Expand your knowledge of some of the planet's most dominant life forms, and take part in research projects with a global impact on this BSc Microbiology course.
As part of the UK's oldest microbiology department you can develop laboratory skills in purpose-built microbiology facilities and be taught by world-leading experts, with particular strengths in virology and bacteriology. Furthermore, you will benefit from membership of the Microbiology Society and strong links with industry. We have an overall student satisfaction score of 93% in BSc Microbiology in the National Student Survey 2020.
Through the course, you will learn about the fundamental properties, genetics and physiology of diverse microbes. Options will then allow you to focus on areas that most interest you, including medical, environmental or food microbiology. You will also have the chance to carry out a year-long industrial placement or a paid vacation studentship in order to gain valuable work and research experience.
BSc Microbiology has a strong practical basis, and you will learn a wide variety of techniques such as microbial genetics, biochemistry and propagation. During your final year you will have the chance to spend three months working on an original research project of your choice. Recent projects have included the molecular engineering of viruses, and the mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity and host colonisation.
In your final year you will also have the opportunity to take part in our unique Arctic microbiology field course in Iceland. There you will be able to examine the unusual microbes that inhabit extreme environments and learn field-based sampling techniques.
Our new £60m Health and Life Sciences building will open in 2020. As the new home of the School of Biological Sciences, it will offer state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories, seminar rooms, and plenty of study and social space, including a café. The building will also house the Cole Museum of Zoology. The collection, featuring over 3,500 natural history specimens, provides a fantastic resource for biological scientists and the wider community.
Placement
You will have the opportunity to carry out a year-long industrial placement between your second and final year. Student in previous years have worked at Public Health England’s Porton Down and Colindale laboratories, GSK, AstraZeneca and Covance. You can also choose to spend a year abroad, typically carrying out research in an academic laboratory.
You will be able to undertake paid vacation studentships funded by organisations such as the Wellcome Trust and the Microbiology Society. These can take place over six weeks during the summer break, or be carried out part-time over a longer period. During studentships you will typically work on a set project and benefit from valuable training in techniques, experimental design and the interpretation of data.
Additionally, you can take a work placement module.
Our department has a dedicated academic in charge of placements, who can provide you with advice and support.
For more information, please visit the School of Biological Sciences website.
Overview
Expand your knowledge of some of the planet's most dominant life forms, and take part in research projects with a global impact on this BSc Microbiology course.
As part of the UK's oldest microbiology department you can develop laboratory skills in purpose-built microbiology facilities and be taught by world-leading experts, with particular strengths in virology and bacteriology. Furthermore, you will benefit from membership of the Microbiology Society and strong links with industry. We have an overall student satisfaction score of 93% in BSc Microbiology in the National Student Survey 2020.
Through the course, you will learn about the fundamental properties, genetics and physiology of diverse microbes. Options will then allow you to focus on areas that most interest you, including medical, environmental or food microbiology. You will also have the chance to carry out a year-long industrial placement or a paid vacation studentship in order to gain valuable work and research experience.
BSc Microbiology has a strong practical basis, and you will learn a wide variety of techniques such as microbial genetics, biochemistry and propagation. During your final year you will have the chance to spend three months working on an original research project of your choice. Recent projects have included the molecular engineering of viruses, and the mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity and host colonisation.
In your final year you will also have the opportunity to take part in our unique Arctic microbiology field course in Iceland. There you will be able to examine the unusual microbes that inhabit extreme environments and learn field-based sampling techniques.
Our new £60m Health and Life Sciences building will open in 2020. As the new home of the School of Biological Sciences, it will offer state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories, seminar rooms, and plenty of study and social space, including a café. The building will also house the Cole Museum of Zoology. The collection, featuring over 3,500 natural history specimens, provides a fantastic resource for biological scientists and the wider community.
Placement
You will have the opportunity to carry out a year-long industrial placement between your second and final year. Student in previous years have worked at Public Health England’s Porton Down and Colindale laboratories, GSK, AstraZeneca and Covance. You can also choose to spend a year abroad, typically carrying out research in an academic laboratory.
You will be able to undertake paid vacation studentships funded by organisations such as the Wellcome Trust and the Microbiology Society. These can take place over six weeks during the summer break, or be carried out part-time over a longer period. During studentships you will typically work on a set project and benefit from valuable training in techniques, experimental design and the interpretation of data.
Additionally, you can take a work placement module.
Our department has a dedicated academic in charge of placements, who can provide you with advice and support.
For more information, please visit the School of Biological Sciences website.
Entry requirements A Level BBB | IB 30 points overall
Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.
Typical offer
BBB, including grade B in A level Biology and a second science.
Acceptable science subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Studies, Applied Science, Geology.
International Baccalaureate
30 points overall, including 5 in Biology and in a second science subject, both at higher level.
Extended Project Qualification
In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.
BTEC Extended Diploma
DDD (modules taken must be comparable to subject specific requirement)
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5
For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.
Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students
For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.
International Foundation Programme
If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the University of Reading’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.
Pre-sessional English language programme
If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.
Structure
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
BI1BEC1 | Building Blocks of Life | PROF Phillip Dash |
BI1BM12 | Key Skills in Biomedicine | DR Lizzy Lander |
BI1BAC2 | Bacteriology and Virology | DR Geraldine Mulley |
BI1S1 | Introductory Microbiology | DR Geraldine Mulley |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
BI1BF1 | Laboratory and Study Skills for Biomedicine | DR Mike Fry |
BI1BAB2 | Metabolic and Practical Biochemistry | DR Alice Pollitt |
BI1EAD1 | Introduction to Evolutionary Processes | DR Louise Johnson |
BI1EPM | Fundamentals of Physics for Medicine | DR Lindsey Thompson |
BI1MB2 | Metabolic Biochemistry | DR Craig Hughes |
AP1A18 | Digestion and Nutrition | DR Sokratis Stergiadis |
CH1FC3 | Molecular Studies for the Life Sciences | DR David Nutt |
CH1FC1 | Fundamental Concepts in Chemistry 1 | DR David Nutt |
CH1PH2 | Physical Processes for Biologists | DR Joanne Elliott |
CH1OR2 | Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry | DR Andrew Russell |
CL1G1 | Ancient Greek 1 | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL1L1 | Latin 1 (C) | MRS Jackie Baines |
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
BI2BI45 | Infectious Diseases | DR Sheila MacIntyre |
BI2BC45 | Cells and Immunity | DR Mike Fry |
BI2BMG4 | Molecular Genetics | DR Eva Kevei |
BI2BR5 | The Bacterial Cell | PROF Simon Andrews |
BI2BM45 | Key Skills in Biomedicine 2 | DR Renee Lee |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
BI2BL5 | Protein Structure and Function | DR Kimberly Watson |
BI2EVP5 | Venoms and Poisons | PROF Phillip Dash |
BI2BT5 | Introduction to Bioinformatics & Computational Biology | PROF Liam McGuffin |
BI2MBC | Marine Biology and Conservation | DR Glyn Barrett |
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
BI3BQ78 | Bacterial Pathogens & Experimental Approaches | DR Simon Clarke |
BI3BG8 | Mechanisms for Microbial Function | DR Glyn Barrett |
BI3PROB | Research Project - Biomolecular 40 Credit (B) | DR Renee Lee |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
ED3TS3 | Development of transferable skills through a school placement 3 | DR Caroline Foulkes |
ED3TS4 | Development of transferable skills through a school placement 4 | DR Caroline Foulkes |
BI3BI8 | Neurobiology | DR Nandini Vasudevan |
BI3BJ8 | Viral Pathogens | PROF Ian Jones |
BI3BR7 | Structural Proteomics | DR Kimberly Watson |
BI3BT78 | Cancer and Cell Communication | DR Mike Fry |
BI3B67 | Microbiology Field Course | DR Glyn Barrett |
BI3BA7 | Medical Genetics | DR Dyan Sellayah |
BI3BB7 | Selected Topics in Endocrinology and Endocrine Disease | DR Andrew Bicknell |
BI3BE8 | Cardiovascular Disease | DR David Leake |
BI3EM1 | Evolutionary Medicine | DR Dyan Sellayah |
BI3EP7 | Wildlife Diseases | DR Phil Baker |
BI3SB17 | Synthetic Biology | PROF Slawomir Nasuto |
BI3S78 | Seminars in Biology | DR Louise Johnson |
FB3NGLA | Genes, Lifestyle and Nutrition | DR Vimal Karani |
Fees
New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250* per year
New international students: £23,700 per year
*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes
UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
EU student fees
With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.
Additional costs
Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
Careers
BSc Microbiology graduates have a range of transferable skills that make them highly employable in both scientific and non-scientific job sectors. Additionally, graduates can become members of the Society of Biology and apply for Chartered Biologist status.
You can move on to a career as a researcher or scientist. You may also decide to move on to further study or a research studentship at a British or international university. Recent graduates have gone on to work for organisations such as such as the Medical Research Council, Royal Berkshire Hospital, South East Water, ThermoFisher and Nexus Support.
Overall, 92% of our graduates are in employment or further study 15 months after the end of their course [1].
[1] Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18; First Degree responders from Biological Sciences.
I had this amazing opportunity that my lecturer nominated me for - attending the Gatsby Plant Science summer school in York, with senior plant scientists. It was fun, the scenery was amazing and the people were all really nice.
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