- 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.
Duration: 3 years
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: C500 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Study abroad
- 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:
Immunology
| Unit code | BIOL21242 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 10 |
| Unit level | Level 2 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Immunology is the study of the body’s immune system. This unit will introduce you to the main features of the immune system, the innate immune system and the specific immune system. You will learn about recognition of microbes by the specific immune system and how the immune system protects against different pathogens. You will also learn how the immune system can itself cause disease, for example in allergy or autoimmune diseases, and the consequences of a deficient immune system.
Aims
- To understand the components and functioning of the immune system
Learning outcomes
- Students should know the different components of the immune system – cells of the innate and the adaptive immune system and associated soluble proteins and factors and be able to apply this knowledge to understand how the immune system protects against different types of pathogen or tumours.
- Students should also be able to apply the fundamental knowledge of immune function and how we recognise pathogens and self to be able to appreciate how the immune response can cause immunopathology such as allergy, autoimmunity as well as the consequences of a lack of effective immune function as in immunodeficiency.
- Students should be able to reflect and apply how our knowledge of immunology is being applied in the laboratory and clinical settings to treat, diagnose and prevent disease for example via vaccination, antibody production and transplantation.
Syllabus
Lectures will cover the main role of the immune system in providing defence against infection caused by bacteria, viruses, yeasts and parasites. They will describe the two main arms of the immune system, the innate immune system and the specific adaptive immune system. The different anatomical, cellular and molecular components of the two systems will be covered and the way these systems coordinate to tackle different infections will be an important part of the unit. Finally, the unit will cover some of the problems that arise when the immune system ‘gets it wrong’; this will include allergy and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Employability skills
- Innovation/creativity
- Scope for students to read outside the core lectures and develop their knowledge.
- Research
- Additional text and resources is provided so that students can have the option of researching the topics in more detail.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 100% |
Written exam 100%: consists of 30 MCQ and one essay question.
Feedback methods
Throughout the course quizzes will be provided to test your knowledge and support your learning. Interactive classroom sessions will also be provided to support learning. A community learning forum will also be provided to enable students to post questions.
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Assessment written exam | 2 |
| Lectures | 22 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 76 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Sheena Cruickshank | Unit coordinator |