Taught MPhil

Obesity and its metabolic consequences are major and growing threats to public health. To train the next generation of scientists to tackle this problem, The Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science will offer a new full-time taught MPhil in Obesity, Endocrinology & Metabolism.

This new MPhil programme will provide the highest quality postgraduate training in the physiology and pathophysiology of energy balance and metabolism, as well as in new and emerging treatments for obesity and related metabolic diseases (e.g., type 2 diabetes).

About the programme

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for the first intake in the 2024/2025 academic year.

This taught MPhil comprises three major elements:

taught material delivered by local researchers who are internationally recognised experts in the field
biostatistics training, and
a 32-week research project in a world-leading laboratory.

Lecture topics will cover the causes of obesity, the neurobiology of appetite control and energy balance, disorders of metabolism and body weight regulation (e.g. type 2 diabetes), and state-of-the-art techniques to study obesity and metabolism. 

Programme content

This course will provide:

a societal, genetic, physiological, and molecular perspective on the drivers of obesity and metabolic disease;
a wide breadth of knowledge encompassing many of the endocrine systems that regulate energy balance;
in-depth and current knowledge of the pathophysiology of energy balance and metabolism;
training in core research skills including statistical analysis, data handling, critical thinking, scientific writing and data presentation;
the opportunity to undertake cutting-edge research in a world-leading metabolic laboratory;
the knowledge, research experience and transferable skills to make students highly competitive for their chosen career path (e.g. communications, publishing, research in industry and academia).