Prepare for a career as a microbiologist or biotechnologist, using research to find out how biotechnology is fundamental to solving disease-related problems and providing food, fuel and medicines.
Year of entry: 2021/22
CJ54
Y50
4 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
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Our integrated Masters in Biotechnology and Microbiology examines how microorganisms can be used to produce improved therapeutic drugs, and why an understanding of microbial evolution is important for controlling pathogens.
This course is ideal if you want an interdisciplinary approach to Biotechnology and Microbiology. You will have a wide range of options to tailor the course to your developing interests.
Microorganisms are an important but often overlooked form of life. They are causative agents of many diseases, and can be harnessed to produce a wide range of useful products including antibiotics and other medicines. Microbes are also vital for providing multiple ecosystem services and are crucial for agricultural systems. They can provide the means to decontaminate polluted environments and act as important models for understanding biological processes. At York, you will learn about the practical application of biological knowledge to economically important areas, such as health, food and the environment.
The integrated Masters course introduces a four-year programme that specifically focuses on the skills needed for a career as a research scientist. During this time you work with researchers within one of the UK’s top bioscience departments to learn specialised techniques and gain experience in a cutting-edge research lab. You also undertake specialist research training and take Masters-level modules.
Adding a year in industry or a year abroad are both an option with this course too, so you can benefit from the advantages that a year away can bring. The Department of Biology will provide you with the opportunity to learn in new, spacious and modern teaching laboratories which provide excellent facilities for practicals and small group project work, alongside our state-of-the-art computing facilities.
All of our undergraduate courses are accredited by the Royal Society of Biology. As a graduate, you will meet in-part the academic and experience requirement for membership and chartered biologist (CBiol).
Department of Biology ranked first in the UK for research impact in the Times Higher Education's ranking of the 2014 Research Excellence Framework results
New investment in buildings housing teaching and state-of-the-art teaching laboratories
We were the first university Biology department in Britain to receive an Athena SWAN Gold Award, which recognises our continued commitment to gender equality
This is a flexible and modular course which offers you choices in what you can study. You will take 120 credits each year that you are based within the University. There is the option to spend an additional year in industry or a year in Europe as part of this course. If you do not go away for a year, you will continue to progress through your studies within the University.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
We also offer this course with a year in Europe.
You can also apply for a year in industry with a range of employers including pharmaceutical companies, medical research institutes, environmental organisations and professional services networks.
Stage 1 (the first year) consists of core modules which are designed to give you an excellent basis on which to build your future studies and develop your interests.
In a typical week you will have around 25 hours of contact time, typically six or seven lectures, two or three practicals, a skills workshop and a tutorial. You will also spend time on independent study, consolidating information from lectures and practicals and preparing work for tutorials.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
You will undertake the following core modules:
You will choose two of the following options:
The Research Project is your chance to investigate a topic relevant to your interests from a wide range of projects across the Department.
You'll receive supervision from the project director and often work as part of a research group, giving you hands-on experience of a real research environment. At the end of the project you will produce a 4,000-6,000 word project report, give a presentation on the topic and produce a poster.
You will also choose four 20-credit option modules. Option modules offered may vary from year to year.
You will choose at least two modules from the following:
You will then choose your remaining modules (up to two) from the following:
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
The fees and funding figures below are for 2021/22 entry. If you take a year abroad or year in industry you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £22,650 |
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
Text books and course books are all available in the library or online. We do recommend books you might find useful, reading lists are provided to you when you start your modules, but it is not compulsory for you to buy the books. You will be given a course textbook by the Department at no additional cost.
Costs for students going abroad or into industry will vary depending on what sort of placement it is and what sort of financial assistance is available.
Field courses are an optional element of this course. If you undertake the field course within the Animal and Plant Biology module, the costs will be entirely met by the Department. The Department will also meet the costs of other field courses, apart from some transport and any required vaccinations which you will need to fund yourself. The costs of transport and vaccinations for these trips can vary.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2021/22 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
“Students from all backgrounds achieve consistently outstanding outcomes”
The TEF Panel, Office for Students, June 2018
Our Gold Teaching Excellence Framework award demonstrates our commitment to the delivery of consistently outstanding teaching and learning for our students.
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19)
We hope to deliver this course as advertised for 2021/22 entry, but it’s unclear when we’ll be able to return to a normal timetable. For an idea of how this course might be affected, see our changes for 2020/21 entry.
Teaching is delivered by academic scientists with additional contributions from clinical researchers. Throughout your course there will be strong links between your studies, scientific research and clinical applications. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. You may be taught by the following methods:
Cutting-edge research informs all our teaching activities, and our friendly, approachable, and accessible staff are experts in their respective fields. Small-group teaching and tutorials for five students are an important part of our programmes. There is a very wide range of tutorials to choose from and they help develop your essay writing, problem solving and communication skills. Tutorials are an excellent way to engage in informal scientific discussions with a member of staff about topical issues.
You will attend lectures where we will deliver stimulating and thought-provoking perspectives on the major global challenges in biosciences of the 21st century.
Practicals are designed to help you to develop laboratory skills and to become familiar with a wide range of practical techniques, training you to use methods precisely and encouraging you to objectively assess the reliability of your results.
Workshops are also an important feature of our programme, and they provide an additional dimension to most modules. You will often collaborate in small groups in problem solving and other learning activities in our flexible learning workshops. You will design your own experiments and work together on the findings from the latest research papers, or investigate the application of new technologies to the global challenges in the field.
Several modules available within Biology, Ecology, Genetics, Biotechnology and Microbiology, and Molecular Cell Biology courses offer the chance to study outside undertaking field courses. We currently offer opportunities to study marine and coastal biology environments in Scotland, the colourful flora and fauna in Portugal, or experience equally stunning locations in Yorkshire.
Each term during the first two years, students take modules designed to develop more generic scientific and transferable skills. Some modules focus on specific scientific techniques, while others develop skills in problem solving, experimental design and data analysis.
We encourage you to develop important communication skills, including working in groups to plan and carry out experiments that investigate a scientific problem, and you will present your work as an oral presentation or poster.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 8-9 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Tutorials | 1 hour per week |
| Workshops | 4 hours per week |
| Practicals | 3 hours per week |
| Optional activities | 7 hours |
These figures are based on an average student in an average week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practise completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during term time. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
Teaching and learning in the Department of Biology is based in a £23m state-of-the-art facility, which is equipped with laboratories, a flexible workshop and creative learning lounge, computer rooms, specialist tissue culture and fluorescence microscopy suites.
This course is based in the Department of Biology which is on Campus West. The majority of teaching takes place within Biology, with some additional teaching taking place at other locations on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You will be assessed via a mixture of closed exams and continuous assessment. Although you must perform to a satisfactory level, Stage 1 (which is your first year) does not count towards the final degree, which is determined by work in Stage 2 (25%), Stage 3 (37.5%) and Stage 4 (37.5%). If you undertake a year abroad or in industry this is marked by pass/fail.
Throughout your course we will provide you with feedback on your work and assignments, which will give you an indication of the progress you are making in your studies.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exams | 76% | 58% | 50% | 17% |
| Coursework | 21% | 42% | 48% | 76% |
| Practical exams | 3% | 0% | 2% | 7% |
The figures above are based on data from 2016/17.
Take a virtual tour of one or our modern, dedicated laboratories showing a typical range of lab equipment and facilities that you'll use.
A degree in Biosciences provides an excellent basis for science or health-related careers, and for a wide range of other occupations and professions from management and finance, to journalism and teaching.
Studying Biosciences at Masters level will develop your critical thinking and research skills, and prepare you to be competitive for entry into relevant postgraduate degree courses, and in particular PhD study.
Employment opportunities are diverse: ranging from biological and biomedical research and development, to careers in science communication, the health service, forensic science, environmental health and wildlife conservation. Our graduates are not confined to science-related careers, and a significant number enter jobs within finance, public and private sector management, social and health service work, the media and law.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAA including Biology and a second science We accept the following subjects as a second science: Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, Psychology, Statistics or Computer Science. Human Biology is acceptable in place of Biology. |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 39 credits at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit or higher. Must include Biology modules at Level 3. |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD. We consider BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Applied Science with all 7 mandatory units plus 3 units from 8,9,10,11,12,17 and 20 OR 2 from this list plus 1 unit from 13,14, 18 and 19. |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, D3 including Biology and a second science or mathematics subject. |
| European Baccalaureate | 85% overall including individual scores of 8.5 in Biology and a second science or mathematics subject. |
| International Baccalaureate | 36 points including 6 in Higher Level Biology and 6 in another Higher Level science or mathematics subject. If English is not your first language then we would also require 5 in English B. |
| Other qualifications | To secure a place as a mature student on this course you will need recent qualifications in Biology and another science at a sufficiently advanced level, together with evidence of some of the key skills needed for studying at degree level. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Next Step York, Realising Opportunities, YESS. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve B or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| Core Maths | If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Duolingo | 110 overall, with a minimum of 100 in each component |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
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