Master of Science - Medical Microbiology with Placement Yeat

University of Hertfordshire

The MSc Medical Microbiology with Placement Year programme will equip students with the skills and in-depth knowledge required to have an impactful career in a range of sectors. This course will help students develop extensive theoretical and practical laboratory skills in by building on the research expertise of the teaching team.

Techniques and theoretical skills include antimicrobial susceptibility testing, antibiotic resistance-gene analysis, microbial identification (16SrRNA sequencing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry), parasite identification, next generation sequencing analysis, bacteriophage isolation and purification, antibiotic discovery and characterization and mammalian cell culture.

An important component of the programme is the opportunity to conduct a 12-month placement. Students will expand, develop and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills acquired in the taught year of the degree in a work-based situation.

Students will be taught by expert speakers from the biopharmaceutical industry, academic experts from other universities and the University of Hertfordshire staff. With modern facilities, emphasis on laboratory work, and teaching underpinned by the latest research, students will be qualified to launch a career in research and development for biopharmaceutical companies. They could also work in a wide range of non-laboratory job roles across a range of sectors, including academia and microbiology. 

The University's modern Science Building provides excellent facilities for laboratory work, including QPCR, cell culture, protein analysis, isolated tissue studies and immunohistochemistry.