The advice zone

How do I get a postgraduate microbiology degree in the United Kingdom?

Much depends on your background. If you have experience in clinical medicine and now want to go into microbiology, an MSc in microbiology is a good choice. These are available at several universities and some run as a day release course over two years. In that case, your employer would usually pay some or all of the costs. The MSc gives a structured grounding in both laboratory and clinical aspects of microbiology. If you already have experience in microbiology, then a PhD or MD is a possibility. The PhD is rigorous and requires much determination both to find a suitable centre and supervisor and to complete the work. It is an excellent means of getting a post in a major centre with a research programme, however. The MD in the United Kingdom is different from overseas and is more clinical and less supervised than a PhD. Financial support is the considerable obstacle with both. …