Microbiology BSc (Hons)
University of Reading
Key Course Facts
Student Reviews
Below you can see course specific reviews of 10 graduates of Microbiology BSc (Hons) and other courses in Microbiology and Cell Science at University of Reading for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Microbiology and Cell Science.
Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.
All Microbiology and Cell Science courses of University of Reading
Salary
Salary of Graduates in Microbiology and Cell Science
Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Microbiology and Cell Science at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.
| 15 months after graduation | 3 years after graduation | 5 years after graduation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median salary | £21500 | £21500 | £27500 |
| 25-75 percentile range | £18000 - £27000 | £18000 - £23500 | £23500 - £33000 |
All Microbiology and Cell Science courses of University of Reading
Salary of all UK Graduates of Microbiology and Cell Science
| 15 months after graduation | 3 years after graduation | 5 years after graduation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median salary | £24000 | £23425 | £29177 |
| 25-75 percentile range | £21500 - £27500 | £19381 - £28866 | £22742 - £36855 |
All Microbiology and Cell Science courses in the UK
Course Description
Expand your knowledge of some of the planet's most dominant life forms, and take part in research projects with a global impact on this BSc Microbiology course.
As part of the UK's oldest microbiology department you can develop laboratory skills in purpose-built microbiology facilities and be taught by world-leading experts, with particular strengths in virology and bacteriology. Furthermore, you will benefit from membership of the Microbiology Society and strong links with industry. We are currently in the process of applying for accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology to further enhance this course.
Through the course, you will learn about the fundamental properties, genetics and physiology of diverse microbes. Options will then allow you to focus on areas that most interest you, including medical, environmental or food microbiology. You will also have the chance to carry out a year-long industrial placement or a paid vacation studentship in order to gain valuable work and research experience.
BSc Microbiology has a strong practical basis, and you will learn a wide variety of techniques such as microbial genetics, biochemistry and propagation. During your final year you will have the chance to spend three months working on an original research project of your choice. Recent projects have included the molecular engineering of viruses, and the mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity and host colonisation.
In your final year you will also have the opportunity to take part in our unique Arctic microbiology field course in Iceland. There you will be able to examine the unusual microbes that inhabit extreme environments and learn field-based sampling techniques.
Our new £60m Health and Life Sciences building is the home of the School of Biological Sciences. It offers state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories, seminar rooms, and plenty of study and social space, including a café. The building also houses the Cole Museum of Zoology. The collection, featuring more than 3,500 natural history specimens, provides a fantastic resource for biological scientists and the wider community.
Placement
You will have the opportunity to carry out a year-long industrial placement between your second and final year. Student in previous years have worked at Public Health England’s Porton Down and Colindale laboratories, GSK, AstraZeneca and Covance. You can also choose to spend a year abroad, typically carrying out research in an academic laboratory.
You will be able to undertake paid vacation studentships funded by organisations such as the Wellcome Trust and the Microbiology Society. These can take place over six weeks during the summer break, or be carried out part-time over a longer period. During studentships you will typically work on a set project and benefit from valuable training in techniques, experimental design and the interpretation of data.
Additionally, you can take a work placement module.
Our department has a dedicated academic in charge of placements, who can provide you with advice and support.
Jobs & Career Perspectives
15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.
This particular course
Current jobs
This particular course
Required skill level of job after 15 months
This particular course
Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)
Example below based on all graduates of Microbiology BSc (Hons) at University of Reading
| 40% | Business and public service associate professionals |
| 25% | Artistic, literary and media occupations |
| 10% | Administrative occupations |
| 10% | Sales occupations |
| 10% | Customer service occupations |
| 10% | Business, Research and Administrative Professionals |
Entry Requirements / Admissions
UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course
This particular course
English language requirements
| test | Grade | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | We require a minimum score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 88 | We require a minimum score of 88 overall with no less than 17 in Listening and Writing, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking. |
| Cambridge English Advanced | We require a grade B or a score of 176 overall with no element less than 162. |
|
| Cambridge English Proficiency | We require a grade C or a score of 176 overall with no element less than 162. |
|
| PTE Academic | 69 | We require a minimum score of 69 overall with at least 59 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). |
| Institution's Own Test | Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP). We require a minimum score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). |
|
| Trinity ISE | We require a Merit in each element from ISE II. If you take ISE III or ISE IV, we require a Pass in each element. |
|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | We require a minimum score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 88 | We require a minimum score of 88 overall with no less than 17 in Listening and Writing, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking. |
| Cambridge English Advanced | We require a grade B or a score of 176 overall with no element less than 162. |
|
| Cambridge English Proficiency | We require a grade C or a score of 176 overall with no element less than 162. |
|
| PTE Academic | 69 | We require a minimum score of 69 overall with at least 59 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). |
| Institution's Own Test | Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP). We require a minimum score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). |
|
| Trinity ISE | We require a Merit in each element from ISE II. If you take ISE III or ISE IV, we require a Pass in each element. |
Costs
Tuition Fees Microbiology BSc (Hons)
| England UK | £9250 | year 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9250 | year 1 |
| Ireland | £9250 | year 1 |
| EU | £27650 | year 1 |
| International | £27650 | year 1 |
Average student cost of living in the UK
| Rent | £518 |
| Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
| Supermarket shopping | £81 |
| Clothing | £35 |
| Eating out | £33 |
| Alcohol | £27 |
| Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
| Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
| Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
| Transport within city | £17 |
| Self-care / sports | £20 |
| Stationary / books | £13 |
| Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
| Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
| Insurance | £51 |
| Other | £95 |
| Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
How to apply
Application deadline:
August 1, 2025
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Possible Entry Points:
- year 1 (Default entry point)
UCAS application code:
C500
University Rankings
Positions of University of Reading in top UK and global rankings.
See all 32 university rankings of University of Reading
About University of Reading
The University of Reading is a publicly funded university in Reading, Berkshire, England. Reading has four major campuses; London Road and Whiteknights campus which are located in Reading itself, with Greenlands campus being found on the banks of the River Thames. The fourth campus is known as Iskandar Puteri, in Malaysia.
List of 375 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Reading - Course Catalogue
Student composition of University of Reading
-
Total number of students enrolled at University of Reading by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 11905
- postgraduates:
- 3995
- Total:
- 15900
-
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Microbiology”: 1465 Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
Where is this programme taught
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Similar courses
| Program | University | Student satisfaction | Unemployed | Dropout | Tuition (UK) | Tuition (International) |  UCAS Tariff |
City | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Microbiology BSc (Hons) | Nottingham Trent University | 71% | 5% | 0% | £9250 | £17150 | 126 | Nottingham |
On campus
Full-time
|
|
Microbiology BSc (Hons) | Imperial College of Science | 92% | 5% | 10% | £9250 | £41650 | 193 | London |
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|
|
Medical Microbiology BSc (Hons) | University of Bristol | 94% | 6% | 0% | £9250 | £31300 | 150 | Bristol |
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|
Microbiology BSc (Hons) | University of Dundee | 84% | 5% | 0% | £9250 | £24800 £26600 | 192 | Dundee |
On campus
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|
|
Microbiology BSc (Hons) | University of Aberdeen | 85% | 0% | 0% | £9250 | £26100 £24800 | 181 | Aberdeen |
On campus
Full-time
|
|
Microbiology with Professional Studies BSc (Hons) | Queen's University of Belfast | - | 5% | 0% | £9250 | £25300 | 143 | Belfast |
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Sandwich
|
|
Microbiology BSc (Hons) | Aberystwyth University | 62% | 6% | 0% | £9000 | £18830 | 146 | Aberystwyth |
On campus
Full-time
|
|
Microbiology with a Placement Year BSc (Hons) | University of East Anglia | 93% | 0% | 10% | £9250 | £26100 | 130 | Norwich |
On campus
Full-time
|
|
|
Microbiology (with integrated year in industry) BSc (Hons) | Aberystwyth University | 62% | 6% | 10% | £9000 | £18830 | 146 | Aberystwyth |
On campus
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Sandwich
|
|
Immunology and Microbiology BSc (Hons) | University of Strathclyde | 91% | 10% | 0% | £9250 | £25250 | 210 | Glasgow |
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|
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