Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of single-celled, multi-celled and acellular micro-organisms, wherein the effect and impact of every organism on the environment are assessed. The need for professionals with the knowledge and understanding of such microorganisms can be seen across a variety of industries and sectors like agriculture, dairy processing, nanotechnology and chemical technology, among many others. From medicines and food we eat, to the production and maintenance of our basic sustenance, microorganisms hold a significant role in the functioning of a society.

Understanding the need for such professionals, universities in India and across the globe offer a variety of courses, i.e. short-term, full and part-time and even distance learning programmes. Therefore, if you are interested in pursuing a Microbiology course, can do so right after passing your class 12 board exams and continuing your studies in the field up till receiving your doctorate as well. Admissions to such programmes can be done based on merit alone, however, some universities and degree programmes may also require applicants to present valid entrance test scores as well. Let’s dig deeper to find out more about Microbiology courses in India and how you can go about studying them.

Given below are some of the key highlights related to Microbiology courses in India:

Students who are confused, as to why they should pick Microbiology as a specialisation for their higher studies, can have a look at the benefits below:

• Wide Scope of Opportunities: The scope of microbiology is huge. As is known, there are more microorganisms than humans or animals. In fact, even our body consists of various microorganisms. Hence, there are a lot of sub-specialisations available for students to choose from, which eventually leads to a plethora of eventual career opportunities. 

• High-Paying Jobs: The impact of microbiological studies on human life is so huge that it makes up for a very responsible and risky job. While the scope of human error is negligible, the equipment and practices are all conducted on a highly specialised level. As a professional in such an environment, high-paying job profiles are a given. The highest annual salary of a microbiologist can reach up to INR 45,00,000-75,00,000 per year.

• Huge Impact on Human Lives: Microbiology is concerned with many responsibilities, including the study of virology and bacteria, which is eventually related to human diseases and their cures. Hence, every win of a microbiologist creates a huge positive impact on human lives, and the same is for the losses.

• Research and Development Cell: While R&D is an open sector for various biologists and even other scientists and researchers, in the case of microbiology, it is the main sector of working. A microbiologist may deal with patients, but for a major part, their efforts are executed in laboratories, hence, making R&D to be the most popular job cell.

• Contribution to Sustainability Drive: The power of microbiology lies in the fact that it can use nature’s micro-organisms to solve huge problems, such as oil spills in the sea. Microbiology is used as a corrector of various environmental hazards and accidents, and even sometimes replenishes precious natural habitats.

Being a course dealing with the functioning and understanding of microorganisms, the different courses available in the field are designed for specific individuals with certain career goals in mind. Here are the individuals for whom Microbiology courses are a perfect choice:

• Those passionate about understanding everything there is to know about bacteria and their impact on the society and environment should look into Microbiology courses.
• Being a research-heavy field, students who possess the patience and ability to research, compile and evaluate information can pursue a Microbiology course.
• Being a specialised programme, candidates planning to study Microbiology should be certain of their career and future prospects in the field as the opportunities to change their fields are limited.

Regardless, Microbiology is one of the best options for students who wish to make a difference in the world, however, find it difficult to work in a hospital or medical setting. Microbiology provides individuals with the ability to use the effects and benefits of microorganisms for the benefit of the society and environment.

The different microbiology courses that students can pursue in India have been summarised below, along with their description and course duration:

The eligibility criteria of the microbiology courses are dependent on the qualification level of the course.

Microbiology Bachelor’s Courses Eligibility Criteria 

To get admission to undergraduate microbiology courses, such as B.Sc. in Microbiology, or Diploma in Microbiology, etc., candidates must have:

• At least 50% in 10+2 examination
• Having completed 10+2 education with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics as compulsory subjects
• Clear the cut-off score required for the entrance exams

Microbiology Master’s or Doctorate Courses Eligibility Criteria  

Postgraduate courses in microbiology include M.Sc in Microbiology, PG Diploma in Microbiology, PhD in Microbiology, etc. Students need to meet the following to be eligible for admission to these courses:

• B.Sc. degree in a relevant field,
• At least 50% in B.Sc. degree, and
• Cut-off score in recommended entrance exams to clear the minimum score requirements.

Admissions to different Microbiology courses will be done based on the admission policies of each individual university or institution offering the course. In other words, students can be selected for a microbiology course in India either on the basis of merit or on the basis of merit and entrance test scores. Here is how you can get admission to a microbiology course in India.

Merit-Based Admissions

Universities accepting admission to their microbiology course on the basis of merit alone would commonly carry out the following processes.

• Candidates must thoroughly read through the admission process, which would normally include the minimum eligibility criteria for the microbiology course of choice.
• Upon meeting the admission requirements, candidates should submit the necessary documents as per the course requirements, i.e.
  • For undergraduate, Class 12 board exam results in the stream of Science, preferably with the subject of Biology covered as well as entrance test scores (if applicable)
  • For postgraduate, a valid undergraduate microbiology degree or any other related degree programme with a minimum of 60% or higher.
• Candidates must then complete the admission process which may include elements of group discussion and personal interview, allowing universities to select the best possible students.

It should be noted that the university accepting admission based on merit will have the authority to define the admission and the selection process as well as the number of seats available for the course. Therefore, thoroughly read through the admission guidelines of the university of your choice before applying to any university.

Entrance Test-Based Admissions

Admissions to most Microbiology courses will be based on entrance test scores, which would either be conducted individually by the university offering the degree programme or by the state for admission to state-run universities. Regardless, aspirants are required to attempt the test and secure the highest possible score in order to become eligible for admission to a Microbiology course based on entrance tests.

• Along with compiling the necessary documents for admissions, students must prepare and attempt the entrance test which is accepted by their desired university.
• In the case of a university-conducted entrance test, candidates may be asked to appear for a group discussion and/or a personal interview as part of the selection process.
• Upon receiving news of your selection to the program, candidates must deposit the non-refundable deposit and pay the tuition fees if they wish to study at the university.
• In the case of a state-conducted entrance test, admissions will be done based on the cut-offs decided by the universities at the respective state-run universities. Candidates must ensure they have secured high enough to pass the cut-off set by their desired university.

As highlighted above, admissions to different Microbiology courses at different levels are conducted based on entrance exam test scores. Therefore, candidates interested in studying Microbiology at any level in India must first determine the test they need to clear in order to study the course at their desired institution. Here are some top entrance exams for Microbiology courses in India that you may have to clear to get admission this year:

• Undergraduate Microbiology Course: for undergraduate courses, aspirants may have to take the following tests.
  • CUET: Short for Common University Entrance Test, is a nationalised test where central universities across the country accept admissions based on the scores achieved by students in the test.
  • NPAT: An online computer-based test, NPAT is the entrance test conducted by Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies for admission to programmes after the 12th board exams, offered by the institute.
  • CUCET: Another university-level entrance test, CUCET is conducted by Chandigarh University for admission to a number of undergraduate as well as postgraduate courses as well as scholarship opportunities.
• Postgraduate Microbiology Course: For admission to the postgraduate microbiology course, students may have to clear the following tests-
  • CUET PG: Conducted by the NTA in India, students interested in pursuing microbiology at the postgraduate level may be required to clear the CUET PG test to study the course at one of the central universities in the country.
  • BITSAT: Admission to the postgraduate microbiology course at this reputable university is done via BITSAT, one of the most common admission tests conducted in the country.
  • DUET PG: Admissions to the renowned Delhi University postgraduate microbiology courses will be based on DUET PG entrance test scores, however, some colleges may also consider applications purely on the academic merit of the applicant.

Similarly, there are hundreds of universities that offer different microbiology courses, admissions to which will either be conducted on academic merit or entrance test scores. In either circumstance, students are advised to thoroughly read through the admission guidelines and requirements before applying to any university.

The common microbiology subjects included in the Indian college course curriculum are:

Note: This list is not exhaustive and subjects may vary depending on the course and university one is applying to.

The best colleges in India to study microbiology courses are summarised here along with their annual tuition fees:

Here is an average course fee analysis of different microbiology courses in India:

Indian students can always opt for universities abroad to study microbiology courses. Just like India, it is a prestigious course of study in foreign countries as well. Here are certain picks from the 50 best global universities for microbiology (biological sciences) according to the QS Subject Rankings 2022:

As a microbiologist, students will require the following skills to be able to achieve recognition and land lucrative jobs:

• Patience: Microbiologists need to work on a single project for months and years. The results during this period may or may not be in their favour. However, they need to carry on consistently, which makes patience of extreme importance in their careers.

• Independence and Teamwork: A microbiologist not only needs to undertake group projects but also independent research, where they are building a case for their own theory. The work dynamics of both situations are highly different and they need to easily settle and switch between the two.

• Communication Skills: While interaction with the general public of a microbiologist is limited, they do need to present the findings of their research, progress, and other relevant details. They need good communication skills to express their ideas and project status to research financers and reviewing committees.

• Observational & Analytical Skills: Research projects naturally demand working individuals to have observational and analytical skills. In order to draw conclusions from the experiment analysis is important, and to even track the changes and reactions, observation is required.

• Detail-Oriented: Microbiologists work with microorganisms. They have to be alert and detail-oriented to capture the stages of reactions and changes in their ongoing research.

• Efficient in Other Sciences: Apart from biological sciences, microbiologists also need to have a good knowledge of other pure and applied sciences to ensure proper conclusions. For instance, geological conditions are a huge factor in the nature of microorganisms.

• Tech-Savvy: Technology is the consistent lab partner of microbiologists, and they need to be well versed in using it to ensure proper recording and independence in their work.

The course curriculum for Microbiology courses in India will vary from university to university as well as degree programme to degree programme. In other words, each programme will carry a unique curriculum or course structure that students will have to follow and complete in order to receive their degrees. Listed here are the course curriculum for different microbiology courses offered in India.

Undergraduate Microbiology Course Curriculum

The undergraduate microbiology course curriculum or structure will be individually defined by the university or institution offering the course. Moreover, the degree type will also determine the structure students will follow while completing their course. Outlined below is the course structure for BSc Microbiology that students follow at universities across India:

• 6 semesters of core and elective subjects.
• Laboratory Sessions
• Research Project and Dissertation Submissions
• Internships

The university offering the programme will determine the number of courses and credits that students need to complete in order to receive their degrees as well as the number of projects that need to be submitted.

Postgraduate Microbiology Course Curriculum

Those planning to study a postgraduate course in Microbiology will also be required to follow a defined course curriculum/structure, which will be dictated by the university or institution offering the course. Outlined below is the course curriculum for MSc Microbiology that students may have to follow at their desired university.

• 4 semesters of core and elective subjects
• Classroom sessions with professors and industry experts
• Laboratory sessions
• Dissertation or research projects
• Thesis submissions
• Seminars and Workshops

Each university offering the programme reserves the right to determine the subjects and credits that students need to complete for students to earn their degree. Aspirants will be able to check out the course curriculum of the desired university, which will allow them to shortlist the best universities in India for MSc Microbiology.

The career options available for microbiology graduates in India are:

• Clinical Microbiologist

• Environmental Microbiologist

• Industrial Microbiologist

• Mycologist

• Parasitologist

• Virologist

• Food Technologist

• Biochemist

• Molecular Biologist

• Cell Biologist

• Bacteriologist

Here is a summary of common microbiologist job profiles and their annual salary in India: