Location
United Kingdom, - London
Dates
Starts Sep 2019 (1 year)
Course Type
Postgraduate Course
Accreditation
Yes (Details)
Language
English
Price
$33,244

Course Overview

The course will enable biomedical & clinical students (including research midwives and nurses) to develop an academic and contemporary understanding of the biological and environmental influences that impact on pregnancy and the lifelong physical and mental wellbeing health of women and their infants. Students will gain insight and knowledge of how translation of basic science and clinical observation can lead to cutting edge research studies into new diagnostic and treatments both in the UK and in low resource settings globally. Students will develop scientific and clinical practical research skills, including statistics, so that they can confidently critically evaluate others research design and results, and apply these to their own research. They will also be given the necessary research knowledge and skills to design, plan, navigate and research governance pathways, and conduct and analyse their own research project. Both scientific and clinical research projects are offered.

Key Benefits:

  • There are no other taught postgraduate courses in Women's and Child Health in the UK that focus on science and research of the life course of women.
  • Our academics have excellent connections to a vast global network which students can take advantage of - academic, clinical, commercial, NGOs', World Health Organisation and more.
  • Substantial student-tutor contact time.
  • Cross disciplinary teaching with a focus on translating research to the clinic and the global community.
  • Research project in world class laboratories and research groups in Women and Children's Health, Paediatric Allergy, Mental Health, Nutrition, Diabetes and Global Health.
  • Access to the latest leading cutting edge technologies housed at King's and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre including next generation sequencing, a range of 'Omics and neonatal imaging, as well as dedicated clinical research units.
  • Lectures delivered by experienced and internationally recognised researchers and clinicians covering contemporary issues in Women and Children's Health research.
  • Interactive tutorials and workshops on writing successful research grants, clinical study protocols and ethics applications.
  • The course prepares students for future MD and PhD study.
  • Provides experience for students interested in developing a career in clinical trials and research administration.

Who should take this course

Minimum 2:1, or overseas equivalent, in a biomedical science related subject or MBBS, RM/RN

Accreditation

MSc

Course content

The MSc Women and Children's Health comprises three core taught modules, including 'Fundamentals of Womens and Children's Health' which covers health and disease from the periconception period to birth and early childhood. Research led lectures will cover topics such as infertility, pre-pregnancy health, placentation, preeclampsia; immunology of pregnancy and autoimmune disease, metabolic disease in pregnancy, parturition and dysfunctional labour, miscarriage and preterm birth, lactation and infant nutrition, the developing brain and prematurity, childhood diet and dental health, premature infant and the neonatal lung, gut microbiome, obesity, childhood allergy, epigenetics and lifelong health, nutrition and global health and perinatal mental health.

The other required taught modules are Statistics and Research Governance, and Scientific and Clinical Research skills followed by an intensive six month required research project within a lab or clinical research group. Students can also select 1-2 optional taught module(s) to tailor the course to their developing interests, examples include Perinatal Mental Health, Ethics in Child Health, Regenerative Medicine, Principles of Implementation and Improvement, Science, Leadership and Management, Birth Defects, Assisted Conception, Regenerative Medicine and Global Women's Health.

The course fosters the intellectual skills of students through:

  • Critical assimilation and appraisal of the research literature pertaining to Women and Children's Health.
  • Production of original pieces of written work that explain, review and evaluate primary research literature and using this evaluation to develop ideas and hypothesises.
  • Understanding research governance and demonstrate compliance with research regulations.
  • Understanding and applying scientific and clinical study design and statistical analysis principles.
  • Recognising the moral and ethical issues of investigations and appreciating the need for ethical standards and professional codes of conduct.
  • Thinking critically about their own work/ research to input into the synthesis and design of future hypotheses and experiments.
  • Using subject knowledge and understanding to explore and solve familiar and unfamiliar problems.
  • Collecting, interpreting and analysing data with a critical understanding of the appropriate contexts for their use through the study of primary research articles and the student's own data.

Fees:

  • Full time overseas fees:

About Course Provider

King's College London is one of the top 10 UK universities in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2018/19) and among the oldest in England.

King's vision is to make the world a better place, building on our history of pioneering research that has advanced and shaped modern life, such as: the discovery of the structure of DNA; research to better understand autism and develop life-changing therapies; informing air pollution awareness and policy; research that led to the development of radio, radar, television and mobile phones; and making maths available to the underprivileged. These are all ways that we are having a transformational impact on society.

Our intellectually rigorous teaching environment is coupled with a commitment to providing a rich and supportive student experience. We have more than 31,000 students (of whom nearly 12,800 are postgraduates, with 1,000 students enrolled in online masters courses) from 150 countries worldwide, meaning that students are part of a truly international community. Our 8,500 members of staff collaborate with students to help them get the most out of their degree. Many of our academics are also researchers working within and influencing their industries, meaning that students learn the latest thinking and understand its practical and contemporary relevance.

King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas'​, King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts are part of King's Health Partners. King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) is a pioneering global collaboration between one of the world's leading research-led universities and three of London's most successful NHS Foundation Trusts, including leading teaching hospitals and comprehensive mental health services.