Integrative Biomedical Sciences (Based in China) MScR

Level: Postgraduate research

Subject: Biological, Biomedical and Life Sciences

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Full-time
  • MScR | 1 year | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

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About the degree programme

This one-year full-time MScR programme is delivered at the Zhejiang University - University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) on the Zhejiang International Campus, Haining, China.

Courses are taught and assessed entirely in English.

The degree provides excellent grounding for:

  • PhD or other academic study
  • research-based positions in industry
  • alternative careers that use the transferable skills you will learn

The programme focuses on two 20-week projects. These will be within research groups at the cutting-edge of biomedical and bioinformatics research.

Study in China

The ZJE Institute is located on the International Campus of Zhejiang University in Haining, China. This programme will be taught in English by staff from Zhejiang University, the University of Edinburgh and the ZJE Institute. They will be based entirely in Haining, China.

ZJE Institute

The ZJE Institute provides innovative teaching in Biomedical Sciences, all from our new campus in China.

Learn more about the ZJE Institute

How to apply

Before making your application, you must contact a potential supervisor at the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) to discuss your research proposal or area of research.

Potential supervisors should be identified from the list of Principal Investigators on the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) website.

ZJE website

For general application enquiries, please contact the ZJE Postgraduate Officer:

ZJEPGsupport@ed.ac.uk

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
14 September 2026 24 July 2026

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

and, if applicable:

  • your research topic
  • details of any published work

You will also need to provide some or all of the following supporting information and documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

Research proposal

When completing the online application form, you are not required to complete a research proposal. 

You will select your first research theme and project at the beginning of the programme. Please ignore any automatically generated emails requesting this information from you during the application process.

References

You must submit two references with your application.

Interview

You may be formally interviewed in person or by video-conferencing.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

Academic Technology Approval Scheme

If you need to apply for a student visa, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme

Funding

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

Tuition fees

Find your tuition fees on the ZJE website:

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in biological, chemical or physical sciences.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 7 with at least 6 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 145 with at least 135 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

Research profile

A diverse choice of projects is offered across labs in ZJE, ZJU Main Campus and the University of Edinburgh, specifically to provide experience in a wide range of experimental techniques and research laboratories. 

Your projects can be ‘wet’ laboratory-based projects and ‘dry’ analytical or modelling projects.

Research subject areas include:

  • Stem cell and cancer biology, for example, regenerative medicine, diagnostics and development of therapies
  • Infection and immunity, including:
    • infectious and inflammatory diseases
    • immunology
    • vaccine development
    • microbiology
  • Molecular biomedicine and bioinformatics, for example:
    • models of disease
    • bioinformatics
    • reproductive biology
    • cardiovascular science
    • imaging
    • neuroscience

Our research community

Extensive collaborations exist with the wider biomedical and clinical communities. These help ensure you are supported in a world-class research environment.

Programme structure

The programme includes core skills, seminars and taught modules, as well as research projects with research groups in our well-resourced laboratories, which are at the forefront of biomedical research.

Research projects

You will carry out two 20-week-long research projects selected from three overarching research subject areas and submit a dissertation for each project.

One of your projects will form the basis of a final assessment as either a:

  • grant application
  • public communication piece, or
  • proposal for translational application in industry

Research themes

At the beginning of Semester 1, you will choose your first research theme and meet supervisors and discuss the research projects available. 

At the end of the first research theme, you will again meet supervisors and discuss the projects available and choose your second research theme. You will carry out a research project based on this theme.

The two-project structure offers experience in two different research environments and areas of research.

Research proposal

The proposal is the final piece of assessed work. You will reflect on your experience and evidence your learning and write a proposal for a future related research project outwith the MSc.

This will be based on the research area of either your first or second research project, in the form of a grant application, public communication piece or a proposal for translational application in industry.

Disclaimer

The details provided are subject to any restrictions related to Covid-19 being imposed. Should any restrictions be put in place on the International campus in Haining, China, changes to the delivery of the programme may be required.

Find out the aims and structure for each year of study on this programme.

Full-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Taught courses

The programme is underpinned by a core taught element providing development and training in key biomedical science research skills, including:

  • data analysis and experimental design
  • critical analysis of research literature
  • scientific writing and communication
  • seminars to address current and emerging advances in biomedical research

Each semester, you will have approximately two contact hours per week to include key training activities such as:

  • experimental design and data analysis
  • bioinformatics, programming and modelling
  • science communication, presentation skills and project planning

Inspirational Research seminar series

The Inspirational Research seminar series is designed to address questions from within each of the three research areas:

  • stem cell and cancer biology
  • infection and immunity
  • molecular biomedicine and informatics

Seminars are delivered by staff associated with the programme, and you will be expected to attend seminars from one of the three topics linked to your second research project.

Support

Training specific to individual projects will be discussed and agreed with project supervisors.

You will join an expanding international postgraduate student community, and also benefit from a range of campus and online activities, events and services.

You will have access to support services, research training and resources:

  • at the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute in Haining and Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China
  • online at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Facilities

You will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment for all aspects of modern biomedical sciences to facilitate your research objectives. These are located at our new International Campus in Haining, China.

Career opportunities

This programme provides excellent training and experience for a PhD, or a career in biomedical research or industry.

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

General enquiries

ZJE Postgraduate Officer

ZJEPGsupport@ed.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0)131 650 3160

Academic contact

Professor Paul Le Tissier

Co-Programme Director

  • Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences
  • College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
  • University of Edinburgh

Contact details

Address

Deanery of Biomedical Sciences
Chancellors Building
Edinburgh
EH16 4SB

Dr Richard Sloan

Co-Programme Director

  • Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences
  • College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
  • University of Edinburgh

Contact details

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