MSc Virology

Have you studied microbiology and want to continue a similar field in future studies? We have a perfect course for you. M.Sc. in virology is a branch of science that studies viruses and how they evolve. Through this course, health sector is able to produce well-knowledgeable virologists who can further succeed the domain in this particular field. The study of virology provides the students with directional training, as well as theoretical understanding.

If you are intrigued by this course, continue reading for further details about the syllabus and top universities for MSc Virology.

Full Name	Master’s in Virology
Level	Postgraduate (PG)
Duration	2 years
Minimum eligibility	An aggregate of 50% score in BSc Degree in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Life Science Biotechnology, Chemistry, etc. from a recognized board or university.
Admission Process	Entrance Exam and/or Merit-Based.
Average starting salary	INR 20 lakhs
Job Prospects	Virologist, Research Associate, Assistant Professor, Laboratory Assistant, etc.

What is MSc Virology?

The course of virology is designed by keeping the requirements of the health sector into consideration. This course offers well-trained professional virologists who further use their knowledge in enhancing the health sector. It is a postgraduate course under the microbiology section of the science stream. Those who want to build a career in studying various viral infections and their causes opt for this course. In addition, this course covers the theoretical and practical knowledge of animal virology, studying, and preventing viral infections. The candidates seeking this course must have good observation skills, communication skills, critical thinking and know-how to interpret data from the given experiments.

Also Read: MSc Medical Microbiology

M.Sc Virology Syllabus 

This course is offered for two years, so the syllabus is divided into four semesters. A wide range of subjects is offered to help students explore the various scopes for their future. Mostly, the same syllabus is offered in top colleges of India. Let us have a look at the subjects offered under this course.

Semester 1	Basic Virology, Tissue Culture & Cell Biology, Basic Immunology, Basic Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Vector Biology, Virological Methods, Tissue Culture, Techniques Virus/Antigen Detection, Entomological Methods, Propagation of Viruses
Semester 2	Gene Regulation & Recombinant, DNA Technology, Virus-Cell Interaction, Immunology, Applied Entomology, Applied Epidemiology, Bioinformatics Antiviral & Vaccines Biochemical & Biophysical Methods, Virus Replication Advanced, Serological Methods, Immunological Techniques, Medical Entomology 1, Epidemiological Data Management & Analysis, Bioinformatics
Semester 3	Viral Enteric Diseases & Cancers Viral Hepatitis, Viral Respiratory Diseases, Viral Exanthematous Diseases, Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers, Viral Encephalitis, HIV/AIDS Veterinary & Agricultural Viruses, Viral Enteric Diseases, Viral Hepatitis, Viral Respiratory Diseases, Viral Exanthematous Diseases, Viral Haemorrhagic Fever, Viral Encephalitis, Veterinary & Agricultural Viruses
Semester 4	Special Topics, Research Project

Also Read: Diploma in Physiotherapy

Top Universities Abroad for MSc Virology 

With various courses and advanced facilities, universities across the world provide unique academic training. These are the top universities abroad for MSc Virology.

Name of University	Location	THE World University Rankings – Life Sciences (2023)
Harvard University	US	1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	US	3
University of Cambridge	UK	2
Stanford University	US	5
University of Oxford	UK	4
University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	US	9
ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology	Switzerland	13
Yale University	US	7
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	US	24
The University of California, San Diego (UCSD)	US	15

Top Colleges in India

The top colleges for the course in India are as follows:

University	Location	Admission Process
Savitribai Phule Pune University	Pune	Entrance Based
Manipal University	Karnataka	Entrance Based
Sri Venkateswara College	Tirupati	Entrance Based
Amity University of Virology and Immunology	Noida	Merit-Based

Also Read: Occupational Health and Safety

Eligibility Criteria for MSc Virology

You should meet the eligibility criteria to take admission to any virology college. The eligibility criteria demanded MSc Virology are:

• Students must have a bachelor’s degree either in science or another related field, such as biochemistry, microbiology, chemistry, life science biotechnology, etc.  
• They must have a minimum of 50% aggregate in your qualifying exam.

Top Entrance Exams

In India, admission in MSc Virology mostly takes place through entrance exams. After the exam, a merit list is prepared and students take admission based on cut off marks. The top entrance exams for this course are:

• SVUCET, an offline common entrance exam, is conducted by Sri Venkateswara University.
• MET, an online entrance exam, is conducted by Manipal University.

Check Out: Pathology Courses

Scope of Msc Virology

When you opt for this course, you get a wider scope to identify your interest and enhance your skills in that field. 

Academic Scope

This course helps you in studying various topics, such as biotechnology, the biology of infection, immunology, and diagnostic virology. In addition, you can write columns about your research, pursue the research field, and opt to teach the junior level of students. Moreover, you can also study further and opt for PhD in related fields.  

Jobs and Professional Career & Salary

After completing your degree, you have the opportunity to get involved in various sectors, such as agriculture, health, research, and education etc. The major roles are mentioned below:

• Laboratory Assistant: Assisting professionals and experts in their research programs.

Salary: INR 2 lakh to 3 lakh.

• Virologist: It involves performing various lab tests to prevent viral diseases.       

Salary: INR 2.5 lakh to 3.5 lakh.

• Assistant Professor: In this, you can help students pursuing a similar career by guiding and mentoring them. You also get the opportunity to assist senior professors. 

Salary: INR 2.5 lakh to 5 lakh.

• Research Associate: you can perform the experiments on an advanced and specialized level and study the results. 

Salary: INR 3 lakh to 4 lakh.

FAQs

Virology certainly has a wide scope and provides you with several favourable circumstances to find out the best career in this field of science. After acquiring this degree, you become eligible for performing virus-related tests. If you’re planning to pursue courses in virology, our experts at Leverage Edu can help you explore the various programs in virology offered around the world and assist you to find a suitable one as per your interests. Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.