BSc Microbiology

Institution University of Sheffield
Method At the institution
Location Sheffield
Type Undergraduate
Course fee By request

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BSc Microbiology

Objectives Microbes (bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses) provide us with food and natural resources such as oil and life-saving antibiotics, and clean up the biosphere. But microbes also cause epidemics - plague, tuberculosis, foot-and-mouth disease, meningitis - across the world. Microbes thrive in environments that support no other life forms, and will undoubtedly remain when all higher organisms have become extinct. In this degree course you will gain specialist knowledge of microbiology along with a broad grounding in the other molecular biosciences. This course is one of a range of courses in the molecular biosciences offered by the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. In their first year all students in the department take a broadly based programme, gaining experience in a range of areas in the molecular biosciences. At the end of the first year, you may transfer between the different courses taught by the department as your specific interests develop. In your second year, you will consider your chosen subjects in more depth and hone your practical skills. In your third year you have the opportunity to carry out an individual research project in one of the department research groups or in the Medical School. You may graduate after three years with a BSc degree, or you may choose the optional fourth year, leading to an MBiolSci qualification. This involves additional training in skills relevant to a career in research, and an extensive research project, which may be carried out in industry. Transfer between the three and four year programme is possible in either direction during years one to three.
Entry requirements Entry requirements GCE/VCE A Levels - ABB Two GCE A Levels plus two GCE AS Levels - AB+BB Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers - AAAB/ABB Irish Leaving Cert. - AABBB BTEC Level N - 2 Distinctions + 1 Merit International Baccalaureate - 33 points Core Requirements - 12 science units (not including Geography). We require Chemistry at GCE A Level or AS Level or equivalent.
Academic title BSc Microbiology
Course description Our students usually select from a range of compulsory and optional modules to add up to 120 credits.

Some departments offer courses that don't feature optional modules whereas other courses are fully flexible.

Important notice :
This is a list of modules that have been offered in the past. We expect similar modules to be offered for courses starting in 2009.

This information is provided for illustration only and you should check with the department directly when applying to confirm module options.

Typical First Year Modules

Module/Unit Credits
Biochemical Basis of Life 20

From Cells to Organisms 20

Genetics 20

Molecular Biology of the Gene 20

The Diversity of Life 20

Practical Molecular Biology 1 10

Practical Molecular Biology 2 10

Typical Second Year Modules

Module/Unit Credits
Analysis of Genomes 10

Biological Energy Transformations 10

Gene Expression and Regulation 10

Genetics of Higher Eukaryotes 10

Macromolecular Structure and Function 1 10

Metabolism: Control and Manipulation 10

Micro-Organisms in Human Disease 10

Microbial Genetics 10

Microbial Growth, Structure and Function 10

Practical Molecular Biology 3 10

Practical Molecular Biology 4 10

Typical Third Year Modules

Module/Unit Credits
Laboratory Project 20

Library Project 10

Microbiology Data Handling 10

Bacterial Molecular Genetics and Differentiation 10

Bacterial Pathogenicity 10

Functional Genomics 10

Genetics of Cell Growth and Division 10

Membrane Protein Structure and Function 10

Microbial Sensing of the Environment 10

Molecular Immunology 10

Special Topics in Biotechnology 10

The Microbiology of Extreme Environments 10

Virus Infections of Humans 10