Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Microbiology (with Placement Year) University of Surrey, UK

Why choose this course?

• 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 worldwide.
• Gain industry experience through our Professional Training placements scheme, where you work for an organisation or in one of our partner laboratories across the world.
• Learn from lecturers who are active researchers in virology, bacteriology, antimicrobial resistance and systems biology, whose work is used by governments, health professionals and industry.

What you will study

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 modules including Cellular Microbiology and Virology, Food Microbiology, Introduction to 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 final year, you’ll study biomedical microbial products and the epidemiology of infectious diseases. You can also choose to explore topics such as advanced virology, animal infectious diseases, gene expression, clinical immunology, and pathogenesis and therapeutics of cancer. You will also complete a research project, bringing together all the practical, analytical and presentation skills you’ve developed.

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
• The NHS
• 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. Explore your options via our search tool and find out more about our current partner universities and organisations.

You can also develop your transferrable skills by working in other fields, such as scientific communications, marketing, and data analysis.