BSc

Microbiology (with integrated year in industry)

Microbiology (with integrated year in industry) Code C502 Attend an Open Day Attend an Open Day

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Key Facts

C502

  • UCAS Tariff

    120 - 104

  • Course duration

    4 years

Further details on entry requirements

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Kick start your career and enhance your job prospects with our BSc Microbiology degree with an integrated year in industry here at Aberystwyth University. This course is designed to give you a head start in an increasingly competitive job market. The year that you spend away from Campus working in industry will give you the additional insight, knowledge and experience that are highly valued by employers. 

The BSc Microbiology degree at Aberystwyth University introduces you to a fascinating world of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and their role in infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants. Microorganisms, also known as microbes, are organisms that are too small to be visible to the naked eye and they are essential to our understanding of life on Earth. You will learn how these microorganisms have an influence on all aspects of our lives, from the air we breathe to the food we eat. On our BSc Microbiology degree course you will develop the scientific and analytical skills that are in high demand in a broad range of professions, and if you want to play a part in solving big global problems such as climate change, pollution and antibiotic resistance, a degree in Microbiology is a good place to start. 

Course Overview

Royal Society of Biology Accredited Degree

The syllabus of our BSc Microbiology (C502) course with the integrated year in industry is identical to its sister course BSc Microbiology (C500). The year in industry is assessed, and the work must be relevant to the degree. You will be expected to organise this work experience yourself, under the guidance of our Director for Employability. There is no guarantee that the work will be paid, and if you cannot obtain a placement, you must transfer to BSc Microbiology (C500). During your year in industry, you will pay a discounted tuition fee. 

During the three years of the degree that you spend on Campus,  

you will learn a wide variety of techniques in areas such as microbial genetics, biochemistry and propagation. The study of microbiology requires expertise in immunology, genetics, biochemistry, cell biology and research methods, and you will receive training in these throughout your degree. You will learn about worldwide concerns such as antimicrobial resistance and emerging pathogens, as well as the beneficial use of microbes in biotechnology for food production and agriculture. Throughout the course there is a strong focus on practical training in microbiological and molecular techniques, which will prepare you for a career as a professional scientist. There are practical modules in Years One and Two and an advanced research project makes up one third of your final year. 

You will be taught by passionate teaching staff who are experts in their fields and who conduct research in all areas of microbiology. You will also have access to our state-of-the-art facilities that include a bio-imaging and microscopy suite, modern laboratories and fermentation facilities. In addition to these modern indoor facilities, Aberystwyth University has farms and woodlands for studying environmental microbes and those that impact on animal health. 

Our Staff

The majority of teaching staff in the Department of Life Sciences are qualified to PhD level and are research active. Vocational courses also have staff whose background lies within industry. The Department has a large number of research only staff with whom students may have contact.

Modules September start - 2023

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Biochemistry and the Cellular Basis of Life BR15320 20
Ecology BR13510 10
Evolution and the Diversity of Life BR14310 10
Exploring Genetics BR14410 10
Metabolism BR12010 10
Microbial Diversity BR12110 10
Molecular Laboratory Skills BR12210 10
Study and Communication Skills BR12410 10
The Biosphere BR13210 10

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Comparative Animal Physiology BR14110 10
Soils and their Management BR14910 10
The Green Planet BR13610 10

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Environmental Microbiology and Monitoring BR26020 20
Practical and Professional Skills in Microbiology BR24720 20
Research Methods BR27520 20
One Health Microbiology BR26520 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Applied Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics BR20620 20
Cell and Cancer Biology BR25920 20
Immunology BR22220 20
Proteins and Enzymes BR26620 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Integrated Year in Industry BRS0060 60

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Biotechnology BR35520 20
Microbial Pathogenesis BR33720 20
Research Project BR36440 40

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics BR37120 20
Molecular Pharmacology BR36120 20
Terrestrial Ecology Fieldcourse BR36620 20
Veterinary Infectious Diseases BR34120 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

Enhancing your career prospects with your year in industry 

In recent surveys conducted by High Fliers Research Limited, research shows that around a third of graduate vacancies are taken by those who have previously worked for a company on a placement or an internship. 

Completing a year in industry will allow you to: 

  • apply the learning from your course to the work environment 
  • make industry contacts 
  • develop practical skills related to your area of study 
  • apply your practical skills and technical knowledge after returning to study 
  • enhance your CV and better prepare yourself for a job after graduating. 

What are our graduates doing now? 

Our graduates have been working successfully as: 

  • research scientists 
  • clinical molecular geneticists 
  • nature conservationists 
  • educators. 

Students from our department have also progressed to undertake training in Dentistry and Medicine. 

What skills will I develop while studying BSc Microbiology? 

Employability is embedded in our courses. Our students leave Aberystwyth University with skills in: 

  • research and data analysis 
  • enhanced mathematics and computing 
  • effective problem-solving and creative thinking 
  • a firm grounding in information technology 
  • independent working 
  • time management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines 
  • expressing ideas and communicating information in a clear and structured manner when speaking and writing 
  • self-motivation and self-reliance 
  • working as part of a team, with the ability to discuss concepts in groups, accommodating different ideas and reaching agreement. 

What work experience opportunities are available to me while I study? 

Find out about the various opportunities that our Careers Service offers. 

Enhance your employability prospects with GO Wales and our Year in Employment Scheme.  

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn? 

In your first year, you will be introduced to the biochemical building blocks of cells and learn about the structure of molecules and their function, and the biotic and abiotic interactions that have occurred on earth over temporal and spatial timescales as well as the consequences of these dynamic interactions on the present-day flora and fauna. You will also examine the different major metabolic pathways and explore the diversity of microbial life and the importance of micro-organisms such as pathogens. You will explore ecology and future challenges such as responding to global climate and conserving biodiversity and study the amazing diversity of life on Earth. You will also learn about the key principles underlying the theory and practice of genetics and become aware of recent advances in the field. You will learn by undertaking a series of linked experiments that will develop basic practical skills required for research across biology. This will give you an opportunity to develop the key skills that are necessary for a successful academic and professional career, such as time management, critical thinking and reflective learning.  

During your second year, you will develop a knowledge and understanding of the roles played by microbes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, focusing on their importance in biogeochemical cycling. You will develop the basic skills expected of a graduate working in a microbiology-related field, such as studying a broad range of culture-based microbes and learning independent methods of characterising them, interpreting data from quantitative and bioinformatic analyses, and developing perspectives on microbiology’s interface with society and policy. You will explore the relationship between heatlh and disease at the human, animal, insect vector and environment interfaces, which has become an important focus in both medical and veterinary science with the recognition that health is influenced by the presence of both beneficial and harmful microorganisms. You will examine the processes involved in planning good scientific research, including data handling and statistics, and examine the key principles underpinning experimental science. This will prepare you for your dissertation. 

In your third year, you will undertake your work experience placement in an industry that has relevance to Microbiology.  

During your final year, you will explore the use of organisms or biological material to develop or make products for human benefit. Traditional biotechnologies include bread-making and brewing while the products of modern biotechnology include molecular biology products, pharmaceuticals and biofuels. You will learn about the concept of disease resulting from attack from microbial organism as an important aspect of clinical and veterinary medicine as well as agriculture. You will consider the association between symptoms and pathogenic mechanisms through a series of case studies covering examples of viral, bacterial, fungal and oomycete pathogens as they infect human, animal and plant hosts, and explore mechanisms of disease control. Lastly, you will undertake in-depth research on a topic that is broadly relevant to your interests, based on laboratory experiments or fieldwork exercises, comprising a computer modelling exercise based on secondary data sources, or involving analysis of data obtained from published literature. You will work independently under the guidance of a supervisor. 

How will I be taught? 

The course will be delivered through lectures, workshops, tutorials and practical sessions. 

How will I be assessed? 

You will be assessed through essays, practical exercises, oral presentations, worksheets, reports, statistical exercises, portfolios, Wikis, magazine articles, field notebooks, and exams. 

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 120 - 104

A Levels BBB-BCC with B in Biology

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh and Mathematics

BTEC National Diploma:
DDD-DDM in a specified subject

International Baccalaureate:
30-28 with 5 points in Biology at Higher Level

European Baccalaureate:
75%-65% overall with 7 in Biology

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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