MSc Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement

The one-year MSc course in Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement provides training for students wishing to undertake a further degree in plant molecular genetics, or alternatively, a career in plant breeding and crop improvement. The course focuses on plant molecular genetics and its potential applications to crop improvement in the 21st century.

The course is run jointly by the School of Biological Sciences (BIO) at UEA and the John Innes Centre (JIC), which also includes The Sainsbury Laboratory. The John Innes Centre is one of the world’s leading research institutes in plant genetics and crop improvement. The teaching staff includes members of the School of Biological Sciences together with scientists from the John Innes Centre and a number of leading plant breeding and plant biotechnology companies within the UK.

In recent years the career prospects for students with a postgraduate degree in Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement have been very good, often leading to a PhD or employment in the plant breeding industry. The course will provide you with a unique opportunity to study plant genetics and crop improvement in an environment of academic and research excellence.

The taught modules cover subjects including plant molecular genetics and biotechnology, target traits for crop improvement, and plant breeding. Training in a number of key transferable skills is also included. You will also undertake a six-month laboratory-based research project under the supervision of a member of BIO faculty or a senior scientist at the John Innes Centre. You will be required to submit a dissertation and present a seminar on your research project.

Research projects are offered in the following areas:

• Plant genetics
• Plant biotechnology and crop improvement
• Plant genome organisation
• Plant-microbe interactions
• Cell and developmental biology
• Plant gene function

"I found this course very beneficial but it was also tough for me as I did not have a molecular biology background in my first degree. However, there was always support from the lecturers, supervisors and staff of the course who are sympathetic to students and encouraging. The number of students is kept small, so the atmosphere of the class is friendlier than the other large courses. We are also privileged to have so much exposure to the latest Plant Science at John Innes Centre where renowned researchers gather from all over the world. Thanks to this course, I was offered the PhD studentship to research Crop Genetics at JIC and enjoy a life as a scientist there!"

Course Organiser:Dr. Colwyn Thomas

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Entry Requirements Degree Subject: Biological Sciences or Plant Biology Degree Classification: Good first degree (minimum 2.1 or equivalent) Alternative Qualifications: Candidates with other experience, such as employment within a plant breeding company or relevant research experience, will also be considered. Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:

IELTS: 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components)
TOEFL: Internet-based score of 88 (minimum 18 in listening, 21 speaking, 19 writing and 20 reading)
PTE (Pearson): 62 (minimum 55 in all components)

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

Other tests such as TOEIC and the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English are also accepted by the university. Please check with the Admissions Office for further details including the scores or grades required.

INTO UEA and INTO UEA London run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk (INTO UEA Norwich) or pseuealondon@into.uk.com (INTO UEA London).

• 90% of research activity classified as internationally leading, excellent, or recognised in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
• Teaching of the highest quality; rated “Excellent” in the most recent Teaching Quality Assessment.
• Consistently ranked in the top five for overall student satisfaction amongst mainstream English universities (UK National Student Survey).
• Research and teaching supported by an impressive array of cutting edge in house facilities and a range of well equipped modern laboratories.
• Part of the Norwich Research Park, a major international centre for plant, microbial, food and health science.
• Close collaboration with scientists from the Sainsbury Laboratory.

Come and Visit Us

Our Open Days will give you the opportunity to experience the University of East Anglia's unique campus atmosphere.

Fees and Funding Tuition Fees 2013/14

• UK/EU £6,000
• International £15,400

Funding

• International applicants applying to this course can be considered for one full fees Commonwealth Scholarship, one Faculty of Science half fees scholarship, or up to four £1000 scholarships. The deadline for the Commonwealth Scholarship is 15th March 2013 and for all other scholarships the deadline is 1st April 2013.

Commonwealth Scholarship
Students applying for the Commonwealth Scholarship are not required to submit an essay. All eligible candidates to whom the school has made an offer are automatically considered for nomination. The successful candidate and a reserve will be notified by 31st March 2013. If you have not been contacted by this date then unfortunately you have been unsuccessful. The appropriate application forms will be sent to the successful student.

Faculty of Science Scholarships
Students wishing to apply should submit an essay. You may choose a Biologist of your choice and answer the following question in 1000 words: 'What are the major contributions of (your chosen Biologist) to biology'? Essays should be emailed to the Admissions Office. Please ensure you include your full name, the course you have applied to, and your applicant number in your email.

For more information please contact the Biology Postgraduate Admissions Office (bio.pgt.admiss@uea.ac.uk).