Are you ready to gain advanced knowledge of viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections and how they are diagnosed and treated? You will be taught state of the art techniques by internationally recognised academics and receive guest lectures from industry leaders in the field of microbiology from the NHS and the UK Health Security Agency. Our graduates have gone on to career paths with well-known public and private sectors employers including the NHS, Severn Trent Water and NASA space agency, USA. In addition, we have a high success rate of students progressing on to PhD degrees. With a strong focus on clinical methods of diagnosis, patient management, and molecular biological techniques, our innovative course accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) aims to provide you with both the theoretical and practical aspects of clinical microbiology to further your career in this innovative discipline. The taught part of the course is supported by a project preparation skills module, to consolidate your molecular and subject-specific microbiology laboratory skills in addition to training on statistical analysis and bioinformatics. You will then complete a substantial individual research project over the summer, utilising these essential employability skills.
During the course, you’ll advance your knowledge and gain practical experience in modern clinical and molecular microbiology through four taught modules, a project preparation skills module and a substantial individual research project.
In the autumn semester, you'll gain a strong understanding of human pathogens, bacterial pathogenesis and infection. This will help you develop a solid foundation in both the clinical and molecular aspects of human bacterial and viral infections.
When you move on to the spring semester, you‘ll learn how to prevent and treat infections, and how public health systems intervene for infection control. You’ll also start to prepare for your research project with the project preparation skills module, gaining the practical and analytical skills you’ll need including a range of molecular and subject-specific microbiology laboratory skills, and statistical and bioinformatics training.
In the summer, you’ll carry out a substantial individual research project, narrowing down your research area to a particular aspect in clinical and/or molecular microbiology. The individual research project combines laboratory training, data collection and analysis and oral presentation on top of a traditional dissertation project. This will help you develop necessary skills for your own research, both for this course and your future career journey.
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2027 entry.
Applicants with a lower second-class degree (2:2) (or international equivalent) may be considered on an individual basis.
Applicants with a lower second-class degree (2:2) (or international equivalent) may be considered on an individual basis.