Microbiology and Immunology with a Foundation Year
Swansea University
UCAS Code: C5MF | Master of Science (with Honours) - Msci (Hon)
Swansea University
UCAS Code: C5MF | Master of Science (with Honours) - Msci (Hon)
Entry requirements
A level
Must include Biology.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
English/First Language Welsh and Maths minimum Grade C or Grade 5
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Must Include Higher Level Grade 4 Biology
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Including a strong Biology profile.
UCAS Tariff
Swansea University accepts the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales as fully equivalent to x1 A-Level.
About this course
If you’re interested in the study of microbiology and immunology but don’t have the required entry qualifications, or are a mature student returning to education, our Microbiology and Immunology programmes with a Foundation Year could be for you.
The foundation year will introduce you to the key concepts and knowledge in microbiology and immunology that you will need to progress on to the MSci. Following successful completion of the foundation year, with at least a 60% overall average, you will be able to progress to Year 1 of the MSci.
Microbiology is the branch of science that focuses on the study of microorganisms, exploring all forms of microscopic life from bacteria to fungi, protozoa, and even non-living viruses. Alongside this, immunology is the study of the immune system, and how the human body protects itself against these organisms by a number of different pathways and processes.
Our interdisciplinary degrees bring these two areas together, focusing on how they interplay with one another in response to infectious diseases as well as considering disorders that occur as the result of a malfunctioning immune system. Industrial and research applications, such as the development of novel antimicrobials, and innovative immuno-therapeutics will root the programme in real world applications.
Microbiology and immunology represent disciplines that are not only fundamentalto our understanding of health and disease but are also integral to various industries. There is a growing demand for experts in these fields, driven by an increasing focus on healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and the broader life sciences sector, translating into excellent prospects for our graduates.
You will benefit from access to the state-of-the-art research facilities at the Medical School, including bioanalytical equipment such as DNA and protein analytical equipment, flow cytometry for cellular characterisation, real time cell metabolism analysis and computer-based image analysers for molecular or cellular studies. You will also be taught by researchers working in the fields of microbiology, immunology and bioinformatics, providing you with access to real life, working examples of research in practice.
Our 5-year MSci is an advanced undergraduate degree with an integrated master’s year, with the extra year spent undertaking a research project, allowing you to develop your skills and knowledge.
Modules
For the 5-year MSci, the course structure is as follows:
Your foundation year provides a solid start to your academic journey, focusing on fundamental knowledge and core practical skills.
Your second year will introduce you to key concepts in microbiology and immunology, preparing you for your remaining years of study.
In your third year, you will delve into more advanced subjects and skills related to Biostatistics, Immunopathology, Virology and research skills.
The fourth year introduces you to advanced topics such as Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Pandemics, and Immunotherapeutics.
Your fifth and final year is an additional year at master’s level, consisting of an independent research project and developing your skills in science communication.
The Uni
Singleton Park Campus
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Biomedical sciences (non-specific)
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Microbiology and cell science
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Biomedical sciences (non-specific)
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Microbiology and cell science
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
If you want a career in microbiology, then this is the degree to take. The recession hit the job market for microbiologists particularly badly, but things have improved very significantly since then, and microbiologists are now amongst the most employable biological sciences graduates. We don't produce many graduates in the subject every year and a lot take further qualifications on graduating. Microbiology graduates who want to leave the lab can find jobs in most industries - not just in health and hospitals, but in the food and drink, water and ecology sectors, too.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Biomedical sciences (non-specific)
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Microbiology and cell science
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£20k
£23k
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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