Program Overview

Kick start your career and enhance your job prospects with our BSc Microbiology degree with an integrated year in industry here at Aberystwyth University. This course is designed to give you a head start in an increasingly competitive job market. The year that you spend away from Campus working in industry will give you the additional insight, knowledge and experience that are highly valued by employers.

The BSc Microbiology degree at Aberystwyth University introduces you to a fascinating world of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and their role in infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants. Microorganisms, also known as microbes, are organisms that are too small to be visible to the naked eye and they are essential to our understanding of life on Earth. You will learn how these microorganisms have an influence on all aspects of our lives, from the air we breathe to the food we eat. On our BSc Microbiology degree course you will develop the scientific and analytical skills that are in high demand in a broad range of professions, and if you want to play a part in solving big global problems such as climate change, pollution and antibiotic resistance, a degree in Microbiology is a good place to start.

The syllabus of our BSc Microbiology (C502) course with the integrated year in industry is identical to its sister course BSc Microbiology (C500). The year in industry is assessed, and the work must be relevant to the degree. You will be expected to organise this work experience yourself, under the guidance of our Director for Employability. There is no guarantee that the work will be paid, and if you cannot obtain a placement, you must transfer to BSc Microbiology (C500). During your year in industry, you will pay a discounted tuition fee.

During the three years of the degree that you spend on Campus,  

you will learn a wide variety of techniques in areas such as microbial genetics, biochemistry and propagation. The study of microbiology requires expertise in immunology, genetics, biochemistry, cell biology and research methods, and you will receive training in these throughout your degree. You will learn about worldwide concerns such as antimicrobial resistance and emerging pathogens, as well as the beneficial use of microbes in biotechnology for food production and agriculture. Throughout the course there is a strong focus on practical training in microbiological and molecular techniques, which will prepare you for a career as a professional scientist. There are practical modules in Years One and Two and an advanced research project makes up one third of your final year.

You will be taught by passionate teaching staff who are experts in their fields and who conduct research in all areas of microbiology. You will also have access to our state-of-the-art facilities that include a bio-imaging and microscopy suite, modern laboratories and fermentation facilities. In addition to these modern indoor facilities, Aberystwyth University has farms and woodlands for studying environmental microbes and those that impact on animal health.