Infectious Disease, Autoimmunity and Immunotherapies iBSc

UCAS code: Not applicable. Apply direct to King's.

Please note applications are open for current King's students only. Applications for external students will open shortly. The application deadline for external students is 16th March 2025.

Key information

Course type:

Single honours

Delivery mode:

Campus

Study mode:

Full time

Duration:

One year

Application status:

Open

Start date:

September 2025

Application deadline:

26 January 2025

King's Apply

Infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer represent a significant burden to global health. These diseases kill millions of people every year and, as demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have the potential to severely impact society and devastate economies. A healthy immune system protects us from many pathogens and from the development of cancer, although numerous pathologies can develop when it is dysregulated. We are now entering an era of bespoke therapeutics whereby cell-based, antibody-based and pharmaceutical therapies can be developed to cure infectious disease, cancer and autoimmune diseases. The intercalated Infectious Disease, Autoimmunity & Immunotherapies BSc explores how viruses and other pathogens cause disease. You will learn how an effective immune response protects us from infectious diseases and cancer, and what happens when the immune system goes wrong.

Key benefits

One-year programme leading to an intercalated BSc.
The flexibility to chose either a laboratory based project or a library based project.
Option to take the Health Entrepreneurship module which provides a hands-on opportunity to develop skills and understanding of entrepreneurship in a clinical context.
Teaching by internationally renowned scientists and researchers.

Employability

Almost all doctors will treat patients with an infectious disease, cancer or autoimmune disease. Through this programme, you will learn the fundamentals of infectious diseases and immunology as well as how they are applied to treatments used in diverse medical specialties. As shown by the HIV and SARS-CoV-2 pandemics, infectious diseases have the potential to kill millions of people. Developing and delivering vaccines and antiviral/antimicrobial therapies is essential to treating these diseases. Furthermore, antibody and cell-based therapies have revolutionized treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. For example, immunotherapy is now the fourth pillar for cancer treatment alongside chemotherapy, radiation treatment and surgery. By exploring the pathogenesis of diseases, the role of the immune response in protection and how antiviral/antimicrobial drugs, vaccines and immunotherapies work, you will understand how diseases that affect millions of people a year are prevented and treated.

Additionally, this programme offers a unique opportunity to learn about scientific research, innovation and medical Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine entrepreneurship. Overall, this programme will prepare students for career paths specialising in infection (genitourinary medicine, infectious diseases, medical microbiology, medical virology, public health consultants and specialists, tropical medicine), allergy, immunology, rheumatology, medical oncology and general practice.

Useful links:

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/genitourinary-medicine

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/infectious-diseases

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/pathology/microbiology-and-virology-doctor

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-consultants-and-specialists

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/tropical-medicine

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/allergy

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/immunology

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/rheumatology

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/medical-oncology

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/general-practitioner