Molecular Biosciences (Microbiology) MSc with professional placement

Program Overview

This Molecular Microbiology MSc program emphasizes the molecular basis of biological systems, focusing on microbes and their impact on disease, medicine, food security, and environmental sustainability. Students engage in research within the Infection and Immunity group and develop skills in epidemiology, pathogenicity, virulence, and computational analysis of biological data. The program prepares graduates for careers in further research, academia, and various industries worldwide.

Program Outline

Outline:

This course provides you with a broad understanding of the molecular basis of biological systems, with a focus on microbes and their role in disease, developing new medicines, improving food biosecurity and environmental sustainability. You’ll focus on the molecular principles underlying the biology of microorganisms, including their epidemiology, pathogenicity, virulence in the context of medicine, public health or agricultural biosecurity.

Assessment:

You’ll be taught and assessed by a variety of methods and it will vary between units. These methods are designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding of the subject.

Teaching:

MSc programmes deliver taught unit/modules in the first and second semester, with the Summer dedicated to a dissertation. The second semester will have less structured learning as you will start to prepare for your dissertation. Both during the dissertation preparation and the dissertation, supervision will take place at times suitable to you and your supervisor. Typically, you can expect to spend approximately 35 to 40 hours a week studying on your course. These hours consist of structured activities and independent learning. You will experience a mix of in person teaching, that will take place on campus, and structured online learning delivered through the University’s virtual learning environment. In-person teaching and online activities Timetabled sessions delivered in person on campus will be a mix of lectures, seminars, tutorials, and laboratories. Online activities may include following a recorded lecture, or other learning materials, or joining a timetabled live interactive session through Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Independent learning The remainder of your time outside these structured activities will be spent in independent learning which includes individual research, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, preparing coursework assignments, presentations, or revising for exams. To support you in your studies you will be able to access, outside of timetabled learning, facilities on campus and in Bath such as study spaces, computers, and the Library.

Careers:

You’ll graduate with the specialist knowledge and sought-after skills for a career in further research, such as a PhD, or roles in academic, clinical, industrial or commercial sectors anywhere in the world. Recent examples of graduate roles include healthcare scientist, analyst, production technician and agricultural engineer.

Other:

This course is for you if you’ve graduated from any bioscience, medical, veterinary or related discipline and you’re interested in specialising in a career within the field of molecular microbiology. We also offer the Molecular Biosciences course with specialisms in Microbiology and Medical Biosciences and we have a new dedicated MSc Biotechnology with specialisms available in Healthcare Technologies, Sustainable Biotechnologies or with Entrepreneurship. Department of Life Sciences Postgraduate study at Bath