Program Overview

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BSc Microbiology with Industrial/Professional Experience

Overview

Course Overview

Spend the third year of your degree gaining valuable work experience to enhance your CV. Choose from placements with partner organisations in the UK and overseas. 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.

A Study Experience that Makes a Difference

We place social responsibility at the heart of your learning which means you can take advantage of unique ways to make a difference while studying with us, through your course or through extra-curricular activities.

• Complete our Ethical Grand Challenges to learn how you can create a better world and become more socially responsible.
• Work with an external organisation to tackle real-world sustainability problems through our University Living Lab.
• Discover subjects that broaden your horizon with our interdisciplinary learning opportunities.

Explore how you'll make your mark

Every course at Manchester contributes towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, so no matter what you're studying you'll be playing an active role in the protection of people and planet.

You will explore the following goals in your course:

• Goal 3: Good health and well-being

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.

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.

UK Refugee/Care-Experienced Offer

• ABB- ABC 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.

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.

Other Entry Requirements

• Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
• Select other entry requirements Scottish requirements Welsh Baccalaureate Foundation year Pearson BTEC qualifications OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications Access to HE Diploma T Level Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

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.
• Tuition fees are considerably lower for your placement year. Please see the fees page for full details.

Additional Expenses

• There are no additional expenses.

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.

Scholarships/Sponsorships

• Students participating in placements outside the UK may be able to apply for funding from the UK's Turing scheme depending on eligibility. Priority will be given to students from low income households.

Application and Selection

How to Apply

• Apply through UCAS.

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.

Home-Schooled Applicants

• If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying.
• You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course.
• We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education.

Non-Standard Educational Routes

• Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences.
• Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest.
• There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.

How Your Application is Considered

• Applications are considered on the basis of the UCAS form.
• Some candidates may be interviewed online or by telephone, or asked to complete an alternative admissions statement.

Deferrals

• Applications for deferred entry are considered equally to other applications up to the point of confirmation.
• Deferred entry is granted at the discretion of admissions staff, and is normally granted for one year only and two years at the maximum.

Policy for Applicants Who Resit Their Qualifications

• The University will consider applicants who have re-sat individual modules.
• If you have re-sat your final examinations we may consider your application in exceptional circumstances.
• We would generally require a minimum grade of an A for any subject being re-sat.

Re-Applications

• If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again.
• Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.
• In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.

Course Details

Course Description

• Our BSc Microbiology 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 for the future 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.

Special Features

• A range of study options
• Foundation Year available
• Flexibility to transfer between courses

Teaching and Learning

• 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.

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.

Course Unit Details

• This course is modular.
• You will study compulsory course units and choose some optional units.
• Most units are assigned 10 credits and you will take 120 credits each year.

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
• Year 1 also provides an introduction to the essential data handling and laboratory skills required for all biological scientists.

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.

Course Content for Year 3

• You can apply to spend your third year on a placement with one of our partner organisations in the UK or overseas.
• We have trusted partner organisations including pharmaceutical companies, research institutes and hospitals.
• Our Microbiology students have recently had placements with organisations such as GlaxoSmithKline and APIS Assay Technologies.

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.

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

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.

Careers

Career Opportunities

• Microbiologists are in demand in medical research, quality control, and the biotechnology industry.
• The significant and relevant work experience gained during the year of industrial/professional experience makes graduates of this course especially attractive to employers.
• 95% of our graduates are in work or further study within six months of completing this course.
• Many of our graduates secure jobs as researchers working in universities, pharmaceutical and bioscience companies and institutes.
• Some of our graduates progress into laboratory-based careers in clinical or technical roles that do not involve research.
• The transferable skills you will develop will also leave you well-equipped for a wide range of careers 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.

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.