Microbiology, BSc (Hons)

This modular course gives a sound foundation to the study of Microbiology and allows students to specialise in their chosen field of interest with an emphasis on microbes and the diseases they cause. This is a highly applied course in which practical work plays a major role.

This course provides an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the fascinating world of bacteria and viruses, paying attention to microbes of medical importance.

Why choose this course?

• You will be taught by internationally renowned experts.
• Your course has a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on learning, much of which will be carried out in a newly developed high-tech laboratory environment.
• You will be introduced to the micro-organisms associated with global health issues such as HIV, TB and influenza.
• You'll then build on this to understand how infections spread and their significance to the global population.
• You will examine how bacteria and viruses function, how they cause diseases, how the body reacts to infections and how bacteria and viruses can be positively applied in food and healthcare.
• Focusing on microbial diagnostics you will explore the use of molecular biology and bioinformatics in microbial forensic investigations.

You'll be encouraged to take a year-long, paid work placement in your third year, which will enhance your career prospects by giving you valuable vocational experience. In your final year, you'll have the opportunity to conduct a major research project in a specialist field you enjoy.

What our students say

"Before I came to NTU I hardly knew anyone who'd studied Microbiology, but it's an amazing course and I highly recommend it. There's a focus on broader microbiology and diseases, which is different to courses at other universities. Classes are small, staff are helpful and the course is very up to date."

Maria Gillett, BSc (Hons) Microbiology
Winner of 'Society for General Microbiology Undergraduate Award 2009'

Questions? Just ask NTU
Telephone: +44 (0)115 8484200

What will I study?

Year One

• Practical Techniques for Biology
• Genetics and Immunology
• Introduction to Microbiology
• Introduction to Cell Biology
• Introduction to Biochemistry
• Human Systems

On average, your contact time with lecturers will be around 16 hours per week over 26 weeks (the final four weeks of the year are reserved for exams). Approximately 30% of your time will consist of laboratories and workshops with the rest divided between lectures and seminars. You will also have at least 12 sessions with your Personal Tutor.

Year Two

• Applied Microbiology
• Clinical and Public Health Microbiology
• Microbial Metabolism and Genetics
• Microbial Structure, Identification and Distribution
• Parasitology
• Antibody and DNA Technology

Year Three
Optional work placement

Final Year

• Research Project / Dissertation
• Forensic Microbiology
• Molecular Microbiology
• Immunology and Virology
• Infectious Diseases and their Control.

You also have the choice of completing a 40 credit point project, or if your interests lie in a career in teaching, you can take Communicating Science (which includes school placements) and a short dissertation.

For further information, download the module descriptions document

Your daily work pattern will be more variable in this year, since time will be set aside for you to carry out your project, and is likely to average about 16 hours per week, of which well over half is practical work.

How will I learn?

BSc (Hons) Microbiology recruits around 20 – 30 students each year. This means you are assured of a high level of interaction with your Course Leader and Personal Tutor. Over the three years (four if you choose to do a placement) you will take a wide range of modules that cover all aspects of microbiology, from applied, to medical, to molecular microbiology.

All of your modules are worth 20 credits, except for your final year project, which is worth 40. The academic contact time for a 20 credit module is around 50 hours, although you are expected to spend a further 150 hours on independent or self-directed study.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed on a variety of components including the following.

Written 45%

• Multiple completion tests
• Formal examinations

Coursework 29%

• Assignments
• Group projects
• Laboratory reports
• Posters

Practical 26%

• Laboratory assessments
• Oral presentations

Microbiology Research and Expertise

Research within the Microbiology Team falls within five main areas:

• Host-pathogen interactions
• Evolution of pathogenesis
• Molecular epidemiology
• Rapid diagnostics
• Other host/public health related issues.

Your tutors include a wide range of research active academic staff who can teach you from first hand experience of doing the kind of jobs you will be able to undertake in the real world.

The Microbiology specific modules are taught by a team of six microbiology academic staff all of whom have extensive research experience ranging from Foodborne intestinal disease to neonatal meningitis, from hospital acquired infections to evolution of bacterial pathogens, from bacterial cell division to cutting edge genomics and evolutionary studies.

Where will I study?

You will be taught mostly on our Clifton campus within the new Rosalind Franklin building and Erasmus Darwin facilities. The School of Science and Technology has an impressive range of facilities, including new accommodation, a Sports Centre and excellent laboratories. You will also go on field trips and residentials as part of the course, both of which are covered by your course fee.

View the full course specification
Please note that course specifications may be subject to change

We provide first class facilities that enhance the quality of our education and push the boundaries of our research.

Rosalind Franklin building
The Rosalind Franklin building provides some of the best laboratory teaching facilities for Bioscience and Chemistry in the UK. The large teaching laboratory space is equipped with specialist IT facilities and equipment to ensure that our students get excellent training in practical laboratory techniques and modern analytical methods.

Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Facility
Built in 2002 at a cost of £2.3 million, this facility supports the School's extensive biomedical research activities.

Natural Sciences Research Facility
The Natural Sciences Research Facility supports and enhances the School's research in:

• Physics
• Biosciences
• Chemistry
• Imaging
• Materials
• Sport.

You may like to know that research within the Biosciences team was awarded 90% internationally recognised, including 20% classed as world leading in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE2008).

Across NTU, we have a range of first-class facilities that you would expect from a university with high quality teaching and world-leading research, including an:

• £8m computing and informatics building
• a British Olympic Association-approved environmental chamber
• a crime scene house forensic-training facility
• a host of sporting clubs and societies to get involved in.