Human Biology and Infectious Diseases
BSc (Hons)
3 good reasons to study Human Biology and Infectious Diseases at Salford:
- Extensive opportunities for work placements in local hospitals and research labs
- Brings together human aspects of bioscience with applied aspects of health sciences or knowledge of infectious diseases
- Leads to careers in public health, international health and the pharmaceutical and food industries
Course Summary
This course focuses on human biology and the pathology, transmissions and epidemiology of infectious diseases affecting humans and animals. This is one of the few courses available outside medicine that combines aspects of human physiology, immunology and infectious diseases.
You will gain a systematic understanding of the key aspects of human biology and infectious diseases, within a supportive environment with excellent facilities.
In addition to studying a core Biology curriculum, you will study specialist modules such as Pathophysiology and Veterinary and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases.
Related Courses
Course Details
This course focuses on human biology and the pathology, transmissions and epidemiology of infectious diseases affecting humans and animals. This is one of the few courses available outside medicine that combines aspects of human human physiology, immunology and infectious diseases.
Year 1
Year 2
- critical evaluation of research-based literature
- understanding experimental techniques and design
- data interpretation, analysis and presentation
- dissertation writing and presentation
Year 3
In year 3 there are a tailored set of modules appropriate to the degree plus the inclusion of a detailed project in the area of Human Biology and Infectious Disease. You can undertake a lab-based research project for 40 credits and choose four modules from the following list or take a literature or data analysis project worth 20 credits plus five modules from the following. A key feature of this year is the inclusion of tutorial based Professional Skills within the project to enhance your employability
Part-time structure
If you are studying part-time, you select two to four modules from each year of study, completing the rest of the modules for the year in the following year. This leads to a maximum six-year duration for a part-time degree. If studying part-time you do not have the placement option.
Entry Requirements
| Qualification | Entry requirements |
|---|---|
| GCSE | English language and maths at grade C or above |
| UCAS tariff points | 240-280 points |
| GCE A level | 240-280 points including A2 Biology |
| BTEC National Diploma | MMM-DMM |
| Scottish Highers | 240-280 points including a science |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | 240-280 points from Higher Level including a science |
| International Baccalaureate | 28 points with at least one science subject from Group 4 |
Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
We positively welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to successfully pursue a programme of study in higher education. Students who do not have the traditional entry requirements may be able to apply through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme. Support in preparing for the written assessment is available from the University.
Please note that you should discuss the possibility of being considered for the scheme with the Admissions Tutor before making an application. Please contact the Environment and Life Sciences school office to speak with the Admissions Tutor for this course: +44(0)161 295 4656
Applicant profile
We are looking for applicants with a biology background who are motivated to specialise in the areas of public health, tropical disease and infection biology.
Teaching
You will learn through a combination of:
- Lectures
- Practical classes
- Small group tutorials
- Research projects
- Guided reading
- Residential and day field courses.
Assessment
Assessment throughout is by a combination of coursework and examination, with coursework accounting for around one third of the marks in years 1 and 2 and up to a half in year 3. Continuous assessment includes the research project, laboratory reports, essays, data analysis, and presentations. The final degree award is weighted to reflect year 2 (25%) and year 3 (75%) performances.
Employability
This degree is ideal for careers in biomedicine, sports science, health care, health promotion, pharmaceutical and food industries and forensic science, both in the UK and internationally. Many of our students continue onto postgraduate taught and research degree courses.
Career Prospects
This degree is ideal for careers in biomedicine, sports science, health care, health promotion, pharmaceutical and food industries and forensic science, both in the UK and internationally.
Many of our students continue onto postgraduate taught and research degree courses. Our graduates become employed in bioscience with companies such as AstraZeneca, research establishments such as the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, or carry on to further study within six months of finishing the course.
Alumni Profile
Yvette Merga - 2004 graduate
Yvette went on to Masters level study at Salford, a PhD at Liverpool and is now working as a research scientist on an EU-funded project on food-borne infection.
“I really enjoyed my time at Salford Uni, and I feel that the Human Biology and Infectious Diseases course provided me with very interesting and useful knowledge about public health, infectious diseases and microbiology from experts in these fields, which other biology degrees simply don’t offer, as well as many transferable skills essential for a variety of careers. It gave me a great background from which to start my career as a research scientist.”
Links with Industry
We encourage all of our students to take up an additional industrial placement year, which we will help to arrange, between years 2 and 3 of the full-time course, making a four-year course overall. In many cases this can be a salaried position with a major company or have financial support linked to a public health laboratory or hospital (such as the Respiratory Physiology Unit at the Royal Aintree Hospital in Liverpool).
In our experience, final degree results and employability are enhanced for students who undertake a placement year. The placement also counts towards the final degree classification as part of the year 2 mark.
Recent Human Biology and Infectious Diseases students have undertaken placements at the Wolfson Imaging Centre in Manchester, the Clinical Epidemiology unit at Manchester and at TSC Ltd in Heywood.
Placement Opportunities
Recent Human Biology and Infectious Diseases students have undertaken placements at the Wolfson Imaging Centre in Manchester, the Clinical Epidemiology unit at Manchester and at TSC Ltd in Heywood.
Further Study
- MSc Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology
- MSc Analytical Bioscience and Drug Design
- MSc Biotechnology
- PhD in Bioscience Research
Fees and Funding
| Type of Study | Fee |
|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,000 |
| Part-time | Your annual fee will be calculated pro rata to the full-time fee according to the number of credits you are studying |
| Full-time International | £11,090 |
Additional costs
- Field courses - a non refundable deposit of £25 is charged for all residential field courses
- Field trips - students will not be charged for field (day) trips but are expected to provide their own refreshments.
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Financial support for this course
As a UK/EU student you could be entitled to: