BSc (Microbiology)
University of Pretoria - Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Key Information
Campus location
Pretoria, South Africa
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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Introduction
BSc (Microbiology)
Students enrolled for this degree will be exposed to a wealth of tools and theoretical information, which can be applied to exploit and control microbial activities for improving industrial and agricultural processes, as well as for improving the lives of animals, humans and plants in the ecosystem.
In microbiology, students learn about the different types of microbes which, even though invisible to the naked eye, represent the most abundant life forms on earth. It is believed that many microbes have not yet been discovered, and others are well adapted to survive in extreme conditions (eg in hydrothermal vents) that resemble conditions believed to have been prevalent when life began on earth billions of years ago. Microbiology is also one of only a few degree programs that unites a diverse group of individuals (eg immunologists, geneticists, bioinformaticians, computational biologists, environmental scientists, etc) under one umbrella.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please visit the university website for more information.
Curriculum
Curriculum: Year 1
Fundamental modules
- Academic information management 111
- Academic information management 121
- Language and study skills 110
- Academic orientation 102
Core modules
- Biometry 120
- Plants and society 161
- General chemistry 117
- General chemistry 127
- Introductory genetics 161
- Introduction to microbiology 161
- Molecular and cell biology 111
- Physics for biology students 131
- Mathematics 134
- Mathematics 165
- Animal diversity 161
Curriculum: Year 2
Core modules
- Introduction to proteins and enzymes 251
- Carbohydrate metabolism 252
- Introductory biochemistry 257
- Molecular genetics 251
- Genetic diversity and evolution 261
- Bacteriology 251
- Mycology 261
- Food microbiology 262
Curriculum: Final year
Core modules
- Virology 351
- Bacterial genetics 355
- Genetic manipulation of microbes 364
- Microbe interactions 365
Program Outcome
Total credits: 430