What is Biochemistry and Microbiology?

This Joint Honours Degree Course, offered by the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, combines the study of Biochemistry with Microbiology, the latter being the study of the smallest living organisms (micro-organisms or microbes) which include viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae and protozoa. Microbes are a major cause of disease in humans. The course studies the structure, physiology and medical aspects of disease-causing micro-organisms, the role of microbes in the initiation of disease states, and the use of antibiotics and immunological methods in their control. Emphasis is also given to the production by microbes of alcoholic beverages, antibiotics, vaccines, organic acids and other commercially-important products. The course includes material on the control of food poisoning micro-organisms, the role of micro-organisms in biodeterioration, the importance of micro-organisms in environmental recycling of plant and animal matter and their exploitation in environmental biotechnology.

Years 1 and 2 of all the Joint Honours Degrees follow a Common Core Structure

Year 1: Bioscience (Cellular Structure and Function, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Microbial and Plant Bioscience, Introductory Physiology); Chemistry; Mathematics or Physics or Biophysics. Students also choose electives from classes offered by any department of the University, subject to timetabling.

Year 2: Bioscience (Introductory Medical Microbiology, Parasitology, Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism, Cell and Molecular Biology, Practical Bioscience); Basic and Clinical Immunology; Organic Chemistry; Physiological Basis of Drug Action.The common curriculum in years 1 and 2 of the Joint Honours Degrees, the Biomedical Science Degree and the Biological Science Degree means that students can defer their final choice of degree until almost the end of year 2.
The specialist classes in Microbiology and Biochemistry topics are covered in Years 3 and 4. Students also undertake a substantial research project in Biochemistry or Microbiology in Year 4 and present a dissertation of their work.

Year 3: Classes in Medical Microbiology, Molecular and Cell Biology, Virology, Bacteriology and Mycology, Proteins and Enzymes, Practical Methods in Bioscience including Gene Transfer Technology, Methods in Microbiology, Intermediate Metabolism, Microbial Nutrition, Food Technology and Microbiology.

Year 4: Classes in Bioinformatics and Gene Technology, Molecular Aspects of Microbial Physiology, Environmental Stress and Microbial Pathogenicity, Fermentation, Food Microbiology, Infections, Oxidative Stress, Glycobiology.



Career Opportunities
There are many rewarding opportunities in the UK and abroad in research in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and in hospitals (in clinical chemistry), blood transfusion laboratories, the food and beverage industries, universities, government research institutes, research councils, charity-funded research, environmental centres, the scientific civil service, and teaching at all levels. Positions in management, marketing, sales and administration, particularly in multinational organisations, are also open to graduates.
In addition, the combination of Microbiology with Biochemistry enables graduates to direct their career choices into specialist Biomedical Science areas. For instance there are many different employment opportunities in bacteriology and microbiology, particularly in the agro-food, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and in hospitals. Many graduates take either advanced instructional MSc degrees (eg in Food Biotechnology, Virology, Tropical Diseases, Biochemical Engineering) or specialised research degrees at MPhil or PhD level

Biochemistry and Microbiology 08/09 (BSc Hons)

Full-time, Admission Code : CC75
Our current entry requirement are available here or after each course description in our Prospectus