- UCAS course code
- C507
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
BSc Microbiology with Entrepreneurship
- Typical A-level offer: AAA-AAB including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: AAB-ABC including specific subjects
- UK 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
Overview
Course overview
- Improve your employability by combining business, enterprise and entrepreneurial skills with your degree.
- Use your entrepreneurship skills in the world of work on a year-long placement.
- Learn lab techniques used in biomedical research.
- Be introduced to a wide range of biological sciences in Year 1, before choosing more specialist units in later years.
- Apply for membership of the Royal Society of Biology at Member (MRSB) level after just two years of practice instead of three thanks to our Advanced Accreditation status.
Open days
Attending an open day is a great way to find out what studying at Manchester is like. Find out about our upcoming open days.
We also operate campus tours where a student ambassador will tell you all about life at the University. You may also meet with admissions staff, subject to staff availability. These tours run on most days and are open to anybody thinking of applying for any of our courses in biosciences.
To book, please email the Admissions Office at least two weeks before you wish to have a tour to allow us sufficient time to arrange this ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 529 4539
- ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/biology
- School/Faculty overview
-
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
A-level
AAA - AAB, including two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics (the Core Sciences ). You must have a minimum of grades AB in at least two Core Sciences.
Applicants predicted/who have achieved AAB in their A levels will receive an offer of AAB, while those predicted/who have achieved AAA or higher will be eligible for an offer of AAA.
If you are taking only one of the above Core Science subjects, we can consider you for an AAA offer if you are also sitting an A level in at least one of Geography, Psychology, Environmental Studies or Physical Education in place of the second Core Science. If your predicted grades are one grade below our minimum entry requirements we may still make you an aspirational offer if you meet our contextual criteria .
Subjects with overlapping content are not normally considered as separate A-levels. For example, Further Mathematics is not considered alongside Mathematics and Human Biology is not considered alongside Biology. If you are concerned there is too much overlap in your A level subjects, please contact us for advice before applying.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
A-level contextual offer
AAB - ABC including specific subjects.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
Contextual offers are available for applicants who:
- live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
- live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
- have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
UK refugee/care-experienced offer
ABB - ABC including specific subjects.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:
- have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
- have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
International Baccalaureate
35 - 36 points overall. 6, 6, 5 to 6,6,6 in Higher Level subjects, including two science subjects, normally Biology and Chemistry
Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.
GCSE/IGCSE
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 4 or C in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the admissions team in your academic School/Department for clarification.
Other entry requirements
Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
Country-specific entry requirements
English language requirements
All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:
GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade 4/C, or;
IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.5 in any one component, or;
An acceptable equivalent qualification.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.
If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student requiring a visa to study in the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language (common European Framework (CEFR B2 level) to be granted a Student Route visa (previously known as a Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
In addition, our academic Schools/Departments may require applicants to demonstrate English proficiency above the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found here .
English language test validity
Fees and funding
Fees
Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 per annum for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.
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).
Scholarships/sponsorships
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
We would normally only consider applicants who obtained the relevant qualification within the three years prior to entry.
Applicants who have left education for more than three years would normally be recommended to take an Access course or exceptionally considered for the Foundation Year.
Applicants should contact the Admissions Office to discuss their particular circumstances.
You should not usually apply for more than one of the bioscience courses offered by The University of Manchester. Please contact us for advice if you are planning to do so.
Home-schooled applicants
If you have followed a non-standard educational route and have been, for example, educated at home, your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course to which you applied. You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the academic entry requirements as specified for the course. We will also require a reference which should be written by somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. Please refer to UCAS for further information: UCAS reference guidelines
Non-standard educational routes
How your application is considered
Deferrals
Policy for applicants who resit their qualifications
Re-applications
Course details
Course description
This course involves the study of microorganisms with particular emphasis on the biology of bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoan parasites.
Microbiologists are needed to do the research required to battle against infectious diseases worldwide, understanding the environmental importance of microbes and to exploit them for food production, biotechnological and industrial applications.
The main focus of our course is the pathogenic potential of the organisms that cause disease in man. You will also cover aspects of the biochemistry, physiology and genetics of microorganisms.
You will spend your first year learning fundamental concepts before specialising in microbiology topics in your later years.
The entrepreneurship units will be offered via the Masood Enterprise Centre (MEC) of the Alliance Manchester Business School at the University, exposing you to key learning in business innovation. The course also includes a year in industry on a research or business placement.
Special features
Learn alongside other entrepreneurship students
Connect with other science students with an interest in business innovation.
Learn alongside other students taking a variety of degrees at the University, giving you the opportunity to practice your skills with your fellow students and make new friends.
Study abroad
Industry placements are available at home and abroad where you can use your entrepreneurship and/or anatomical skills in a range of ways including innovation work, biotech and marketing.
Foundation Year available
You can prepare for the full degree course if you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry by undertaking our foundation course first.
Flexibility to transfer between courses
You can transfer between most of our bioscience degree courses at the end of your first year or, in some cases, later. You can only transfer onto this course if you have completed the required entrepreneurship units in Year 1.
Teaching and learning
The course consists of two-thirds of biological sciences learning and one-third entrepreneurship learning. You will learn your entrepreneurship alongside other students taking a variety of degrees at the University.
You will benefit from a wide range of teaching and learning methods that suit the content and aims of each course unit.
These range from lectures and tutorials to practicals and research projects, including the final year project .
Find out more about how you will learn and see a typical Year 1 timetable on our teaching and learning page .
Coursework and assessment
Assessment methods vary widely to suit the nature of the course unit and each level of study.
- Lecture units are usually assessed by written exam (multiple choice or essay-based), which are held at the end of an academic semester in either January or May/June.
- Practical units are usually assessed by experimental report and/or short written assignment and/or written exam.
- The proportion of independent study assignments increases during each year of study.
Year 1
Lecture units are usually assessed by e-learning activities during the unit and multiple choice exams at the end of the semester. Year 1 contributes 10% to your overall degree mark.
Year 2
Lecture units are usually assessed by essay-based exam, and some units also include a coursework element. Year 2 contributes 30% to your overall degree mark.
Placement year
You will write a scientific placement report, which is submitted and assessed when you return to University in your final year. The mark for the report, and the associated viva voce oral examination, contribute approximately 10% towards your overall degree mark.
Final year
Lecture units are usually assessed by essay-based exam. You will also take two 'honours' papers and examinations comprising essays and data-handling problems.
A significant part of the year (accounting for one-quarter of the overall degree mark) is the project, which is assessed through a presentation and a written report.
The final year contributes 60% to your overall degree mark.
Course unit details
This course is modular. You will study compulsory course units and choose some optional units.
Most science units are assigned 10 credits and you will take 120 credits each year.
You will need to acquire 20 entrepreneurship credits per year, and there is some choice in which units you choose after Year 1.
Course content for year 1
You will gain a broad introduction to biological sciences, covering key concepts such as:
- microbiology
- biochemistry
- genetics
- biodiversity
- molecular biology
In addition, you will study fundamental concepts of entrepreneurial skills and business management. The Alliance Manchester Business School will deliver core knowledge of enterprise, markets and finance, and you will build entrepreneurial skills by writing your first business proposal.
Year 1 also provides an introduction to the essential data handling and laboratory skills required for all biological scientists.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
BIOL10000 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL10212 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL10221 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL10232 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL10412 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL10511 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL10521 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL10532 | 10 | Mandatory | |
Writing and Referencing Skills (online unit) | BIOL10741 | 0 | Mandatory |
BIOL12000 | 0 | Mandatory | |
Displaying 10 of 17 course units for year 1 | |||
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Course content for year 2
You will continue your studies in greater depth and begin to specialise. You will also undertake a Science Communication unit.
In the Research Skills unit, you have the opportunity to carry out techniques that are widely used in current biological science research.
You will gain more choice in entrepreneurship units, for example, Enterprise Strategy and Marketing or Interdisciplinary Sustainable Development.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
BIOL20000 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL20342 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL21051 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL21181 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL21192 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL21381 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL21392 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL21101 | 10 | Optional | |
BIOL21111 | 10 | Optional | |
BIOL21121 | 10 | Optional | |
Displaying 10 of 28 course units for year 2 | |||
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Course content for year 3
Course content for year 4
Final year topics reflect the current hotspots of bioscience endeavour and the research interests of our staff, and are constantly being updated.
You will undertake an independent in-depth research project that may involve supervised practical work in a laboratory, or you may choose to work on e-learning, educational, data analysis, bioinformatics or enterprise topics.
You will continue your entrepreneurial training and can specialise in healthcare or more broadly in feasibility and strategy.
Course units for year 4
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
BIOL30000 | 0 | Mandatory | |
BIOL31351 | 10 | Mandatory | |
BIOL30030 | 40 | Optional | |
BIOL31080 | 40 | Optional | |
BIOL31220 | 40 | Optional | |
BIOL31250 | 40 | Optional | |
HSTM32011 | 10 | Optional | |
HSTM33201 | 10 | Optional | |
MCEL30001 | 10 | Optional | |
MCEL30002 | 10 | Optional | |
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What our students say
Facilities
Learning facilities
Our modern teaching labs are equipped for a range of biological and biomedical techniques. The following are just a few of the techniques you could undertake during your degree:
- polymerase chain reaction (PCR);
- DNA sequencing;
- gel electrophoresis;
- spectrophotometry;
- dissection and histology;
- electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG);
- immunofluorescence microscopy.
Our computing facilities include access to over 200 PCs in dedicated clusters and e-learning tools including online lecture notes, discussion boards, lecture podcasts and quizzes. You will also have access to the University's other facilities for undergraduate students.
Research facilities
As a final year student, you have the opportunity to undertake a project in the labs of our world-class bioscience researchers. To support our research, we have extensive research facilities equipped with high-quality technology.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
Graduates with skills in business and innovation are extremely desirable to employers who require significant relevant work experience.
In the growing field of bioscience research collaborations, graduates with entrepreneurship skills are at a distinct advantage.
Our graduates go into a wide range of sectors. Many secure jobs as researchers and business leaders in academia and industry, while others go into lab-based careers that do not involve research.
Others choose careers in the healthcare sector such as pharmaceuticals and medicine, most of which require further study, while some take up positions in other sectors entirely, eg education.
Find out more about how we help our students prepare for the workplace and the careers our graduates go into within and outside the lab.
Global Careers
Studying a bioscience course is a great way to explore your interests and prepare for an exciting array of careers.
Our graduates progress into roles across the globe. Here are a few examples of the range of careers our bioscience students have progressed into:
- Zoology graduate Anish is the founder of Think Wildlife Foundation (Biodiversity Conservation) in India.
- Pharmacology graduate John is a business-focused marketer working in New York.
- Biology graduate Mark is Vice President at Pfizer Vaccines R&D in New York.
- Medical Biochemistry graduate Laura Ann is a communications consultant in Singapore.
- Zoology graduate Rosie is a Creative and Content Marketing Manager in Valencia, Spain.
Discover more about bioscience careers .
Accrediting organisations
This course has Advanced Accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology.
Advanced Accreditation recognises academic excellence in the biosciences, highlighting degrees that contain a significant research element and educate the future leaders of research and development.
The criteria require evidence that graduates meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including gaining substantial research experience.
In recognition of this, a graduate of an advanced accredited course can apply for membership of the Royal Society of Biology at Member (MRSB) level after just two years of practice, rather than the usual three.
These graduates can attain the qualifications of Chartered Biologist or Chartered Scientist one year sooner than graduates from other courses.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.