Course summary

If you lack the necessary qualifications to enter on to one of our three-year programmes, Aberystwyth University’s four-year Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Life Sciences with an integrated foundation year is an effective way of entering university to study biological sciences. In your foundation year, you will be taught the fundamentals of biology, including biochemistry, microbiology, cell biology, ecology, zoology, genetics, botany etc. On successful completion of the foundation year, you will be able to transfer onto any of the three-year degree schemes offered by the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences. Learn and live in an exceptional environment where you will be surrounded by many internationally recognised habitats including the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere, RAMSAR wetlands, marine special areas of conservation, National Nature Reserves, sites of special scientific interest to name but a few. You will be taught by internationally recognised staff from within Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) utilising state of the art teaching facilities providing an outstanding learning experience. Students will benefit from the use of an array of modern facilities including aquaria for marine and freshwater organisms, mass spectrometry and analytical unit, high-throughput DNA sequencing, a bio-imaging laboratory, growth rooms and glasshouses, the National Plant Phenomics Centre, university farms and an equine centre etc. Learn in an award-winning department, where we are top 10 in the UK for research intensity in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessment (2014). 78% of research assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent in the 2014 REF. This course will allow you to explore the key biological concepts covering: biological molecules, cells, organelles and their function, cell growth and division; prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms including plants and animals, their ecological interactions, evolution, natural selection, and conservation. Upon successful completion of this foundation programme, you could progress onto any of our degree schemes offered by IBERS.