Book a one-to-one, 15-minute online session with Dr David Moyes, the programme lead for our MSc in Microbiome in Health & Disease.
These exclusive sessions are the perfect opportunity to learn more about the course, ask any questions you have, and gain expert advice tailored to your academic or career goals.
Sessions run regularly throughout March to May. Book your place here.
This Microbiome in Health and Disease MSc will give you a unique understanding of all aspects of microbiome analysis and help you determine the role of microbiome in pathology. You’ll gain experience in both computational and experimental techniques as you study the science of the microbiome. Throughout your master’s in the microbiome in health and disease, you’ll follow a curriculum that combines teaching on a varied course incorporating systems biology and bioinformatics with molecular biology, microbiology, immunology and physiology. Designed and delivered by the Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions (CHMI) at King’s, you’ll learn from world-leading experts working on one of the most exciting and cutting-edge fields of human health and disease.
This course was the first of its kind to offer a specialism in microbiome in health and disease. Conceived by the Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, it blends expertise in microbiology, bioinformatics and systems biology with a focus on translation in clinical, agricultural and environmental challenges. It’s designed to develop your knowledge of the microbial communities that reside within or upon us and how they impact our health and disease processes. This Microbiome in Health and Disease MSc is suitable for students who wish to improve their background knowledge and skills before applying for a PhD studentship or to enhance their knowledge and skill set for analysing and interpreting the large, multiple omics data sets involved in microbiome research. During your MSc in microbiome in health and disease, you’ll gain a deep understanding of microbial communities and their diversity, as well as the impact of these communities on host health and disease. You’ll learn how to analyse omics data sets, such as genome, transcriptome, metabolome and metagenome data. You’ll also be shown how to integrate these data to develop a holistic understanding of the interactions between host and microbial communities in health and disease states. You’ll get to build your experience of applying profiling and analysis techniques to large omics data sets so you can characterise and investigate microbial communities. This Microbiome in Health and Disease MSc will also teach you about the intersection between microbiome and engineering and how to identify and develop innovative products in different microbiome fields. You’ll learn to apply your learning from computational, multiomics analysis and basic biology and study advanced synthetic biology tools. You’ll also explore integrative analysis and modelling to design new engineered therapeutic microbial communities and optimise their effectiveness in clinical, agricultural and environmental challenges. Your study of the microbiome in health and disease will culminate in a supervised dissertation on a subject within this field.
The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).
Bachelor's degree with 2:1 honours in computer sciences, mathematics, biological sciences, biotechnology, engineering or chemistry, or similar.
Applicants with a bachelor's (first) degree in subjects above with 2:2 honours who have significant prior laboratory or computational experience will be considered.
To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.
For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Applications must be made online using King's Apply, the Admissions Portal. A non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions tutor and we aim to respond to applications within four-six weeks, although this may take longer during busy and holiday periods.
You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:
| Personal Statement | Yes |
A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages). Your personal statement should demonstrate a focused interest in the area, and explain why you wish to apply for this course and why you feel it matches your interests, academic background, and your career plans. |
|---|---|---|
| Previous Academic Study | Yes | A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents. |
| References | Yes | One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. |
| Other | Optional | You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application. |
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
The following table will give you an idea of the typical hours you will spend as you progress through your studies:
| Year | Lectures, seminars & feedback | Self-study |
| 1 | 214 hours | 1586 hours |
Contact time is based on 24 academic weeks and self-study time is based on 31 academic weeks.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
You may typically expect assessment by a combination of coursework and examinations (including project work, oral examination, unseen written examination & written assignment).
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totaling 180 credits. You are required to take the following modules:
There are no optional modules.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
Graduates of this Microbiome in Health & Disease MSc will have a strong knowledge of one of the most exciting and cutting-edge fields of human health and disease.
This MSc provides a solid grounding for anyone looking to pursue a PhD studentship in microbiome research. It will also give you sufficient experience in analysing and interpreting the large, multiple omics data sets that are involved in microbiome research.
The topics covered in this microbiome master’s will allow you to apply for careers in both academia and industry and will be relevant to a broad range of disciplines, including nutrition, metabolic disorders, microbiology and infection.
Full time: £16,950 (2025/26)
Full time: £35,800 (2025/26)
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.
If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.
The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.
If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.
Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
This course was the first of its kind to offer a specialism in microbiome in health and disease. Conceived by the Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, it blends expertise in microbiology, bioinformatics and systems biology with a focus on translation in clinical, agricultural and environmental challenges. It’s designed to develop your knowledge of the microbial communities that reside within or upon us and how they impact our health and disease processes. This Microbiome in Health and Disease MSc is suitable for students who wish to improve their background knowledge and skills before applying for a PhD studentship or to enhance their knowledge and skill set for analysing and interpreting the large, multiple omics data sets involved in microbiome research. During your MSc in microbiome in health and disease, you’ll gain a deep understanding of microbial communities and their diversity, as well as the impact of these communities on host health and disease. You’ll learn how to analyse omics data sets, such as genome, transcriptome, metabolome and metagenome data. You’ll also be shown how to integrate these data to develop a holistic understanding of the interactions between host and microbial communities in health and disease states. You’ll get to build your experience of applying profiling and analysis techniques to large omics data sets so you can characterise and investigate microbial communities. This Microbiome in Health and Disease MSc will also teach you about the intersection between microbiome and engineering and how to identify and develop innovative products in different microbiome fields. You’ll learn to apply your learning from computational, multiomics analysis and basic biology and study advanced synthetic biology tools. You’ll also explore integrative analysis and modelling to design new engineered therapeutic microbial communities and optimise their effectiveness in clinical, agricultural and environmental challenges. Your study of the microbiome in health and disease will culminate in a supervised dissertation on a subject within this field.
The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).
Bachelor's degree with 2:1 honours in computer sciences, mathematics, biological sciences, biotechnology, engineering or chemistry, or similar.
Applicants with a bachelor's (first) degree in subjects above with 2:2 honours who have significant prior laboratory or computational experience will be considered.
To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.
For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Applications must be made online using King's Apply, the Admissions Portal. A non-refundable application fee of £85 applies.
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions tutor and we aim to respond to applications within four-six weeks, although this may take longer during busy and holiday periods.
You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:
| Personal Statement | Yes |
A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages). Your personal statement should demonstrate a focused interest in the area, and explain why you wish to apply for this course and why you feel it matches your interests, academic background, and your career plans. |
|---|---|---|
| Previous Academic Study | Yes | A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents. |
| References | Yes | One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. |
| Other | Optional | You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application. |
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
The following table will give you an idea of the typical hours you will spend as you progress through your studies:
| Year | Lectures, seminars & feedback | Self-study |
| 1 | 214 hours | 1586 hours |
Contact time is based on 24 academic weeks and self-study time is based on 31 academic weeks.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
You may typically expect assessment by a combination of coursework and examinations (including project work, oral examination, unseen written examination & written assignment).
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totaling 180 credits. You are required to take the following modules:
There are no optional modules.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
Graduates of this Microbiome in Health & Disease MSc will have a strong knowledge of one of the most exciting and cutting-edge fields of human health and disease.
This MSc provides a solid grounding for anyone looking to pursue a PhD studentship in microbiome research. It will also give you sufficient experience in analysing and interpreting the large, multiple omics data sets that are involved in microbiome research.
The topics covered in this microbiome master’s will allow you to apply for careers in both academia and industry and will be relevant to a broad range of disciplines, including nutrition, metabolic disorders, microbiology and infection.
Full time: £16,950 (2025/26)
Full time: £35,800 (2025/26)
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.
If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.
The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.
If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.
Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
We encourage you to apply as early as possible so that there is sufficient time for your application to be assessed and we may need to request further information from you during the application process.
The final application deadlines for this programme are:
· Overseas (international) fee status: 25 July 2025 (23:59 UK time)
· Home fee status: 25 August 2025 (23:59 UK time)
If the programme becomes full before the final application deadlines stated above, we will close the programme to further applications. Please note, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if we are unable to process further offers because places are filled and we close the course before the final application deadline.
Please email the programme team with any further questions you may have, or alternatively, for general questions about King's, get in touch via our Contact Centre.
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