Microbiology

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Academic researcher
• Biomedical scientist
• Biotechnologist
• Clinical research associate
• Clinical scientist, biochemistry
• Clinical scientist, immunology
• Epidemiologist
• Food technologist
• Microbiologist
• Nanotechnologist
• Pharmacologist
• Research scientist (life sciences)
• Technical brewer
• Water quality scientist

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Clinical scientist, genomics
• Clinical scientist, histocompatibility and immunogenetics
• Ecologist
• Environmental engineer
• Forensic scientist
• Marine biologist
• Palaeontologist
• Physician associate
• Plant breeder/geneticist
• Science writer
• Scientific laboratory technician

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Pre-entry experience in a laboratory is useful if you're thinking of a career in science, healthcare or academia. Some degrees include a year's work placement undertaking scientific research in industry, a government research laboratory, hospital or another relevant organisation. 

However, many degrees don't include a placement year. Instead, some courses integrate practical on-site laboratory practice, with several dedicating the final year modules to your own research project conducted in the university's laboratory. 

Other relevant experience includes completing a laboratory research project over the summer holidays. Some organisations provide grants to support this type of work, including the Microbiology Society and Applied Microbiology International.

You could also consider becoming a student member of one of these societies as it provides networking opportunities and discounts on events and conferences, as well as showing potential employers your commitment to the field. 

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Microbiology overlaps with other areas of science such as genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry and immunology. This means there are opportunities for a microbiology-related career in a range of sectors. You could be employed by: 

• healthcare organisations such as the NHS and private hospitals 
• public health organisations such as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) 
• environmental organisations 
• industry - for example, food and drink, agriculture, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, toiletries, water and biotechnology companies 
• forensic science laboratories 
• publicly funded research organisations 
• higher education institutions. 

Find information on employers in science and pharmaceuticals, healthcare, teacher training and education and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Studying microbiology helps you to develop a variety of subject-specific skills. These include the ability to: 

• carry out practical laboratory techniques in a safe, responsible and ethical manner 
• employ a range of investigative, recording and analysis techniques 
• prepare, interpret and present data, using statistical programmes and a variety of research methods, including both qualitative and quantitative 
• conduct literature searches and critically evaluate information 
• share and apply your findings with other professions in related fields of science or medicine. 

You also develop more general skills, valued by a range of employers across various sectors, including: 

• teamwork and the ability to work on your own initiative 
• problem solving
• communication 
• time management and organisational. 

Further study

A good percentage of microbiology graduates go on to further study or work in a relevant field alongside studying at Masters or PhD level in subjects such as: 

• biochemistry 
• biotechnology 
• environmental microbiology 
• genetics 
• medical microbiology 
• molecular biology. 

In some cases, this can lead to a career in academia or in government research. 

If you want to work as an NHS healthcare scientist in an area of microbiology, you'll need to undertake further training via the NHS Scientist Training Programme, which includes study at Masters level in a relevant life science. 

You can also apply for a four-year accelerated graduate entry medicine programme, which is the first step before training to become a doctor. 

Some microbiology graduates choose to diversify by studying subjects such as computing, science communication or journalism. You can also choose to take further study in areas such as marketing, finance, business, teaching and law. 

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in microbiology.

What do microbiology graduates do?

Two fifths (40%) of microbiology graduates report working as laboratory technicians (20%), biological scientists (13%) or biochemists and biomedical scientists (7%).

Find out what other graduates are doing after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.