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At Manchester Metropolitan University’s Department of Life Sciences, excellence in education, hands-on experience, and cutting-edge research come together to prepare the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals — no matter where they’re from.
As the Department’s International Lead, Dr. Araida Hidalgo is pivotal in fostering global connections and supporting learners from abroad. “Once they are enrolled at Manchester Met, I assist them in their academic transition into the UK’s Higher Education system. I also coordinate international partnerships and deliver staff training on internationalisation,” she explains.
Such designations are common in a department that effortlessly attracts top talents — prestige is one of the main reasons why. All of its degrees are endorsed by prominent Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies, including the Royal Society of Biology and the Institute of Biomedical Science. This recognition ensures curricula meet the highest standards of scientific education. Manchester Metropolitan University’s “Gold” rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) further affirms its commitment to delivering outstanding teaching and learning experiences.
When it comes to research, the Department of Life Sciences remains at the forefront of crucial areas such as lifelong health and ageing, microbiology, neurosciences, stem cells, genetics, and vascular biology. Its dedicated researchers are making significant strides in improving diagnostic methods and healthcare solutions. The best part? Students are always welcome to lend a helping hand.
Practical experience is a cornerstone of the Department’s life sciences programmes, guaranteeing students gain proficiency with advanced laboratory equipment and techniques through undergraduate practicals, final-year projects, and postgraduate research.
“Our award-winning RISE programme enables them to try new skills — these are not only related to the scientific field but also transferable skills to improve their confidence and overall employability,” shares Dr Hidalgo. “The department liaises with RISE to also offer summer projects, either based at external labs and companies, or based at Manchester Met but tackling real-world challenges from external labs; these add and consolidate the knowledge they gain in their course.”
All life sciences graduate programmes here are accredited by several Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs). Source: Manchester Metropolitan University
The Department’s long lineup of academic offerings caters to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Dr. Jonathan Butler lectures in its BSc and MSc programmes in Biomedical Science — both of which offer extensive practical and research experiences. “We have high-specification teaching and research laboratories with specialist equipment, including blood biochemistry, a new microscopy suite and exercise performance laboratories,” shares the Deputy Programme Leader.
“Our integrated technical skills modules allow undergraduate students to track their growing laboratory skills year by year, demonstrating to future employers that they possess the skills required to become a professional Biomedical Scientist.”
From culturing clinically relevant microorganisms to performing haematology blood analysis, genetic test, and molecular biology techniques, students build on their practical skills each year. Specific RISE events for Biomedical Science students include Live Labs in collaboration with local healthcare practitioners, summer placements with research leaders, and external visits to places like the National Health Service (NHS) Blood and Transplant Centre. In their final year, undergraduate students undertake a project module, either a laboratory-based or a library-based dissertation, guided by a supervisor; while all postgraduate students undertake a lab-based research project.
Manchester Met’s BSc and MSc programmes in Human Physiology are equally experiential. “Every unit has practical classes and workshops where students get to experience a variety of practical skills, from the cellular to the whole-body level,” affirms senior lecturer Dr. Liam Harper. “For example, every final year BSc and MSc Human Physiology student undertakes a research project.”
Guided by an academic supervisor, this entails completing either a systematic review and meta-analysis (undergraduate only) or a practical project where they collect new experimental data on a topic of interest. These projects culminate in a scientific report detailing methods, results, and the physiological implications of their findings, with some project contributing to research papers or scientific conference presentations.
Recent RISE summer research internships saw students investigate the use of e-cigarettes and sex and ethnicity-related differences in vascular and autonomic function. “Students received additional training in vascular imaging, baroreceptor function, heart rate variability, and statistical analysis,” shares Dr. Harper.
Students looking to focus solely on bioscience research can pursue a PhD Bioscience, a Masters by Research, or an MPhil in Bioscience. These advanced degrees offer a pathway to work with leading experts in fields such as microbiology, cardiovascular pathology, healthy ageing, genetics, neurosciences, stem cells, and molecular biology. All studies are conducted in specialist ageing, vascular pathology, and microbiology research laboratories.
A new home for science
Manchester Met’s brand-new, £115 million pound Dalton building opens this year, boasting some of the most advanced facilities students can take advantage of — active learning areas, a 200-student capacity Superlab, and several other state-of-the-art spaces researched for both cutting-edge research and fruitful interaction.
“The building was designed to provide an enhanced environment for the active learning that staff are already doing on the degree programmes,” says Dr. Harper. “The design of the teaching spaces and the new Superlab will facilitate more enquiry-led learning and most importantly, enhance our students’ confidence and career readiness.”
