MSc Preclinical Sciences

Two Years $5,000 per academic year

Overview

Explore the gateway to your future with our post-graduate programme in preclinical sciences! Our innovative curriculum empowers students with essential knowledge and skills for advanced studies and flourishing careers in specialized fields such as clinical physiology, clinical biochemistry, and molecular microbiology. Our programme is designed to help students in the Kurdistan Region pursue advanced studies as our curriculum is carefully crafted to encompass core courses and specialized tracks, emphasizing hands-on and practical learning experiences. Our esteemed faculty members bring a wealth of expertise, with notable achievements and contributions to research.

Admission Requirements

• Undergraduate Degree: Undergraduate degree in medical sciences (Medicine, Veterinary science, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy).
• English Language Proficiency: Minimum English Language requirement is 50 in PTE – 6.0 in IELTS -74 in TOEFL iBT or 105 in Duolingo.
• Equalised transcript is required for students who have graduated from international institutions.
• Entrance exam
• Undergraduate Degree: Minimum undergraduate average of 60%

• Application Form: Online application form is required.
• Official Transcripts: Provide a copy of your undergraduate transcript with your application.
• Letters of Recommendation: Two recommendation letters are required to be submitted with your application, preferably one of which will be from a university academic.
• A copy of your CV.
• A copy of your passport and national ID.

Curriculum

Specialty	Clinical Biochemistry	Medical Physiology	Medical Microbiology
Number of Semester	2	2	2
Credits per semester	30	30	30
Duration per semester	15 weeks	15 weeks	15 weeks
Number of modules per semester	5	5	5
Research (thesis) project	require	require	require
Duration of Research (thesis)	one year	one year	one year
Credits of research	60	60	60
Total program Credits	120	120	120
Total duration of Program	2 years	2 years	2 years
Degree Awarded	MSc	MSc	MSc

 

Entrance Exam

Admission Exam (30%)
35%	General knowledge relevant to the MSc course (See the blueprint of topics)
65%	Specific knowledge on the core subjects of the MSc course (See the blueprint of topics)
Total (100%)	The passing mark is 50% (i.e. 15 out of 30). The extra marks above 15 will be considered as points for the candidate

Entry Exam Details:

• Date: Thursday, September 26
• Number of Questions: 30
• Question Types:
  1. Single Best Answer Questions (Best of Five): Each question presents 5 options, with only one correct answer.
  2. Extended Matching Questions (EMQs): Each EMQ is centered around a single theme, offering 9 options to answer 3 related questions.
• Time: 2 hours

Master’s (MSc.) Degree in Clinical Biochemistry

• Time: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
• Location: SoM Premises, Academic Building, Hall 6

Topics:

1. Vitamins: Study of essential micronutrients, including types (water-soluble and fat-soluble), biochemical functions, sources, deficiency diseases, and roles in metabolism.
2. Enzymes: Exploration of biological catalysts, covering enzyme structure, function, mechanisms of action, kinetics, factors affecting activity, and clinical significance.
3. Protein Metabolism: Focus on the breakdown and synthesis of proteins, including amino acid metabolism, digestion, absorption, nitrogen balance, urea cycle, and related disorders.
4. Lipid Metabolism: Study of fats and related compounds, covering metabolism of triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol, fatty acids, and associated disorders like hyperlipidemia.
5. Carbohydrate Metabolism: Examination of metabolic pathways like glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, citric acid cycle, blood glucose regulation, and clinical aspects like diabetes.
6. Biological Oxidation: Study of cellular energy conversion processes, including oxidative phosphorylation, electron transport chain, and clinical relevance like oxidative stress.
7. Nucleic Acid Metabolism: Focus on DNA and RNA synthesis and breakdown, including purine and pyrimidine metabolism, and disorders like gout.
8. Mineral Metabolism: Examination of minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and trace elements, including disorders like osteoporosis and anemia.
9. Clinical Biochemistry (Metabolic Disorders): Covers biochemical basis of disorders related to lipid, protein, nucleic acid, and carbohydrate metabolism.

Master’s (MSc.) Degree in Molecular Microbiology

• Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
• Location: SoM Premises, Academic Building, Hall 6

Topics:

1. Molecular Biology: Includes DNA structure and function, transcription, translation, gene therapy, microbial genetics, and molecular techniques in microbiology.
2. Basics of Medical Microbiology: Covers classification of medically important microorganisms, growth, survival, metabolism, and antimicrobial agents.
3. Diagnostic Microbiology: Includes laboratory safety, sterilization, specimen collection, preparation, and molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases.

Medical Physiology Topics

• Time: 11:00 AM – 01:00 PM
• Location: SoM Premises, Academic Building, Hall 6

Topics:

1. Introduction to Medical Physiology: Overview of feedback systems.
2. Basic Cell Physiology: Structure and function of the plasma membrane, including transport mechanisms.
3. Basic Receptor Physiology: Definition, types, and receptor-ligand interactions.
4. Cellular Signaling: Fundamentals of signal transduction, including definitions and types.
5. Basic Physiology of Major Systems:
   • A. Renal System
   • B. Cardiovascular System
   • C. Endocrine System
   • D. Nervous System

Credentials (70%)
Requirements	Scoring scheme
BSc. average	Minimum of 60%. The extra marks above 50 will be considered as points for the candidate
English proficiency	Minimum of 6.0 in IELTS or equivalent. The extra scores will be considered for the candidate as below: IELTS-Academic TOEFL-iBT TOEFL-PBT PTE –Academic Points 3 or lower 1 – 19 1 – 370 1 – 24 0 3.5 20 – 30 371 – 383 25 – 35 3 4 and 4.5 31 – 58 384 – 413 36 – 51 6 5 and 5.5 59 – 72 414 – 496 52 – 66 12 6 or Higher 73 or higher 497 or higher 67 or higher 15
Publications	The publications will be scored as below: Publication Points Clarivate Analytics 10 Scopus 7.5 National Journal 5 Patent certificate of invention 10 The maximum score to consider is 25 points

Skills Development

1. Advanced Knowledge Acquisition: Acquire comprehensive knowledge and understanding of fundamental principles in ( Biochemistry, Medical Physiology, & Molecular Microbio.)
2. Research Proficiency: Dedicate time after semesters to intensive research, allowing students to develop foundational research capabilities to engage in evidence-based practices within (Clinical Biochemistry, Medical Physiology, Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Biology).
3. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Develop the ability to critically evaluate scientific literature, address research questions, and apply problem-solving strategies within the discipline.
4. Contribution to Scientific Literature: enhance an appreciation for the importance of contributing to scientific literature through well-structured and insightful research outputs.
5. Effective Communication: Develop clear and concise communication skills, both written and oral, to convey scientific concepts and research results.
6. Skill Development: Equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills for successful careers in academia, healthcare, and research, fostering critical thinking, effective communication, and problem-solving abilities.
7. Continuous Professional Development: enhance a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development, ensuring graduates remain current with advancements within their discipline throughout their careers.
8. Preparation for Leadership Roles: provide candidates with the skills and knowledge needed to assume leadership roles in academia, research institutions, and the broader scientific community.