Course summary

Foundation courses A foundation year can develop your skills and make it easier to get started at university. It is an extra year of study at the start of your course that leads in to a full degree programme. It’s a great option if: You don’t have the grades for a full degree course You have non-traditional qualifications or experience You’re starting university after some time away from education You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study. Life as a foundation year student During a foundation year you’ll learn about your chosen subject, develop your study skills and get used to university life. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree course. As a foundation year student, you’ll be a full student of the University and part of our community. You’ll have access to all our campus facilities and support. Why choose this course -Study a curriculum that explores some of society’s biggest challenges, from emerging disease threats to the increase of antibiotic resistance. -Access our £12.5 million Innovation for Health Learning Laboratory and use equipment that can found in the NHS and research labs across the world. -Complete your first practical within your first two weeks at Surrey. -Gain industry experience through our Professional Training placements, where you can work in one of our partner laboratories across the world. -Learn from lecturers who are active researchers in virology, antimicrobial resistance, clinical bacteriology, and systems biology, and whose work is used by governments, health professionals and industry. -Study among highly satisfied students - we have over 90% satisfaction for microbiology in the National Student Survey 2022. -Join the 97% of our biosciences and medicine graduates who go on to employment or further study.* *Graduate Outcomes survey 2022, HESA What you will study Microbiology has provided answers that’s helped society through some of its biggest challenges, but there’s more to discover… On this course you’ll learn about agents, such as bacteria and viruses, that have a huge impact on human health, the environment, and industry. You’ll learn how microbiology can be applied to develop new vaccines, improve our food and improve the treatment of diseases. In your first year, you’ll be introduced to the microbial world. You’ll study topics that are fundamental to microbiology, including bacteriology, biochemistry and cell biology, as well as learning important hands-on lab techniques. During your second year, you’ll get the option to study including virology, food microbiology, human immunology and pathology and medicine. On these modules, you’ll explore topics such as adaptive immune response and cellular injury, as well as the characteristics of the major groups of bacteria, protozoa and viruses. In your third year, you’ll study biomedical microbial products, human microbial diseases, and the epidemiology of infectious diseases. You can also choose to explore topics such as animal infectious diseases, gene expression, immunohaematology, and pathogenesis and therapeutics of cancer. You’ll also complete a research project, bringing together all the practical, analytical, and presentation skills you’ve developed.