Structural Molecular Biology (Distance Learning) (MSc / Postgraduate Diploma) - 2012/2013 entry

Our modular distance learning programme provides you with a grounding in the structure of proteins, and the main techniques that are used to study protein structure.

• Study by distance learning, wherever you are in the world, with our internet-based teaching.
• Graduates are well-placed to study for PhDs, start professional research careers, or change disciplines to encompass this important area of modern molecular biology.

• Part of the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, a joint initiative with University College London.

The programme has a modular structure. To gain the MSc, you must successfully complete modules worth 180 credits (including 60 credits earned through project modules). To gain the Postgraduate Diploma, you must successfully complete modules worth 120 credits.

The programme consists of three Postgraduate Certificate programmes (worth 60 credits each). You may choose which two modules you wish to study, but we suggest you study Principles of Protein Structure first:

• Principles of Protein Structure: introduces the structure of proteins and how that structure is related to both a protein’s sequence and its function. 
• Techniques in Structural Molecular Biology: gives a wide overview of the theoretical background of all the techniques commonly used in structural biology research. These include protein expression, purification and crystallisation, protein bioinformatics, X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and electron microscopy. 
• Protein Crystallography: a specialist course for students who are following, or who intend to follow, a career in this area. It is mainly non-mathematical and designed for the biologically-oriented crystallographer (or potential crystallographer). You will complete a computer-based exercise in solving a structure using the molecular replacement method.

Students interact with their tutors and fellow students through email lists, submit written assignments by email, and attend online tutorials in real time using a chat-room-based interface. They also have access to the electronic journals in the Birkbeck e-library.

If you are interested in further research, we offer a PhD/MPhil in Biological Sciences.

Graduates may go on to careers in research and academia.

Structural biology in drug design

Structural biology allows you to understand how macromolecules work at the atomic level of detail. This is important, particularly in designing drugs which act at the molecular level to affect macromolecules. Increasingly, research uses a range of complementary biophysical and structural techniques to study protein–protein interactions. This requires that researchers have some understanding of what all these techniques can achieve. This programme is designed to give the theoretical background required to use this range of methods.

Technical requirements

There are some basic technical requirements for this programme. All correspondence will be electronically based. You will need:

• regular access to a computer (PC, UNIX or Mac operating systems) capable of running forms and graphics browsers such as Firefox, Netscape and Chrome 
• reliable access to the internet
• some familiarity with installation of simple software packages and with transferring/downloading data
• familiarity with email.

Disability applicants

The course is particularly suitable for the physically disabled as it does not require travel to the College. It would also suit those who are hearing-impaired, as the mode of delivery is written rather than spoken. It is less suitable for the visually impaired, but could still be taken via the use of text-reading software.