
Biomedical Research (Data Science)
Interdisciplinary training in 'big data' analysis, building skills towards a career in biomedical research.
Receive interdisciplinary training in 'big data' analysis and build skills towards a career in biomedical research
Learn how to implement statistical and machine learning techniques and interpret data sets
Develop your communication, presentation and grant-writing skills across two research projects
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MRes
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Duration
1 year
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Start date
October 2023
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£19,000 Home
£40,800 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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Hammersmith
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Course overview
Receive interdisciplinary training in 'big data' analysis in relation to biomolecular studies on this Master's course.
On this stream of the MRes in Biomedical Research, you'll receive core training in multivariate statistics, chemometrics and machine learning methods.
The course will build your research experience in the development and application of these methods to real-world biomedical studies.
You'll also learn to handle large-scale data from molecular phenotyping techniques such as metabolic profiling and related genomics approaches.
Two research projects are major components of this course.
These will help you develop communication, presentation and grant-writing skills, and become familiar with evaluating research reports.
Choose your stream
You have the option of choosing our general biomedical research stream, or one of eight specialisms. All of our biomedical research streams have the same course structure and each stream has its own tailored set of projects alongside a core programme of lectures, seminars and practical classes.
You should consider which stream is right for you according to your career aims and background. If an offer of admission is made, it will correspond to a specific stream. Switching streams is not possible once you have commenced your studies.
- General Biomedical Research
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care
- Bacterial Pathogenesis and Infection
- Data Science (this stream)
- Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases
- Microbiome in Health and Disease
- Molecular Basis of Human Disease
- Respiratory and Cardiovascular Science
Is this stream for you?
This stream is suitable for students with a degree in physical sciences, engineering, mathematics computer science who wish to apply their numeric skills to solve biomedical problems with big data.
You will gain experience in analysing and modelling big data from technologically advanced techniques applied to biomedical questions.
You will perform novel computational informatics research and exercise critical scientific thought in the interpretation of results, implement and apply sophisticated statistical and machine learning techniques in the interrogation of large and complex biomedical data sets.
This stream is delivered by the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
You’ll take all of these core modules.
Core modules
Compose a grant proposal, appropriate for submission to an academic funding body.
This will correspond to your research project(s).
You'll carry out two mini research projects, exploring some of the most technologically advanced approaches currently being applied to biomedical research.
You have a wide range of research projects available to you.
The projects available to you are determined by your chosen stream.
You can also choose projects from other streams, though you will only have priority within your own stream.
Example projects
- Lung function and ambient temperature
- Does KIR genotype modify the severity of Crohn's disease?
- Colon and breast tumour tissue classification based on analysis of elastic scattering, diffuse reflectance and fluorescence spectra
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Radiomic Feature Analysis for Cardiomyopathies
- AI-enabled screening for valvular heart disease with 12-lead ECG and demographic characteristics
- Representation Learning for Atrial Fibrillation using deeplearning approach
- Integrative analysis of multidimensional molecular data to elucidate pathological pathways of pulmonary fibrosis
- Spatial-temporal inference of antimicrobial resistance in hospital networks
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
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Demonstrations and seminars
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Workshops
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Computing labs
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Journal clubs
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Virtual learning environment
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Tutorials
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Lab-based learning
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Facility Tours
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Lectures
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Debates
Balance of assessment
Key
- Grant writing exercise
- Research projects
- 10% Grant writing exercise
- 90% Research projects
Assessment methods
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Laboratory-based research
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Computer-based research
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Oral presentation
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Poster presentation
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Research reports
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Oral assessment
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
On the application form, you will need to select the Postgraduate MRes application category, and then Biomedical Research (MRes 1YFT) in the Academic Programme drop-down. You will then be able to select the stream you wish to be considered for.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course:
- £80 for all taught Master's applications excluding those to the Imperial College Business School
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2023 entry
£19,000
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount was £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
2023 entry
£40,800
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
For 2022-23 entry, the maximum amount was £11,836. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Your future career
Acquire transferable skills relevant to a career in biomedical research and related areas.
Develop the skills necessary to plan, conduct, publish, and obtain funding for successful research.
Expert leaders in the field provide practical training for a research career.
Our graduates often pursue further study in doctoral research.
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
Data science engineering, molecular epidemiology research, and translational bioinformatics research are just some of your options.
Other potential career paths could include health and technical consultancy and biomedical software start-ups.
Further links
Contact the department
Course Director: Professor Tim Ebbels
Course Deputy Director: Dr Elizabeth Want
Stream Organiser: Professor Tim Ebbels
Stream Organiser: Dr Joram Posma
Visit the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction website.

Our students
Meet Biomedical Research students and see what they have to say about their studies.
You can also read more about our student achievements, including funding, publications and academic prizes.

Register your interest
Stay up to date on news, events, scholarship opportunities and information related to this course.
Register your interest


Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications