BIOLOGY (MICROBIOLOGY) BSc (Hons) at Bath Spa University

A practical Biology degree that focuses on the microbial world and its applications.

• Learn from lecturers with professional expertise in health, food and environmental microbiology.
• Develop your lab and scientific skills while exploring microbial cell structure, function and metabolisms.
• Pursue your own interests in a final year dissertation that will prepare you for further specialised work in your chosen field.

We live in a microbial world. This course will introduce you to that world and its relevance to Biology. You'll be taught by lecturers with expertise in food microbiology, environmental microbiology, and health microbiology, and those topics will form the basis of this degree.

From the basics of microbial cell structure and function through to microbial metabolism and genetics, microbial systems, and ultimately real world applications of microbiology, this course will equip you with a broad understanding of microbiology, and open up career and postgraduate study opportunities in the field.

Overview

This Microbiology course will introduce you to the microbial world, and teach you the skills to grow and identify microbes and explore their role in the environment, health, and in food safety and production. This course will focus primarily on bacteria although you'll also investigate fungi, viruses, archaea and other microbes.

You'll develop your understanding of microbes, beginning with cell structure, function and microbial evolution. Microbial metabolism and genetics will lead to an understanding of microbial systems and how microbes live in diverse and dynamic communities – and interact with other organisms in both beneficial and detrimental ways.

A key feature of this course will be the development of your laboratory and microscopy skills, enabling you to culture and identify microbes safely. This will culminate in a final year research dissertation that will allow you to investigate an aspect of microbiology within your own area of interest. 

Ultimately, this course will allow you to gain an understanding of the nature and role of microbes and their fundamental role in life processes. As part of our broader Biology programme, our Microbiology degree will allow you to study other related modules – resulting in a diverse array of both analytical and research-based skills in the life sciences.

Opportunities

Work placements, industry links and internships

Optional work placement modules are available in your second and third years.

An optional Professional Placement ('sandwich year') runs between your second and final year, allowing you to gain a year’s experience in industry during your degree.

Careers

This course will prepare you for a career in such areas as:

• Public health
• Clinical microbiology
• Food microbiology
• Quality assurance and safety
• Environmental microbiology.

You'll also be prepared to apply for postgraduate study such as a Master's or PhD, plus a wide range of careers outside of traditional science.