University College Cork: University College Cork (UCC) is a prestigious public research university located in Cork, Ireland. Established in 1845, UCC is known for its academic excellence, innovative research, and vibrant campus life. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various fields, including arts, sciences, business, engineering, medicine, and law. UCC is committed to providing a supportive learning environment, fostering critical thinking, and preparing students for successful careers and global citizenship.

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Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms including fungi, bacteria, viruses and protozoa. These microbes are crucially important in medicine, biology, agriculture, biotechnology and the environment. Microbes are beneficial in process such as food production, promoting human health, biotechnology, agriculture and waste treatment. Conversely, some are responsible for causing disease in humans and animals or in causing food spoilage and crop loss in agriculture. As one of the classical disciplines, microbiology combines fundamental biology with applications and thus provides excellent training and opportunities for students interested in different aspects of science. The microbiology course at UCC is varied and broad but has a special focus on our areas of particular strength, namely, medical, food and environmental microbiology. Many modern scientific disciplines such as genetic engineering, genomics, microbial biotechnology, immunology and molecular biology originated from classical microbiology and form an integral part of our modern microbiology degree. The entry route to the BSc in Microbiology at UCC is through the general BSc Biological and Chemical Sciences entry. At the end of the degree, you will have a broad knowledge of microbiology, specialised knowledge of aspects that interest you, and a skill set of knowledge acquisition, practical techniques and problem solving ability that will equip you for your future career. Show less

Year 1
Comprises core modules in the four main branches of science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths. Biology (four modules), includes Microbiology, Plant Science, Biochemistry and Zoology.

Year 2
You will start to specialise but will still be able to choose modules that leave you with three or more degree choices at the end of the year.

If you plan to pursue a biological sciences degree you can take some core modules in molecular biology and statistics and then choose additional modules according to your interests.

For BSc Microbiology, you will take a dedicated course in microbiology that provides a foundation for all aspects of the discipline, as well as modules in biochemistry. You can then choose some elective courses from Zoology, Ecology, Anatomy, Physiology and Neuroscience.

Year 3
You will commit to your degree of choice. In Microbiology you will take a dedicated course of lecture and practical modules that provide a broad training in molecular, food, environmental and medical microbiology.

Year 4
You will take some obligatory courses and can also choose elective modules from the different branches of microbiology. This enables you to tailor your final degree to your interests and ambitions. An independent, supervised research project is an important aspect of the final year (25%).

See the College Calendar for more detailed information on the programme and the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of programme modules.

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You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

How to book:

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it

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