The course explains and emphasizes those features that make micro organisms, including viruses, special and remarkable biological entities. Microorganisms play a crucial role many of the earth's physical and biological processes. Furthermore, study of these organisms has been important to our understanding of many basic biochemical and genetic mechanisms. The degree in Microbiology is designed to give a broad appreciation of the biology of organisms of microscopic size and of the mammalian immune response to infection. All Biological Sciences students take the same modules covering the breadth of modern biology.

Course Structure

First Year

The common first year includes an introduction to microbial form and function and consideration of the role of micro organisms in the biosphere.

Second Year

For part of your second year you will hear about the diversity and flexibility within the microbial world. You will study the various structures and diversity in function and habitat of bacteria and eukaryotic micro-organisms; their industrial uses and the diseases they cause. You will also study the variety of structures and mechanisms of replication of viruses. An introduction to immunology will also be a part of the second year. A field course gives you the opportunity to visit industrial microbiology laboratories.

Final Year

During the final year you will investigate the complex interactions between pathogens and their hosts, the analysis of the mechanisms of immunity and the nature of microbial pathogenicity, the molecular approach to vaccine development, the role of viruses in cancer and the biology of AIDS and prion diseases (such as BSE - "mad cow disease"). Environmental microbiology considers the role of bacteria in terrestrial and aquatic environments, with an analysis of the current views on the origin of life and includes aspects of microbial biogeochemistry, plant/microbe interactions and the microbiology of pollution, waste-management and bioremediation. Other options consider aspects of microbial molecular biology of relevance to modern biotechnology. You will also undertake a laboratory- or library-based research project in which you have the opportunity to carry out an in-depth study under the supervision of an expert on a specific microbiological topic that interests you.

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