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Edinburgh Napier University · Undergraduate
BSc (Hons) Applied Microbiology Bachelor's degree at Edinburgh Napier University
BSc (Hons) Applied Microbiology at ENU. You'll work through core microbiology theory, research methods, and hands-on practice, with the flexibility to choose specialist options that match your interests.
BSc (Hons)
Award
–
Years
Part-time
Study mode
Sighthill Campus, Calder Road, Edinburgh
Location
About this course
This course will prepare you for employment in a wide range of occupations, including those requiring specialist knowledge in microbiology and biotechnology. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Applied Microbiology is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at ENU, based in Sighthill Campus, Calder Road, Edinburgh. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Biological Sciences, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Foundation in Science
- Life on Earth
- Comparative anatomy and physiology
- Scientific enquiry
- Introductory Microbiology
- Cell biology
Year 2 5 modules
- Genes and Inheritance
- Biochemistry
- Applied Microbiology
- Symbiosis
- Physiology, Adaptation and Disease
Year 3 5 modules
- Research Methods
- Food Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Immunology
- Infection and Immunity
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Year 4 3 modules
- Professional Practice
- Microbial Biotechnology40 credits
- Project60 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course prepares you for employment in occupations requiring specialist knowledge in microbiology and biotechnology. A course like this typically progresses from foundational modules in cell biology, biochemistry, genetics and practical laboratory skills, through intermediate work in molecular biology and microbiology, to advanced specialist options and a final research project. You'll usually study across years focusing on how cells and microbes function at the molecular level, develop competence in lab technique and data analysis, and move toward specialisations such as biomedical science, molecular biology, ecology and conservation, or biotechnology. Later stages typically include engagement with current research literature and an extended supervised investigation.
Who it's for
This course suits you if you're drawn to practical laboratory work and want to understand microbial systems at a cellular and molecular level. You'll thrive if you're methodical, enjoy problem-solving, and can work precisely under close observation. You should be prepared for regular practical sessions and independent study; the part-time structure appeals to those balancing study with work or other responsibilities. It's ideal if you're aiming for roles in clinical or industrial microbiology, quality control, research, or pharmaceutical development, or if you want to build specialist credentials before moving into postgraduate study.
Careers & job market
Across Biological Sciences nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of finishing their degree. Of those working, 60% are in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. National salary figures for graduates range from £23,000–£29,000 at 15 months after graduation, rising to £25,075–£35,400 after five years. Roles in microbiology span clinical diagnostics, food and beverage quality assurance, pharmaceutical development, environmental monitoring, and research institutions. Your specialist knowledge opens pathways that don't require further qualifications, though many graduates pursue postgraduate qualifications or professional training.
University & format
The BSc (Hons) Applied Microbiology is studied part-time at Edinburgh Napier University, a public university founded in 1965, based at the Sighthill Campus on Calder Road in Edinburgh. Instruction is in English. The degree is a nationally recognised UK qualification and holds professional recognition from the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of associate membership.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
2027 entry deadlineApply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
PlacementPublished placement option
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
2026 entryLive availability check
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Professionally accreditedRecognised by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of associate membership
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check ENU's official course page for the current offer.
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Offer-based entry
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Apply byApply directly to the providerfor this course
UCAS codeC510quote this on your application
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code C510). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask ENU whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
International£21,120 / yr
Provider fee page. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at ENU →If you normally live in Scotland
For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with SAAS →Paying for it
- SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
- Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
- Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.
Funding matched to this course
All ENU funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Biological Sciences graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in biological sciences · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Biological Sciences nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£23,000 – £29,000
After 3 years LEO
£20,400 – £28,800
After 5 years LEO
£25,075 – £35,400
national rangeaxis £19,000 – £36,500
National figures for Biological Sciences graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How Biological Sciences graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Biological Sciences courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes60%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled90%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Biological Sciences graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- NHS & hospital labs
- Pharma & biotech
- Universities & institutes
- Public-health bodies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Biological Sciences graduates.
Head of School, Biological Sciences - Strategic Leadership & GrowthUNIVERSITY OF READINGEducation-Focused Assistant Professor, Biological SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBiological Structures Data Engineer I/IIIambicBiological Structures Data Engineer I/IIIambic Therapeutics, IncCrop Geneticist The James Hutton Institute, Department of Cell & Molecular SciencesEuropean Plant Science OrganisationRegional Lead, Life Sciences FM, UK, Ireland & NordicsJLLLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Edinburgh Napier University
All students13,805
International27.5%
Aged 25+29.4%
Biological and sport sciences across the UK
Students111,380
Aged 25+16.5%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Biological Sciences right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to ENU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £21,120 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check ENU’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with ENU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at ENU
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
Set by ENU. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates earn?
See the career and earnings data for Biological Sciences below (national Graduate Outcomes / LEO figures).
What will it cost me?
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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