Program Overview
This BSc Microbiology program at the UK's oldest microbiology department offers practical training in advanced laboratory techniques, focusing on virology and bacteriology. It provides opportunities for industrial placements, research projects, and an Arctic microbiology field course, preparing students for careers in research, scientific industries, and healthcare. Graduates are eligible for membership in professional organizations such as the Microbiology Society and The Royal Society of Biology.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Expand your knowledge of some of the planet's most dominant life forms, and take part in research projects with a global impact on this BSc Microbiology course. As part of the UK's oldest microbiology department you can develop laboratory skills in purpose-built microbiology facilities and be taught by world-leading experts, with particular strengths in virology and bacteriology. 98% of students in the School of Biological Sciences said our teaching staff were good or very good at explaining things (National Student Survey, 2023). You'll benefit from membership of the Microbiology Society and our strong links with industry. Through the course, you will learn about the fundamental properties, genetics and physiology of diverse microbes. Options will then allow you to focus on areas that most interest you, including medical, environmental or food microbiology. You will also have the chance to carry out a year-long industrial placement or a paid vacation studentship in order to gain valuable work and research experience. BSc Microbiology has a strong practical basis, and you will learn a wide variety of techniques such as microbial genetics, biochemistry and propagation. During your final year you will have the chance to spend three months working on an original research project of your choice. Recent projects have included the molecular engineering of viruses, and the mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity and host colonisation. In your final year you will also have the opportunity to take part in our unique Arctic microbiology field course in Iceland. There you will be able to examine the unusual microbes that inhabit extreme environments and learn field-based sampling techniques. Our new £60m Health and Life Sciences building is the home of the School of Biological Sciences. It offers state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories, seminar rooms, and plenty of study and social space, including a café. The building also houses the Cole Museum of Zoology. The collection, featuring more than 3,500 natural history specimens, provides a fantastic resource for biological scientists and the wider community.
Outline:
Year 1
- Cellular and Molecular Principles of Life
- Fundamentals of Microbiology
- Fundamentals of Biochemistry
- Optional modules:
- Fundamentals of Evolution
- History of Life on Earth
- Human Pathology
- Fundamentals of Ecology
- Anatomy and Physiology
Year 2
- Advanced Studies in Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Research and Professional Skills
- Infectious Diseases
- Haematology and Immunology
- Molecular Microbiology
- Optional modules:
- Applied Biochemistry: From Disease to Diagnostics
- Marine Biology and Conservation
- Medical Genetics
- Invertebrate Zoology
- Integrated Anatomy and Physiology
- Advanced Ecology
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- Food Spoilage, Preservation and Hazards
Year 3
- Research Project
- Pathogens
- Applied Microbiology
- Optional modules:
- Venoms and Poisons: From Pharmacology to Therapeutics
- Evolution in Health and Disease
- Protein Structure and Function
- Cancer and Cell Communication
- Microbiology Field Course
- Epidemiology of Zoonotic Diseases
- Forensics
- Integrated Biochemistry
- Neuroscience
- Cardiovascular Biology
Teaching:
You will be taught by world-leading experts in microbiology, with particular strengths in virology and bacteriology. 98% of students in the School of Biological Sciences said our teaching staff were good or very good at explaining things (National Student Survey, 2023).
Careers:
BSc Microbiology graduates have a range of transferable skills that make them highly employable in both scientific and non-scientific job sectors. Additionally, graduates can become members of the Society of Biology and apply for Chartered Biologist status. This programme has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) following an independent and rigorous assessment. Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and establish a profile of key skills that bioscience employers can recognise in accredited graduates, including technical and transferable skills. You can move on to a career as a researcher or scientist. You may also decide to move on to further study or a research studentship at a British or international university. Recent graduates have gone on to work for organisations such as such as the Medical Research Council, Royal Berkshire Hospital, South East Water, ThermoFisher and Nexus Support. Overall, 93.2% of graduates from School of Biological Sciences are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation (based on our analysis of HESA data (c) HESA 2023, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21 includes all School of Biological Sciences responders).
Other:
- You will benefit from membership of the Microbiology Society and our strong links with industry.
- You will have the chance to carry out a year-long industrial placement or a paid vacation studentship in order to gain valuable work and research experience.
- You will have the opportunity to take part in our unique Arctic microbiology field course in Iceland.
New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250 New international students: £27,650
