Microbiology Degrees 2013
Microbiology is the study of bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. On a Microbiology degree programme at Surrey you will study microbes at a cellular level and learn about their interactions with higher organisms, including the way in which microbes cause disease, the spread of infections through a population, and strategies for preventing and treating diseases caused by microbes.
Degree programmes
Entry requirements
Minimum entry requirements
- A level grades ABB
We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking in our offers.
Conditional offers from Surrey will be made in grades or marks, and not listed in points from the UCAS tariff.
Required subjects
GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above (or equivalent).
At least one science A level, preferably Biology.
English language requirements
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 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.
Other suitable qualifications
Cambridge Pre-U
M1, M1, M2
European Baccalaureate
74%
International Baccalaureate
34 points
BTEC (QCF Level 3) Extended Diploma
DDM
In addition, we accept a wide range of qualifications, including other Level 3 QCF Level 3 qualifications, Scottish qualifications, the Irish Leaving Certificate, Access Diplomas and foundation courses. Other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis.
It is important to check whether the qualifications you are taking are suitable for your chosen degree. If you are uncertain whether your qualification meets our entry requirements, please contact us.
If you are an international student and you don’t meet the entry requirements to this degree, we offer the International Foundation Year.
Selection process
Offers are made in terms of grades. We may invite candidates for interview. We invite suitable candidates to visit the University to find out more about the programme and meet staff and students.
Tuition fees
UK/EU students
Tuition fees are currently set at £9,000 per year for UK/EU undergraduates starting in 2012.
The tuition charge will be accompanied by a generous financial support package, underlining our continued commitment to widening access for those students who come from low income households.
Overseas students
The fee for students classed as overseas for fees purposes is £15,160.
The University will assess your fee status. If you are unsure whether you are likely to be considered a home, EU or overseas student for fees purposes, the UKCISA website offers more information.
Professional Training Year Fees
Programmes marked with an asterisk (*) in the table above include a professional training year.
Currently fees of £1,050 (based on an inflation assumption of 2.5%) are charged for the Professional Training Year. Fees will not have to be paid up front for those students who decide to take up the Government’s loan for higher education fees. The Professional Training year is a key factor in the high employability rates achieved by students with Surrey degrees.
Our degrees
Biotechnology is the study of the systems that govern gene expression and metabolic pathways, and how manipulation of these systems can be applied to the use of microbes as ‘cell factories’ to make gene therapies, replace missing components in defective cells and synthesise therapeutic drugs from byproducts of microbial metabolism.
Our degree programmes will develop your expertise in an exciting field of science that is progressing rapidly. As such, these degree programmes benefit from a strong emphasis on laboratory-based practical work, and include modules that focus on the cutting-edge aspects of this area of science.
In addition to Microbiology and Biotechnology, we offer degrees in Medical Microbiology, and Food Science and Microbiology. Many modules from the Biochemistry, Nutrition, Food Science and Biomedical Science programmes are available to you in order that you can broaden your understanding of related fields. All degree programmes include the option to undertake a Professional Training year.
You can transfer between Microbiology and Biotechnology programmes during your first year if you decide upon a different specialisation. It is usually possible to transfer at any stage up to the start of your third year. Transfer to other degree programmes is also possible during the earlier stages of your degree.
Our Microbiology and Biotechnology programmes encompass a broad range of biological science, covering everything from molecular biology to biochemistry of micro-organisms, and pathogenesis of disease to the creation of pharmaceutical agents via microbial exploitation.
After graduating in Microbiology or Biotechnology, you are likely to find employment in either the medical, pharmaceutical, environmental or food industries, or alternatively go on to do a PhD before embarking on a career in research.
The Times Higher Education league table has frequently rated Surrey as the very best in terms of employment prospects for bioscience graduates, and we have always been rated among the top ten universities for this criterion.
Programme content
Programme overview
The modular structure of our programmes allows the study of a broad base of topics during the first two years of the degree. More specialised topics are studied in the final year, together with the completion of a research project that will give you the opportunity to explore a research area you are especially interested in and develop lab-based skills and experience in that area. Together with the Professional Training year, this means that our graduates are well-rounded, knowledgeable and eminently employable.
In year 1 you will study a broad range of microbiology and biotechnology topics to allow you to develop a strong foundation of knowledge in the subject. Laboratory practical sessions will complement your study of theoretical modules in topics such as medical microbiology, cell biology and molecular biology. You will also study some biochemistry in order to refine your understanding of biochemical aspects of microbiology.
During year 2 you will study aspects of microbiology and biotechnology in greater depth, and will apply basic theories to more complex scenarios and scientific phenomena. Specifically, areas such as cellular microbiology, immunology and virology are explored. A specific focus of your studies in year 2 prepares you for your Professional Training year.
In year 3 the core taught modules you will study vary, depending on your specialist pathway, and include topics such as advanced immunology, molecular biology, systems biology and medical biochemistry. The largest single component of the year is the research project (equivalent to two modules) carried out under the supervision of a member of academic staff.
Programme structure
Year 1 (FHEQ Level 4)
Modules include:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Physiology
- Microbiology
- Chemistry and Maths for Biosciences
Year 2 (FHEQ Level 5)
Modules include:
- Microbial Communities and Interactions
- Pathology and Medicine
- Food Microbiology
- Introduction to Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Cellular Microbiology and Virology
Professional Training year
- Optional Professional Training placement year
Year 3 (FHEQ Level 6)
Modules include:
- Molecular Biology and Genetics
- Clinical Immunology and Immunohaematology
- Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases
- Food Microbiology
- Biomedical Product Discovery
- Metabolic Engineering and Systems Biology
- Research Project
Professional training
The vast majority of our students choose to undertake a Professional Training year. We take great pride in our Professional Training programme, which is one of the very best available. Our experienced tutors help you to choose suitable placements from a strictly vetted selection of excellent industrial, hospital and academic institutions. Many of our Professional Training year partners have taken Surrey students regularly for many years.
Most of our placements provide a salary, and to ensure their success, students are visited by a tutor three times during the year. We have placements across the UK, including major pharmaceutical, food and biotechnology companies and research institutes.
We also provide placements outside the UK. Examples of organisations that have participated in the scheme include the New Zealand Food Safety Authority, Solvay Pharmaceuticals (the Netherlands), the University of Turku (Finland), Okayama University (Japan) and Cornell University Medical School (USA).
Career opportunities
Graduate prospects
Graduates over the last few years entered employment in roles such as:
- Procter & Gamble – Microbiology Researcher
- TMO Renewals – Scientist
- Sanofi Aventis – Microbiology Analyst
- Campden BRI Laboratory – Technician
- University of Eastern Finland – Researcher
- Jordans & Ryvita Company – Taste and Development Technician
- Leatherhead Food Research – Research Assistant
Many students progress to higher degrees at Masters and doctorate levels.
Career opportunities
University of Surrey Microbiology graduates are employed in academic and industrial research laboratories throughout the world. Look for Surrey amongst the top universities for employment in general and subject-specific league tables. The majority of our graduates go immediately into the job market, and many others choose further study such as MSc degrees and PhD studentships. The many transferable skills that you will gain during your studies ensure that you will be a suitable candidate for a wide variety of science careers, whether you want to be a laboratory-based research scientist or a science journalist. Graduates of the Medical Microbiology programme have also gone on to study medicine.
Additional information
Teaching
We offer a modular degree based on a structured programme of advanced study which allows you to pursue the subjects essential to your particular degree, but at the same time offers you the flexibility to study other subjects of interest. During your first year, almost a third of your time is spent in laboratory classes.
In your second year, the study becomes more specialised and you will focus on many different aspects of the subject. In your final year, you will be performing your own scientific research project, usually in one of our research laboratories. Throughout your degree, we provide support to some of the core modules in an electronic format, to complement the excellent facilities offered by the Library.
Facilities
Our degree programmes are enhanced through the use of cutting-edge laboratory facilities. Our commitment to the development of your practical skills means that you will use equipment allowing you to analyse the genetic make-up of different types of microbes, and specialist computer software enabling the modelling of microbiological systems and metabolic pathways. For your research project in year 3, you will work within our research laboratories alongside active researchers, and will have the opportunity to contribute to established research projects being undertaken by the Department.
Assessment
Each module is assessed individually and credits are awarded for the successful completion of each one. Assessment takes place through a combination of examination and/or coursework, practical examinations and practical reports as appropriate. Credits are accumulated towards the award of Bachelor of Science (BSc) with honours.
On average you will have approximately 24 hours of contact time each week (lectures, practical classes and tutorials), and you will also be expected to undertake private study such as laboratory write-ups, essays and other coursework for a similar amount of time.
Academic Support
You will be allocated a personal tutor during your first week at the University and will normally keep this tutor throughout the degree programme. They will provide advice to you on personal and academic matters, including reviewing your progress on the programme, advising on module, placement and career options and providing information about wider support services at the University.
Why Surrey?
Microbiology degrees 2013 at Surrey
- The Guardian University Guide 2013 ranks Surrey twelfth out of 97 in the UK for its biological sciences programmes. The Times Good University Guide 2013 and The Complete University Guide 2013 both rank us in the top twenty
- Cutting-edge programme content reflects rapid developments in microbiology and biotechnology
- Rated as one of the top research faculties in the country by the latest Research Assessment Exercise
- Paid Professional Training year placements in the UK and abroad available to all students
- Transferable skills developed in preparation for employment
- Dedicated approach to teaching and developing practical laboratory skills
- Taught by nationally and internationally recognised academics
- An outstanding employment record
- Emphasis on developing practical laboratory skills