Microbiology and Immunology with a Foundation Year

Microbiology and immunology together cover two of the most practically significant branches of biological science. Microbiology examines the extraordinary diversity of microscopic life, from bacteria, fungi, and protozoa to the viruses that sit on the boundary between living and non-living. Understanding how microorganisms are structured, how they function, how they cause disease, and how they can be exploited in industrial and medical contexts is fundamental to modern biotechnology and medicine.

Immunology examines the body's defence against these microorganisms and other threats, investigating the complex networks of cells and molecules that recognise, attack, and remember pathogens, and exploring how these systems can be harnessed therapeutically.

At Swansea this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, giving you a preparatory stage to build the biological and scientific foundations you need before entering the main degree. Across the programme you will study the structure, function, and behaviour of microorganisms alongside the cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune responses, developing an understanding of how infection occurs, how the body responds, and what happens when these systems fail or are manipulated. The industrial and therapeutic applications of both fields are explored throughout, connecting fundamental science to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors that depend on it.

Graduates move into careers in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research, clinical microbiology and immunology laboratories, public health, vaccine development, clinical trials, and academic research. Many go on to postgraduate study or doctoral research in microbiology, immunology, or infectious disease, building the specialist expertise that research and senior clinical scientist roles require.