"John Miller" <John at millersuzuki.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in
message news:8qobh9$g1i$1 at news5.svr.pol.co.uk...
> I am hoping to study microbiology at uni in Sept 2001, I would
be very
> grateful if anyone could give me a few pointers on which uni is
the best to
> study microbiology at, or which has the best record in this
area
I think that it depends on what you want to do afterwards. I see
you are UK based. Please note that it is 6 years since I left
uni so some of what I tell you may not be up to date.
If you are thinking of becoming a Medical Laboratory Scientific
Officer (a hospital laboratory microbiologist) then you will need
to do a course that has been approved by the Institute of
Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) and accredited by the Council for
Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM).
Microbiology covers a lot of different ground. Do you want to do
a more molecular biology based degree, or are you interested in
ecology? Are you interested in fungi? It was not a common option
when I was studying. Different places have a different emphasis.
For example, Bangor University has a very good reputation for
marine biology, whereas Surrey seems to lean more towards
toxicology (in my experience).
Another aspect to consider is the practical component of the
course. Not all places offer the same balance, and one of the
most frequent complaints we have in my lab is that graduates come
to us not knowing how to hold a pipette.
Personally, I studied at Sunderland, and thoroughly enjoyed my
course. It also allowed my the option *not* to specialise until
I reached the final year. When I started my course I was
thinking about environmental biology, I finished doing medical
microbiology. I have recently completed an MSc at Westminster
which was well taught. What little I saw of their laboratories
was not overly impressive but YMMV.
So unfortunately it is not simply the option of 'the best place'.
It really will depend on your own preferences.
HTH
Johanna
