MSc Medical Microbiology (Research)

Entry standards

Applicants should usually possess at least a Second class honours degree in a relevant subject from an approved university. Students must be in appropriate employment and will usually have at least one year of experience in this environment. 

Applications from persons not possessing the qualifications mentioned above may be considered depending on the length and quality of their experience, published works and recommendations from employers. Such candidates may be required to complete a qualifying assessment. 

Selection is based upon a candidate’s application, references and an informal interview. In special circumstances, a student may be set work for assessment before being offered a place on the programme.

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).

Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.

MSc Medical Microbiology (Research) - structure and modules

Module Titles

Modules

• Viral Infections
• Management and Laboratory Skills
• Epidemiology: Disease Control and Public Health
• Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Bacterial, Protozoal and Fungal Pathogens: Diseases, Diagnosis and Treatment
• Immunology and Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease

Module Overview

The taught programme consists of the following modules, which run in a two-year cycle. 

Each module is worth 15 or 30 credits:

Viral Infections

This module covers the aetiology, clinical features, laboratory diagnosis, pathogenesis, epidemiology and control of viral diseases. 

Bacterial, Protozoal and Fungal Pathogens: Diseases, Diagnosis and Treatment 

This module covers the aetiology, clinical features, laboratory diagnosis, pathogenesis, epidemiology and control of bacterial diseases. This module and the Viral Infections module aim to consolidate and expand your prior basic knowledge and form the core of medical microbiology. 

Immunology and Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease

This module gives you a broad, basic understanding of the cellular and biochemical mechanisms involved in protecting the host from disease. The module highlights the roles of immunology and the infecting microorganism in the generation of pathological changes accompanying infectious disease. The module involves a mixture of lectures and practical exercises. 

Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology 

This module consolidates prior basic knowledge of microbial genetics, and considers further those aspects especially relevant to medical microbiology. The module involves a mixture of lectures and practical exercises.

Epidemiology: Disease Control and Public Health

This module examines the strategies used in controlling infectious diseases, the basic methods used in epidemiology and the factors affecting disease spread. The module includes an introduction to the microbial ecology of food and water, the effects of processing/treatment and the practical measures taken to ensure a safe and wholesome supply.

Management and Laboratory Skills 

This module is an introduction to aspects of management (presentation skills, team building, problem solving, and so on) and the skills required for research management, including the principles of laboratory safety.

Research Project 

All students aiming for the MSc qualification undertake a research project and submit a dissertation. Part-time students usually do their project at their normal place of work, while full-time students will do their project in one of the Faculty’s research laboratories. 

This carries 60 credits for the part-time programme and 90 credits for the full-time programme.

Subject information

Why study Medical Microbiology at the University of Surrey? 

• The programmes provide excellent training in medical microbiology
• The part-time programme, Medical Microbiology, provides established graduates working in medical microbiology laboratories (or other comparable laboratories) with an opportunity to enhance their career prospects 
• The full-time programme, Medical Microbiology (Research), provides an excellent research training in an internationally renowned group, coupled with a full taught MSc 
• The part-time MSc programme is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and fulfils one entry criteria for the Higher Specialist Diploma examination and also enables eligible members of the Institute to be recognised as Chartered Scientists
• The programmes offer flexibility in the method of study, allowing you to meet personal and professional commitments 
• The University of Surrey has a long tradition as an international university and, whether part-time or full-time, you will have access to all the facilities that such an institution can provide 
• The programmes are run within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, which was rated as one of the top research faculties in the country by the latest Research Assessment Exercise 
• Staff associated with the programmes have research expertise in the fields of microbial physiology and biochemistry, molecular biology, virology, bacteriology, food microbiology, immunology, toxicology, pathology and epidemiology 
• You will be provided with a broad appreciation of subjects such as the biological and pathogenic properties of microorganisms, their role in health and disease, the reactions of the host to infection, and the scientific basis for the detection, control and anti-microbial treatment of infectious diseases 
• We engage a range of outside lecturers who are experts in their field to provide an emphasis on recent advances in the areas covered – this ensures that you receive an education from the best clinicians and scientists 
• You will be exposed to the most recent developments in microbiology, including the rapidly expanding fields of molecular biology and immunology

Programme Structure 

The programme consists of six taught modules totalling 120 credits (two 30-credit or four 15-credit modules per year) and a research project. Full-time students studying for MSc only need 90 credits from taught modules, but would be required to take all the taught modules for the award of a PG Diploma.

Part-time students attend the University on Wednesdays and perform their project at their workplace. Full-time students join a research group at the University and receive their practical and research training within our research laboratories.

MSc Medical Microbiology (Research) - entry standards

Entry standards

Applicants should usually possess at least a Second class honours degree in a relevant subject from an approved university. Students must be in appropriate employment and will usually have at least one year of experience in this environment. 

Applications from persons not possessing the qualifications mentioned above may be considered depending on the length and quality of their experience, published works and recommendations from employers. Such candidates may be required to complete a qualifying assessment. 

Selection is based upon a candidate’s application, references and an informal interview. In special circumstances, a student may be set work for assessment before being offered a place on the programme.

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).

Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.

Planned intake

5

Start date

October, February

Programme director

• Dr Graham Stewart

MSc Medical Microbiology (Research) - fees and funding

Fees

Medical Microbiology (research - full time):

UK/EU - £8,770 
Overseas - £16,748

www.surrey.ac.uk/pgfees/2012

Funding

Students are usually sponsored by their employers for the duration of the programme or are self funded.

MSc Medical Microbiology (Research) - professional context

MSc Medical Microbiology (Research) - teaching

MSc Medical Microbiology (Research) - learning

Assessment 

Each taught module will be assessed by examination and/or coursework. This may take the form of essays, data manipulation and analysis, practical reports or multiple choice questions.

MSc Medical Microbiology (Research) - graduate profile

MSc Medical Microbiology (Research) - more

Programme Objectives 

The part-time Medical Microbiology programme and full-time Medical Microbiology (Research) programme lead to the award of Master of Science. 

Both programmes follow a similar taught programme. It has been designed to increase your understanding and the development of critical and analytical skills, such that you may identify problems, formulate hypotheses, design experiments, acquire and interpret data, and draw conclusions. 

Upon successful completion of the programme you will have a greater depth of knowledge of your chosen subject and will have developed management and research skills which will enhance your professional activities.

Who are the programmes for? 

Part-time Medical Microbiology 

The part-time programme is a day-release programme, intended mainly for graduates already working in diagnostic and public health laboratories. Staff from other laboratories who want to enhance their understanding of the role of microorganisms in health and disease will also benefit from this programme. This includes: 

• Pharmaceutical research personnel 
• Veterinary laboratory staff 
• Food and water laboratory personnel 

Other applicants seeking an understanding of the advances in modern medical microbiology and its associated disciplines will also be considered. This includes: 

• Clinicians 
• Public health personnel 
• Nurses 

The programme is designed to be completed in two years but the flexibility of the programme allows you to take up to six years. 

Awards

Part-time students register for an MSc which will be awarded after the successful completion of modules worth 180 credits, including a research project. Alternatively, you can be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) or a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits). 

You may also attend modules on a one-off basis to update your knowledge in a particular area.

Full-time Medical Microbiology (Research) 

This two-year full-time, enhanced MSc/PhD in Medical Microbiology (Research) is designed for theoretical and practical training in medical microbiology and its allied fields.

The programme provides more extensive research training than one-year, full-time MSc programmes. You will spend four days per week pursuing a research project in internationally recognised laboratories and receive a full, taught MSc programme from leading experts in the field of medical microbiology and its associated disciplines. 

The full-time programme is especially suitable for overseas students who are contemplating a PhD, and for whom the combination of a full-scale research project with a structured taught programme is particularly advantageous. 

Awards 

Students on the full-time programme who have successfully pursued a research project and achieved an appropriate standard throughout the duration of the taught programme may be permitted to transfer their registration and in one further year obtain a PhD. Thus, the awards offered by this programme, and the minimum periods of registration, are: 

• Enhanced MSc: 2 years 
• PhD: 2 years + 1 year 
• MSc and PhD: 2 years + 2 years 
  

In addition, Postgraduate Certificates and Postgraduate Diplomas are available (see part-time programmes).

Short Courses 

• All our lecture modules are offered as stand-alone short courses 
• Each module lasts for six or twelve weeks, depending on their credit-rating, with the lectures taking place on Wednesdays throughout the academic year 
• Individuals wishing only to attend the lectures may do so. Alternatively, you may decide to take the assessment and acquire credits which may contribute to a postgraduate qualification either at the University of Surrey or elsewhere 
• You may take up to three modules as stand-alone courses before registering retrospectively for the MSc and counting the accumulated credits towards your degree 

The fee structure for short courses is different to that for registered students and details may be obtained upon enquiry to the Programme Administrator. Also contact the Programme Administrator for information regarding the timing of each module: 

T: +44 (0)1483 689733 
E: fhms-pg1@surrey.ac.uk 

Length of Study 

The Masters programme is designed to be completed in two years. You may start in October or February in any year. The modular nature of the programme allows you to take up to six years to obtain your extensions after three years.

Students registered for the full-time programme may complete their Masters programme in two years and may be allowed to continue for a minimum of two further years to obtain a PhD. Alternatively (subject to satisfactory progress) you may apply for transfer to PhD registration before completing your MSc, when a minimum of one year of further research will be required.

MSc Medical Microbiology (Research) - apply

• MSc Medical Microbiology (Research) - Full-time - September 2012
• MSc Medical Microbiology (Research) - Full-time - February 2013