Aisha Gidado
Introduction
Designed to develop both your research and practical skills, our MSc in Microbiology will enhance your academic knowledge of the latest advances in microbiology and improve your employability and career prospects.
Study Information
Study Options
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification
- MSc
- Duration
- 12 months or 24 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time or Part Time
- Start Month
- January or September
- Location of Study
- Aberdeen
The MSc degree in Microbiology will take you through a wide-ranging curriculum describing some of the latest advances in microbiology. It includes courses on microbiology, applied statistics, bioinformatics, regulation of microbial adaptation and host-pathogen interactions in infection and disease. The MSc Microbiology aims to provide you with:
- An understanding of the general principles of microbiology
- An ability to apply knowledge in academic and health contexts
- Opportunities to learn from world renowned researchers
This programme is ideal for students and scientists who would like to improve their career prospects, fill skills gaps and further their hands-on microbiology research experience.
This programme is available to start in September or January.
Available Programmes of Study
- MSc 12 months or 24 months On Campus Learning Full Time or Part Time September Aberdeen View
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Programme Information
- Stage 1
-
Stage 1
Compulsory Courses
You will study the following compulsory courses:
- PD5006 Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (0 credit points)
- MT5010 Basic Skills – Induction (0 credit points)
- MC5009 Current Microbiology (15 credit points)
- PU5017 Applied Statistics (15 credit points)
Plus one or both of the following:
- MB5021 Bioinformatics (15 credit points)
- BT5014 Biotechnology (15 credit points)
- Current Microbiology (MC5009)
-
15 Credit Points
This course will provide students with microbiology knowledge for further advanced studies and will provide training in microbiological laboratory techniques. At the end of this course students will have an understanding of microbes associated with health and disease (including bacteria, fungi and viruses), academic understanding of laboratory techniques required for the culture, identification and characterisation of microbes, and increased confidence in reading and critiquing primary research literature.
View detailed information about this course - Applied Statistics (PU5017)
-
15 Credit Points
This course in Applied Statistics intends to focus on the application of statistical techniques in postgraduate research for health professionals, with a particular emphasis on the correct interpretation of statistical analyses. The course will NOT concentrate on the statistical theory underlying the subject. An important component of the course is the use of a statistical package, IBM SPSS Statistics 27, which can be used to implement all the methods taught on this course.
View detailed information about this course - Bioinformatics (MB5021)
-
15 Credit Points
A course containing a series of lectures describing 'latest-methods and discoveries' in areas of bioinformatics and functional genomics including transcriptomics, proteomics, and DNA sequence analysis.Contains a series of in-depth workshops that teach the principles and practice of next generation sequence analysis, transcriptomics, proteomics and sequence similarity analysis.
View detailed information about this course - Biotechnology (BT5014)
-
15 Credit Points
Modern biotechnology is absolutely dependent upon our increasingly sophisticated ability to use microbial and mammalian host cells as factories to produce high quantities of protein pharmaceuticals, e.g. insulin. Increasingly, cells engineered with multiple foreign genes are also being used to drive small molecule drug production. This course will explore how such heterologous protein expression processes can be engineered and optimised to drive efficient synthesis of the next generation medicines on which healthcare systems are increasingly depending.
View detailed information about this course
Optional Courses
- Molecular Genetics (MB5025)
-
15 Credit Points
View detailed information about this course - Profiles of Immunology (MB5028)
-
15 Credit Points
This course provides all of the basics regarding the immune system, including both the innate and adaptive immune system and how they are important in a range of different disease scenarios.
View detailed information about this course
- Stage 2
-
Stage 2
Compulsory Courses
- Research Tutorials (MB5518)
-
15 Credit Points
The aim of this course is to develop understanding of hypothesis-lead research and to provide an opportunity to study advanced science concepts and experimental approaches led by an experienced member of academic staff.
View detailed information about this course - Host - Pathogen Interactions (MB5516)
-
15 Credit Points
Why do some microorganisms cause disease, yet others don’t? This course explores host-pathogen interactions from bacterial, fungal, parasite, viral and host perspectives in a lecture series, examining virulence factors, host defences and immune responses. Students develop a detailed knowledge of one specific host-pathogen interaction through self-directed study and review of a specific disease selected by the student. In addition, workshops are held which discuss experimental design for analysis of host-pathogen interactions, virulence and novel drug treatments. The material on the course will enable students to develop and refine their understanding of the roles of host and pathogen in infectious disease.
View detailed information about this course
Optional Courses
Plus one or both of the following (depends on prerequisites taken in 1HS):
- MB5522 Advanced Bioinformatics and Genome Sequencing
- BT5510 Advanced Biotechnology
Elective (if additional credits required):
Choose one of the following:
- BT5509 Biologic Drug Discovery
- MB5517 Genome-Enabled Medicine
- Advanced Bioinformatics and Genome Sequencing (MB5522)
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15 Credit Points
An exciting course that brings a student right up to date with bioinformatics, genome assembly and annotation technology. You, the student, will isolate a novel bacterium from the environment and purify its DNA. This will be whole genome sequenced, and you will then assemble your own bacterial genome and functionally annotate it, taught by expert bioinformaticians from our Centre for Genome-Enabled Biology and Medicine. Your analysis will enable you to identify the species you have isolated, its metabolic and environmental responses, growth constraints and regulation, cell surface markers and antibiotic resistance, producing a full inventory of genes and their presumptive functions. Overall the course prepares a student for future employment in a biosciences workplace where genome sequencing and annotation is becoming an everyday tool of modern biotechnology.
View detailed information about this course - Advanced Biotechnology (BT5510)
-
15 Credit Points
This course will take the student through in depth study of how synthetic biology and systems biology are transforming the principles and practice of modern biotechnology. The course will teach modern methods of biotechnology including host cell design and optimisation using modern modelling techniques, leading to an understanding of how multiple genes under precise regulatory control can be introduced into a species to endow it with new biotechnologically-valuable properties.
Through hands on study of synthetic biological processes in a series of workshops, students will learn how advanced genetic engineering of host expression systems can transform production of pharmaceuticals, chemical feedstocks and biofuels. The course will equip students with a range of knowledge and skills directly relevant to modern biosciences, including the biotechnology industry.
View detailed information about this course - Biologic Drug Discovery (BT5509)
-
15 Credit Points
Biologic therapies represent one of the most important and novel areas of drug discovery in the 21st century. The aim of this course is to provide an insight into the success of protein, peptide or antibody based biologic therapies and to examine how this exciting new area will develop over the next decade.
View detailed information about this course - Genome - Enabled Medicine (MB5517)
-
15 Credit Points
A course describing the wide range of ways in which genome sequencing has transformed our understanding of medicine and human disease.
A course placing a high value on its teaching and learning; lecture material supported by workshops – your chance to put knowledge into practice, ask questions and enjoy the science.
Contains material detailing a range of examples of genome science and its applications in medicine.
A course that makes wide use of the literature, allowing you to read about and understand the latest methods in genome science.
View detailed information about this course
- Stage 3
-
Stage 3
Students will be offered a choice of research projects which cover a range of different research areas, including ion channel research, microbiome research, mycology, synthetic biology, oomycete research and bacteriology.
Compulsory Courses
All students must take one of the following
- MB5904 Masters Research Project (Laboratory)
- PU5922 Masters Research Project (60 credit points)
- Masters Research Project (Laboratory) (MB5904)
-
60 Credit Points
This course offers students the opportunity to complete a substantial piece of data-driven, empirical work within their field of study under the supervision of an experienced researcher.
Topics available will be varied but within the domain of their field of study. Alongside supervisors, students will identify a suitable topic area, describe an appropriate study design and implement an empirical study to be completed within a laboratory setting. Students will be involved alongside the supervisors in the process of defining the research question, and developing the research plan and, where appropriate, obtaining regulatory approvals. This course is for laboratory-based projects (if you are intending to undertake a project in non-laboratory setting you should register on PU5913)
View detailed information about this course
Optional Courses
- Masters Research Project (PU5922)
-
60 Credit Points
This course offers students the opportunity to complete a substantial piece of data-driven, empirical work within their field of study under the supervision of an experienced researcher.
Topics available will be varied but within the domain of their field of study. Alongside supervisors, students will identify a suitable topic area, describe an appropriate study design and implement an empirical study to be completed within a laboratory setting. Students will be involved alongside the supervisors in the process of defining the research question, and developing the research plan and, where appropriate, obtaining regulatory approvals. This course is for non-laboratory based projects (if you are intending to undertake a project in a scientific laboratory setting you should register on MB5913)
View detailed information about this course
Programme Fees
Fee information Fee category Cost EU / International students £23,500 Tuition Fees for 2021/22 Academic Year Home / RUK £10,200 Tuition Fees for 2021/22 Academic Year - MSc 12 months On Campus Learning Full Time January Aberdeen View
-
Programme Information
- Semester 1
-
Semester 1
Compulsory Courses
- Research Tutorials (MB5518)
-
15 Credit Points
A course that leads you through research-level study of your subject through study of a range of areas of the science literature
An introduction to the subject of your summer research project through the writing of an extended essay on the subject of your forthcoming research project.
The course provides an opportunity to study advanced science concepts led by an experienced member of academic staff.
View detailed information about this course - Host - Pathogen Interactions (MB5516)
-
15 Credit Points
Why do some microorganisms cause disease, yet others don’t? This course explores host-pathogen interactions from bacterial, fungal, parasite, viral and host perspectives in a lecture series, examining virulence factors, host defences and immune responses. Students develop a detailed knowledge of one specific host-pathogen interaction through self-directed study and review of a specific disease selected by the student. In addition, workshops are held which discuss experimental design for analysis of host-pathogen interactions, virulence and novel drug treatments. The material on the course will enable students to develop and refine their understanding of the roles of host and pathogen in infectious disease.
View detailed information about this course - Applied Statistics (PU5522)
-
15 Credit Points
This course in Applied Statistics intends to focus on the application of statistical techniques in postgraduate research for health professionals, with a particular emphasis on the correct interpretation of statistical analyses. The course will NOT concentrate on the statistical theory underlying the subject. An important component of the course is the use of a statistical package. The statistical package used on this course will be IBM SPSS Statistics 25 which can be used to implement all of the methods taught on this course.
View detailed information about this course - Basic Skills - Induction (MT5010)
-
This course is designed to provide or revise the basic skills you will require for your MSc. These skills include basic laboratory skills and techniques, but also IT skills and the use of University of Aberdeen specific systems (e.g. MyAberdeen etc), writing skills, literature researching and analysis of journal articles. The overarching aim is to develop these skills to a level required to undertake graduate studies and projects in the medical science discipline areas.
View detailed information about this course
Optional Courses
Students choose one of the following courses:
- Biologic Drug Discovery (BT5509)
-
15 Credit Points
Biologic therapies represent one of the most important and novel areas of drug discovery in the 21st century. The aim of this course is to provide an insight into the success of protein, peptide or antibody based biologic therapies and to examine how this exciting new area will develop over the next decade.
View detailed information about this course - Genome - Enabled Medicine (MB5517)
-
15 Credit Points
A course describing the wide range of ways in which genome sequencing has transformed our understanding of medicine and human disease.
A course placing a high value on its teaching and learning; lecture material supported by workshops – your chance to team-work, ask questions and enjoy the science.
Contains material detailing a range of examples of genome science and its applications in medicine.
A course that makes wide use of the literature, allowing you to read about and understand the latest methods in genome science.
View detailed information about this course
- Semester 2
-
Semester 2
Compulsory Courses
- IMS Research Project (MB5903) - 60 credits
- Semester 3
-
Semester 3
Compulsory Courses
- Introduction to Microbiology (MC5008)
-
15 Credit Points
This course will provide students with microbiology knowledge for further advanced studies and will provide training in microbiological laboratory techniques. At the end of this course students will have an understanding of microbes associated with health and disease (including bacteria, fungi and viruses), practical and academic understanding of laboratory techniques required for the culture, identification and characterisation of microbes, and increased confidence in reading and critiquing primary research literature.
View detailed information about this course - Bioinformatics (MB5021)
-
15 Credit Points
A course containing a series of lectures describing 'latest-methods and discoveries' in areas of bioinformatics and functional genomics including transcriptomics, proteomics, and DNA sequence analysis.Contains a series of in-depth workshops that teach the principles and practice of next generation sequence analysis, transcriptomics, proteomics and sequence similarity analysis.
View detailed information about this course - Biotechnology (BT5014)
-
15 Credit Points
Modern biotechnology is absolutely dependent upon our increasingly sophisticated ability to use microbial and mammalian host cells as factories to produce high quantities of protein pharmaceuticals, e.g. insulin. Increasingly, cells engineered with multiple foreign genes are also being used to drive small molecule drug production. This course will explore how such heterologous protein expression processes can be engineered and optimised to drive efficient synthesis of the next generation medicines on which healthcare systems are increasingly depending.
View detailed information about this course
Optional Courses
Students choose one of the following courses:
- Profiles of Immunology (MB 5028)
- Molecular Genetics (MB5025)
-
15 Credit Points
View detailed information about this course
Programme Fees
Fee information Fee category Cost EU / International students £23,500 Tuition Fees for 2021/22 Academic Year Home / RUK £10,200 Tuition Fees for 2021/22 Academic Year
Microbiology
Qualification
Duration
Learning Mode
Study Mode
Start Month
Location
We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to timetabling and other constraints. Please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
How You'll Study
The programme is taught through a flexible mix of lectures and small group tutorials, practical classes, practical computer workshops and research tutorials. There is also an expectation of self-learning, where you will engage with current microbiology research literature to enhance your knowledge gained and discussed in taught sessions. All lecture material is available on MyAberdeen, the University’s Virtual Learning Environment.
The programme also involves an extended, hands-on laboratory-based research project, supervised by experienced and research-active academic staff. Much of the teaching on this course is participatory and students are expected to consolidate all taught content by completing related tasks and activities and engaging in independent study in their own time.
Learning Methods
- Lab Work
- Lectures
- Research
- Tutorials
Assessment Methods
Taught courses are assessed by a combination of written assignments and reports, oral presentations, and by examination. All students undertake a research project, which is submitted for assessment in the form of a short research thesis. Students also present an oral presentation on their project.
Why Study Microbiology?
- You will have access to the University and large teaching hospital all on one campus. The Foresterhill Health Campus is one of the largest clinical complexes in Europe which includes a large teaching hospital, Medical School and the Institute of Medical Sciences.
- Embedded within an active and dynamic research culture, you will have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills required to enhance your employability and further your career as a microbiologist.
- You will benefit from skills training to help with scientific writing, analytical skills, CV writing, interview skills and reading scientific literature.
- Teaching on the course is delivered by world renowned researchers including staff from the Aberdeen Fungal Group.
- The University of Aberdeen is a World Top 160 University (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022).
What Our Students Say
Nika Ivanovova
Entry Requirements
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
A second class Honours degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent qualification in Microbiology or other biological science degree is required for entry onto this programme.
Please check the In My Country pages to find out if your degree is equivalent.
Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.
English Language Requirements
To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
Document Requirements
You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.
- CV
- an up-to-date CV/Resumé
- Degree Certificate
- a degree certificate showing your qualifications
- Degree Transcript
- a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
- Personal Statement
- a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme
International Applicants
Fee Information
International Applicants
Further Information about tuition fees and the cost of living in Aberdeen
Additional Fee Information
- Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programmes section above.
- In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
- For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our InfoHub Tuition Fees page.
Scholarships
Eligible self-funded international Masters students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Visit our Funding Database to find out more and see our full range of scholarships.
Aberdeen Global Scholarship (EU)
The Aberdeen Global Scholarship is open to European Union (EU) students.
This is a £2,000 tuition fee discount available to eligible self-funded Postgraduate Masters students who are classed as International fee status and are domiciled in the EU, plus another £3,000 discount for eligible Postgraduate Masters students who would have previously been eligible for Home fees (Scottish/EU) fee status.
View Aberdeen Global ScholarshipCareers
The MSc Microbiology Programme will provide you with the academic, analytical and practical skills to assist you in to many careers.
Many of our graduates choose to continue in research careers and begin PhDs or become research scientists (research assistants or technicians). Our scientists have obtained posts in Universities, industry (including oil and gas), biotechnology and hospital diagnostic and pathology laboratories.
More generally, microbiologists can use their training in education, working in schools, colleges of further education and in Universities. Further opportunities are available to apply microbiology training in scientific publishing, in patent offices working on biological patents, in science outreach and contributing to the public understanding of microbiological issues.
Our Experts
The programme will be delivered by an experienced, multidisciplinary team of internationally renowned experts in microbiology.
- Other Experts
- Professor Ian Stansfield
- Dr Allison Carrington
- Dr Gordon Prescott
- Dr Shona Fielding
- Programme Coordinator
- Dr Donna MacCallum
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. Staff changes will occur from time to time; please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
Facilities
The Institute of Medical Sciences
Focused on developing future effective therapies, the Institute of Medical Sciences houses nearly 400 researchers and support staff working on cutting-edge biomedical subjects aimed at understanding the human body's response to infection and disease.
Foresterhill Health Campus
The Foresterhill Health Campus is one of the largest clinical complexes in Europe which includes the Medical School, large teaching hospital, the Institute of Medical Sciences and the Rowett Institute.
Opening 2022 - Science Teaching Hub
Our state-of-the-art Science Teaching Hub will provide students with a digitally focussed environment including advanced analytical tools, research-grade equipment and flexible laboratory spaces.
Find out moreGet in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions Service
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX