Study microbiology abroad

Microbiology is the study of living organisms that are too small to see with the naked eye, including bacteria, fungi, yeasts and viruses. These tiny microbes are vital in understanding life on Earth, including human and animal disease, food production and the environment.

As a microbiologist, you could work on fighting infectious diseases across the world by developing new vaccines or combating pests and diseases in crops. You could also help make use of microorganisms in genetic engineering and other modern biotechnologies.

Programs in microbiology are available at universities, colleges and science schools all over the world. It’s possible to study abroad at bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate levels, and going to university in another country is a great way to stand out from your peers by gaining a unique perspective on the subject.

At undergraduate level you can earn a BSc in microbiology over three or four years, depending on the program and where you’re studying. Some universities, particularly in the UK, offer an MBiol (Master of Biology), that you can study as an undergraduate. It combines a bachelor’s and master’s program, and takes an extra year to complete.

If you are a graduate with a degree in microbiology or a related degree, you can study a master’s (MSc) over one or two years. If you want to gain a PhD microbiology, most doctorate research programs take up to six years to complete.

Microbiology is a largely laboratory based subject, so you will spend a lot of time in practical lab classes. You’ll also be taught through lectures, small group tutorials, seminars and computer workshops. Your learning will usually be assessed by a mixture of written exams and coursework, which can include lab reports, essays, presentations and data exercises.

The program content and structure will be unique for each university, and you’ll be able to select some of the modules you study yourself. Here’s some of the common subjects you may study on a microbiology degree program:

• Biology of organisms
• Evolution
• Cell biology and genetics
• Biochemistry
• Human anatomy and physiology
• Bacterial physiology
• Virology
• Immunology
• Biotechnology
• Research skills for microbiology

There are a number of great career options you can explore once you’ve completed your degree in microbiology. Many graduates go on to work in health care, pharmaceuticals, food safety and forensic science, but the skills you learn can be used in other sectors like management and commerce.

Some roles you might consider as a microbiology graduate include:

• Microbiologist
• Food technologist
• Clinical scientist
• Pharmacologist
• Academic researcher
• Genome scientist
• Laboratory technician
• Medicinal chemist

Many universities offer work placements that allow you to gain first-hand experience. This could help you work out what career you want to pursue, and will look good on your CV when you start your job search.