2022/23 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

MBiol, BSc Microbiology (Integrated Masters)

Total credits: 480

Entry requirements:

A-level: AAA, including Biology or Chemistry and another science or science-related subject (Science subjects: biology, human biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics or Science-related subjects: PE, geography, use of mathematics, psychology, statistics, geology, and computing). Critical Thinking and General Studies excluded.

Applicants taking a Science A-level (in England) will be required to achieve a pass in the practical element in addition to the standard A-level grade requirement. When an applicant is taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or the Cambridge International Project Qualification (Cambridge IPQ) this can be considered alongside A-levels and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. If you are taking A-levels, this would be ABB at A-level and grade A in the EPQ (BSc applicants) or AAB and grade A in the EPQ (MBiol applicants).
GCSE: Grade 6 (B) or above at GCSE Maths and Grade 4 (C) or above at GCSE English.
- IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any component or equivalent English language qualification.

School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme:

Faculty of Biological Sciences Undergraduate School

Examination board through which the programme will be considered:

Faculty of Biological Sciences Undergraduate School

Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups:

The three year BSc programmes upon which the Integrated Masters are built meet the QAA Benchmarks and meet the QAA expectations for integrated masters programmes.
There are no specified QAA Benchmarks for Integrated Masters degrees in Bioscience, however the principle of such programmes in other subject areas is to ensure coverage of Honours level Benchmark requirements plus ensure that the higher Masters levels objectives are met including:

Research training
Project-specific experimental skills
Accessing literature
Planning, including evaluation of hazards and environmental effects
Making oral presentations, writing reports, including critical evaluation
Participating in colloquia

Research project
Implementation of planned experiments
Recording of data and their critical analysis
Dissertation
Outcome potentially publishable

Advanced studies
In area of specialism to support research topic
Complementary studies outside, but cognate to, area of specialism

Problem solving
Development of general strategies including the identification of additional information required and problems where there is not a unique solution
Application of advances studies to the solutions of problems

Professional studies
Ethics and societal responsibilities
Environmental impact
Sustainability

The proportion of each activity will vary depending upon the programme’s learning objectives. However, research studies (training and project) are likely to form at least one-half of the master’s level study.

It is important to note that for students who may elect not to complete the fourth year of the programme, or who are advised that their performance makes it unlikely that they would be successful in completing the programme will have met the QAA benchmarks for the BSc and so will be able to graduate after 3 years.

Programme specification:

The MBiol, BSc Microbiology programme is distinctive because it develops an excellent breadth and depth of knowledge in the programme area together with an exceptional experience of advanced research delivered through an integrated research project.

The most important values which inform the MBiol, BSc Microbiology programme are to provide excellent students with the opportunity to gain substantial research training and experience through engagement with an individual research project conducted as part of a research team in an internationally recognised research laboratory.

The academic content of the MBiol, BSc Microbiology programme concentrates on developing an understanding of research through the delivery and active engagement in taught components, practical skills development, data analysis and problem solving elements culminating in a major research project supported by further research and transferable skills training and career planning opportunities.

The most important intellectual skills developed in the MBiol, BSc Microbiology programme are appreciation of the fundamental underpinning principles of the subject area leading through to the current state of the field informed by the research-based ethos of teaching and investigation.

The most useful practical skills, techniques and capabilities developed will be those underpinning the subject specific nature of the programme area, together with advanced level research skills expected of early stage PhD students.

Competency will be developed in a broad range of topics associated with Microbiology combined with competency in research methodology, the development of hypothesis driven research, the approach to the analysis of data and ability to solve problems, appropriate practical skills in the design and execution of suitable experiments, the production of publication quality outputs and the ability to communicate effectively.

The most important ways in which a student will learn are dependent upon the level of the students as they progress through the course. Initially delivery will be more research-informed teaching in lecture and seminar/tutorial and practical class settings leading to more independent research-based learning through lectures and independent study, small class teaching and project team or individual mentoring. Students will progress from the development of research-based practical skills in teaching labs to the design and execution of independent research work.

On completing the MBiol, BSc Microbiology programme we want students to know and understand their programme specialist subject from basic principles through to cutting edge research, and to appreciate the process of research and to be able to demonstrate implementation of these principles.

On completing the MBiol, BSc Microbiology programme we want students to be able to compete worldwide with other students for high quality research opportunities within appropriate industries or for PhD positions to pursue research careers.

The MBiol, BSc offers students an excellent breadth and depth of knowledge plus the exceptional experience of advanced research. The initial two years of the programme follows the existing BSc Microbiology programme. The year 3 will be similar to that for students enrolled on the 3 year BSc programme but integrated with year 4 with students undertaking a research project comprising of a 20 credit research project and 20 credit literature review project. The fourth year of the programme is research focused, comprising an 90 credit research project and 30 credits of advanced research training. There is a strong emphasis on independent learning, problem solving and data analysis, taught in the context of the subject. The extended individual project allows students to develop their research skills in greater depth and produce a report containing material of publishable quality that could contribute to a research publication.

In this programme, students will study a range of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. It will cover a range of disciplines which are at the core of microbiology including immunology, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology. Both fundamental and applied topics will be covered including medical microbiology, virology and the role of microorganisms in the environment. The research projects and the Microbiology specialist taught modules covered during the different levels of study, will collectively develop both breadth and depth of knowledge in Microbiology together with an exceptional experience of research delivered through and integrated research project. Students within this programme will have the flexibility to choose Advanced Topic Units at level 3 and research projects (level 3 and 5) in areas such as immunology and virology building up specialist knowledge in these areas should they wish to do so.

Also see “relationship with other programmes” for differentiation at level 5 of the Microbiology programme from the others offered by the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology.

The MBiol, BSc Microbiology programme is distinctive because it develops an excellent breadth and depth of knowledge in the programme area together with an exceptional experience of advanced research delivered through an integrated research project.

The most important values which inform the MBiol, BSc Microbiology programme are to provide excellent students with the opportunity to gain substantial research training and experience through engagement with an individual research project conducted as part of a research team in an internationally recognised research laboratory.

The academic content of the MBiol, BSc Microbiology programme concentrates on developing an understanding of research through the delivery and active engagement in taught components, practical skills development, data analysis and problem solving elements culminating in a major research project supported by further research and transferable skills training and career planning opportunities.

The most important intellectual skills developed in the MBiol, BSc Microbiology programme are appreciation of the fundamental underpinning principles of the subject area leading through to the current state of the field informed by the research-based ethos of teaching and investigation.

The most useful practical skills, techniques and capabilities developed will be those underpinning the subject specific nature of the programme area, together with advanced level research skills expected of early stage PhD students.

Year1 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Candidates will be required to study 120 credits

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Candidates may select up to 10 credits of optional modules

Discovery modules:

Candidates may select 10 credits of discovery modules.

Year2 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Candidates will be required to study 120 credits

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Candidates may select up to 10 credits of optional modules

Discovery modules:

Candidates ma select 10 credits of discovery modules.

Year3 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Candidates will be required to study 120 credits

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Year4 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Last updated: 29/04/2022 15:48:17

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