A 2:2 degree in a relevant biological science, or suitable professional experience. Applicants must also be working in a suitable professional setting.
A 2:2 degree in a relevant biological science, or suitable professional experience. Applicants must also be working in a suitable professional setting.
This online course covers aspects of medical mycology, immunology, genomics of infectious disease, antifungal therapies, diagnostic and histopathology techniques.
You will have access to online tools that promote engagement, University of Exeter library resources and virtual laboratory environments.
Network with a community of students and faculty to engage with colleagues around the world.
"I am a Lead Clinical Laboratory Scientist-Mycology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. I have been in my current position for 15 years…I chose Exeter because of a few different reasons: It was the only university at the time that was offering an MSc in my specialized field; it was being offered part-time with the option of being able to finish in 3 or 6 years; I could study at my own pace at a time when it was convenient for me; [and] the program was relatively affordable."
"I especially enjoyed the different video modules that explained all the topics clearly. I also enjoyed the diversity of speakers bringing their expertise to the course. Through this program, I was also exposed to some technologies, methodologies and workflows that I was unfamiliar with which directly helps me in my current position. I especially enjoyed working on my final research project where doing the practical work was challenging but at the same time very rewarding."
A degree in a relevant biological science (e.g. microbiology or another biomedical science course), or suitable professional experience.
For the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and MSc:
A degree at 2:2 level with 57% and above in a relevant biological science (e.g. microbiology or another biomedical science course), or a medical or dental degree with a minimum of 12 months postgraduate clinical experience (completion of UK Medical or Dental Foundation Year 1 competencies) or satisfactory completion of the PGCert.
Entrants for the MSc and Postgraduate Diploma must be working in a suitable professional setting to complete the project-based elements.
Entry requirements for international students
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course.
This programme will enhance the knowledge, skills and experience of individuals working in the field of medical mycology via online and reflective learning, and for the full Master's qualification, a research project / dissertation.
The objectives of the programme are to provide knowledge in all aspects of medical mycology including:
fungal taxonomy and nomenclature
physiology and metabolism of fungal pathogens
fungal cell structure and organisation
diagnosis of fungal infection
fungal pathogenicity
medically important fungi
fungal diseases
fungal genetics and evolutionary pathways
fungal diagnostic tools
molecular methods for diagnosis, identification, taxonomy and strain typing (laboratory pathway only)
identification of fungi, microscopy and histology (laboratory pathway only)
the epidemiology and changing spectrum of fungal disease
antifungal therapy, antifungal resistance and antifungal stewardship
immunology of fungal diseases (clinical pathway only)
fungal diseases in specific patient groups (clinical pathway only)
Modules
For the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification you will take the modules in stage 1 only.
For the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) you will take stages 1 and 2.
For the full Master's (MSc) you will complete all three stages.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
60 credits of compulsory modules.
Compulsory modules
Code
Module
Credits
Compulsory 1
The Principles of Medical Mycology
15
Medically Important Fungi
15
Fungal Diseases
15
Diagnosis and Antifungal Therapy
15
BIOM700Z: The Principles of Medical Mycology
In this module you will develop your basic knowledge of fungi in the widest sense and fungal diseases in particular. You will cover topics relating to fungal taxonomy and identification, the characteristics of fungal growth, the wider importance of fungi to society and their roles in the natural world. A major focus will be on fungal pathogenicity and host interactions, fungal infections and their diagnosis and treatment.
The module will provide you with core information enabling you to take BIOM701Z Medically Important Fungi, BIOM702Z Fungal diseases and BIOM703Z Diagnosis and Antifungal therapy.
This module is primarily aimed at clinical practitioners, diagnostic service providers, technicians or scientists and researchers aspiring to specialise in Medical Mycology.
This module is available as a fully distance learning course via our online learning platform (ELE).
This module will focus on key aspects of the biology of the major groups of medically important fungi including Aspergillus species, Candida and allied genera, Cryptococcus species, Pneumocystis jirovecii , the major dermatophytes, and endemic mycoses. The taxonomic relations of the fungi will be considered along with the importance of the fungi as agents of disease in clinical and non-clinical settings across the globe. Consideration will be given to the environmental niches and reservoirs of infection of the fungi (including emerging diseases) and their respective modes of transmission. Special consideration will be given to the attributes that the pathogens possess that make them successful as opportunistic or primary pathogens and why they represent a challenge to a range of patient populations.
Students should have completed module BIOM700Z - The Principles of Medical Mycology prior to taking this module.
The module also aims to provide you with the basic information that will enable you to take module BIOM702Z Fungal diseases and BIOM703Z Diagnosis and Antifungal Therapy.
This will focus individually on all aspects of the major and some less common medically important fungi.
This module will provide you with a broad understanding of organ specific fungal disease and its clinical presentation. It will include: fungal infections of skin and subcutaneous tissue; mucosal disease including oropharyngeal and vaginal candidiasis; fungal infections of ear, nose and throat (including otitis and sinusitis); fungal meningitis, fungaemia and disseminated infections; eye infections (fungal keratitis); diseases of the respiratory tract (including acute, chronic and allergic pulmonary disease). Risk factors for disease will also be considered.
You should have completed modules BIOM700Z - The Principles of Medical Mycology and BIOM701Z-Medically Important Fungi prior to taking this module.
This module will provide a broad understanding of organ specific fungal disease and its clinical presentation. This will include: -
Infections of skin and subcutaneous tissue
Mucosal disease
Infections of ear, nose and throat
Fungaemia and disseminated infections
Fungal meningitis
Eye infections
Diseases of the respiratory tract (including acute, chronic and allergic pulmonary disease)
In this module, you will be taught about the main approaches to diagnosing fungal disease. Various methods of antifungal susceptibility testing will be discussed including reference methods such as CLSI (Clinical Laboratories Standards Institute) and EUCAST (European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing). An overview of the various classes of antifungals and their characteristics will be provided as well as their current use and recommendations as per international management guidelines.
You should have completed modules BIOM700Z - The Principles of Medical Mycology and BIOM701Z - Medically Important Fungi, and BIOM702Z - Fungal Diseases prior to taking this module.
This module aims to provide you with the core concepts on the main approaches to diagnosing fungal disease and the key antifungal therapies used to treat disease. The aspects of diagnosing fungal disease are fundamental to our ability to reduce and eliminate the burden of disease from medially important fungi. You will be given information about the following methods used to diagnose fungal disease including:-
- Microscopy & Histopathology
- Culture and Identification (MALDI-TOF, Morphology)
- Serology of fungal disease
- Molecular diagnosis of fungal disease
- Imaging of fungal disease
- Principles of antifungal therapy
- Antifungal agents
- Antifungal susceptibility testing and resistance
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
30 credits of compulsory modules, 30 credits of optional modules.
Compulsory modules
Code
Module
Credits
Compulsory 1
Molecular Mycology
15
Communicating Science
15
BIOM704Z: Molecular Mycology
The aim of this module is to offer an understanding of the principles and application of molecular methods in the field of medical mycology. Fungal genetics, genomics and transcriptomics, resistance mechanisms, evolutionary pathways and outbreaks will be the specific topics in this module.
In this module you will develop your knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in fungal virulence. You will initially focus on the key opportunistic pathogens Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus and explore some of the key factors that play a role in their virulence. Following this you will then consider how omics technologies can be employed to investigate virulence attributes. The module will then examine some of the key factors that play a role in fungal virulence in more detail, including adhesion and invasion mechanisms, the basis of host cell damage, the impact of morphological switching, metabolic flexibility, response to the environment, and biofilm formation. Finally, the module will focus on a recent case study, where molecular techniques have started to be applied to understanding virulence in Sporothrix species.
In this module you will learn how to communicate a topic of interest related to one of the modules from BIOM700 to BIOM708 targeted at a non-specialist audience.
This module aims to provide you with a thorough understanding of the importance of immunology in fungal infections. The first half of the module provides an overview of the immune system, how fungi are recognised, and how immunology can be studied. The second half of the module then focuses on specific aspects of the role of the immune system in fungal disease.
There are 12 topic areas in this module, each covered by short videos from our expert contributors.
BIOM706Z: Fungal Diseases in Specific Patient Populations
As the clinical phenotypes of fungal disease are in large determined by the underlying disorder and degree of immunosuppression, you will be provided with a detailed insight in the clinical epidemiology of fungal infections in haemato-oncology patients, HIV/AIDS patients, solid organ transplants, neonates, patients admitted to ICUs, and patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic lung disease.
This module aims to provide you with a thorough understanding of the role of microscopy, histology (and culture) in medical mycology. You will be shown how to prepare and examine patient samples using direct microscopy and the features that you may see in different patient samples. This is a key skill when examining primary patient samples. This module will also aim to teach you a classical approach to identifying moulds which is an important and increasingly scarce skill.
In this module you will be taught about the main approaches to diagnosing fungal disease. You will first look at identification of yeasts using classical biochemical methods, MALDI-TOF and molecular methods and the importance of identification to species level for various sample types. Immunodiagnosis of fungal disease will be covered using demonstrations and discussions of antibody and antigen detection. Various methods of antifungal susceptibility testing will be discussed including reference methods such as CLSI and EUCAST and commercially available methods.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
60 credits of compulsory modules.
Compulsory modules
Code
Module
Credits
Compulsory 1
Research Methodology and Grant Proposal
15
Research Project
45
BIOM710Z: Research Methodology and Grant Proposal
This module introduces you to the processes required for undertaking an independent, but supervised, research project at postgraduate level. Specifically, this module prepares you for your MSc Medical Mycology project by supporting your own research into the background literature, allowing you to formulate a hypotheses relating to your research project. You will then develop a research proposal, through which you will plan your BIOM711Z research project, identifying achievable aims and objectives, considering aspects such as experimental design, data handling and time management. In the module, the current landscape for funding of Medical Mycology research projects and how to write a competitive research grant proposal will also be examined. The practicalities of managing a research project, including time management and the collection and storing of small and large datasets, will also be covered.
As part of this module you will further develop the following academic and professional skills:
Ability to navigate the medical mycology (and related) research landscape
Identifying research priorities and define a research question
Undertake and interpret systematic reviews
Designing and managing a research project
Write a research proposal
Possible topics for the MSc Research Project include scientific research in any of the subjects being taught on the MSc, from studies of molecular and cellular events to patient outcomes, provided that the project involves original data collection / collation.
The election of the MSc Research Project topic and supervisor(s) should be the result of an agreement between the student, the local British Society for Medical Mycology (BSMM) supervisor and the designated course tutor. The criteria for the MSc Research Project evaluation will be clearly stated in the MSc handbook, and they will include at least the following items:
The originality of the research
The degree of difficulty of the original work carried out
The robustness of the methodological approach
The quality of the written dissertation
The quality of the oral presentation
The arguments used in its defence.
Students should have completed four modules from a selection of BIOM703Z-BIOM709Z prior to taking this module.
This module will help you acquire the skills and confidence to undertake supervised original research in the field of medical mycology at your place of work and to formulate your ideas and communicate your findings effectively through the production of a dissertation. It will further help you undertake critical reading, appraisal and analysis of the research literature. The MSc in Medical Mycology Research Project is the final step of the MSc in which you have to undertake a novel line of research in the area of medical mycology.
Possible topics for the MSc Dissertation/Research Project include scientific research in any of the subjects being taught on the MSc from studies of molecular / cellular events pertinent to pathogen or host biology to patient outcomes and antifungal drug susceptibility and resistance provided that the project involves data collection / collation and analysis.
During the course of the project, you will be expected to develop responsibility for the design, planning and implementation of the study, as well as analysing the data and reporting on the research project. Therefore, this project will provide valuable experience of managing original scientific research, from its inception through to completion. This will be a valuable addition to your scientific training, and has the potential to enhance your employability and career trajectory.
UK/International fees: £5,000 per stage (for completion in 3 years)
Overall, this makes the three-stage MSc £15,000, the two-stage PGDip £10,000 and the single-stage PGCert £5,000.
The University of Exeter is committed to ensuring that knowledge of Medical Mycology is disseminated as widely as possible. Therefore, we are pleased to offer scholarships for candidates from low and middle-income countries applying to study the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) Medical Mycology, which is Stage 1 of the MSc Medical Mycology Online programme. For more information, please visit the scholarship page.
Teaching and research
How you'll learn
Online lectures
Interactive quizzes
Online workshops
Virtual laboratory environments
Hands-on research projects
Independent study
Learning from experts
The programme consists of core modules that provide you with a learning framework for directed student-centred learning in which you will develop knowledge, skills and experience in the fields of medical mycology. The course will be run by academics residing within the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology and members of the British Society for Medical Mycology.
Professor Mark Ramsdale
Programme Director
Professor Adilia Warris
Deputy Programme Director
Professor Mark Ramsdale
Programme Director
Professor Mark Ramsdale is a fungal cell biologist with interests in host-pathogen interactions and the link between cellular stress responses and programmed cell death in fungi. Past research has also focussed on antifungal drug discovery, fungal circadian rhythms and fungal population genetics. Professor Ramsdale was Director of Education for Biosciences at Exeter from 2015 to 2020. He is the programme lead for the online MSc in Medical Mycology and has a long standing interest in supporting students in higher education.
Professor Adilia Warris is a paediatric infectious diseases specialist and a co-director of the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology. Her research interest focusses on fungal infections in children, host-fungus interactions in special patient populations (cystic fibrosis, primary immunodeficiencies), antifungal resistance and antifungal stewardship. She has trained several clinical fellows in paediatric infectious diseases and medical mycology and is involved in numerous teaching activities focussing on medical mycology. Professor Warris is the deputy programme lead for the MSc in Medical Mycology.
Graduates from this programme will have a wide knowledge of medical mycology, fungal immunology, infection, mycoses, antifungal therapy and fungal diagnostics. Thus, graduates will contribute to the development of capacity in the field of medical mycology.
We will help direct you towards careers in support of clinical services in the NHS and other healthcare providers around the world, as well as commercial enterprise in the pharmaceutical and diagnostic industries.
The programme will build confidence in research skills and provide a network for students to engage with colleagues around the world, enabling you to develop national and international profiles aligning with the University of Exeter mission to train active global citizens.
Careers services
Our careers teams at theCareer Zonecan help guide you through a wealth of information to match your skills and interests to a career that will suit you. Our staff work with regional, national and international employers to develop new work placement, project and graduate opportunities.
Study a 100% online Mycology degree at a Top 15 University*
The majority of students are based at our Streatham Campus in Exeter. The campus is one of the most beautiful in the country and offers a unique environment in which to study, with lakes, parkland, woodland and gardens as well as modern and historical buildings.
Located on the eastern edge of the city centre, St Luke's is home to Sport and Health Sciences, the Medical School, the Academy of Nursing, the Department of Allied Health Professions, and PGCE students.
Our Penryn Campus is located near Falmouth in Cornwall. It is consistently ranked highly for satisfaction: students report having a highly personal experience that is intellectually stretching but great fun, providing plenty of opportunities to quickly get to know everyone.
