Program Overview

Our four-year microbiology course is designed to give you the best start for a career in industrial or academic research. You'll study the importance of bacteria, viruses and other microbes in the environment and as pathogens. You’ll also discover how we can manipulate the genetic makeup of microbes to put them to good use in biotechnology, how we can tackle the threat of antimicrobial-resistant infections, and the role that microbiology continues to play in supporting the global response to pandemics such as Covid-19. The first three years of your course will have the same structure as the BSc, with the fourth year devoted to a major research project, where you’ll work in industry or in an academic lab with our world-leading academics.

From your first year you’ll study modules that span the molecular biosciences covering microbiology, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology. Alongside these modules you’ll have the freedom to explore complementary topics across the breadth of bioscience, such as biomedicine, ecology, plant science and zoology. This flexibility allows you to study microbiology in greater depth, keep your interests broad or even switch to another degree programme within the biosciences. No matter what modules you choose to study, you’ll develop the practical laboratory and transferable skills that make our graduates attractive to employers including project management, problem solving, communication skills and data analysis.

We’ll give you plenty of opportunities to apply your new skills and knowledge too. You’ll be in the lab completing in-depth practicals across molecular genetics, DNA manipulation and protein structure analysis, and you’ll get the chance to use cutting-edge equipment to run your own in-depth research projects.