MSc Microbiology - 1 Year Full-Time
1 Year Full-Time | September Start
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Applicants should normally have:
A minimum of a 2:2 honour degree in a science discipline, such as microbiology, cell biology or genetics.
International qualifications:
If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English language requirements:
International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 6 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
Full UK Fee: £9,700
Full International Fee: £20,950
Scholarships and Discounts
ADDITIONAL COSTS
Laboratory equipment such as spatula, lab book, marker pens and a scientific calculator are required and should cost no more than £25. You may be required to print some documents this should be no more than £10 per academic year.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
AP0700 -
Graduate Science Research Methods (Core,20 Credits)
This module will provide you with an opportunity to develop your skills in the use and understanding of relevant literature and in both quantitative and qualitative methods. You will learn how to evaluate and contribute to the scientific literature and to interpret and disseminate scientific information. You will appreciate the desirable properties of research design and be able to select an experimental design appropriate to a given system and create the design matrix. You will learn how to assess the kinds of scientific data and tests of hypotheses and will be able to select, apply, and interpret the output from statistical methods of data analysis, and to evaluate the results of statistical analyses as applied to a given data set. Using contemporary science stories, you will develop scientific communication skills in systematic searching, summary writing and critical analysis of the underpinning primary research.
More informationAP0701 -
Molecular Biology (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn to evaluate recent developments in molecular biology in the context of the new techniques that have been developed, which will be assessed by an online test, demonstrate an ability to perform skilled laboratory techniques in a competent and safe manner, which is assessed by practical report, and evaluate laboratory results in the form of a scientific paper, which is assessed by practical report. You will also learn to demonstrate an awareness of the wider social and political implications of the topics covered in the module.
More informationAP0702 -
Bioinformatics (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn the fundamental importance of bioinformatics to 21st century biology and how it is applied to the investigation of bacterial sequences. Topics include:
•Utilisation of databases for the analysis of nucleotide and amino-acid sequences, including introduction to the algorithms used in sequence alignment and sequence searching
•Practical experience of sequence analysis using freely available bioinformatics tools, looking at nucleotide, protein, and genome databases. These tools include BLAST, SWISS-Prot, PubMed, UCSC Genome Browser
•Microbial DNA sequencing and next-generation sequencing
•Genome annotation and analysis of SNPs.
•The importance of molecular phylogeny
•Genome editing using CRISPR-Cas
•Proteomics, covering protein structure analysis and identification of common motifs
AP0703 -
Subject Exploration (Core,20 Credits)
This module allows you to explore a topic related to your Masters programme of your own choosing to an advanced level developing a critical appreciation of the methodologies, recent advances and future potential in that field. In doing so, you will develop and refine your research skills including information retrieval, evaluative, analytical, and problem solving skills together with group-based written and oral communication skills.
More informationAP0706 -
Microbes and Disease (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about the impact of microbes (including viruses) on human health, with a particular emphasis on selected microbial diseases of major global significance. The emphasis is on furthering understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of microbial disease, with further consideration of how these relate to diagnosis, treatment and strategies for disease prevention. The module content will have strong links to the research expertise of the module team.
As indicative content, suitable topics will likely include the biology of some of the following diseases: tuberculosis and other major mycobacterial diseases (leprosy; buruli ulcer); streptococcal pathogens; malaria; HIV and Hepatitis C virus; cholera as a representative diarrhoeal disease; chlamydia as a major sexually transmitted disease and a cause of blinding trachoma; polymicrobial infections.
AP0707 -
Microbial Diversity (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn the importance of microbes in biotechnology, in particular organisms that produce therapeutic and commercially significant compounds. You will also learn about how viruses impact on the microbial communities in the environment and clinical setting. You will study in detail the diverse habitats that bacteria and viruses are isolated from such as deep-sea sediments, the Mir space station and desert sand, as well as the explorative techniques required for isolating bioactive microorganisms and the taxonomic approaches that are undertaken to characterise the producers of commercially significant products.
Underpinning theoretical concepts and principles will be covered in a lecture course that will be informed, illustrated and applied through a strong practical element. You will be trained in basic techniques that you will then have to utilise to solve ‘real life’ research project revolving around the selective isolation and identification of micro-organisms.
AP0708 -
Applied Sciences Research Project (Core,60 Credits)
This module provides you with a vehicle for developing, refining and applying your research skills in an independent project. Guided by a staff member, you will plan, carry out and report the outcomes of an independent research project to professional standards. You will identify stakeholders in your research and describe the projected impact your research holds for them. In order to prepare you for life as a research professional, assessments emulate authentic professional documentary formats aimed at securing project resources and disseminating your findings to ensure they develop real world impact.
More informationJE7000 -
Academic Language Skills (ALS) for PG Applied Science students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.
Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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