Molecular Microbiology MSc

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Level of study:
Masters
Entry Requirements:
More information
Start date:
January 2026, September 2026 and January 2027
Duration:
One year full-time / Two years full-time with one year placement / Two years part-time
Attendance:
Full-time, Part-time, Placement year
Course delivery:
On-campus (Clifton Campus)

About this course

Designed to provide you with a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the molecular biology of microorganisms.

You'll study the key concepts associated with molecular microbiology and use these when considering their role in health and disease.

This course provides you with opportunities to study advanced principles of the metabolism and genetics of microbes, focusing on bacteria and microbes involved in clinical health and infectious diseases.

Further studies specialise in modern genomics and infectious disease diagnosis.

Practical work forms a large proportion of your learning. This ensures that you have extensive skills for employment or research projects to draw on after graduation.

Best of all, you'll benefit from truly excellent facilities and equipment available in the School of Science and Technology.

Additional Qualifications

You have the option to gain an additional Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice if you do a work placement on the Sandwich-route.
World-Leading Research

99% of NTU’s Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy submission was assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent by In the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021)
High Levels of Student Satisfaction

95% of molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry students are satisfied with the quality of their course (PTES, 2024).

This Molecular Microbiology Masters is made up of six core modules and a research project. If you are part-time or a sandwich student, you will continue to study the second year from the modules listed below.

Module information

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the course:

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

You will learn through:

Lectures
Guided reading supported by the University's virtual leaning portal
Workshops
Written and oral presentations
Research reports
Attendance regular research seminar
Developing your skills portfolio

Research-informed teaching

By daring to think differently our research is tackling real-world issues. The subjects you will study with us are informed by our research so you can be sure your knowledge will be cutting-edge in your field. In the last Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) - the UK's system for assessing the quality and impact of research in universities - we’re proud that 99% of NTU’s Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy submission was assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent.

Learn a new language

Alongside your study you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have. Find out more about the ULP.

How you're assessed

You will be assessed by a variety of methods including:

Research project
Written assignment
Case studies
Poster and oral presentations
Laboratory reports
In-class tests
Skills portfolio

Contact hours

For each 20-credit module, you’ll spend about 200 hours learning overall. Around 40 of those hours will be taught in labs, lectures or seminars. The rest of the time is for independent study, reading, research, or working on assignments.

Samantha McLean

Associate Professor

Dr Samantha McLean is an Associate Professor of Infection Prevention and Control in department of Biosciences. She is a member of the Antimicrobial Resistance, Omics and Microbiota research group and Microbiology Academic Lead for the Medical Technologies Innovation Facility. Her research focuses on developing antimicrobial therapies and evaluating infection prevention and control implications during the development of materials and devices, aiming to reduce microbial burden.
Visit Samantha McLean's staff profile
Fiona Freeman

Principal Lecturer

Fiona Freeman
Visit Fiona Freeman's staff profile
Luigi De Girolamo

Deputy Head of Department

Luigi De Girolamo
Visit Luigi De Girolamo's staff profile
Jody Winter

Principal Lecturer

Dr Jody Winter, Principal Lecturer in Microbiology, partners with public sector organisations and international collaborators to tackle global challenges in antimicrobial resistance and bacterial infections. Her main research interests are the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and how infection prevention, One Health and antimicrobial stewardship principles can be applied to this problem. Dr Winter leads the Microbiology subject group within the Department of Biosciences, the Biosciences Outreach group, and the interdisciplinary antimicrobial resistance research cluster at NTU.
Visit Jody Winter's staff profile

Entry requirements

UK students

Academic entry requirements: 2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a biological subject.

Applicants with relevant employment experience or qualifications will also be considered.

Additional requirements for UK students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

Other qualifications and experience

We welcome applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds and work experience. We consider credit transfer, vocational and professional qualifications, and any work or life experience you may have.

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.

International students

Academic entry requirements: 2.2 honours degree or equivalent in a biological subject.

Applicants with relevant employment experience or qualifications will also be considered.

We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international qualifications on our international entry requirements page.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Additional requirements for international students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

English language requirements

View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.

If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.

Other qualifications and experience

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Sign up for emails

Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.

Getting in touch

If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

Full-time - £10,300
Full-time with placement year - £10,300 + £1,905 for placement year
Part-time - £5,150

Please note that if you are considering a course that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for the first year of study. The course fee for the second year may be subject to annual review.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including scholarships, discounts and loans.

Scholarships

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies. See which courses are eligible for scholarships.

Alumni discount

We’re happy to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

Postgraduate loans

There is a government postgraduate loan scheme for Masters degrees. The loan contributes towards costs of study, and students can put it towards tuition fees, maintenance costs or other costs at their discretion. Find out more about postgraduate loans.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

Full-time - £20,750
Full-time with placement year - £20,750 + £1,905 for placement year

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including scholarships, discounts and loans.

Scholarships

Alumni discount

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money, the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Lab lockers

A refundable deposit is required for laboratory lockers (approximately £5).

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

Cost of living in Nottingham

Our student benefits and free services

Money advice for international students

Careers and employability

There are a wide range of career opportunities within microbiology. You will work with leading academics on your course, so you will have gained important academic and professional skills necessary to help you obtain employment in this field. At the end of the course, you will also have developed many transferable skills that will make you more attractive to potential employers in related areas of molecular bioscience and microbiology.

The Research Project and/or Placement will give you the skills you need to follow a career in research and development.

Skills portfolio

You will gather together relevant practical skills throughout laboratory classes producing a training record. This can be presented to potential employers as proof of competence in a laboratory setting. It also provides you with experience of managing what is essentially a personal development portfolio, which is now a standard tool for monitoring progression and performance in a scientific career as well as out in the sector.

Employability Team

The University's Employability Team has an enviable reputation for helping our graduates find employment and offers individual consultations. Sessions are available to all students at NTU on CV writing and interview technique. The Sandwich-route course offers you the opportunity to take a one-year placement or several smaller placements. If you start your this course in September/October then you will complete your placement following your taught modules and research project.

Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice

To qualify for the additional qualification of Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice (PGDIPP) you must submit a work placement portfolio which includes a placement diary, reflective report and updated CV, as well as deliver an oral presentation on your placement experience.

Help and support

We will work closely with you to help you strengthen your CV and interview techniques. During the placement year, an academic member of staff will visit at least twice to check on your progress and offer any advice.

Employability Promise

Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).
Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have successful careers in organisations such as:
- Severn Trent Water
- UK Health Security Agency
- NHS
- NHS Blood and Transplant
- Rosalind Franklin Laboratory
Our graduates are…

Graduates from this course now work in a wide range of roles such as:
- Associate Practitioner
- Health Care Scientist
- QA Technician
- Microbiologist
- QA Officer
Assessed work-like experience

We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.
NTU Enterprise

If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

You’ll mainly be studying in the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Centre (ISTeC) and Rosalind Franklin Buildings, with access to facilities including our extensive SuperLab, with space for almost 200 students.

Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep students busy between lectures. Catch up with your coursemates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in stylish study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union. The campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!

You’re also right next to the bright lights of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. Throughout term-time, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you to the heart of the action (and back) in under 25 minutes. You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas, and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.

Applying

UK students

Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU in our postgraduates' guide. Here you'll find advice about how to write a good personal statement and much more.

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Apply now

International students

Apply online through our NTU applicant portal.

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.