Aravinda Nanayakkara, M.Sc. in Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 2006 intake graduated with a Distinction Pass. This is what he thinks about the course.

The course content is very comprehensive and advanced and deals with the latest topics in the world of immunological sciences. The laboratory work covers all major immunological techniques and I gained a thorough and in-depth knowledge as well as skills in immunological research. The labs are extremely well equipped and expensive immunological reagents for advanced research are available for individual research projects. One of the most valuable experiences for me during the course was that I learned how to plan and conduct an advanced research project. The academic staff is very knowledgeable and practical and also approachable. I also benefited a lot from attending lectures in the parallel M.Sc. Molecular Life Science programme, since students in each track/programme are free to attend all lectures. Lectures by visiting Doctors and Professors (from Faculty of Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, MRI, and Cancer Institute of Sri Lanka) were also part of the course. Due to the quality of the degree and reputation of the IBMBB, I was accepted to a challenging position as a research scientist with a globally recognised organisation.

Completing the M.Sc. in Molecular Life Science at the IBMBB has provided me with a world class postgraduate degree. The course is challenging, with a syllabus covering all aspects of current Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Genetics. The course content is continually evolving to reflect the latest trends in molecular life sciences and the academic staff is committed to keeping abreast with the most current research in this field. They are highly qualified individuals and, classes being small compared a conventional university setting, we were able to form close associations with them. While working in the well equipped and high-tech labs, it was not hard to imagine being in a world class European laboratory. The building itself is well-planned and beautiful, where we would always step in and find a comfortable environment to study, discuss, or relax during the tea and lunch breaks. Access to the latest textbooks, top-ranking scientific journals, and a bioinformatics computer lab with connection to the EMBnet network proved invaluable during our projects and independent study. Our research projects were highly relevant to national and global needs and I gained a thorough research experience during my dissertation work. This degree has given me a firm foundation for my future studies and career, and will enable me to apply to high-ranking universities anywhere in the world for my further studies.

Minoli E. Perera