Course summary

From the simplest to the most complex organisms, from the molecular level to the evolutionary development of species, the living world is endlessly complex and fascinating. This degree takes you across biological boundaries with the option to specialise in your second year. As the knowledge base in the biological sciences grows exponentially and technology becomes ever more sophisticated, the ability to think broadly about biology and to apply your knowledge across the boundaries of traditional disciplines will inevitably become a very valuable and powerful asset both in scientific environments and in many other walks of life. This is the most flexible of all our biological sciences degrees. Packed with exciting subjects and transferable employability skills, you will get the maximum choice of topics to choose from in Years 2 and 3. This means that you can learn about the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie the full range of biological sciences or you can focus on just the parts that you develop a passion for; you can even see these mechanisms in action on field trips. The analytical and critical skills you acquire by studying Biological Sciences are valued by researchers and employers in non-scientific fields. This course is identical to the first three years of the MBiolSci in Biological Sciences. What's the difference? At the University of Leicester, we offer seven Biological Science subjects and four Medical Bioscience subjects, all as both BSc (three years) and MBiolSci (four years), plus a Foundation Year option, giving you an impressive range of 23 different courses to choose from. Biological Science covers major aspects of biology and molecular science across a wide range of organisms from bacteria and fungi to humans and plants. All 14 courses share a common first year so you can change to a different degree before the end of Year 1. Medical Science allows you to select specialist modules that focus more closely on the application of biological principles to medicine. All eight courses share a common first year so you can change to a different degree before the end of Year 1. It is possible to switch between a Biological Science course and a Medical Bioscience course during the first half of your first year, but after that the two fields diverge.