This course is designed to give students a practical knowledge of the principles and practice of medical genetics which will allow them to evaluate, choose and interpret appropriate genetic investigations for individuals, families and populations with genetic disease. Students will also learn to recognize situations in which genetic testing may not be appropriate for ethical reasons. It is our aim to ensure our students develop new skills to increase their success in employment in medical genetics related fields.
The course is intended for graduates in Science who wish to enter a career in Clinical Laboratory Genetics or who wish to gain a broad based knowledge of Medical Genetics prior to studying a detailed area of genetics at PhD level. It is also for graduates in Medicine who wish to enter a career in Clinical Medical Genetics or who wish a knowledge of medical genetics to develop the practice of their existing specialty.
Our medical graduates have come from various backgrounds including, adult medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics, adult psychiatry, child psychiatry and haematology. Most have gone on to enter careers as clinical genetics, others have returned to their previous specialty and maintained an interest in medical genetics often developing new areas of research with local medical genetics colleagues.
The course is not a "repeat" of an honours year. It is very practical and emphasizes team working skills to ensure that our graduates are highly employable.
A third of our science graduates go onto PhD directly, a third to research assistant posts and about half of them go onto PhD study at a later date. The remainder enter the NHS as trainee health service scientists and a few have become genetic associates working in a medical genetics department. Each year the Scottish Office offers 4, two year, trainee NHS scientist posts in cytogenetics and molecular genetics. Recently our graduates have formed the largest proportion of successful applicants!
Within a year of graduation, most of our graduates are working full time in the medical genetics field.