Microbiology

Entry requirements

We require applicants to hold, or be about to obtain, an Upper Second class Honours degree, or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UK, in a related subject area for entry to a PhD programme. A Lower Second class Honours degree may be considered if applicants also hold a Master's degree with a Merit classification.

Months of entry

January, April, September

Course content

Our PhD/MPhil Microbiology programme enables you to undertake a research project that will improve understanding of Microbiology.

Microorganisms play pivotal roles in everyday life, from elemental cycling and the production of food to life-threatening infections of man and animals.

At Manchester, there are two main research topics - Molecular Bacteriology and Molecular Mycology.

Molecular Bacteriology is focused on studying bacterial pathogens of man and includes the following areas:

• the role of bacterial polysaccharides and glycoconjugates in disease;
• relationship between infection and gut flora;
• structural biology of cell surface proteins in bacterial pathogens including their interaction with the immune system and implications for vaccine development;
• adaptation of intracellular bacterial pathogens to life inside the cell;
• development of novel approaches to combat antibiotic resistance;
• mechanisms used by bacterial pathogens to handle transition metals and their role in host-pathogen interactions;