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Biological Sciences at UEA
Find out more about studying Biological Sciences at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreMSc Microbiology with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- January 2027
Course options
Other Start Dates
Gain a competitive edge with a placement year
This course is also available with an integrated placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your master's degree
Other Start Dates
17th
UEA is ranked 17th overall for research quality in Biological Science
The Times Higher Education REF 2021 AnalysisCourse Overview
Why MSc Microbiology with a Placement Year?
This dynamic MSc Microbiology course offers an in-depth exploration of medical, environmental, and applied microbiology, placing you at the forefront of biosciences.
Microbiology is an exciting and timely field, given the vital roles microorganisms play in areas such as infection and human health (including pandemics), food security, and climate change.
What is MSc Microbiology with a Placement Year?
Throughout this MSc Microbiology with a Placement Year course, you’ll gain a deep understanding of core concepts in microbiology, including the functions of microorganisms and their interactions with hosts and environments. You’ll also examine the broader societal impacts of microbiology and learn how it can be leveraged to promote sustainability and benefit society.
Your studies will be supported by the exceptional resources of the Norwich Research Park, home to UEA, the John Innes Centre, the Sainsbury Laboratory, the Quadram Institute, the Earlham Institute, NNUH, and the new Centre for Microbial Interactions. As one of the UK’s largest communities of microbiologists, this vibrant research hub offers a dynamic and cutting-edge environment for your MSc studies in microbiology.
In addition to expanding your theoretical knowledge, you’ll develop essential laboratory and bioinformatics skills, equipping you with the practical expertise needed for a successful career in various sectors, including academia and industry.
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Placement Year
When you choose a Master’s course with the placement route, the placement forms a compulsory part of the programme and takes place in the second year. During the first semester of your second year, you'll continue the structured employability development programme, which includes an intensive period dedicated to securing an industry work placement.
The industry work placement is typically undertaken with a UK company for eight to ten months. The University works in partnership with a specialist, award-winning provider to deliver a tailored package of support for students on the placement year route, giving you the strongest possible opportunity to secure a paid role.
While comprehensive support is available throughout your studies, securing an appropriate industry work placement in a relevant sector is ultimately your responsibility. You'll need to engage fully with your academic programme and with our specialist partner to maximise your chances of success.
If an industry work placement isn’t secured, or you don’t meet the academic requirements for the industry work placement, through another of UEA’s placement partners you’re guaranteed the opportunity to complete three structured industry projects with different UK organisations. These give you the opportunity to build real-world experience across multiple companies. These placements are available in different formats depending on your preference.
As a result, every student has the opportunity to complete the course with practical, career-relevant experience that strengthens future employment prospects.
Find out more about our Postgraduate Placement Year(opens in a new window) and the opportunities it can offer.
Careers
Career Pathways
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
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Academia
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Biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry
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Health sector, environmental sector and diagnostics
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Government policy making
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Non-government organisations
Discover more on our Careers webpages(opens in a new window).
After the Course
This course will equip you with the skills and experience to start a career in microbiology to address important key challenges and questions where knowledge of microorganisms is required. Upon completion, you’ll be exceptionally well qualified as a PhD candidate for national and international PhDs within this area. You’ll also have a diverse range of transferable skills and understanding that will enhance your employability in industry, government, and non-government organisations.
Study and Modules
Structure
During this MSc course, you’ll gain skills and knowledge in the area of microbiology. In addition, you’ll gain valuable transferable skills in time and project management, communication, and written and oral presentations. This MSc course features a range of topics, including in-depth insights into microbiology and a broader overview of cutting-edge biosciences to place microbiology in the context of other areas of life sciences. You’ll be taught data analysis and bioinformatics, which are applicable to not only microbiology, but also to other fields of biology. You’ll learn key laboratory techniques for studying microorganisms.
This course provides you with an opportunity to acquire knowledge of microorganisms and methodologies used for studying them. Furthermore, this MSc enables you to apply the knowledge to solve microbiology problems using examples of real-world research questions and challenges through problem-based learning. This course encourages and supports you in using your own initiative and knowledge to solve scientific problems related to microbiology.
A major component of this course is the research project. You’ll select a microbiology topic which interests you and will be guided by one of the expert research leaders of your choice within the Norwich Research Park. You’ll be able to choose between carrying out an independent research project, in one of our research laboratories, or a shorter, group-based research project in the teaching laboratories. Both options will give you the exciting opportunity to develop your research ideas and your skills in experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, critical thinking, and presentation of the research results.
In the first year of your Master's degree at UEA, you’ll undertake a year-long Employability Skills module which will equip you with the relevant skills you’ll need to seek, secure and undertake your placement in your second year. In our workshops, you’ll improve your knowledge and skills in CV writing, interview techniques, and professional use of LinkedIn. You’ll have one-to-one meetings with advisors who’ll help you plan your application strategy and give you opportunities for mock interviews. Sessions will be a mixture of online and in-person. You'll need to pass this pass/fail module to be eligible for the placement in your second year, and you need to ensure you attend 75% or more of the module’s sessions.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 60)Optional C Modules
(Min Credits: 40, Max Credits: 60)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In the first semester of your second year, you'll undertake an intensive period of placement search. You’ll have dedicated support for this search, along with six broader workshops held in-person at UEA to give you the opportunity for critical reflection on your placement search. At the end of your placement search, if you haven’t managed to secure an industry work placement, you’ll undertake a series of three industry projects.
Once you secure your placement module, it’ll take place in your second year. It’s designed as a single 60 credit bearing module that provides you with the opportunity to undertake a placement aligned to your discipline.
At the end of the module, you'll be required to submit the assessment. This will consist of the portfolio of materials relating to your job search (in the first semester) and a reflective report on your placement. You’ll highlight skills learnt, increased sector awareness, and development needs for the future. This will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. By the end of the placement module, , you'll have enhanced your career confidence, strengthened your CV and professional network, and will be ready for the next stage of your career, whether in the UK or elsewhere.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
Teaching at UEA is research-led. You’ll learn from experts in their fields, with examples of the latest research advances. You’ll have exposure to exciting emerging microbiology research from leading experts at UEA and the Research Institutes at the Norwich Research Park. You’ll have the opportunity to engage with the molecular microbiology research seminars, which feature the current microbiology research at UEA and include guest speakers from the Research Institutes. This will demonstrate and showcase the ongoing research developments, and the scientific process and analyses required for microbiology research.
You’ll learn through a combination of lectures, microbiology seminars, problem-based learning, practical classes and an independent research project. Your classes feature a broad range of topics, including medical, environmental and applied microbiology and frontiers in biosciences.
The research project forms a major part of your course. Your project will culminate in a written dissertation and presentation of your results. This project enables you to focus on a specific area of microbiology that fascinates you, and to develop your skills and knowledge through independent learning, with the support from your host lab. By joining this MSc course you’ll have an excellent scope to develop your independent learning, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Assessment
Your learning will be assessed in several different ways. The types of assessment depend on the module and learning objectives, and your assessments may include formal exams, coursework assignments, and/or presentations.
There are both formative and summative assessments in this MSc course. Where applicable, you’ll complete formative assessments first and will receive feedback on them. This feedback will then help you prepare for your related summative work later in the module.
The research project forms an important component in your MSc course. You’ll select a topic on which you’ll undertake your microbiology research project. At the end of your research project, you’ll submit a formal written dissertation on the project.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Life or Physical Sciences
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Life or Physical Sciences
- English Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each component)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2026/27 are:
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UK Students: £14,450
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International Students: £28,250
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees(opens in a new window) for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.