Master of Science by Coursework in Integrated Immunology

Differences from 2018/19 to 2021/22

  • 1. The Divisional Board of Medical Sciences shall appoint for the supervision of the course an Organising Committee, which shall have the power to arrange the teaching, assessment and other instruction.

  • 2. The Organising Committee shall appoint an academic mentor for each candidate.

  • 3. Each candidate shall:

    • (a) follow a course of study in Integrated Immunology for at least three terms and for a substantial part of the three vacations, as determined by the course timetable;

    • (b)    attend all organised sessions including lectures, tutorials, class-directed learning, problem-based learning and continuing professional development sessions which will be compulsory (a record of attendance is kept).

  • 4. Candidates shall be examined in all of the following ways:

    • (i) At the end of Michaelmas Term (normally in Week 10), each candidate must pass a computer-based examination on the topics in the Schedule for Term 1. Candidates who fail the examination once will be permitted to take it again on one further occasion, normally in Week 0 of Hilary Term, in order to proceed with the course.

    • (ii) At the end of Hilary Term (normally in Week 10), each candidate must pass a computer-based examination on the topics in the Schedule for Term 2. Candidates who fail the examination once will be permitted to take it again on one further occasion, normally in Week 0 of Trinity Term, in order to proceed with the course.

    • (iii) Each candidate will be required to submitupload to the examinersUniversity twoapproved copiesonline assessment platform a pdf of a printedtyped essay of not more than 4,000 words by noon, Monday of Week 8 of Michaelmas Term. TheCandidates
      will propose their own essay titles based on a list of topics provided at the start of Michaelmas Term. Titles will be subject ofto the essay must have been approvedapproval by the ExaminingOrganising BoardCommittee, and candidates must submit their proposed titles by deadlines determined by the Organising Committee, as detailed in the Course Handbook. Each candidate shall make a public presentation on their essay to the examiners and will be examined viva voce, at the end of Michaelmas Term at a time to be notified by the examiners. Candidates will have the opportunity to revise and re-submit their essay by noon, Friday of the week preceding Week 0 of Hilary Term, in the event that they are deemed not to have passed this element of the examination.

    • (iv) Each candidate will be required to submitupload to the examinersUniversity twoapproved printedonline copiesassessment platform a pdf of two typed clinical commentaries of not more than 3,000 words each by noon, Monday of Week 8 of Hilary Term. The subjects of the clinical commentaries must have been approved by the Examining Board. Each candidate will be required to make a public presentation of one of their commentaries and will be examined viva voce, at the end of Hilary Term at a time to be notified by the examiners. Candidates will have the opportunity to revise and re-submit their clinical commentaries by noon, Friday of the week preceding Week 0 of Trinity Term, in the event that they are deemed not to have passed this element of the examination.

    • (v) Each candidate will be required to submitupload to the examinersUniversity twoapproved copiesonline assessment platform a pdf of a printedtyped research dissertation of not more than 10,000 words (excluding bibliography and appendices) on the research project selected for study as set out in the Schedule. The dissertation must be submitted by noona ondate in late July to be specified by the lastOrganising MondayCommittee and published in the University Gazette not later than the start of JulyMichaelmas inTerm of the academic year in which the examination is taken.

    • (vi) Each candidate shall make a presentation of their research project and will be examined viva voce, normally in the first week of September in the year of examination on a date to be determined by the examiners. Candidates Underwill exceptional circumstances, candidates may be permitted to redohave the researchopportunity project and/orto resubmit the research dissertation to an Examining Board sitting in Michaelmas, Hilary or Trinity Term of the following year (and which will be according to the Examiners’’ discretion in each case), in the event they are deemed not to have reached the required standard. In exceptional circumstances, candidates may be permitted to redo the research project and resubmit the research dissertation, usually in Trinity Term of the following year.

  • 5. The examiners may examine any candidate viva voce on any part of the examination.

  • 6. Candidates must pass each element of the examination to pass overall.

  • 7. Candidates must pass each element of the examination in each term before being permitted to progress to the next term.

  • 8. Candidates will be allowed one opportunity to retake or resubmit each of the required elements should they fail to reach the necessary standard. Students failing to pass any element on the second attempt will normally be judged to have failed to reach the necessary standard for the award.

  • 9. The examiners may award a distinction for excellence in the whole examination.

  • 10. The required written submissions must be sent to the Chair of Examiners, M.Sc. in Integrated Immunology, c/o Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford.

     

Schedule

The syllabus for study will be:

  • Term 1: Fundamental aspects of immunology

    • The dynamic anatomy of immunity

    • Innate immunity

    • Antigen presentation and recognition

    • Adaptive immunity

    • Phylogenetically ancient systems

  • Term 2: Clinical and Applied Aspects of Immunology

    • Infection and immunity

    • Failure of immunity

    • Aberrant and unwanted immunity

    • The immunology of cancer

    • Manipulation of immunity

  • Term 3: A basic or clinical research project

    • The project will be chosen in consultation with the Organising Committee. A research supervisor will be assigned who will provide regular supervision and guidance during the course of the 14-week laboratory-based research project in Oxford.