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Studies & Degrees in Industrial Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of microbes, organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye, such as bacteria, algae and fungi. Industrial microbiology is the applied branch that puts them to work. In the words of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), industrial microbiologists study how microorganisms can be used in manufacturing production processes.

Fermented foods and drinks, antibiotics, vaccines, enzymes, organic acids and biofuels all depend on microbes grown under controlled conditions. Penicillin is the classic case. Alexander Fleming observed in 1928 that a mould produced a substance that inhibited the growth of bacteria, but it only became a medicine when later work, in the 1940s, made it possible to produce it pure and in larger quantities. That step from the laboratory to the factory is what industrial microbiology deals with. The field also has little to do with disease in most of its work: according to the Microbiology Society, human pathogens account for less than 1% of microbial species.

What students learn

A programme with this focus combines general microbiology with process and quality subjects:

  • Microbial physiology, genetics and strain improvement
  • Fermentation technology and bioreactors, from laboratory scale to production scale
  • Recovery and purification of the product
  • Food, pharmaceutical and environmental microbiology
  • Quality control, sterility testing and laboratory safety
  • Regulation and good manufacturing practice

The scientific base is the same as for any microbiologist. The BLS notes that microbiology study includes courses such as microbial genetics, environmental microbiology and virology, that students may also have to take chemistry, physics and mathematics, and that undergraduate programmes typically include laboratory experience. Industrial programmes add time in pilot plants or placements in companies where the school has such agreements.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree: the usual route is a degree in microbiology, biology, biotechnology or a related science, with industrial microbiology as a course or an option in the later years.
  • Master's degree: specialised programmes in industrial or applied microbiology, usually open to graduates in the biological or chemical sciences and often including a research project.
  • Doctorate: for research careers in industry or universities.

The BLS states that microbiologists typically need a bachelor's degree in microbiology or a related field to enter the occupation, and that a master's degree or PhD may be helpful or required for some positions. In Europe, a bachelor's degree consists of 180 or 240 ECTS credits and a master's degree usually of 90 or 120, according to the European Commission. In Spain, a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and an official master's degree has 60, 90 or 120.

Where to study industrial microbiology

SpainExchange lists one school for this subject: the University of Madras in Chennai, India. Its Department of Microbiology was established on 1 November 1976. In 1981 the department started an M.Sc. Microbiology, which it describes as a three-year degree course under the Faculty of Medicine, and it also offers a PhD in Microbiology. The department lists a bachelor's degree in science in microbiology, biology, zoology, biotechnology or medical laboratory technology as the entry requirement.

The department's own description is weighted towards medical microbiology: its stated research areas include emerging infections, opportunistic infections and drug development. Students who are looking specifically for industrial content, such as fermentation or food and pharmaceutical production, should ask the university which courses and projects cover it, and whether affiliated colleges offer a programme under that name.

When comparing schools in any country, check the laboratory and pilot-plant facilities, the links with companies, the language of instruction and the recognition of the degree in the country where you plan to work.

Careers

Industrial microbiologists work in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, in food and drink production, in enzyme and chemical manufacturing, in water and waste treatment, and in testing laboratories. Typical roles are in process development, production, quality control and quality assurance, and research.

The BLS does not publish separate figures for industrial microbiologists. In the United States, microbiologists as a whole held about 20,100 jobs in 2025: 21 percent in research and development, 20 percent in government, 14 percent in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing and 11 percent in testing laboratories. Employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,500 openings a year.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between microbiology and industrial microbiology?

Microbiology studies microorganisms in general. Industrial microbiology is the branch that studies how microorganisms can be used in manufacturing production processes, for example to make foods, medicines or enzymes.

Can I study industrial microbiology as a first degree?

In most cases you study microbiology, biology or biotechnology first and take industrial microbiology as an option or as a master's specialisation. Check the course list of each programme.

Do I need a master's degree to work in industry?

Not always. According to the BLS, a bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement for microbiologists, and a master's degree or PhD may be helpful or required for some positions.