Microbiology is the study of organisms too small to be visible with the naked eye, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. Your course will cover an area of science fundamental to the understanding of life on this planet – from human and animal disease, better food production to microbial involvement in global cycles.
Your microbiology degree will provide a comprehensive understanding of microbiology with a biomedical focus, with topics such as bacterial resistance to antibiotics, the use of microbes in biotechnology, and how new pathogens, such as the cause of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), emerge and cause disease. You will develop your specialist knowledge, whilst building on the foundations of microbiology, with areas such as immunology, genetics, biochemistry and cell biology. These topics are at the heart of many global challenges, and it is critical that the next generation of expert scientists are trained in these areas. It is an interdisciplinary course that will also integrate the fundamental principles and skills that are essential to transferable to all biomedical sciences, such as biochemistry, genetics and cell biology, that will equip you for a successful career in various fields, including pharmaceutical industries, biotechnology, medicine and research.
The first year introduces the molecular building blocks of cells, how they orchestrate the cellular processes that sustain life and introduces the fundamental of modern day genetics. Lectures build on this knowledge to provide a fundamental grounding on the basic molecular principles of microbiology and immunology. The skills modules will build your practical, numeracy and problem-solving skills, and develop your understanding of the lecture material.
The second year involves in-depth and increasingly research-led study of the major areas that underpin modern biomedical microbiology such as molecular virology, medical microbiology, gene regulation and ‘omics approaches. The second year skills modules involve more extended projects requiring you to utilise multiple approaches and take greater responsibility for your work.
The third year of the course centres around cutting-edge topics. Lectures are delivered in advanced topic modules that bring you up to the forefront of modern research. In addition, you will perform a research project of your choice, allowing you to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during your degree, develop expertise in a research area and further build on your analytical and communication skills. The third year skills module develops work-ready skills such as communication to a variety of audiences, teamwork and peer-to-peer reviews.
This course will prepare you for a variety of future careers both within scientific research and beyond. We place a strong emphasis on practical based teaching, group teaching, online learning and problem solving. As such, you’ll gain a broad range of transferable skills which are highly valued by employers. As such, our graduates have, for many years, experienced high employment rates and a significant proportion quickly gain employment upon graduation.
This 3-year BSc can be converted into a 4-year integrated Masters (MBiol), subject to suitable academic performance and availability. In years 3 and 4 you would receive additional specialist training, study advanced research topics and undertake your own extended research project. In addition, students have the opportunity to spend a year working in industry, or take a study year abroad. These would take place between years two and three of the degree programme.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL1110 | Introductory Skills in the Molecular Biosciences | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
| BLGY1237 | Introduction to Genetics | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| FOBS1135 | The Basis of Life | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| MICR1210 | Introductory Skills in Microbiology | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| MICR1211 | Introductory Microbiology | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| MICR1221 | Introduction to Immunology | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLGY1124 | The Diversity of Life | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| BLGY1128 | Living Planet | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| BLGY1212 | Using Biology to Feed the World | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| BMSC1112 | Short Introduction to human body systems | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Alternatively, candidates can select BLGY1124 or BMSC1112, and enrol on a 10 credit discovery module
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL2109 | Intermediate skills in the molecular biosciences | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
| BIOL2114 | Omics and Big Data Biology | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| MICR2121 | Molecular Virology | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| MICR2210 | Intermediate skills in Microbiology | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| MICR2211 | Medical Microbiology | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL2211 | Human Diseases | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| BIOL2221 | Fundamentals in Cell and Cancer Biology | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| BLGY2202 | Bioinformatics for Biologists | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| BLGY2266 | Human Populations and Disease | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MICR2221 | Medical Immunology | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates will also be required to study 10 credits of discovery modules in semester one
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study 120 credits
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL3114 | Advanced Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| MICR3201 | Advanced Topics in Microbiology 1 | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MICR3202 | Advanced Topics in Microbiology 2 | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MICR3325 | Skills for Microbiologists 3 | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Students will select 40 credits of modules from either Option A or Option B.
Option A:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL3396 | Molecular & Cellular Biology Research Projects | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Option B: This subset of modules can only be offered to students who meet the selection criteria and are approved to take the module BIOL3230: Covid-19 LAMP testing placement.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL3330 | COVID-19 LAMP Testing Placement | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| BIOL3397 | Biotechnology Research Project | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Last updated: 12/06/2025 16:28:34
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