Microbiology BSc (Hons) – 2024 entry
Key information
Start date: September 2024
| Award | UCAS code | Course duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) | UCAS: C500 | 3 years View KIS data set |
| BSc (Hons) | UCAS: C501 | 4 years with professional training View KIS data set |
| BSc (Hons) | UCAS: C506 | 4 years with foundation year View KIS data set |
| BSc (Hons) | UCAS: C507 | 5 years with foundation year and professional training View KIS data set |
Apply for your chosen course online through UCAS, with the following course and institution codes.
| Course | UCAS code | Institution code |
|---|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) | C500 | S85 |
| BSc (Hons) with professional training | C501 | S85 |
| BSc (Hons) with foundation year | C506 | S85 |
| BSc (Hons) with foundation year and professional training | C507 | S85 |
Why choose this course
Over 90%
satisfaction for microbiology in the National Student Survey 2022
97%
Of our biosciences and medicine graduates go on to employment or further study.*
- Study a curriculum that explores some of society’s biggest challenges, from emerging disease threats to the increase of antibiotic resistance.
- Access our £12.5 million Innovation for Health Learning Laboratory and use equipment that can found in the NHS and research labs across the world.
- Complete your first practical within your first two weeks at Surrey.
- Gain industry experience through our Professional Training placements, where you can work in one of our partner laboratories across the world.
- Learn from lecturers who are active researchers in virology, antimicrobial resistance, clinical bacteriology, and systems biology, and whose work is used by governments, health professionals and industry.
*Graduate Outcomes survey 2022, HESA
What you will study
Microbiology has provided answers that’s helped society through some of its biggest challenges, but there’s more to discover…
On this course you’ll learn about agents, such as bacteria and viruses, that have a huge impact on human health, the environment, and industry. You’ll learn how microbiology can be applied to develop new vaccines, improve our food and improve the treatment of diseases.
In your first year, you’ll be introduced to the microbial world. You’ll study topics that are fundamental to microbiology, including bacteriology, biochemistry and cell biology, as well as learning important hands-on lab techniques.
During your second year, you’ll get the option to study including virology, food microbiology, human immunology and pathology and medicine. On these modules, you’ll explore topics such as adaptive immune response and cellular injury, as well as the characteristics of the major groups of bacteria, protozoa and viruses.
In your third year, you’ll study biomedical microbial products, human microbial diseases, and the epidemiology of infectious diseases. You can also choose to explore topics such as animal infectious diseases, gene expression, immunohaematology, and pathogenesis and therapeutics of cancer. You’ll also complete a research project, bringing together all the practical, analytical, and presentation skills you’ve developed.
Facilities
You’ll benefit from hands-on learning in our £12.5 million Innovation for Health Learning Laboratory, where TV screens are used to show you how to conduct experiments and follow scientific protocols.
The Laboratory is fitted with the latest industry equipment, that you’ll use to carry out a full range of experiments. These include the analysis of the genetic makeup of different types of microbes and the use of specialist computer software to model microbiological systems and metabolic pathways.
The time you spend in our facilities will give you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with microbiology methodology and develop the practical laboratory experience that’s essential in a research career and valued by a wide range of employers.
In your final year, depending on your research project, you may also get to use our dissertation laboratory.
Teaching staff
We have a research-led focus to our teaching, ensuring everything you learn is up-to-date and relevant to employers. You’ll be taught by lecturers who are active researchers in antimicrobial resistance, biotechnology, clinical bacteriology, systems biology and virology.
These may include:
- Dr Dany Beste, an expert in tuberculosis
- Dr Alison Cottell, an expert in epidemiology and antibiotic resistance
- Dr Jorge Gutierrez-Merino, an expert in the use of probiotics against infectious diseases and inflammatory disorders.
Foundation year
On this course, you can choose to study a foundation year, designed to develop your skills and make it easier for you to get started at university. As a foundation student, you’ll study full-time for one year at foundation level. After successful completion of this year, you’ll move onto your chosen version of this course.
Find out more about our entry requirements, fees and how to apply.
Professional recognition
BSc (Hons) - Royal Society of Biology
Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of meeting, in part, the academic and experience requirement of membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol).
Careers and graduate prospects
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
This course will prepare you for a wide range of careers, from scientific and technical roles in specialised areas, through to those which draw upon the breadth of microbiology, such as teaching and science journalism.
97% of our biosciences and medicine students go on to employment or further study 15 months after graduating, with an average salary of £25,440.* Typical roles include:
- Government and public health scientists
- Research analysts
- Scientific data analysis specialists
- Technicians.
Our alumni can be found in academic and industrial research laboratories around the world, with recent graduates working for:
- Leatherhead Food Research
- Procter & Gamble
- Public Health England
- Sanofi.
With the critical thinking, analysis, problem solving, decision-making, and communication skills learnt throughout the course, several graduates have sought alternative careers in business, healthcare, teaching and tourism. Many students also use this course to apply for further study, including postgraduate research.
*Graduate Outcomes survey 2022, HESA.
Staff
This course is taught by academic staff from the School of Biosciences.
Accreditations
Accreditation
Academic year structure
The academic year is divided into two semesters of 15 weeks each. Each semester consists of a period of teaching, revision/directed learning and assessment.
Modules
Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that modules may be subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff. Modules usually can be either 15, 30, 45 or 60, 75 and 120 credits, and additionally for some masters dissertations, 90 credits.
The structure of our programmes follow clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes.
Please note: The full module listing for the optional Professional Training placement part of your course can be viewed on the relevant programme specification.
| Module title | Status | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| FOUNDATION YEAR FOR BIOSCIENCES | Compulsory | Year-long |
Optional modules for Foundation - FHEQ Level 3
For further information relating to FHEQ levels 4, 5 and 6, including learning outcomes, aims and module information please view the BSc (Hons) Microbiology.
Optional modules for Year 2 - FHEQ Level 5
Choose six optional modules. A total of four modules must be taken each semester.
BMS2043 is optional - mutually exclusive with BMS2053
BMS2053 is optional - mutually exclusive with BMS2043
Optional modules for Year 3 - FHEQ Level 6
Choose four optional modules.
Optional modules for Year 2 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 5
Choose six optional modules. A total of four modules must be taken each semester.
BMS2043 is optional - mutually exclusive with BMS2053
BMS2053 is optional - mutually exclusive with BMS2043
| Module title | Status | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| PROFESSIONAL TRAINING YEAR MODULE (FULL-YEAR WORK) | Core | Year-long |
Optional modules for Year 3 (with PTY) - FHEQ Level 6
Choose four optional modules.
Timetables
Course timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday). Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities. View our Code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF).
Teaching
We have a research-led focus to our teaching, ensuring everything you learn is up-to-date and relevant to employers. You’ll be taught by lecturers who are active researchers in antimicrobial resistance, biotechnology, clinical bacteriology, systems biology and virology.
These may include:
- Dr Dany Beste, an expert in tuberculosis
- Dr Alison Cottell, an expert in epidemiology and antibiotic resistance
- Professor Gill Elliott, an expert on herpesvirus and antiviral immunity
- Dr Jorge Gutierrez-Merino, an expert in the use of probiotics against infectious diseases and inflammatory disorders
- Dr Carlos Maluquer de Motes, an expert on herpesvirus and antiviral immunity.
There may be occasions when the delivery of your teaching is supported by graduate teaching assistants. The University has a set of procedures that govern the use of postgraduate research students in this way.
Assessment
We use a variety of methods to assess you, including:
- Coursework
- Essays
- Examinations
- Practical write-ups
- Presentations.
Contact hours
You’ll spend almost a third of your first-year teaching in laboratory-based practicals. This will vary in your second-year, dependent on what modules you choose to study.
Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.
Entry requirements
Do I meet the requirements for this course?
We require you to submit a full application so that we can formally assess whether you meet the criteria published. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide an outcome based on an enquiry (via email, webform enquiry, phone or live chat).
International entry requirements by country
Other international qualifications
If you are an international student and you don’t meet the entry requirements to this degree, we offer the International Foundation Year at the Surrey International Study Centre. Upon successful completion, you can progress to this degree course.
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with 6.0 in Writing and 5.5 in each other element.
View the other English language qualifications that we accept.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Selection process
We normally make offers in terms of grades.
If you are a suitable candidate you may be invited to an offer holder event. During your visit to the University you can find out more about the course and meet staff and students.
Foundation
If you don’t meet our entry requirements, you might still be able to apply for this course with a foundation year. A course with a foundation year includes an extra year of study to prepare you for a full degree course. Find out more about our degrees with foundation year.
Recognition of prior learning
We recognise that many students enter their higher education course with valuable knowledge and skills developed through a range of professional, vocational and community contexts.
If this applies to you, the recognition of prior learning (RPL) process may allow you to join a course without the formal entry requirements or enter your course at a point appropriate to your previous learning and experience.
There are restrictions on RPL a for some courses and fees may be payable for certain claims. Please see the code of practice for recognition of prior learning and prior credit: taught programmes (PDF) for further information.
Please contact Admissions on +44 (0)1483 682222 with any queries.
Fees
The annual tuition fees for courses starting in September 2024
BSc (Hons)
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- To be confirmed
BSc (Hons) (with professional training year)
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Overseas
- To be confirmed
- Professional training
- To be confirmed
BSc (Hons) (with foundation year)
- UK
- To be confirmed
BSc (Hons) (with foundation and professional training year)
- UK
- To be confirmed
- Professional training
- To be confirmed
View a complete listing of all ongoing fees for our undergraduate courses.
- Fees for UK students: The University will apply annual regulated increases in the fee rates as set by Government each year, in order to maintain the same value in real terms.
- Fees for EU students: The UK is now no longer part of the EU, we are awaiting further instruction from the UK government and we will publish this as soon as it is provided. Find out more information about Studying in the UK and the Scholarships for EU students.
- Fees for international students: Annual fees will increase by 4% for each subsequent year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100, subject to any overriding applicable legislative requirements.
- Fees for international students with an integrated foundation year: The programme fee for Year 0 will match the lowest Year 1 overseas fee rate from across the substantive programmes for that year of entry. Students subsequently progressing into Year 1 will be liable for the same fee as overseas students joining at Year 1 for the same programme in that year. Annual fees after Year 1 will increase by 4% for each subsequent year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100, subject to any overriding applicable legislative requirements.
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.
Payment schedule
- Students in receipt of a Tuition Fee Loan: will have their fees paid by the Student Loans Company in line with their schedule.
- International students, or UK/EU students who have not taken out a Tuition Fee Loan: are required to pay their fees either in full at the beginning of the programme or in two instalments as follows:
- 50% payable 10 days after the invoice date (expected to be early October of each academic year)
- 50% in January of the same academic year.
The exact date(s) will be detailed on invoices. Students on certain part-time programmes, where fees are paid on a modular or stage basis, are not eligible to pay their fees by instalment.
If you are sponsored: you will provide us with valid sponsorship information that covers the period of your study.
Professional Training placement fees
If you are studying on a programme which contains a Professional Training placement year there will be a reduced fee for the academic year in which you undertake your placement. This is normally confirmed 12 to 18 months in advance, or once Government policy is determined.
See the information about 2023/24 academic year Professional Training placement fees.
Additional costs
There are associated costs with this course:
Safety equipment and/or uniform: £23 – equipment pack (includes laboratory coat, laboratory glasses, laboratory books, pen and bag). You are responsible for the costs associated with maintaining/washing/replacing any equipment.
These additional costs are accurate as of September 2022 and apply to the 2023 year of entry. Costs for 2024 entry will be published in September 2023.
Placements
Our award-winning Professional Training programme offers you the option to spend a career-enhancing year in industry, either in the UK or abroad. We have thousands of placement providers to choose from or you can source your own placement.
Most placements are paid, and we will support you every step of the way.
Find out more about Professional Training placements and discover how these have transformed our students’ lives and career choices.
Microbiology placements
You can choose to work for a range of employers, including pharmaceutical organisations, food suppliers and biotechnology companies, to practise and enhance your skills.
Previous students have gained placements with:
- Black Swan Analysis Ltd
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Public Health England
- The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
- The Pirbright Institute.
We also have an extensive number of partner institutions that offer placements exclusively to Surrey students, giving you access to research laboratories across the world. Our partner institutions include:
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Madrid, Spain
- Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France
- Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, USA.
You can also explore your transferrable skills by working in other fields, including scientific communications, marketing and data analysis.
Applying for placements
Students are generally not placed by the University, however we offer support and guidance throughout the process alongside access to a vacancy portal representing thousands of placement opportunities each year. We also provide support if you wish to source your own placement.
Find out more about the application process.
Please be aware there may be travel costs incurred when attending interviews and assessment centres at the placement provider’s premises.
Find out how students at Surrey developed their skills in industry by undertaking a placement year.
Study and work abroad
Studying at Surry opens up a world of opportunity. We want you to take advantage of our international partnerships, explore the world and expand your skills for the graduate job market.
Perhaps you would like to volunteer in India or learn about Brazilian business and culture in São Paulo during your summer holidays? With more than 200 partnerships, from 50 different countries worldwide, there is something for everyone.
View our study and work abroad information to find out more and see where you can go.
Partner institutions
On our international exchange programme, you can study abroad at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. This is typically for a semester or a full academic year, during your second-year studies.
Students share their experiences of going on an international exchange to Hong Kong.
Terms and conditions
When you accept an offer of a place at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to comply with our policies and procedures, the student regulations , and our terms and conditions. These terms and conditions are provided in two stages: first when we make an offer and second when students who have accepted their offers register to study at the University. View our offer terms and conditions for the 2023/24 academic year and our registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2022/23 academic year as a guide as to what to expect.
Please note: our offer terms and conditions will generally be available in the September of the calendar year prior to the year in which you begin your studies. Our registration terms and conditions will vary to take into account specifics of your course and changes for the specific academic year.
Disclaimer
This online prospectus has been prepared and published in advance of the academic year to which it applies. The University of Surrey has used its reasonable efforts to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content or additional costs) may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us and before you accept an offer. Read our full disclaimer.
Course location and contact details
Campus location
Stag HillStag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.
Placement location
As part of this course you have the option to complete a Professional Training placement which would require attendance off campus, depending on where you secure your placement.
University of Surrey Admissions
- Phone: +44 (0)1483 682222
Address
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey GU2 7XH