“I’m interested in the development of a clinically relevant model of Alzheimer’s Disease,” said Stephanie Wallis, full time PhD student at the University of Bristol.

It’s a bit of a change from last year, when she was a Bristol student living in Sheffield. Stephanie was studying for an MSc in Stem Cells and Regeneration, one of a number of distance-learning Masters degrees offered by the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.

The programme is run completely online, with exception of the exams, which are held in Bristol. The students access an innovative online e-learning platform through which they are able access streamed lectures, video clips illustrating key laboratory techniques, seminars and the latest academic journals. The online discussion forum, populated by both staff and students, is used to discuss ideas and ask questions.

It might sound a bit unusual, offering such a scientific programme on a distance-learning basis, but students are able to access the comprehensive suite of online material time and again, whenever it suits them, which provides a very flexible approach to postgraduate education.

This flexibility enabled Stephanie to balance a part-time job and an internship while studying. 

“The programme itself provides a firm theoretical grounding as well as an introduction to practical research methods,” explains Stephanie. “You do have the opportunity to do a lab-based project, depending on whether you have sufficient funds as there is an addition fee for this.

For me, however, I decided not to do this because I had an internship with a cell culture company. This practical experience complemented the theoretical aspects of the Masters.”

The programme is taught by experts – clinicians and scientists, who use their latest research from the lab to inform their teaching.

“The students on the course were a really varied group from all walks of life,” said Stephanie. “One was a vet interested in the use of stem cells for the treatment of arthritis in animals.

Others came from as far a field as South Africa and Canada. It was really interesting to meet for the first time during the exams, and some of us have managed to keep in touch since.”

As with any distance-learning programme, Stephanie agrees that you have to be confident in your ability to study independently, as well as motivated and self-disciplined.

“I would definitely recommend doing the MSc.  The course gave me a thorough understanding of regenerative medicine and the latest developments in a rapidly moving field.  It certainly helped me identify the area of research I wanted to pursue in the future”, she said.

Stephanie would like to stay in research after her doctorate. “I’ve found the perfect PhD for me,” she said, “and the MSc played a part in that. I also enjoy living in Bristol, which is a bonus!”