Program Overview

MSci Microbiology

The MSci Microbiology course is an integrated master's program that expands on the standard undergraduate curriculum with an additional year of study, leading to a master's level qualification. This course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and developed in partnership with practicing NHS laboratory scientists. The program is specifically geared towards becoming a biomedical scientist, working in hospital and private clinical labs to help doctors diagnose and treat diseases.

Overview

The course has a strong practical basis, and students will learn key cellular, molecular, and biochemical techniques, including live cell microscopy, and DNA and protein technology. Students will benefit from the university's long-standing links with the Royal Berkshire Hospital, with some teaching delivered by practicing NHS laboratory scientists. During the final year, students will have the chance to spend 11 weeks working in a lab on a biomedical research project, on topics as diverse as SARS, HIV, influenza, heart disease, cancer, neurodegeneration, and obesity.

Placement

Students will have the opportunity to carry out a year-long industrial placement between their second and final year. Undertaking a placement in an accredited NHS training lab allows students to work towards the IBMS Certificate of Competence and the Registration Training Portfolio during their degree. Alternatively, students can undertake a broader placement to prepare them for a wider range of careers. Students can also choose to spend a year abroad, typically carrying out research in an academic laboratory.

Learning Environment

The university's new Ł60m Health and Life Sciences building is the home of the School of Biological Sciences, offering state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories, seminar rooms, and plenty of study and social space, including a café.

Facilities and Equipment

Students will have access to a range of facilities and equipment, including:

• A cardiovascular imaging facility
• Advanced microscopy suites purpose-built for biomedical research
• Tissue culture suites
• Multi-mode microplate readers (absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence)
• Multicolour flow cytometry
• Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), digital gel scanning, and documentation
• Spectrophotometers, centrifuges, and ultra-centrifuges
• Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
• Large-scale growth, migration, harvesting, electroporation, and introduction of genes of microbial and animal cells
• Equipment for animal behavioral assays

Entry Requirements

• A Level: ABB with B in Biology, or BBB with B in Biology and B in a second science subject
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points including 5 in Biology at higher level
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DDD, with specific units required
• English language requirements: IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

Structure

The course is divided into four years, with compulsory and optional modules in each year. Compulsory modules include:

• Cellular and Molecular Principles of Life
• Fundamentals of Microbiology
• Fundamentals of Biochemistry
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Advanced Studies in Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Research and Professional Skills
• Infectious Diseases
• Haematology and Immunology
• Molecular Microbiology
• Research Project
• Pathogens
• Applied Microbiology
• Advanced Research Project
• Critical Analysis and Problem Solving
• Project Planning, Laboratory Skills, and Experimental Design

Optional modules include:

• Fundamentals of Evolution
• History of Life on Earth
• Human Pathology
• Fundamentals of Ecology
• Medical Genetics
• Invertebrate Zoology
• Integrated Anatomy and Physiology
• Advanced Ecology
• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
• Food Spoilage, Preservation, and Hazards
• Neuroscience
• Cardiovascular Biology
• Gut Microbiota and Health
• Innovation and Product Development
• Venoms and Poisons: From Pharmacology to Therapeutics
• Evolution in Health and Disease
• Protein Structure and Function
• Cancer and Cell Communication
• Microbiology Field Course
• Epidemiology of Zoonotic Diseases
• Forensics
• Integrated Biochemistry

Fees

• New UK/Republic of Ireland students: Ł9,790 (2026 entry)
• New international students: Ł30,650 (2026/27)
• Additional costs for field trips and extra resources may apply

Careers

The MSci Microbiology will prepare students for either professional or academic success in the field of microbiology. The transferable skills gained will ensure students are highly employable in both scientific and non-scientific job sectors. Past graduates have gone on to work for employers such as Abbot Laboratories, Oxford Biomedica, NHS, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and the Civil Service. Overall, 91% of graduates from the School of Biological Sciences are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation.