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Human Biology and Infectious Diseases

Entry requirements


96-112 UCAS points. At least two full A levels required, including grade C in A level Biology. A Pass in the practical element of Science A levels is required.

Only accepted alongside at least two full A levels.

96-112 UCAS points from a QAA Approved Level 3 Access to HE Diploma in a suitable Science subject.

Only acceptable alongside other A level equivalent qualifications.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Grade C or 4 (or above) in GCSE Maths and English is required.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

29

Including grade 4 in Higher Level Biology

96-112 UCAS points from Higher Level, including an appropriate Science Subject.

Only acceptable alongside other A level equivalent qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

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Suitable Science subject, including Biology.

Only acceptable alongside other A level equivalent qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

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Suitable Science subject, including Biology.

Only acceptable alongside other A level equivalent qualifications.

96-112 UCAS points from Higher Level, including an appropriate Science Subject.

UCAS Tariff

96-112

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subjects

Human biology

Microbiology

**There has never been a more urgent time to explore the pathology, transmission and epidemiology of infectious diseases affecting humans and animals. Start this scientific journey with a BSc (Hons) Human Biology and Infectious Diseases degree at Salford.**

One of the few courses of its kind outside of medicine to combine aspects of human physiology, immunology and infectious diseases, this exciting and relevant degree is a gateway to pathology, transmission and epidemiology of infectious diseases affecting humans and animals.

**Take your scientific knowledge further**
Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology following an independent and rigorous assessment, our course features a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key laboratory skills that meets the needs of employers.

Shaped around a core biology curriculum, you will build a systematic understanding of human biology and infectious diseases. With a focus on your future, we place a strong practical focus on nurturing your scientific and transferable skills for your career. Over the three years of study – or four, if you choose to include an industry placement – you will gain a systematic understanding of the key aspects of human biology and infectious diseases whilst developing practical laboratory skills. You will explore specialist subjects such as pathophysiology and parasites.

Throughout your studies, you will develop strong laboratory skills. As a biomedicine-based student, you will spend lots of time in our advanced Bodmer laboratories. These well-equipped, purpose-built facilities ensure your learning remains on the cutting-edge of innovation and discovery. The labs host industry-standard instrumentation, including cell culture facilities, histology specimen preparation station, fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy.

**Get closer to industry**
Complementing your laboratory-based sessions at Salford, you will experience visits to local pathology laboratories and receive guest lectures from external NHS specialists and biomedical scientists.

You will also have the option to take an industry placement between years two and three. Building on our connections with regional health and scientific research organisations, recent Human Biology and Infectious Diseases students have completed placements at the Wolfson Imaging Centre in Manchester, the Clinical Epidemiology unit at Manchester and at TSC Ltd in Heywood.

**Features**
• Develop laboratory and research skills ready for your graduate career
• Include an optional industry placement, where you can apply your learning in local hospitals or research labs
• Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology
• Part-time option available

Modules

Year one modules may include: Molecules to Microbes, Genetics, Cell Biology, Human Anatomy, Biological Skills, Study Skills. Year two modules may include: Molecular Biology and Genetics, Human Physiology, Introduction to Parasitology and Infectious Diseases, Biological Research Skills, Microbial Communities and Interactions, Pathophysiology. Year three- you can undertake a lab-based research project for 40 credits, a core module, and three modules from the following list, or take a literature/data analysis project worth 20 credits, your core module plus four from the following: Human Genetics [CORE MODULE], Human Microbiology and Infection Control, Advanced Pathophysiology, Clinical Immunology, Veterinary and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Biology of Parasites.

The Uni


Course location:

University of Salford

Department:

School of Science, Engineering and Environment

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

81%
Human biology
81%
Microbiology

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Others in biosciences

Teaching and learning

74%
Staff make the subject interesting
78%
Staff are good at explaining things
70%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
56%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

78%
Library resources
89%
IT resources
85%
Course specific equipment and facilities
70%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

94%
UK students
6%
International students
36%
Male students
64%
Female students
81%
2:1 or above
6%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
C

Microbiology and cell science

Teaching and learning

74%
Staff make the subject interesting
78%
Staff are good at explaining things
70%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
56%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

78%
Library resources
89%
IT resources
85%
Course specific equipment and facilities
70%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

92%
UK students
8%
International students
40%
Male students
60%
Female students
81%
2:1 or above
4%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Others in biosciences

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£16,640
low
Average annual salary
94%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

20%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
12%
Animal care and control services
9%
Other elementary services occupations

Microbiology and cell science

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£16,640
low
Average annual salary
94%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

20%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
12%
Animal care and control services
9%
Other elementary services occupations

If you want a career in microbiology, then this is the degree to take. The recession hit the job market for microbiologists particularly badly, but things have improved very significantly since then, and microbiologists are now amongst the most employable biological sciences graduates. We don't produce many graduates in the subject every year and a lot take further qualifications on graduating. Microbiology graduates who want to leave the lab can find jobs in most industries - not just in health and hospitals, but in the food and drink, water and ecology sectors, too.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Others in biosciences

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£15k

£15k

£20k

£20k

£21k

£21k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Microbiology and cell science

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£15k

£15k

£20k

£20k

£21k

£21k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
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Lower entry requirements
University of York | York
Biotechnology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 54-136
Nearby University
University of Central Lancashire | Preston
Microbiology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 104-120

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here