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The Microbiology BSc at Nottingham gives you a strong grounding in how microorganisms affect our world: from disease and health, to food safety and environmental microbiology. It’s ideal for students who enjoy lab work, want early hands-on experience, and are aiming for careers in medicine, biotech, environmental sectors or research.
Curriculum structure
Year 1
You’ll begin with core modules such as Essential Study Skills, Foundation Science for Bioscientists, An Introduction to Biotechnology, An Introduction to Genetics and Biochemistry, Micro-organisms and Disease, Microbes and You, and The Physiology of Microbes. These build your foundation in biology, chemistry, genetics, and basic microbiology, giving hands-on lab exposure (through the “Super Lab”) from early on.
Year 2
In your second year you’ll move into more specialised topics: Analysis of Bacterial Gene Expression, Bacterial Biological Diversity, Fundamentals of Immunology, Medical Microbiology, Microbial Mechanisms of Foodborne Disease, and Research Techniques for Microbiologists. Optional modules might include Virology, Microbial Biotechnology, or Molecular Biology of the Cell. This year deepens your lab and analytical skills, including data analysis and immunological methods.
Year 3
In the final year you complete a year-long research project in a laboratory setting, working with staff on a topic of your choice. Other modules you might take include Omics: At the Forefront of Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology, Molecular Microbiology and CRISPR Systems, Pathogens: Vaccines and Therapeutics, etc. You’ll also get greater autonomy in designing experiments, interpreting data, and preparing your work for potential publication.
Focus areas
“Pathogens & human disease, environmental & food microbiology, immunology, molecular microbiology, gene expression, biotechnology & bioprocessing, research project work”
Learning outcomes
“You will gain proficiency in practical microbiology (lab techniques, sterile methods, pathogen handling), understand microbial physiology & genetics, apply immunology and disease concepts, use molecular and biotechnological tools, develop data analysis & bioinformatics skills, communicate scientific work, conduct independent research.”
Professional alignment (accreditation)
The degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, ensuring it meets professional standards recognised by employers and research institutions.
Reputation (employability rankings)
The Microbiology programme uses Nottingham’s £5 million “Super Lab,” giving you access to modern, large-scale lab facilities.
83.8% of Nottingham School of Biosciences undergraduates (Microbiology included) secure graduate-level employment or further study within 15 months of finishing. The average full-time starting salary for these graduates is £25,694.
You’ll start doing practical lab work from the get-go, working in Nottingham’s “Super Lab” as early as your first semester, which gives you real exposure to microbiology techniques. As you move through the years, you’ll use advanced modules that build your abilities in molecular biology, experimental design, immunology, virology, and your final-year project lets you act like a real researcher in a lab setting. You'll also use digital tools, data analysis, and have group projects and workshops to develop critical thinking and collaboration.
Here are specific modules, facilities, tools, and opportunities tied to this course:
Basic Laboratory Techniques (Level 4, module BIOS4006): included for later years, this module gives you hands-on experience in microbiological methods (media prep, sterile technique, growth measurement), biochemical and molecular biology tools (DNA prep & analysis).
Research Techniques for Microbiologists (Year 2, module BIOS2110): prepares you for the final-year project with training in literature review, experimental design, lab safety, supervisor meetings etc.
Virology and Cellular Microbiology (Year 3 optional module, BIOS3022): get experience in designing/practising experiments related to viruses and host-pathogen interactions, doing lab practicals, and working with group problem-based learning.
Medical Microbiology (Year 2): a module where you learn about mechanisms of infection, antimicrobial agents, treatment strategies, role of diagnostic labs & public health in disease control.
Super Lab: the course overview says students spend a lot of time in the university’s £5 million Super Lab, designed for large-scale hands-on and interdisciplinary lab work.
Well-equipped research-level laboratories & biosafety facilities: Nottingham’s School of Biosciences includes labs for advanced molecular microbiology, level 2 pathogen handling, and applied environmental / food microbiology. The research themes page also notes that Nottingham has full category level-2 biosafety labs and large-scale brewing / biotechnology facilities.
Graduates of Microbiology from Nottingham frequently land jobs such as laboratory researcher, public health / healthcare scientist, regulatory / environmental agency specialist, or biotechnology / pharmaceutical industry roles. Because the course is Royal Society of Biology-accredited, includes strong practical/lab experience (especially in the “Super Lab”), and has high graduate employability, you’ll be well-placed for a variety of science careers or further academic study:
Which university services help students employ: Nottingham’s Careers & Employability Service supports Microbiology students with CV and interview workshops, employer fairs, work-experience and internship opportunities, and subject-specific careers advice.
Employment stats & salary figures: 93.90% of undergraduates in the Faculty securing graduate-level employment or further study within 15 months; starting salaries for these graduates average about £28,993.
University–industry / accreditation value: The degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, ensuring recognized professional standard; graduates often go into roles in regulatory bodies such as DEFRA, FSA, Health Protection Agency, as well as biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical firms.
Graduation outcomes: Recent destinations include research institutes / universities, healthcare & medicine R&D, agricultural/scientific roles, environmental management, food industry, scientific writing and communication. The hands-on lab and project work ensure you graduate with technical, analytical, and communication skills.
Further Academic Progression:
After finishing the Microbiology BSc, you can:
Pursue a Master’s degree in areas such as Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Immunology, Public Health, or related specialisms.
Apply for PhD / doctoral research positions, especially if you've excelled in lab work or the final-year project.
Consider conversion or professional courses (e.g. in diagnostics, clinical microbiology, regulatory affairs, bioinformatics) depending on your interests and career goals.
A-Levels: AAB, including Biology or Human Biology plus a second science subject (e.g. Chemistry, Maths, Physics, etc.). IB : 32 points overall or three Higher Level certificates with 6,6,5, which must include Biology and a second science subject. IELTS: Minimum 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each component. English and Maths GCSE: At English and Maths grade 4 or above (equivalent for your country). This is Nottingham’s general requirement for international / home applicants. CBSE / CISCE / Maharashtra State Board / West Bengal Board: 77% – 92% overall in Class XII.Applicants from the USA usually need 3 AP exams, with scores in the range of 5,5,5 down to 4,4,4.Standardized tests like SAT/ACT are not generally required for most undergraduate programmes.Biomedical researcherConservation / ecologistBiotechnology specialistHealthcare scientistGeneticistPublic health researcherScience communicatorProfessor / academic lecturerEnvironmental consultantBioinformatics / Data analyst 
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University of Nottingham
