Endocrinology

Introduction

The Endocrine system provides a critical means of communication within the body and maintains a constant internal milieu in the face of an ever-changing external environment. It is thus essential for survival and adaptation throughout life and plays a key role in the balance between health and disease. This course will provide students with insight into the cutting edge of endocrine research, including new developments in our understanding of pituitary and metabolic diseases, and novel approaches to treating infertility and obesity. Students will learn how to understand the scientific literature in the field, gaining knowledge of how clinical trials are designed, how new genetic approaches allow us to better understand disease, and how pre-clinical models can identify targets for future drugs. They will be trained to explain the science of endocrinology to lay and specialist audiences and to interpret experimental data, and will be provided with guidance on pursuing clinical and research careers in endocrinology.

This course will comprise three core teaching blocks, a self-directed learning block involving independent and group work, and a 14-week research project.

The Course Director is Professor Kevin Murphy (k.g.murphy@imperial.ac.uk).

Aims and objectives

• To provide a supportive learning environment which gives students a grounding in fundamental principles of hormonal signalling within the body.
• To use interactive approaches to deliver high quality teaching in areas of endocrinology including reproduction and fertility, energy homeostasis and body weight control, the hormonal and neural regulation of blood glucose, neuroendocrine tumours, the hormonal stress axis and more.
• To deepen students’ insight into the major areas of current research in endocrinology at both the basic science and clinical levels, and an understanding of state-of-the-art technology that drives the field forward.
• To grow students’ skills in written and oral presentations, and their ability to interpret and present data.
• To cultivate students’ ability to formulate their own informed opinions on topics in endocrinology.
• To support students to develop their clinical and scientific careers.

Eligibility

This is a one-year intercalated BSc. To be eligible to apply you must:

• Be registered on a recognised Medical, Dental or Veterinary course at a UK or Irish university or at one of our recognised International Partner institutions.
• Have completed at least one year of that course before you apply to Imperial. i.e. you must be at least in Year 2 in 2024/25.
• Have at least one year of your degree left when you return to your home institution after completing your intercalated BSc.

Application Process

BSc Endocrinology is still considering applications for 2025/26 entry. You can apply online now.

Applicants should expect to receive the outcome of their application within two weeks of submission.

The deadline for late applications is 16:00 on Friday 22 August 2025. The application process may close sooner if all spaces on the course are filled.

Selection is based on your application form and the supporting documents you will upload with your application. Please find further information about the application process in the Imperial College London Intercalated BSc Guide for 2025-26 (PDF).

If you have any queries about the application process, please email the BSc Programmes Team at feo.bsc@imperial.ac.uk.

Second Round of Applications

Unsuccessful or wait-listed applicants will be given the opportunity to make a second round application to any BSc course with space remaining.

Course Structure

BSc Endocrinology will run from Monday 22 September 2025 until Friday 22 May 2026. The term dates can be found in the Provisional BSc Dates and Course Structure 2025-26 (PDF)

The course is comprised of three modules:

• A 12-week teaching block where students gain specialism-specific knowledge and skills, alongside their core research training
• A 5-week self-directed learning block involving a clinical case study and group work
• A 14-week supervised research project