Microbiology
Microbiology is the scientific study of organisms that are invisible to the naked eye: bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, and archaea that together make up the majority of life on Earth by biomass and metabolic activity. Understanding these organisms is fundamental to medicine, agriculture, environmental science, and biotechnology. Microorganisms cause infectious diseases and are the targets of antibiotics and vaccines.
They decompose organic matter, fix atmospheric nitrogen, and drive the global cycles of carbon and other elements. They are also harnessed to produce fermented foods and drinks, antibiotics, enzymes, biofuels, and a growing range of therapeutic products.
At Nottingham Trent University, you will study this three-year full-time programme, developing laboratory skills and scientific understanding across a broad curriculum. You will learn to culture, identify, and manipulate microorganisms using modern molecular and classical techniques. The programme covers microbial cell biology and physiology, microbial genetics and genomics, pathogenic microbiology and host-pathogen interactions, environmental microbiology, and the industrial and biotechnological applications of microorganisms.
Practical laboratory work is a central part of the curriculum throughout, building both the technical competence and the scientific judgement that employers and postgraduate supervisors look for.
Graduates in microbiology are in demand across the pharmaceutical industry, where they contribute to drug development, vaccine manufacture, and quality control. Clinical microbiology in hospital diagnostic laboratories, public health monitoring with organisations such as the UK Health Security Agency, and food safety testing are other major sectors. Biotechnology companies developing novel biological products and processes employ microbiology graduates in both technical and research roles.
Teaching and science communication are further paths, and postgraduate study at masters or doctoral level is a common route for those aiming at research careers in academia or industry.