Course overview
Explore the fascinating world of microbiology, equipping you with advanced knowledge, practical skills and a springboard for future employment. Designed for those with a background in life sciences, who are eager to deepen their expertise. Microorganisms are extremely important in many areas of our lives – understanding how to harness and manipulate them, while controlling their potential to cause disease, is essential.
Gain a well-rounded perspective on modern microbiology. Combine theory with hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art Bios labs - a £36.9m facility at our Middlesbrough campus. Develop practical skills through innovative experiments, using industry-standard equipment. Explore research opportunities at our £22m National Horizon Centre (NHC) at our Darlington campus, where many faculty members conduct their research. Graduates have pursued a PhD at the NHC, working with academics in a chosen field of microbiology.
You are taught by a team of passionate, dedicated, research-active scientists, who bring a wealth of expertise and passion to the classroom. You work alongside an academic on your Life Science Research Project, tailoring your experience to personal career aspirations. You are supported at all stages of the course, resulting in a high success rate of future employment when graduating.
Course details
Course structure
Core modules
Explore a range of advanced analytical techniques applicable to life science research. Emphasis is on chromatography and mass spectrometry, with specialist topics such as microscopy and genomic skills. Explore the importance of these practical instrumentation techniques to modern investigations, including proteomics, metabolomics and genomics. Learn advanced lab skills for sample extraction, sample preparation, instrumentation methodology and how to interpret spectra. Develop essential data handling skills and use a range of statistical programmes.
Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostic Techniques
Develop knowledge and skills in advanced areas of biochemistry with special focus on clinical applications and diagnostics. Emphasis is on the analysis of bodily fluids and other biological material to aid in patient diagnosis, therapy and monitoring for a variety of diseases. Understand the essential concepts of clinical biochemistry and the associated diagnostic techniques required.
Explore the fundamentals of fermentation technology - a multi-disciplinary area of biotechnology involving practical skills in science and engineering. The principles of fermentation technology involve using microbial cells as micro-factories to manufacture a product of interest. Fermentation technology is widespread – it ranges from the production of food in our kitchen to the synthesis of sophisticated, high-value, cutting-edge therapeutics.
Gain an in-depth understanding of advanced genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics, and their applications in specific disease states. Learn about the most recent technologies including next generation gene sequencing, genome editing, and genomic and bioinformatics analyses. Explore the genomic application for disease treatment and prevention (pharmacogenomics), personalised medicine and ethical challenges in this field.
Complete a major independent practical research project in your discipline and fully integrate with a research-active supervisor. Reflecting staff expertise, you pursue many discipline-related topics, including medical, industrial and environmental microbiology, molecular, cell and system biology, recombinant DNA technology, protein biochemistry, structural biology, fermentation, bioengineering and many other areas. Complete a hypothesis-driven research project using appropriate skills to answer a research question in a specialised area of life sciences. Supervisors provide guidance to support you but a high degree of autonomy is required.
Microbial Diversity and Environmental Microbiology
Examine the scale of microbial diversity, its widespread nature and biogeographic patterns. Analyse how environmental variables can impact on microbial diversity and ecosystem function with the use of case studies. Explore modern methods that are used for studying microbial diversity within varied environmental samples.
Pathobiology of Infectious Diseases
Gain a deep understanding of infectious disease and explore a wide range of medically important human pathogens. Learn key aspects of pathobiology, including pathogen genomics and evolution, bioinformatics, and the cellular and molecular biology that underpin these host pathogen interactions. Subversion of key mammalian cell biological processes, including immunology, that are targeted by pathogens are described. Advanced lab techniques and bioinformatics are introduced that are commonly used to uncover mechanisms of pathogenesis.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You are supported in making the transition to postgraduate level study.
The Analytical Techniques and Fermentation Biotechnology modules help you understand the requirements of postgraduate level study, enhancing your skills in academic writing and referencing, and helping you develop the skills to operate professionally and ethically to plan and implement a master’s-level research project.
Work-based problem-solving projects and case study exercises emphasise real-world working, helping you blend theory and knowledge in the context of business, to develop the skills employers seek and set you on a successful career path.
A significant part of the course is gaining experience working in state-of-the-art biomedical research facilities in the Bios labs.
Our expertise in disciplines such as biochemistry, microbiology and biomedical science allows us to exploit technology and develop ground-breaking ideas in the fields of genetics, molecular biology and protein science.
How you are assessed
You are assessed by a variety of methods including exams, in-course assessments, oral presentations, technical interviews, technical reports, literature surveys, evaluations and summaries.
An assessment schedule with submission deadlines for each module is presented at the start of the semester.
Entry requirements
Applicants are normally expected to have at least a UK 2.2 honours degree, or equivalent, in a subject with significant biosciences content.
Examples of acceptable first degree subjects include biomedical science, biochemistry, biological sciences, human biology, forensic biology and animal science.
In addition, international students normally need at least a 6.0, with no component below 5.5, in the International Language Testing System (IELTS) test.
If your first degree is not in one of the subject areas listed above please contact our admissions team for guidance and advice on how you might become eligible. We may be able to offer you alternative access routes.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
Employability
Work placement
There may be short-term placement opportunities, particularly during the project phase of the course.
Career opportunities
Gain the academic, analytical and practical skills to assist your career. It prepares you for a variety of career paths, including roles in clinical labs, research institutions, industry (including oil and gas), biotechnology, hospital diagnostics, pathology labs and other life sciences sectors. Many of our graduates choose to remain in the local region, and find jobs in local biotechnology, the NHS sector, or the academic route (PhD).
More generally, microbiologists can use their training in education, working in schools, colleges and universities. There are opportunities to apply microbiology training in scientific publishing, patent offices working on biological patents, science outreach and contributing to the public understanding of microbiological issues.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
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Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
