Biotechnology and Business Enterprise MRes

This MRes explores how to turn research laboratory breakthroughs into successful biotechnology companies.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year: 2025-26

Start date(s):

September 2025

Overview

The course is for students with a BSc in the life sciences or another science discipline. It is also for intercalating and qualified MBBS or BDS students.

The taught part of the course includes biotechnology and business enterprise-specific content. You have the flexibility to select complementary modules and develop a bespoke course. You'll also receive training in:

general research principles
professional skills
key skills

Our suite of MRes courses

The Biotechnology and Business Enterprise MRes is closely linked to a suite of MRes courses that you may also be interested in:

Ageing and Health MRes
Animal Behaviour MRes
Biofabricaton and Bioprinting MRes
Cancer MRes
Cardiovascular Science in Health and Disease MRes
Diabetes MRes
Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine MRes
Epidemiology MRes
Evolution and Human Behaviour MRes

Immunobiology MRes
Medical Genetics MRes
Medical and Molecular Biosciences MRes
Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine MRes
Molecular Cell Biology and Cell Signalling in Health and Disease MRes
Molecular Microbiology MRes
Neuroscience MRes
Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells MRes
Translational Medicine and Therapeutics MRes
Transplantation MRes

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

What you'll learn

You'll study subject-specific content in biotechnology and business enterprise research. You'll add to these modules from a broad range of complementary options.

Your 24-week research project comprises the major element of the course. We will provide supervision by an expert academic researcher in the field.

Watch our introduction to MRes Research Project

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/regulations/programmeregsandspec/programmeregs2024/

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/student-welcome/student-contract/terms-and-conditions/

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Biotechnology and Business Enterprise MRes modules

Compulsory ModulesCredits
Bioscience Research Development and Enterprise  20  
MRes Project  110  
Research Skills and Principles for the Biosciences  10  

Optional ModulesCredits
Global Health  20  
Biomedical Additive Manufacture and Biofabrication  20  
Biomaterials  20  
The Biological Study of Behaviour  20  
Ageing & Health  20  
Experimental Medicine & Therapeutics  20  
Drug Discovery and Development  20  
Cancer Studies  20  
Chromosome Biology and Cell Cycle Control in Health and Disease  20  
Clinical Epidemiology  20  
The Biological Basis of Psychiatric Illness & Its Treatment  20  
Biology of Ageing  20  
Genetics of Common Disease  20  
Applied Immunobiology of Human Disease  20  
Molecular Microbiology  20  
Biomolecular Research in Health and Disease  20  
Sensory Systems  20  
Scientific Basis of Neurological Disorders  20  
Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells  20  
Transplantation Sciences  20  
Genetic Medicine  20  
Genetics of Human Development  20  
Surgical Anatomy  20  
Mitochondrial Biology & Medicine  20  
Diabetes  20  
Cardiovascular Science in Health and Disease  20  
Comparative Cognition: Information Processing in Humans and Other Animals  20  
Exercise in Health and Disease  20  
Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine  20  
Evolution and Human Behaviour  20  
Human Health and the Impact of Microbial Genomics  20  
Therapeutic Applications of Cell Signalling Pathways  20  
Oral and Dental Sciences  20  
Bioinformatics for Biomedical Scientists  20  
Enabling Technologies and Methodologies for Biomedical Research  20  
Theoretical Aspects of Animal Welfare  20  
Practical Aspects of Animal Welfare  20  
Human Nutrition Science  20  

Additional optional module information

Surgical Anatomy is only open to intercalating medical students.

Some combinations of modules may not be available due to timetabling constraints. In exceptional circumstances the running of some modules may be determined by student demand.

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

You'll be taught using a range of methods, including:

lectures
seminars
group work

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

Case study 
Computer assessment 
Design or creative project 
Dissertation 
Essay 
Professional skills assessments 
Oral examination 
Oral presentation 
Practical lab report 
Poster 
Portfolio 
Problem-solving exercises 
Report 
Reflective log 
Research proposal 
Written examination 
Written exercise

Additional assessment information

You'll have a range of assessments. These will vary depending on the optional modules you choose to study. Assessment methods may include:

essay
critical appraisal
oral presentation
written examination
project design
graphical abstract or a problem-solving exercise

MRes Research Project

You'll choose from projects that relate to your MRes title. Proposals of projects are from academic supervisors within the University.

The 24-week research project will begin in your second semester.

You'll complete guided but independent original research. You'll develop skills in:

planning
executing
recording research
data interpretation and analysis

You'll complete a written dissertation, lay abstract, oral presentation and poster. The project dissertation and poster will be marked internally and by an expert from another Institution.

Previous projects from the MRes suite include:

Regulators of cell differentiation and disease
An exploration of the molecular basis of novel inborn errors of immunity

At the end of each academic year, we hold an MRes poster presentation evening. You'll showcase your research to your peers and the extended academic community.

Postgraduate research student support

Our mission is to help you:

stay healthy, positive and feeling well
overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

research and professional skills
careers support
wellbeing
health and safety
public engagement
academic development

Our staff

Degree Programme Director | Dr Jeremy Brown

Deputy Degree Programme Director | Professor Zofia Chrzanowska-Lightowlers

Deputy Degree Programme Director | Dr Gavin Clowry

Your development

You'll develop a range of research and practical laboratory skills.

Your future

This MRes can be a pathway for a career in scientific research in academia and industry. It is also excellent preparation for a PhD.

Careers

Graduates from the Faculty of Medical Sciences MRes at Newcastle have undertaken a wide range of roles. This includes:

project manager
research associate
associate consultant
senior analysts
research scientist
Marie Curie early stage researcher
clinical research associate
medical information and patient safety executive
medical writer
medical doctor
research laboratory technician
sales representative
immunology development manager

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/careers/

Quality and ranking

42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021

65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021

Global Top 130 University - QS World University Rankings 2025

Global Top 170 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024

Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024 

Top 90 for Life Sciences and Medicine - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/providing-services-to-any-country-in-the-eu-iceland-liechtenstein-norway-or-switzerland-after-eu-exit#recognition-of-professional-qualifications

Facilities

You'll work in the Faculty of Medical Sciences. This is part of our city-centre campus.

The Faculty is also home to:

dentistry
medicine
psychology
pharmacy

It is on the same site as Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary hospital. We are one of the largest integrated teaching/hospital complexes in the country.

Our facilities include:

individual research laboratories where students carry out their projects
a dedicated medical library with a wide range of specialist books and journals
hi-tech computer clusters and study spaces
dedicated facilities for a range of key bioscience applications. This includes flow cytometry, bioinformatics, imaging, genomics and proteomics

Fees and fundingTuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

Qualification: MRes Full time

Home students

Full time: 12 months

  

Tuition fees (per year)

£12,400

  

International students

Full time: 12 months

  

Tuition fees (per year)

£30,400

  

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/studying-in-the-uk-guidance-for-eu-students

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-funding/search-funding/