Immunology

Immunology is the branch of biomedical science concerned with the body's defence systems: how the immune system recognises and responds to pathogens, how it distinguishes self from non-self, and how failures of immune function lead to diseases from allergies and autoimmunity to immunodeficiency and cancer. It is a field of exceptional importance and growth, underpinning vaccine development, cancer immunotherapy, transplantation medicine, and the understanding of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions that affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

At Manchester, which has one of the UK's most distinguished biomedical science faculties with particular strengths in immunology and infection, this three-year programme includes a foundation year for students who would benefit from additional scientific preparation before the main degree content begins. Following the foundation year, you will study cellular and molecular immunology, the innate and adaptive immune systems, antigen presentation, lymphocyte biology, complement, cytokine signalling, vaccinology, tumour immunology and the immunopathology of major disease groups. Laboratory methods, experimental design and data analysis are central to the programme, reflecting the essential role of practical laboratory science in immunological research.

The typical entry tariff is 152 UCAS points.

Immunology graduates move into pharmaceutical and biotechnology research, particularly in the rapidly growing area of biological and immunotherapy-based medicines, academic research and doctoral study, clinical research organisations, NHS biomedical science laboratories, public health agencies and science communication. Manchester's research connections in immunology provide students with exposure to frontier research and the professional networks that support careers in a field of growing clinical and commercial significance. Many graduates continue to doctoral research in immunology, cell biology, infectious disease or related biomedical disciplines.