Bachelor of Science (BSc)

BSc Immunology

Learn about principles and mechanisms of the immune system and how it protects the body against disease.
  • Duration: 3 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: C550 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Study abroad

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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.

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:
Introduction to Virology

Course unit fact file
Unit code BIOL21381
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Virus infections can range from a brief, superficial interaction between the virus and its host to a lifelong infection from before birth. Many different tissues and organs may be affected. Although only a small minority of virus infections give rise to any disease symptoms, this minority is of major medical importance. This unit will provide you with an introduction to viral structure and function and explain how viruses subvert host cell function to generate viral factories. Details of the pathogenic mechanisms used by viruses to cause disease will be explained using examples such as the influenza virus and HIV. The design of viral vaccines will also be covered and their use in eradicating viral infections such as polio discussed.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide an understanding of viruses and viral disease. It will provide an introduction to viral structure and function and explain how viruses subvert host cell function to generate viral factories. Details of the pathogenic mechanisms used by viruses to cause disease will be explained using examples such as the influenza virus and HIV. The design of viral vaccines will also be covered and their use in eradicating viral infections such as polio discussed.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will have an appreciation of:

• Viral structure

• The interaction of virus and host

• The mechanisms of viral replication in host cells

• Viral pathogenesis
                                                                                                                                              
• Immune response to viral infections

• Acute, chronic and latent viral infections

• Viral vaccines and anti-viral drugs

• Viral epidemiology

Syllabus

• What is a virus?

• Viral structure

• Viral genomes and replication

• Viral interactions with the host

• Acute viral infections

• Latent and persistent viral infections

• Viruses and immunodeficiency

• Viral vaccines

• Anti-viral therapy

• Viral evolution

• Emerging viral infections

• Zoonotic viral diseases 

Teaching and learning methods

e-Learning Activity

This assessment will involve outlining the steps of the intracellular life cycle of a selected virus ranging from adhesion to the host cell to the release of mature virions into the extracellular environment.

Employability skills

Analytical skills
The students have to think about Duesberg's comments and analyse what they mean to select the correct facts from the literature to demonstrate that Duesberg's comments about HIV are wrong.
Research
The student has to use text books and journals to respond to the points raised in the assignment.
Written communication
1000 word assignment in which the students have to respond to the nine assertions by Duesberg in which he claims that HIV does not cause HIV.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 30%
Written exam 70%

1.5 hour (closed book), on campus, written examination at the end of the unit. 
Exam format – 1 essay from a choice of 5 (70%)
Duesberg E-learning assessment (30%)

Feedback methods

Feedback will be provided on the e-learning projects. Knowledge will also be assessed by 4 MCQ exams set at intervals throughout the course.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Assessment written exam 1.3
Lectures 22
Independent study hours
Independent study 76.7

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Nicola High Unit coordinator

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