Overview

The graduate program in the Department of Cell & Systems Biology offers degrees in the fields of cell, molecular and systems biology.

M.Sc.

The Department of Cell and Systems Biology recognises the importance of the MSc degree as valuable research training for students whose career aspirations may or may not be aligned with proceeding with academic research. There is a high demand for MSc level scientists in many career paths, both within and outside academia.  The MSc program aims to produce scientists that are well suited to fill this demand.  The objective of the MSc program is to provide students with skills in the generation, critical evaluation, assessment and communication of data so that they are equipped to proceed with further graduate degrees, or other career opportunities where such skills are desired.  As part of their training, MSc students will acquire skills in the communication of scientific research (including teaching skills), and acquire a good foundation of knowledge related to the theory and practice underpinning their chosen field.

The CSB MSc program objectives are achieved through: 1) independent research in the laboratories of CSB faculty; 2) successful completion of high level, module-based graduate courses; 3) oral presentations at formal Department seminars and informal group meetings, and, 4) production of a thesis that describes original research that is of a quality suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Ph.D.

The CSB PhD program aims to produce scientists who will form part of the next generation of independent researchers in cell, molecular and systems biology, and become future high-level teachers, frontier-expanders, and decision-makers in these fields of inquiry.   In keeping with this, PhD graduates are expected to emerge from the program as independent and autonomous scientists, producing a written thesis that describes original research that stands as a testimony to their ability to generate publishable, stand-alone contributions to the peer-reviewed scientific literature.  As part of their training, PhD students will acquire skills in the communication of scientific research (including teaching skills), and acquire broad-based knowledge of the theory and practice underpinning their chosen field.

The Ph.D. is a four- or five-year program for students entering with an M.Sc. or B.Sc. degree respectively.  Promising students may seek to transfer into the Ph.D. program from the M.Sc. program after 12 months of study. All students must pass an appraisal examination within 20 months into the program.

The CSB PhD program objectives are achieved through: 1) independent research in the laboratories of CSB faculty; 2) successful completion of high level graduate courses; 3) oral presentations at formal Department seminars and informal group meetings, and, 4) production of a thesis that contains work that can stand alone as a publishable, peer-reviewed contribution to the scientific literature.