Immunology

Immunology is the study of the body's defence systems: the cells, proteins, and molecular signals that identify and respond to infection, injury, and abnormal cells, and the mechanisms by which these defences can be overwhelmed, misdirected, or exploited. It is one of the most dynamic areas of biomedical science, underpinning advances in vaccine development, cancer therapy, transplantation, allergy and autoimmune disease management, and the treatment of infectious diseases. Understanding immunity is central to understanding human health and disease.

At the University of Glasgow this four-year, full-time programme develops your knowledge of the immune system in both healthy and diseased states, combining theoretical study with the kind of practical laboratory and field experience that Glasgow's flexible Life Sciences degrees are designed to provide. You will engage with the molecular and cellular biology of immune responses alongside the pathology of conditions in which immunity plays a central role, from infectious disease and allergy to cancer and autoimmunity. Glasgow offers a wide range of courses in human and animal biology, biomolecular sciences, infection and immunity, and the programme encourages you to apply theory in practical situations.

A year abroad is built in, broadening your academic experience and exposing you to different research environments and scientific cultures.

Graduates in immunology are well placed for careers in biomedical research, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, clinical laboratory science, and public health. Many move into roles in vaccine development, drug discovery, clinical trials, regulatory affairs, or diagnostic science. Academic research is a well-trodden path, as immunology is an active area of investigation at every level from fundamental cell biology to clinical translation.

Teaching, science communication, and health policy are also career directions that value the depth of scientific knowledge this degree provides. Postgraduate study in immunology, molecular medicine, infection biology, or a related biomedical discipline is a natural next step for those who want to specialise further.