- 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
Course unit details:
Current Topics in Microbiology
| Unit code | BIOL31351 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 10 |
| Unit level | Level 3 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
You will study some of the most recent advances in Microbiology including in the areas of evolutionary microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, microbial pathogenesis, synthetic/systems biology, microbiomes, CRISPR-Cas, and microbial genomics.
Pre/co-requisites
| Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Bacteriology | BIOL21181 | Pre-Requisite | Recommended |
Aims
To provide students with an insight into some of the most recent advances in Microbiology.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course students will have an appreciation of;
- Evolutionary microbiology
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis
- Genetic engineering of microbes for synthetic/systems biology applications
- Microbiome ecology and its effects on health and disease
- Horizontal gene transfer and genome evolution
Syllabus
The syllabus will be based around 5 main themes; evolutionary microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, microbial pathogenesis, genetic engineering for synthetic/systems biology applications, microbiomes, and microbial genomics.
Employability skills
- Innovation/creativity
- Opportunity to deliver talks with a creative use of visual aids and verbal communication.
- Oral communication
- Students will record a 5 minute video on a suggested topic related to the course.
- Research
- Students will be taught from recent research articles and reviews and will have to research the topic and extract the most pertinent details for their 5 minute talk and for the written assessment.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written assignment (inc essay) | 70% |
| Oral assessment/presentation | 30% |
Written assignments (70%):
To complete one ‘News & Views’ style written assignment (open book) on subjects covered in the lectures
Oral assessment/video presentation (30%):
Record a 5 minute video on a Current Microbiology topic
Feedback methods
Individual feedback will be given on the 5 min recoded talk.
Written individual feedback will be provided for the two ‘News & Views’ style assignments.
Recommended reading
Primary papers and review articles selected by lecturers teaching on the unit.
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 18 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 82 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Rok Krasovec | Unit coordinator |