- UCAS course code
- C500
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Early clearing information
This course is available through clearing for home and international applicants
If you already have your exam results, meet the entry requirements, and are not holding an offer from a university or college, then you may be able to apply to this course.
Contact the admissions team
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 |