- UCAS course code
- C500
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
BSc Microbiology
Study the biology of bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi, with a focus on those that cause disease in humans.
- Typical A-level offer: AAA-AAB including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: AAB-ABC including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: ABB-ABC including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 36-35 points overall with 6, 6, 6 to 6, 6, 5 at HL, including specific requirements
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £34,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Additional expenses
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Course unit details:
Plants for the Future
Unit code | BIOL21202 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 2 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Each lecture addresses an aspect of plant biology and how this is related to a future challenge faced by humanity. You will learn: how plants capture the resources they require from the environment, how plants can maximise productivity and fitness in their environment and how they are adapted to tolerate extreme conditions. You will find out how this knowledge is being used to address major societal and environmental challenges such as sustaining our food supply, providing renewable energy, and protecting the environment.
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Biodiversity | BIOL10511 | Pre-Requisite | Recommended |
Aims
To provide a knowledge and understanding of:
• The role of plant research to promote our food security in the near future
• The role of plant research in adapting to climate change
• The role of GM approaches to understand and modify plant responses
• The sophistication of plant responses to environmental parameters
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will have knowledge and understanding of:
- The contribution of plant sciences to solving major societal and environmental challenges: examples of links between basic plant sciences, sustaining our food supply and improving the environment.
- How plants continuously monitor and respond to environmental stimuli such as plant neighbours, seasons, temperature and the availability of nutrients.
- The physiology behind the predicted impact of climate change on crop production.
- Ethical and practical aspects of using GM crops.
- The knowledge base for the third year unit: Green Biotechnology.
Syllabus
Employability skills
- Project management
- Management to meet the deadline of continuous assessment.
- Research
- Researching online and presenting scientific literature in writing.
- Written communication
- Abstract writing. Essay writing.
- Other
- Information gathering.
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
---|---|
Other | 20% |
Written exam | 80% |
Feedback methods
Written feedback via Blackboard on the mini-exam with advice to help with the written examination. Instantaneous feedback on the performance in eLearning knowledge assessment.
Recommended reading
Background reading
- Taiz, L. Zeiger E. Møller I.M. and Murphy A. (2018) Plant Physiology and Development (6th edition). Sinauer Associates In. with online ressources
Further reading
- Slater, A, Scott, N, Fowler, M (2008) Plant Biotechnology: The Genetic manipulation of plants (2nd edition). Oxford University Press
- Smith, A. et al (2009) Plant Biology. Garland Science.
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Assessment written exam | 2 |
Lectures | 22 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 76 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Patrick Gallois | Unit coordinator |