Course summary

Whether you're passionate about environmental conservation, medical advancements, or biotechnology, studying our Biology BSc (Placement Year) will help you play a crucial role in shaping a better future. Play a role in tackling the world’s greatest challenges:

• How do we feed a growing population?

• How can we fight some of the world’s most deadly or chronic diseases?

• How do we prevent greater environmental damage to our seas, air, animal and plant species?

• Shape your degree to suit your interests as they develop through your course

• Gain practical skills in our outstanding teaching labs

• Pay just 20% of the standard tuition fee during your placement year

• Become a part of our thriving and supportive community of biosciences students

• Learn from our renowned, research-active academics

• Benefit from placements or part-time work through our connections with public and private sector employers

• Our location, close to Morecambe Bay, the Lake District, Bowland Fells and the Yorkshire Dales is ideal for exploring some of the UK’s finest natural landscapes

• In Year 1, you will get a well-rounded introduction to the fundamentals of biology. From genetics and cell biology to ecology, conservation biology and zoology, you will lay the foundations for the future of your degree: getting to grips with key skills and discovering where your greatest interests lie. You will also see how these issues relate to the bigger picture, gaining an understanding of how they link to global challenges, such as the maintenance of biodiversity and human health.

• In Year 2 you will explore themes such as genetics and evolution in more depth. You can also begin to tailor your degree to your emerging interests.

• You will spend Year 3 on a work placement in industry, building your professional toolkit and gaining valuable insights into a biology-related career. You will return to Lancaster to complete your fourth year with renewed confidence and drive to achieve your goals.

• In Year 4, you can take that specialisation a step further, with a greater choice of modules. You will also complete a research project – your opportunity to make a unique contribution to increasing scientific knowledge in an area of biology.

• Our new Wolfson plant phenotyping centre

• Fluorescent imaging

• Controlled environment plant growth facilities

• VR total immersion lab

• Confocal microscopes

• Flow cytometers

• Spectrophotometric technologies

• Plate readers

• Thermocyclers

• Microscopes