Medical Genetics

Programme Outline

Learn more about our programme from the video, which has contributions from previous graduates as well as from Dr Douglas Wilcox, who established the MSc in Medical Genetics in 1984.

Medical Genetics introduction video

Contact Details

Applications must be made through the University admission procedure. However, we will be delighted to receive informal contacts from prospective students at any point.

Application Information

If you have any queries relating to making an application, would like to be put in contact with a previous graduate from your country or would like help or advice in relation to coming to study in Glasgow please contact:

Miss. Caitlin Welsh, email Caitlin.Welsh@glasgow.ac.uk

Academic Information

If you would like further information about academic issues, or to know if your previous education/ experience provides a suitable background for the MSc in Medical Genetics, please contact the Programme Director of the MSc in Medical Genetics:

Dr. Maria Jackson, email Maria.Jackson@glasgow.ac.uk

Medically qualified applicants who would like further information in relation to applying the MSc in Medical Genetics to their careers, please contact the Clinical Director of the MSc in Medical Genetics:

Dr. Edward Tobias, email Edward.Tobias@glasgow.ac.uk

Dr Edward Tobias, who is an Honorary Consultant in Medical Genetics with the West of Scotland Regional Genetics Service, is lead author of Essential Medical Genetics 6th Edition and students intending to enrol on the MSc in Medical Genetics may find this textbook a useful source of relevant information.

MSc Medical Genetics

This programme was established in 1984 by Dr Douglas Wilcox, and is one of the most successful courses of its type in the UK. Since then it has attracted over 500 UK, European and international students.

We have recently won the Students Representative Council (SRC) Student Teaching Award for Best Subject 2012. This prestigious award is chosen by students of Glasgow University. In addition our very own Dr Edward Tobias was also nominated for Best Teacher Award 2012.

The programme is mainly delivered by University staff whose time is dedicated to the course. In addition, other research scientists, NHS scientists and clinicians and patients deliver guest lectures.

The programme is designed to develop your scientific understanding of research, principles and practice in the field of medical genetics. It will prepare you for a career in research in many different bio-molecular disciplines.

During the first half of the one-year programme the majority of time is devoted to acquisition of knowledge and understanding relating to the principles and practice of Medical Genetics. Students will also develop skills in scientific communication and team working.

In the second half of the MSc programme the focus is on applying the skills and knowledge that have been gained. Initially students work in teams to investigate three complex clinical case scenarios, deciding on appropriate investigations to allow a diagnosis to be made, evaluating the results of the investigations and applying these to the clinical situation, with recommendations in relation to counselling and management of the patients and their families, including any relevant ethical issues. In the final part of the programme, students undertake an independant piece of research and generate a written dissertation, as well as a poster presentation and oral presentation related to their findings.

It is our aim to ensure our students develop new skills to increase their success in employment in medical genetics related fields. The aims of the Taught Masters in Medical Genetics are to:

• Facilitate the acquisition and integration of a knowledge base in all areas of Medical Genetics to enable students to understand inherited diseases and the diagnostic and screening methodologies which may be employed to benefit individuals, families or populations;
• Enable students to work with family information and diagnostic data in order to provide genetic risk assessment and best genetic advice to individuals and their families in an ethical way;
• Provide students with the opportunity to work with a team of their peers to investigate real clinical scenarios using their critical understanding of Medical Genetics to suggest appropriate diagnoses, investigations, management and counselling and / or a critique of previous handling of the case;
• Develop students’ skills in problem solving, experimental design, evaluation and interpretation of experimental data, literature searches, scientific writing, oral presentations, poster presentations and team working;
• Lay the academic foundations on which some students may build in pursuing research at PhD level in genetics or related areas of biomedical science;
• Provide science and medicine graduates with suitable knowledge and skills to facilitate future careers in genetic diagnostics or in clinical genetics respectively.