Graduate Taught Programmes

MSc and Post Graduate Diploma Courses

Lead: Dr Joyce Harper (Graduate Tutor, Taught Courses)

The Institute for Women’s Health runs three MSc and PG Diploma Courses:

• Prenatal Genetics and Fetal Medicine
• Reproductive Science and Women’s Health
• Haemoglobinopathies (by distance learning)

Prenatal Genetics and Fetal Medicine and Reproductive Science and Women’s Health Programmes

The MSc and PG Diploma in Prenatal Genetics and Fetal Medicine were set up in 1996, and the MSc and PG Diploma in Reproductive Science and Women’s Health in September 2009.  Dr Joyce Harper (joyce.harper@ucl.ac.uk) is the Programme Director for both courses, and Dr Sioban SenGupta, Dr Anna David, Professor Eric Jauniaux, Mr Paul Hardiman, Professor Donald Peebles, Professor Martin Widschwendter and Dr Greg Fitzharris all lead modules on the programmes.

Both courses are one-year full-time or two-three year flexible-time degree programmes designed for biological scientists (minimum 2:1 requirement) and obstetricians who wish to specialise in prenatal genetics and fetal medicine or reproductive science and women’s health.

The MSc programmes run from September to September each year, and the Diploma runs from September to May each year and the courses are based in the Institute for Women's Health at University College London (Faculty of Population Health Sciences). The course consists of an eight month lecture and practical programme and a four month research project. The PG Diploma consists of an eight month lecture and practical programme only.

The Prenatal Genetics & Fetal Medicine and the Reproductive Science & Women’s Health programmes each consist of eight modules, four of which are common between the two programmes. Each module is run over a three-week period and examined by workbooks, essays or exams. 

Three modules are taken in term 1 and 2, and two modules in term 3. The project runs from June to September. Throughout the course all students have observation days in the IVF and Fetal Medicine Unit and additionally the Reproductive Science students have an observation days in the Reproductive Medicine unit.

Reproductive Science and Women’s Health	Prenatal Genetics and Fetal Medicine
TERM 1	TERM 1
Basic Genetics	Basic Genetics
Gametogenesis, Preimplantation Development and IVF	Gametogenesis, Preimplantation Development and IVF
Female Physiology and Anatomy	Genetic Mechanisms
TERM 2	TERM 2
Pregnancy and Childbirth	Organogenesis and Fetal Development
Prenatal Diagnosis and Screening	Prenatal Diagnosis and Screening
Reproductive Health	Medical Genetics
TERM 3	TERM 3
Breast and Reproductive Cancer	Fetal Medicine
PGD	PGD

Haemoglobinopathies (by distance learning)

The MSc/Diploma in Haemoglobinopathies, is an innovative distance learning course, in partnership with Thalassaemia International Federation. Set up in March 2009, it is the first ever distance learning academic course for health professional in Haemoglobinopathies, and makes extensive use of Internet technology. The Programme Directors are Ratna Chatterjee and Rekha Bajoria.

As a Master’s student you will gain a broad and international education in the science and art of preventing Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Disease, and develop the skills required for providing holistic care to the patients suffering from haemoglobinopathies.

All lectures are delivered through internet in a flash video format with interactive and self assessments elements. In addition, each distance-learning module entails a weekly discussion forum, journal club and “meet the expert” session by video conferencing. All lectures are delivered by international lecturers who are experts in their field. In addition to UCL tutors it is mandatory that each student has a local mentor and tutor.