MRes Molecular Microbiology

Year of Entry 2025/26

MRes

Molecular Microbiology

Undertake an extended research project in industry-standard labs with real research groups, gaining the knowledge and skills you need to work in microbiology.

Everything you need to know...

  • Pound sign

    What is the fee?

    Home: £11,590 for the course
    International/EU: £19,705 for the course

  • Time

    How long will I study?

    1 Year

  • Location

    Where will I study?

    City Campus

  • Date

    When do I start?

    September 2025


Course summary

  • Undertake taught modules alongside an extended research project in a professional lab.
  • Explore the fundamental principles that underpin environmental, industrial and medical microbiology.
  • Learn how microorganisms cause disease and interact with the immune system and what practical steps can be taken to prevent and treat these conditions.
  • Consider how bacteria and fungi can be used as tools in a diverse range of industries.
  • Develop and enhance your laboratory skills from experimental design, through utilisation of pertinent techniques, to interpretation of results.

This course has been designed to respond to the increasing need for highly skilled microbiologists across a range of industries. You'll undertake the critical task of translating basic laboratory medical research into clinical and commercial applications


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How you learn

At Sheffield Hallam, all our courses are designed to engage you with the world and challenge you to think in new ways. You’ll get to collaborate with others, and you’ll be taught in a supportive environment where you can thrive.

You are taught through various learning activities designed to challenge and support as you progress through the course. The aim is to give a theoretical and practical knowledge of your subject.

In the first semester you will follow taught modules that provide fundamental knowledge, and the module Applied Laboratory Practice will introduce you to the practical and theoretical basis of research. Together these will give you a sound basis to carry out your Extended Research Project in semesters two and three.

You learn through

  • lectures and seminars
  • workshops and tutorials
  • laboratory classes
  • an extended research project
  • working in a professional laboratory

Course leaders and tutors

Sarah Forbes
Sarah Forbes
Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences

I am a lecturer in biomedical sciences working within the fields of antimicrobial chemotherapy and microbial ecology

Applied learning

You'll undertake a research project aligned with the current research interests of an academic member of staff, within our professional laboratories of the Biomolecular Research Centre.

You'll work within a real research group, fully supported throughout by your academic supervisor. The project will include a critical review of the literature relevant to your research project, the development of a project proposal, the development of research methods and the analysis, presentation and interpretation of experimental data.  Since the project extends over two semesters, it allows you to have the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the project and to have the time to collect meaningful data, thus enabling an authentic research scientist experience.


Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in

  • academic research
  • the industrial biotechnology sector
  • the health biotechnology sector
  • the pharmaceutical industry
  • food and beverage industries
  • preparation for a PhD

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

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Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Learn more about your department

Biosciences and Chemistry Facilities Tour

Take a look around the biosciences and chemistry facilities at Sheffield Hallam University with senior lecturer and recruitment lead Dr Susan Campbell.

Department page

Equipment and facilities

On this course you work with

  • industry-standard instrumentation
  • a state of the art microbiology suite in our research centre

360 tour - biosciences and chemistry facilities

Entry requirements

All students

A 2:1 in a relevant Honours degree is normally accepted as the entry requirement for the course. Applicants with alternative qualifications with academic attainment or skills in subjects which are directly relevant to the course will also be considered.

To be successful on this course, you must have relevant practical laboratory experience. Details of your laboratory experience must be specifically detailed in your personal statement and verified by one of your referees.

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.


Modules

Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

Final year

Compulsory modules

Module
Credits
Assessment
Applied Laboratory Practice
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Extended Research Project
Credits 120
Assessment Coursework(100%)
Fundamentals Of Microbial Biotechnology
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(50%) , Exam(50%)
Fundamentals Of Molecular Microbiology
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(40%) , Exam(60%)
Microbial Pathogenesis
Credits 15
Assessment Coursework(100%)

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £11,590 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £19,705 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.

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Postgraduate student loans

Up to £11,222 available for Home students on most masters courses.

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Additional course costs

The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

General course additional costs

Additional costs for Biosciences and Chemistry (PDF, 133.1KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

How do I apply?

You apply for this course via our online application form.

Apply for September 2025

You can also use the application form above to apply for future years of entry.

Not ready to apply just yet?

Why not come to our next open day? Open days are the perfect place to talk to staff and students, visit our campuses and get all the information you need. Alternatively, feel free to ask us a question.

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Why choose us?

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Teaching

We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and student outcomes

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Accommodation

We guarantee to find you an affordable place to live that’s close to campus and comes with all bills included

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Employment

95% of our UK graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

Where next?

Find out more about Sheffield Hallam's postgraduate opportunities and community.

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Information for international students

Information for international students including entry requirements by country and funding.

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