The first year (MRes)programme

During the first year, the intention is to provide each student with:

• a wide experience of the scientific opportunities within Imperial College
• an understanding of the basic and applied aspects of research in the field of infection
• an opportunity to formulate and develop their substantive PhD project

This will be achieved by providing:

• a course of teaching sessions which will cover both "core" issues and more specialised topics reflecting multi-disciplinary approaches to Infectious Disease research
• three laboratory based research projects. View titles of previous projects.
• protected time for PhD project development.  

The three Schools

The first year is divided into three Schools, which are organised according to research area. All students will spend 12 weeks in each School, and move forward in turn as a group. The goal is to provide intensive, directed training and teaching in coherent strands, but at the same time allowing students exposure to a wide range of topics.

Teaching sessions

We recognise the importance of students acquiring as broad a range of skills as possible. The traditional 3 year PhD programme is inevitably very focused on the particular methods that the student needs to acquire to carry out their project, and as a result, many important aspects of a general scientific training may be overlooked. For this reason, we place particular emphasis on this part of the programme. Thus, in addition to formal teaching sessions, students attend workshops organised as part of the academic training programme of the Imperial College Graduate School in addition to local training sessions focussed on particular techniques and laboratory skills.

Research projects

Each student will complete 3 twelve-week projects during the first year, designed to give practical experience of laboratory research, and chosen to cover a wide range of skills. The projects will be divided amongst the Schools and students will choose one project from each School. The experience gained will help in the process of selecting their major PhD project and supervisors. For the first project, a list of options will be circulated prior to student arrival, to allow for background reading in advance. Students will meet supervisors and make a final choice during the first week of the programme. The two subsequent projects will be chosen in discussion with students' Mentors during the first months of the programme. Each project will be written up and formally evaluated.

Transferable skills training - The Graduate School

The Graduate School offers a detailed and comprehensive training programme specifically aimed at students on the programme.Training courses available cover a wide range of transferable skills.  Examples of courses offered are: Statistics, Time Management, Communication and Presentation Skills, Use of Animals and Information Skills. Students are actively encouraged to participate in the courses offered.