Course summary

Microorganisms. They might be small, but they tell us more about life on Earth than almost any other living things. You’ll learn how they’re both helpful and harmful, as well as the evolving role of microbiology in biotechnology, health and disease. This degree includes the option to change your specialism in your second year. Microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa) play a crucial role in many of the Earth's physical and biological processes; they help to purify our waste water and clean up pollution. Mankind has used them for thousands of years in the production of foods and drinks but some types can cause new and devastating diseases. Microorganisms are the oldest inhabitants of the Earth, yet we have only discovered a small fraction of all the microbes that exist. Now microbiology is at the forefront of a technical revolution: incredibly sensitive molecular tools, coupled with sophisticated computer informatics, provide powerful new approaches to unlocking the secrets of life. On this course you will gain a broad appreciation of the biology of organisms of microscopic size, the role of microbes in health and disease, and of the mammalian immune response to infection. This course is identical to the first three years of the MBiolSci in Biological Sciences (Microbiology). What's the difference? At the University of Leicester, we offer seven Biological Science subjects and four Medical Bioscience subjects, all as both BSc (three years) and MBiolSci (four years), plus a Foundation Year option, giving you an impressive range of 23 different courses to choose from. Biological Science covers major aspects of biology and molecular science across a wide range of organisms from bacteria and fungi to humans and plants. All 14 courses share a common first year so you can change to a different degree before the end of Year 1. Medical Science allows you to select specialist modules that focus more closely on the application of biological principles to medicine. All eight courses share a common first year so you can change to a different degree before the end of Year 1. It is possible to switch between a Biological Science course and a Medical Bioscience course during the first half of your first year, but after that the two fields diverge.