Microbiology

Our microbiology course at the University of Reading will allow you to gain the practical skills you need for your future career. As part of your degree, you will attend practical classes in newly equipped teaching laboratories, safely working with clinical samples, as well as environmental samples sourced from our biodiverse Whiteknights campus.

The University of Reading is one of the few universities in the UK offering a microbiology field course as part of their degree, giving you the possibility to study microorganisms that inhabit unusual environments in the Arctic or in the tropics.

Research-focused studies

Our teaching staff include leading experts in microbiology. They conduct research into important and relevant topics such as antimicrobial resistance, vaccine development and food poisoning. Under their teaching, you will explore the fundamentals of microbiology and learn how the different types of microbes affect our health, food and environment.

You will also learn core microbiology practical techniques, including isolating and purifying bacteria, fungi, and bacteriophages from food and environmental samples in our brand-new laboratories. You will also study core biology – cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and human and animal physiology.

During your final year you’ll then have the chance to put into practice all the skills you’ve learned and conduct an original research project.

Placements

We offer several microbiology placement opportunities. The School of Biological Sciences has links to many local companies, including the RSSL (Reading Scientific Services Ltd) microbiology section.

Additionally, we also offer summer placements such as the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP). This consists of six paid weeks working on a research project alongside PhD students and postdoctoral researchers within the department.