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Microbiology

Entry requirements


A level

A,A,B

BSc: AAB MBiol: AAA Including biology or chemistry and another science or science-related subject. Critical thinking and general studies excluded. We accept the following: • Science subjects: biology, human biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics. • Science-related subjects: computing, environmental science, food science, geography, geology, PE, psychology, science in society, statistics, use of mathematics. 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).

BSc: Overall pass with 60 credits and a minimum of 45 credits at level 3, with distinctions in at least 30 graded level 3 graded at D39M6P0 including biology and chemistry units (15 units in each), and a merit in all the remaining graded credits. We accept Access courses in Applied Science. We will also consider (depending on subject content:) • biochemical sciences • biological and environmental science • biological and health science • biological sciences • biosciences • combined sciences • environmental science • life and biological science • life science • medical and health science professions • natural sciences • physical & natural sciences. MBiol: We do not accept Access to HE.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

D3,D3,M1

BSc: D3/D3/M1 including D3 in biology or chemistry plus one other science or science-related subject. Global Perspectives excluded. MBiol: D3/D3/D3 Including biology or chemistry plus another science or science-related subject. Global Perspectives excluded. When an applicant is taking Global Perspectives this can be considered alongside Pre-U subjects and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. This would be D3/M1/M1 and grade D3 in Global Perspectives (BSc applicants) or D3/D3/M1 and grade D3 in Global Perspectives (MBiol applicants).

Applicants offering an EPQ or IPQ qualification will receive a standard offer, as shown above, plus an alternative offer. The alternative offer would be AAB plus grade A in EPQ / IPQ. Subject specific requirements are still valid.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

34

BSc: 34 (with 17 at higher level) including 6 in higher level biology or chemistry and another science or science-related subject at higher level. MBiol: 35 (with 18 at higher level) including 6 in higher level biology or chemistry and another science or science-related subject at higher level.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H2,H2,H2,H2,H3,H3

BSc: H2,H2,H2,H2,H3,H3 including H2 in biology or chemistry and another science or science-related subject at higher level. MBiol: H2,H2,H2,H2,H2,H2 including biology or chemistry and another science or science-related subject at higher level.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDM

BSc: BTEC extended diploma entry requirements: DDM plus A/B in A-level biology or chemistry (subject requirements may depend on the subject applied for and the BTEC subject). MBiol: We do not accept BTEC qualifications.

BSc: Advanced Higher: 5 x Highers AABBB, with AB in 2 Advanced Highers including biology or chemistry and another science or science-related subject. Critical thinking and general studies excluded. MBiol: 5 x Highers AABBB, with AA in 2 Advanced Highers including biology or chemistry and another science or science-related subject. Critical thinking and general studies excluded. We accept the following: • Science subjects: biology, human biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics. • Science-related subjects: PE, geography, use of mathematics, psychology, statistics, geology and computing. Scottish Higher: Scottish Highers not accepted on their own.

UCAS Tariff

136

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

5 years | Full-time with time abroad | 2024

5 years | Full-time with year in industry | 2024

Subject

Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of organisms too small to be visible with the naked eye, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. Your course will cover an area of science fundamental to the understanding of life on this planet – from human and animal disease, better food production to microbial involvement in global cycles.

You will study a range of microbiological topics with a biomedical focus, such as bacterial resistance to antibiotics, the use of microbes in biotechnology, and how new pathogens, such as the cause of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), emerge and cause disease. These topics are at the heart of many global challenges and it is critical that the next generation of expert scientists are trained in these areas.

You will develop your specialist knowledge, whilst building on the foundations of microbiology, with areas such as immunology, genetics, biochemistry and cell biology.

This integrated Masters (MBiol) gives you an additional year of specialist training, to study advanced research topics and undertake your own extended research project. You may also choose to apply for our 3 year BSc and transfer to an MBiol up until the end of your second year, subject to suitable academic performance.

**Course highlights:**
- Experience the cutting edge in a research-active environment with world-class facilities.

- Perform a final year project at the frontier of modern research.

- Gain further practical experience and boost your employability through our Year in Industry programme.

- Build transferrable skills and employability with our skills-based teaching.

- Extensive wellbeing and employability support from dedicated Faculty teams.

- Outstanding graduate employability amongst top employers, both within and beyond scientific research.

The Uni


Course location:

University of Leeds

Department:

Faculty of Biological Sciences

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

74%
Microbiology

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Microbiology and cell science

Teaching and learning

79%
Staff make the subject interesting
89%
Staff are good at explaining things
79%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
68%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

58%
Library resources
72%
IT resources
67%
Course specific equipment and facilities
63%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

96%
UK students
4%
International students
32%
Male students
68%
Female students
92%
2:1 or above
6%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
B
A

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Microbiology and cell science

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£21,000
high
Average annual salary
100%
high
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

22%
Science, engineering and production technicians
15%
Business, research and administrative professionals
11%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals

If you want a career in microbiology, then this is the degree to take. The recession hit the job market for microbiologists particularly badly, but things have improved very significantly since then, and microbiologists are now amongst the most employable biological sciences graduates. We don't produce many graduates in the subject every year and a lot take further qualifications on graduating. Microbiology graduates who want to leave the lab can find jobs in most industries - not just in health and hospitals, but in the food and drink, water and ecology sectors, too.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Microbiology and cell science

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£21k

£21k

£26k

£26k

£30k

£30k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here