Overview

The BHSc with Honours in Molecular Medicine programme is designed to prepare students for scientific and laboratory-based research that is focused at the cellular and molecular level and that has a direct impact on the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human disease. This Honours programme spans many disciplines at the interface between medicine and the traditional basic biomedical sciences, and students from different undergraduate backgrounds are encouraged to approach problems in a multi-disciplinary manner. Recently, rapid progress in molecular medicine has been achieved using new technologies such as high-throughput sequencing, bioinformatics, the “omics” (genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics) and synthetic biology. Overall, the programme is an intense and rewarding experience which will equip students to handle the tools used in today’s modern molecular laboratory, and will provide an advanced theoretical foundation for future success in a biomedical and/or health biotechnology career.

The Honours in Molecular Medicine degree consists of two components: a “Course Work” and “Research Project” component, each contributing 50% to the qualification.

Career Opportunities

• Academic researcher/scientist (further study for MSc and/or PhD may be required)
• Biotechnology industry researcher/scientist (further study for MSc and/or PhD may be required)
• Biotechnology industry administration and management
• Medical services (diseases monitoring, diagnostics, and forensics)
• Industry services (representatives, equipment specialists, consultants)
• Patent law (Law degree needed)
• Specialist data or financial services (e.g. industry analysts) (further training necessary)

Curriculum

Coursework Component

The Coursework component focuses on developing a thorough understanding of the cellular and molecular biology of human diseases, which can be applied towards better disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention by developing novel diagnostic devices, drugs, and vaccines.

This component first consists of a “Laboratory Techniques” course which focusses on introducing and familiarizing students with general molecular biology techniques. This is followed for the rest of the year with theory lectures and tutorials, incorporating critical analysis of research articles and written assignments on related topics. A literature review is also expected to be completed, the writing of which is workshopped and scaffolded throughout the year.

The first semester comprises general topics in molecular medicine, for e.g. RNA and gene regulation, basic protein biochemistry, basic immunology, and stem cell research and applications. This prepares the student for the second semester of the year, which covers the molecular mechanisms of infectious diseases and their diagnosis including HIV, malaria, and TB, as well as the molecular mechanisms of cancer and diabetes.

“Research Project” Component

The BHSc with Honours in Molecular Medicine Research Project component is designed to prepare students for the intellectual and physical challenges of laboratory biomedical research. This course comprises a project involving laboratory experiments using molecular biology techniques.

This is conducted by the student in the laboratory of an academic supervisor from or associated with the Department and the results obtained communicated in a scientific research report. In addition, a proposal on the research to be undertaken and an oral presentation of results obtained is completed.

Dates:

• Start Date: Last Friday in January
• Techniques Course: February
• Semester 1 lectures: March – June
• Semester 2 lectures: July – October
• Laboratory Research Project: Mid-March to Mid-October

Entry Requirements

For admission into this course you should have a Bachelor of Health Sciences with major in Molecular Medicine (HAEM3002A) or an equivalent Bachelor of Science; majors in Biochemistry, Genetics, and Microbiology are preferred. Applicants with a Bachelor of Engineering Science in Biomedical Engineering may also be considered.

Applicants require at least 60% average in their major courses in third year of study

Note: Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the programme does not guarantee students a place in this programme.

The application should be accompanied by:

• Academic transcript
• An updated CV
• If required, interviews will be conducted

University Application Process

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.