Microbiology
University of Sheffield
UCAS Code: C509 | Master of Biological Sciences - MBiolSci
Entry requirements
A level
including Biology and a second science
Access to HE Diploma
Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject: 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3, including 39 credits at Distinction (to include Chemistry and Biology units), and 6 credits at Merit + Interview
Extended Project
in a relevant EPQ + AAB at A Level including Biology and a second science
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English Language grade 4/C and Maths grade 6/B
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
with 6 in Higher Level Biology and a second science
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
including Biology and a second science
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
in Applied Science + A at A Level in either Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics or Psychology + Interview
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
(RQF) D*DD in Applied Science (including modules in Applications of Inorganic Chemistry, Applications of Organic Chemistry and Practical Chemical Analysis, and no more than one of the following: Forensic Evidence Collection and Analysis, Forensic Fire Investigation or Forensic Traffic Collision Investigation) + Interview (QCF) DD in Applied Science + A at A Level in either Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics or Psychology + Interview
Scottish Higher
+ AA at Advanced Higher in Biology and a second science
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
+ AA at A Level in Biology and a second science
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Our four-year microbiology course is designed to give you the best start for a career in industrial or academic research. You'll study the importance of bacteria, viruses and other microbes in the environment and as pathogens. You’ll also discover how we can manipulate the genetic makeup of microbes to put them to good use in biotechnology, how we can tackle the threat of antimicrobial-resistant infections, and the role that microbiology continues to play in supporting the global response to pandemics such as Covid-19.
The first three years of your course will have the same structure as the BSc, with the fourth year devoted to a major research project, where you’ll work in industry or in an academic lab with our world-leading academics.
From your first year you’ll study modules that span the molecular biosciences covering microbiology, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology. Alongside these modules you’ll have the freedom to explore complementary topics across the breadth of bioscience, such as biomedicine, ecology, plant science and zoology. This flexibility allows you to study microbiology in greater depth, keep your interests broad or even switch to another degree programme within the biosciences.
No matter what modules you choose to study, you’ll develop the practical laboratory and transferable skills that make our graduates attractive to employers including project management, problem solving, communication skills and data analysis.
We’ll give you plenty of opportunities to apply your new skills and knowledge too. You’ll be in the lab completing in-depth practicals across molecular genetics, DNA manipulation and protein structure analysis, and you’ll get the chance to use cutting-edge equipment to run your own in-depth research projects.
Whether you choose to focus solely on microbiology, or study a range of topics across the molecular biosciences and beyond, your personal tutor will support you to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals.
If you want to study this course but don't meet the entry requirements our Biosciences with a Foundation Year could be for you. After successfully completing the one year programme, you'll progress onto the first year of one of our bioscience degrees.
This course has advanced accreditation by the Royal Society of Biology which shows employers that you've developed the practical skills and scientific knowledge that they're looking for.
Tuition fees
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Extra funding
The University of Sheffield Bursary is available to home students who have a household income of £40,000 or less. You may also be eligible for an additional £250 per year depending on your postcode and grades. We use the details you submit to Student Finance and UCAS to assess your eligibility for a bursary. You don’t need to apply; if you’re eligible you’ll receive an award for each year of your course. If you're a care leaver, care for an ill or disabled family member or are estranged from your parents or guardian you may be eligible for an enhanced bursary of £4,500 per year. The University also offers a number of scholarships to help you fund your studies and enhance your learning experience. Use our Student Funding Calculator to check what funding your could be eligible for - www.sheffield.ac.uk/funding/calculator. Further information - www.sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-funding
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.
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.
Microbiology and cell science
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
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.
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.
Top job areas of graduates
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.
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.
£20k
£24k
£27k
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.
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Teaching Excellence Framework (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.
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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?
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