Biomedical Research (Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases)
Specialise in biomedical research within the field of epidemiology, evolution and the control of infectious diseases.
Specialise in biomedical research within the field of epidemiology, evolution and the control of infectious diseases
Build your understanding of modern statistical, epidemiological and mathematical modelling techniques through both theory and practical application
Develop a range of interdisciplinary skills on a dedicated research project
Course key facts
Qualification
MRes
Duration
1 year
Start date
September 2025
Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£20,600 Home
£45,000 Overseas
Delivered by
Location
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St Mary's
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White City
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Course overview
Receive broad training for a career in biomedical research specialising in infectious disease epidemiology on this Master's course.
You'll explore how epidemiological analysis and mathematical modelling can inform public health decisions and provide inference on infectious disease transmission.
It also provides expert training to prepare you for a career in public health in a number of key areas of biomedical research.
These include infectious disease epidemiology, mathematical modelling and statistics, genetics and evolution, and computational methods.
You'll complete two five-month research projects and build transferable skills through grant writing, technical workshops, and journal clubs.
Choose your stream
You have the option of choosing our general biomedical research stream, or one of seven 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
- Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases (this stream)
- Microbiome in Health and Disease
- Molecular Basis of Human Disease
- Respiratory and Cardiovascular Science
Is this stream for you?
The Epidemiology stream is aimed at students with a background in biology or biomedical science who are interested in gaining skills in quantitative methods applied to infectious disease epidemiology, as well as those with a background in mathematical sciences, physics or computing who are interested in applying their technical skills to infectious disease epidemiology.
This stream is delivered by the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction in collaboration with the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and the School of Public Health.
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.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
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, determined by your chosen stream (Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases).
You can also choose projects from other streams, though you will only have priority within your own stream.
Example projects
- A systematic review and estimation of the effects of temperature on yellow fever vector development and survival
- Estimating the impact of cholera interventions on disease burden in Somalia
- Evolution and global spatio-temporal spread of Coxsackievirus A6
- Modelling the spread of drug resistance to a key malaria prevention drug in children
- Are complex models necessary to realistically measure epidemic spread?
- Quantifying the contribution of surveillance datastreams in informing key epidemiological drivers of the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK
- Applying machine learning to the automated interpretation of genomic epidemiology data
- Towards HIV elimination: a mathematical model-based examination of transmission in Manicaland, Zimbabwe
- The potential impact of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on HIV outcomes in Western Africa: a mathematical modelling analysis
See a full list of example Biomedical research projects on the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction web pages.
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.
In our application system My Imperial, you will need to choose Biomedical Research (MRes 1YFT) in the Programme selection search. After this, you will be asked to choose the stream you wish to be considered for.
The Department's Biomedical Research Admissions FAQ provides more details about applying for the course.
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas or research courses, such as PhDs and EngDs.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee
2025 entry
£20,600
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, 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 courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
We offer a range of scholarships for students to support you through your studies.
See what opportunities you may be eligible for on our dedicated Scholarships search tool.
Overseas fee
2025 entry
£45,000
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, 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 courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Scholarships
The Dean’s Master’s Scholarships
Value per award
- £10,000
Who it's for
- All students applying to study a Faculty of Medicine Master’s course
The Dr Jean Alero Thomas Scholarships
Value per award
- Partial or full tuition fee at the Home rate
Who it's for
- All students applying to study a Faculty of Medicine lab-based Master’s course
Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction Bursaries
Value per award
- £2,000 (full-time) or £1,000 per year (part-time, two-years)
Who it's for
- Offer holders for the department's MSc/MRes courses
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
Strengthen your career prospects as aspiring Anaesthetists and Intensive Care physicians.
Cultivate a robust network within an inclusive Division, fostering valuable connections with academics and clinicians.
Participate in Departmental Research symposia, offering exposure, critical appraisal skills, expert engagement, and staying updated in the field.
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Develop key academic skills to support your progress to PhD or medical school.
Develop essential soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability, crucial for success in professional healthcare environments.
Get support with grant applications and publication of research findings, enriching academic and professional portfolios.
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Participate in Departmental Research symposia, offering exposure, critical appraisal skills, expert engagement, and staying updated in the field.
Further links
Contact the department
Email: biomedical.researchmres@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Professor Tim Ebbels
Course Deputy Director: Dr Elizabeth Want
Stream Organiser: Dr Lucy Okell
Stream Organiser: Dr Isobel Blake
Visit the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction website.
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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.
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Register your interest
Stay up to date on news, events, scholarship opportunities and information related to this course.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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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