General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:2 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

• Band B
• 7.0 overall with minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Academic References

We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses, and two academic references for research courses.

You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.

View our guide to academic references.Link opens in a new window

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

Our optional module lists are subject to change each year to keep the student learning experience current and up-to-date.

Teaching

You'll be taught by expert scientists who undertake research in solving major global challenges in areas such as food security, disease control, bioenergy, systems biology, neurobiology and climate change. Also, external professional experts teach on selected modules giving a vital extra dimension to your teaching experience.

Teaching is via facilitated sessions, including interactive lectures, short question and answer sessions and interactive workshops/tutorials and field visits. Individual and team learning will be used for case study analysis.

Class sizes

Class sizes for this course vary between 5 to 90 students.

Typical contact hours

Depending on the module contact hours vary between 15-25 per week.

Assessment

Assessment is continuous and varies between modules. It typically includes essays, seminar presentations, practical reports, oral evaluation and assessed group work.

You will undertake an individual project during the third term and there is an option to undertake a work-based placement as part of your project. Your project/placement will be assessed by a seminar presentation, a 6,000 word dissertation and a Research Performance piece.

Reading lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platformLink opens in a new window. 

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogueLink opens in a new window.  

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

Your career

Graduates from the School of Life Sciences taught Masters courses have gone on to work for employers including:

• Pfizer
• Severn Trent Water
• Eurofins Agroscience Services
• Novartis
• Philips Healthcare
• Rothamstead Research
• NGO Client Earth
• Public Health England

They have pursued roles such as: research associate, science editor, regulatory affairs officer, marketing manager, business and financial project management professionals, environmental health professionals, agronomist, and climate change consultant.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

• Careers in Life Sciences Networking Event
• Careers in Science
• Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
• Mock Interviews for Life Sciences students
• Interested in Careers in Scientific Publishing

Life Sciences at Warwick

The School of Life Sciences is a cohesive, enthusiastic community producing world-class, high-impact bioscience research and teaching within a friendly and collaborative environment. Our internationally recognised academics are engaged in innovative bioscience research, working to investigate solutions to major global challenges. With 90% of research in the School of Life Sciences rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in REF 2021, the school is a dynamic and growing place for biological sciences research.

Our range of postgraduate programmes cover key global priorities and include interdisciplinary courses with modules delivered from colleagues across the Warwick community, including the renowned Warwick Business School. Study a postgraduate degree with us to hone your subject knowledge and enable you to gain the scientific skills and business acumen to develop your future career.

As part of our postgraduate degrees, you will be taught vital transferable skills such as research techniques and management, personal effectiveness, communication, networking, teamworking and careers management, enhancing your employability. You will be supported during your studies by a dedicated Postgraduate support team and a personal tutor who work within the School of Life Sciences, and additional support is offered, if needed, for English language and data handling skills.

Find out more about us on our websiteLink opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

• Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management (MSc)
• Environmental Bioscience in a Changing Climate (MSc)
• Food Security (MSc)
• Medical Biotechnology and Business Management (MSc)
• Sustainable Crop Production: Agronomy for the 21st Century (MSc)

Our Postgraduate Research courses

• MSc by Research in Life Sciences
• PhD in Life Sciences

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your taught course fees  

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2024/25 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries