Program Overview

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Molecular Microbiology MSc

The Molecular Microbiology MSc is designed to provide a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the molecular biology of micro-organisms. Students will study the key concepts associated with molecular microbiology and use these when considering their role in health and disease.

Level of Study

• Masters

Entry Requirements

• 2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a biological subject
• Applicants with relevant employment experience or qualifications will also be considered

Start Date

• January 2026, September 2026, and January 2027

Duration

• One year full-time
• Two years full-time with one year placement
• Two years part-time

Attendance

• Full-time
• Part-time
• Placement year

Course Delivery

• On-campus (Clifton Campus)

About this Course

This course provides students with opportunities to study advanced principles of the metabolism and genetics of microbes, focusing on bacteria, and microbes involved in clinical health and infectious diseases. Further studies specialize in modern genomics and infectious disease diagnosis. Practical work forms a large proportion of the learning to ensure that students have extensive skills for employment or research.

Additional Qualifications

• Students have the option to gain an additional Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice if they do a work placement on the Sandwich-route

World-Leading Research

• 99% of NTU's Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing, and Pharmacy submission was assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent by the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021)

High Levels of Student Satisfaction

• 95% of molecular biology, biophysics, and biochemistry students are satisfied with the quality of their course (PTES, 2024"

What You'll Study"

The Molecular Microbiology Masters is made up of six core modules and a research project. If students are part-time or a sandwich student, they will continue to study the second year from the modules listed below.

Module Information

Here's a breakdown of what students will be studying throughout the course:"

Research Methods and Bioethics"

• This module encourages students to think beyond their own subject and interact accordingly"
• Students will gain a solid foundation in literature review, research design and planning, data analysis, and presentation by focusing their studies on a related ethical issue"
• 20 credits

Molecular Microbiology

• This module provides students with a strong grounding in microbial structure, physiology, and behavior at the molecular level"
• The module content draws on recent research findings to provide students with awareness of the current trends in the field"
• 20 credits

Medical Microbiology

• Through interactive eLearning material and face-to-face seminars, students will develop an appreciation of the importance of medical microbiology in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease"
• Students will study diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites"
• 20 credits

Business and Enterprise

• Students will approach ideas generation in a creative manner to understand the role of new business concepts and their development in the biosciences industry"
• Students will explore all aspects of starting up a new biosciences company, including new product development, marketing and research, pricing, distribution, and promotion"
• 20 credits

Microbial Diagnostics

• This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the rationale and process of designing modern microbial diagnostic assays"
• Students will explore the theory and rationale of techniques such as culture-based diagnosis, serology, PCR, microarrays, and sequencing for infectious disease diagnostics"
• 20 credits

Techniques in Macromolecular Analysis

• The aims of this module are to provide advanced knowledge and understanding of techniques that can be used to isolate and purify macromolecules and the approaches that can be used to track, study, and predict macromolecular structure and function"
• The module will explore current topics and their application to macromolecular analysis and will allow the development of research skills through the design, analysis, and interpretation of data using electronic simulation strategies and bioinformatic tools"
• 20 credits

Research Project

• Students will choose from a range of research projects offered by academic staff, giving them the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to an in-depth investigation in a specialist area of biosciences"
• Students will learn to critically evaluate literature, apply appropriate methodologies, analyze and interpret data, and communicate their findings in a variety of formats"
• 60 credits

How You're Taught

Students will learn through:

• Lectures
• Guided reading supported by the University's virtual learning portal
• Workshops
• Written and oral presentations
• Research reports
• Attendance at regular research seminars
• Developing their skills portfolio

Research-Informed Teaching

By daring to think differently, our research is tackling real-world issues. The subjects students will study with us are informed by our research, so they can be sure their knowledge will be cutting-edge in their field.

Entry Requirements

UK Students

• Academic entry requirements: 2.2 honors degree or equivalent in a biological subject
• Applicants with relevant employment experience or qualifications will also be considered

International Students

• Academic entry requirements: 2.2 honors degree or equivalent in a biological subject
• We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world
• English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for the subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English

Fees and Funding

UK Students

• Full-time: £10,300
• Full-time with placement year: £10,300 + £1,905 for placement year
• Part-time: £5,150

International Students

• Full-time: £20,750
• Full-time with placement year: £20,750 + £1,905 for placement year

Careers and Employability

There are a wide range of career opportunities within microbiology. Students will work with leading academics on their course, so they will have gained important academic and professional skills necessary to help them obtain employment in this field.

Skills Portfolio

Students will gather together relevant practical skills throughout laboratory classes, producing a training record. This can be presented to potential employers as proof of competence in a laboratory setting.

Employability Team

The University's Employability Team has an enviable reputation for helping graduates find employment and offers individual consultations.

Campus and Facilities

Students will mainly be studying in the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Centre (ISTeC) and Rosalind Franklin Buildings, with access to facilities including our extensive SuperLab, with space for almost 200 students.