analysis, fieldwork and laboratory skills
• enhance your scientific communication and team work skills
• write for a range of audiences including academics and the wider public
• enhance your analytical abilities, critical thinking and problem-solving skills 
• develop study and research skills
• direct and sustain a self-initiated programme of study underpinned by good time management skills
• work effectively and independently
• hone your project management skills to deliver a demanding combination of research, analysis, communication and presentation.

How will I learn?

This is a one-year full-time course. You will complete 60 credits of core modules centred on parasitology, parasite control and research methodologies, and a 120-credit dissertation for which you will undertake a prolonged period of experimental work/data gathering and research under the supervision of your dissertation supervisor.

What will I learn?

The modules included in this programme are designed to provide a fundamental basis for understanding and contributing meaningfully to parasite control strategies. You will also discover how research can address grand challenges in parasitology that we face as a society.

This interdisciplinary research training provides you with the skills needed to complete your individual research dissertation. The key feature of the course is that you are able to explore an area of parasitology that fascinates you and undertake an extended piece of higher level research with the support of a supervisor.

How will I be assessed?

The taught modules are assessed by scientific writing assignments (such as reports, critical reviews, essays and journalistic articles), presentations, contribution to group discussions in seminars and online assignments.

Subsequent successful submission of your dissertation leads to the award of an MRes. 

Personal Tutor  

You will be assigned a personal tutor who will be your main contact throughout the duration of your studies. Your personal tutor will be available to help you with academic or personal matters.