BSc Hons in Biological Sciences Microbiology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Heriot Watt University Edinburgh

Program Overview

If you’re fascinated by the unseen world of microbes and their impact on human health, the environment, and industry, this degree is a great fit for you. At Heriot-Watt, you’ll gain a broad foundation in biological sciences before specialising in microbiology, with hands-on lab experience and research projects preparing you for careers in health, biotechnology, and research.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Building strong foundations
You’ll start by learning the essentials of life sciences through Introductory Biology 1 & 2, Practical Skills in Biology, Chemistry for the Life Sciences, and Mathematics for Scientists. This year gives you the scientific grounding and lab confidence you’ll need before diving deeper into microbiology.

Year 2 – Introducing microbiology
Here you’ll explore microbes more directly with courses like Introduction to Microbiology and Cell and Molecular Biology. Alongside, you’ll study Human Physiology and Metabolism in Human Nutrition, helping you understand how microorganisms affect health and interact with living systems.

Year 3 – Expanding your expertise
Now you can begin to shape your studies. Options such as Medical Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Food Microbiology and Health let you tailor your focus. At the same time, you’ll strengthen your skills with Advanced Laboratory Skills and Global Research Skills, preparing you for independent research.

Year 4 – Research and specialisation
Your final year centres on an independent Honours Research Project, where you investigate a real-world microbiology problem. You’ll also take advanced options like Advanced Molecular Microbiology, Microorganisms in Human Health and Drug Discovery, Immunology, and Genomics and Proteomics in Human Health. This is where your degree truly becomes your own.

Focus areas: Microbiology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Health & Environment

Learning outcomes: Confident in designing microbiology experiments, interpreting molecular data, applying lab skills, and communicating scientific findings.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The program is developed to meet industry standards in microbiology and life sciences, equipping you with practical and research skills sought after by employers.

Reputation (employability rankings):

Ranked 1st in Scotland and 2nd in the UK for graduate employability.
Over 84% of graduates are in full-time work or further study within 15 months.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Heriot-Watt, studying Biological Sciences with a focus on Microbiology isn’t just about lectures and theory—it’s about getting hands-on from the start. You’ll spend a lot of time in purpose-built teaching and research labs where you’ll develop the practical skills needed to work with microbes safely and effectively. Throughout your degree, you’ll be encouraged to apply what you learn through group projects, lab-based experiments, and your final-year independent research project. The university also connects your classroom learning with real-world applications, ensuring you graduate with both confidence and experience.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s what this looks like in practice:

Specialist labs for microbiology equipped for cell culture, molecular genetics, and microbial ecology experiments.
Cutting-edge instrumentation such as flow cytometers, DNA sequencing platforms, and bioinformatics software to analyse microbial data.
Team-based projects in the first year that build collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills while tackling biological case studies.
Independent research project in final year, where you’ll design and carry out your own microbiology-based investigation under staff supervision.
Access to the Oriam Sports Performance Centre and Edinburgh Supercomputing facility, supporting interdisciplinary approaches, particularly in bioinformatics and health-related microbiology research.
James Watt Nanofabrication Centre and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering (IB3) collaborations, opening opportunities to see how microbiology interfaces with biotechnology and healthcare innovations.
Heriot-Watt’s libraries and digital resources, including access to thousands of online journals in microbiology, biomedical sciences, and biotechnology.

Progression & Future Opportunities

With a degree in Biological Sciences (Microbiology), you’ll be ready to step into careers where understanding microorganisms is key. Many of our graduates build careers as microbiologists, biomedical scientists, or research associates in areas like healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and environmental management. Others use the strong research and problem-solving skills from this degree to move into public health, science policy, or even science communication.

To help you take those next steps, Heriot-Watt supports you with:

Careers and Graduate Futures Service – offering personalised guidance, employer networking events, and exclusive access to the FutureHub job platform.
Strong employment outcomes – over 95% of our graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023).
Industry connections – links with biotech, pharmaceutical, and healthcare employers create opportunities for placements, projects, and career fairs.
A degree with lasting value – your training in lab techniques, data analysis, and critical thinking is highly regarded by employers across the life sciences sector.
Graduate success stories – alumni have gone on to roles in clinical labs, biotech companies, environmental agencies, and research institutes.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’d like to keep specialising, you can continue into postgraduate study. Many graduates choose an MSc in Microbiology, Biotechnology, or Biomedical Sciences, while others pursue PhD research to deepen their expertise in life sciences and open doors to academic and high-level industry careers.