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Study Biological Sciences, Why & How To Study

A Biological Sciences degree lets you explore various areas, like: cell biology, conservation, ecology, genetics, microbiology and physiology.

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CONTENTS

  1. What’s Biological Sciences?

  2. What Biological Sciences degrees can you study?

  3. What do you need to get onto a Biological Sciences degree?

  4. What topics does a Biological Sciences degree cover?

  5. How will you be assessed?

  6. Why study Biological Sciences?

  7. What do Biological Sciences graduates earn?

  8. What jobs can you get as a Biological Sciences graduate?

  9. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

  10. Similar subjects to Biological Sciences

  11. Have any questions?

What’s Biological Sciences?

Biological Sciences is the study of life. This broad, flexible subject area studies all living organisms. You can choose the topics that interest you most.

Options include molecular study of immune systems, disease processes and physiological processes. If you wish, you could choose a global-scale study of the environment, ecosystems and biodiversity.

Study this subject and you could be tackling global challenges in public health, animal welfare and climate change.

Take a look at the university league table for Biological Sciences.

What Biological Sciences degrees can you study?

Undergraduate courses usually come as single honours BSc (Bachelor of Science) degrees. Examples include:

Animal Behaviour BSc

Study the behaviour of animals in captivity, the wild, and domestic domains. Placements and study abroad opportunities let you explore the natural world in alternative environments.

Find Animal Behaviour courses.

Biology BSc

Deepen your knowledge of living organisms in this wide-ranging degree. You can learn and specialise in many areas, from stem cell development to zoology.

Search for Biology courses.

Biotechnology BSc

Understand the connection between biology and technology, and how it improves healthcare and beyond. A similar degree you can study is Biochemistry BSc.  

Find Biotechnology courses.

Marine Biology BSc

Love marine life? You can focus your studies on ecosystems like deep seas, estuaries and coral reefs. Field trips are common in this course, as are placements abroad.

See our guide for studying Marine Biology.

Microbiology BSc

Zoom into the world of microbiology to understand organisms that are invisible to the human eye. Think bacteria, fungi and viruses. Courses tend to focus on infection, disease and immunity.

Find Microbiology courses.

Other options

Options may include an integrated foundation year, professional placement or study abroad opportunity.

You can also study for an integrated master’s, and gain a postgraduate degree in four years.

Some universities offer joint honours degrees. You can combine Biology with another subject, such as Psychology or Computer Science.

What do you need to get onto a Biological Sciences degree?

Typically, entry to an undergraduate Biological Sciences degree requires between 104–144 UCAS points. Some courses may have lower or higher requirements, and not all unis base their offer on UCAS points. Qualifications may include:

  • A Levels: A*AA–CCC
  • BTECs: D*D*D*–MMM
  • Scottish Highers: AAAAA–CCCA (Advanced Highers: AAB–AA)
  • International Baccalaureate: 39–26
  • Universities will usually ask that you have studied: an A Level (or equivalent) in biology and sometimes chemistry

Other good subjects to have studied include:

  • Computer science
  • Environmental science
  • Geography
  • Maths
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • General subjects at A Level may be excluded

Experience that would look good on your application:

  • Work experience or shadowing in a lab – contact your local NHS trust, uni or biotech companies/industrial labs
  • Volunteering with local conservation charities e.g. assisting with field surveys
  • Insights from online courses or MOOCs, listening to podcasts or YouTube videos
  • Independent reading e.g. books, science journals, science news (BBC or Guardian), or areas of research at your chosen university
  • If eligible, summer schools such as Sutton Trust or UNIQ, or In2scienceUK placements

Other requirements for this subject include:

  • Pass in the practical element of science taken at A Level
  • Interview and entry assessments may be required by some universities

What topics does a Biological Sciences degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include:

  • Advanced topics in ecology
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Biochemistry and biotechnology
  • Biology and behaviour of social insects
  • Genetics and molecular biology
  • Immunology
  • Plant and algal physiology
  • Statistical and quantitative skills for biologists
  • Stem cells and tissue engineering
  • Vertebrate zoology

How will you be assessed?

Courses are assessed in a variety of ways, depending on the module:

  • Coursework
  • Essays
  • Exams
  • Lab work
  • Literature reviews
  • Poster/oral presentations
  • Short tests
  • A research project is usually a final year option

Why study Biological Sciences?

A Biological Sciences degree deepens your knowledge of the nature of life while expanding your skillset. It opens the doors to many potential career areas.

Career-specific skills:

  • Detailed subject knowledge along with practical lab skills and fieldwork experience
  • You may also gain experience from a placement with an industrial company

Transferable skills:

  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Critical and analytical thinking
  • IT skills and digital literacy
  • Organisation
  • Presentations
  • Report writing
  • Research
  • Time management

Professional accreditation:

Degrees may be accredited by organisations like:

  • Royal Society of Biology
  • Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences

My university experience has been amazing! I’ve now graduated with a first and won the Outstanding Performance Award on my degree.

I had the opportunity to work at the Mankwe Wildlife Reserve in South Africa in my final year, where I spent a month helping on a range of conservation projects and working with endangered animals including white rhinos, hyenas and leopard turtles.

Dominic, Staffordshire University

What do Biological Sciences graduates earn?

Biological Sciences graduates can expect a starting salary of around £17,000–£23,000.

If you stay in academia and move into research, you’ll receive a stipend of around £15,600 while studying for a PhD. Some organisations will pay more. Postdoctoral researchers may be paid £30,000–£40,000. Senior research fellows or lecturers could have an income of £53,000–£60,000.

As an experienced microbiologist working in industry, you could earn up to £39,000. There is potential to earn higher, depending on the responsibilities you have.

What jobs can you get as a Biological Sciences graduate?

Graduates pursue careers in a wide range of settings. You could work in research, industry, academia or healthcare. Alternatively, you can take advantage of your transferable skills to access careers in areas such as finance, data analysis, management or marketing.

  • Advertising executive
  • Clinical trials specialist
  • Epidemiology and information analyst
  • Forensic scientist
  • Management consultant
  • mRNA biologist
  • Policy advisor
  • Research associate
  • Science communicator
  • Science journalist
  • Teacher

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Many Biological Sciences graduates start their careers by gaining a master's or PhD qualification. Examples of taught master’s and research degrees at postgraduate level include:

  • Animal Biosciences MSc
  • Biodiversity, Conservation and Management MSc
  • Biological Science MPhil/PhD
  • Marine Mammal Science MSc
  • Neuroscience MRes

Similar subjects to Biological Sciences

Other subject areas that might appeal to you:

Search undergraduate Biological Sciences courses now!

Have any questions?

Ask our experts! You can email ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk with your question about studying Biological Sciences – we’ll be happy to hear from you.

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