MSc Bioscience Futures

a black student in front of a digital board at the scale space
  • Postgraduate taught
  • MSc

MSc Bioscience Futures: Communication, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Become an agent for change in the biosciences by combining entrepreneurial, communication and commercialisation skills to address global challenges.

Discover your entrepreneurial strengths and learn to ideate, create, prototype and pitch, innovative and sustainable solutions to current and future bioscience challenges.

Collaborate with peers to devise innovative strategies, communicate complex bioscience ideas and deliver impactful solutions.

Forge connections across a global network of alumni to develop your own network providing you with a life-long exchange of ideas and support to tackle future bioscience challenges.

Course key facts

  • Qualification

    • MSc

  • Duration

    1 year

  • Start date

    September 2025

  • Study mode

    Full-time

  • Fees

    • TBC Home

    • TBC Overseas

  • Delivered by

  • Location

    • Hammersmith

    • South Kensington

    • White City

Minimum entry standard

  • 2:1 in the biosciences or an appropriate subject or equivalent relevant work experience

View full entry requirements

Course overview

This is an innovative course for creative bioscience students with an entrepreneurial spirit, keen to explore possibilities for impactful and rewarding careers beyond the lab.

You'll learn how to use your knowledge of biosciences in an ethical and sustainable manner to find innovative, marketable and future-facing solutions to global problems and carry out your own research in predicting future possibilities in bioscience. We will empower you to become an agent for change in this sector. 

You'll gain deep insights into the latest and most advanced biotechnologies, setting the stage for your own exploration into the future of bioscience investigating how biotechnologies can work together with fields like artificial intelligence and big data to address global challenges. There are no formal timed exams but instead a range of formative assessments.

You'll have access to our Advanced Hackspace, located at the White City campus. This is where you can bring your ideas to life. You'll also receive guidance from our team of Hack Fellows and Hackspace experts.

You will have opportunities to hear from many professionals at the top of their game, including entrepreneurs, policy makers and communicators in the biosciences.

Our course modules are created with input from experts in these fields. The course and assessments are designed to nurture entrepreneurial skills, making you a flexible thinker who can spot opportunities and evaluate risks. There are no formal timed exams but instead a range of formative assessments.

For the work placement-based project, you will have the opportunity to gather real-life experience in a start-up or biotech company, in bioscience communications or outreach activities; or identify your own placement.

Once you graduate, your career possibilities are wide-ranging.  Among others, you could start your own business, work with social enterprises, join technology transfer offices, or dive into biotechnology companies.

Structure

This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.

Find out more about potential course changes.

Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.

You’ll study the following core module

You’ll study the following compulsory modules

You will be supported to source a suitable work-based placement., integrate as part of a team and apply your learning from the taught modules to contribute to the development of a new or existing project.

The final work-based project placement will be tailored specifically to this course and your personal interests. For example you may choose to work in a start up, or within a teach transfer, science policy or science communications team.  This is a chance to showcase how you can put into practice what you've learned throughout the year in a real-world setting. 

Teaching and assessment

Balance of teaching and learning

Key

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Online teaching and independent study
  • Work placement

Terms 1 and 2

  • 66% Face-to-face lectures
  • 34% Online teaching and independent study

Term 3

  • 100% Work placement
  • 0% N/A

Teaching and learning methods

  • Blackboard virtual learning environment
    Virtual learning environment
  • Recorded lectures available online
    Lectures recordings
  • Person making a presentation
    Student-led presentations
  • A group of people interacting
    Group work
  • Workshops
  • Person at lectern giving speech
    Live specialist Lectures and mini lectures
  • People collaborating and completing practical work.
    Practical sessions
  • Networking
  • Case-based discussion
  • A person studying independently
    Self-directed study

Balance of assessment

Key

  • Work-based project placement
  • Course Work

  • 33% Coursework
  • 67% Work-based project placement

Assessment methods

  • Person giving feedback
    Tutor and peer feedback
  • A group of people interacting
    Group assessments
  • Person making a presentation
    Student-led presentations and posters
  • Person completing coursework
    Self-Reflection
  • Poster project
    Project Research
  • Papers from a written report
    Report writing
  • Press release
  • Design project blueprints
    Prototyping
  • Research project proposal document
    Business plan proposal
  • Commercialisation strategy
  • Person engaging with a business simulation activity
    Outreach/societal engagement activity
  • Person participating in classroom discussion.
    Dragon’s Den

Entry requirements

We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.

How to apply

Applications open on Friday 27 September 2024

Tuition fees

Home fee

2025 entry

TBC
As a guide, the fee for 2024-25 was £14,900

Overseas

2025 entry

TBC
As a guide, the fee for 2024-25 was £43,250

Scholarships

Bioscience Futures scholarship

Value per award

  • £10,000

Who it's for

  • Home and Oversea students who an application to start the course in 2024.
Find out more

The Dean’s Master’s Scholarships

Value per award

  • £10,000

Who it's for

  • All students applying to study a Faculty of Medicine Master’s programme
Find out more

The Dr Jean Alero Thomas Scholarships

Value per award

  • Partial or full tuition fee at the Home rate

Who it's for

  • All students applying to study a Faculty of Medicine lab-based Master’s programme
Find out more

How will studying at Imperial help my career?

Computer monitor showing data

Learn the skills required to become an entrepreneur in the biosciences

Consultant with a speech bubble

This course will prepare you to start your own business, work in the biotech sector, or pursue careers in consulting, investment, policy-making, or science communication.

Man with a rocket in his mind

You will supercharge your career options as an entrepreneur and/or increase your level of employability.

Terms and conditions

There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.

Read our terms and conditions

You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.

Programme specifications