
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
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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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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.
Four year PhD programme
Applications for the PhD programme in Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases (1+3 MRes and PhD) are now open for 2023.
Fully funded studentships available for entry in October 2023.
For full details of the programme and application procedure please visit the programme website.
Closing date for applications: 13 June 2023.
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, 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
- Assessing the transmissibility of vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks
- How do SARS-CoV-2 infection and immune response determine long-term health consequences
- Identifying Genetic Variants Associated with COVID-19 Susceptibility and Severity using the Exome Sequencing Data in the UK Biobank
- The Role of Diet and Nutrition in the COVID-19 Infection and Severity
- Assessing the impact, utility, and cost-effectiveness of long acting PrEP to help control HIV epidemics across various MSM communities in the US
- Modelling the spread of antimalarial drug resistance and the role of fitness costs
- Quantifying the contribution of surveillance datastreams in informing key epidemiological drivers of the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK
- Serosurvey sampling strategies to inform catalytic models
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
Prepare yourself for a career in biomedical research, whether in academia, industry, or government.
Learn from world-class researchers while receiving practical training toward a career in research.
Acquire the key skills needed to plan, conduct, publish and obtain funding for successful research.
Our graduates often pursue further study in doctoral research.
Further links
Contact the department
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.

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