Course summary

Get ahead in your career as a professional biologist – with a course centred on high-quality teaching, first-rate facilities, cutting-edge research and exciting real-world learning opportunities. KEY FEATURES OF THE COURSE:

• ACCREDITATION: This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology so you can be sure that the course provides a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge, key technical abilities, and transferable skills.

• TAILORED TO YOU: Our course offers a wide range of subjects including microbiology, tropical marine biology, oncology, physiology, animal behaviour, genetics and wildlife conservation as well as cellular and evolutionary processes, giving you plenty of choice to tailor your degree to the career you want.

• FACILITIES: Develop vital scientific skills in our high-spec laboratories, insectary, aquatic research facility (created in partnership with SeaLife, Birmingham) and dedicated student research laboratory. A Bioscience Superlab is opening in 2025, which will give students the chance to study in an innovative, inspiring and interdisciplinary facility.

• FIELDTRIPS: Your studies won’t be confined to the laboratory as fieldtrips are an essential part of the course - our students have travelled to locations such as Twycross Zoo, Kew Gardens and the Maldives. Costs of mandatory fieldtrips in optional modules are included in your tuition fees.

• RAISE YOUR PROFILE IN INDUSTRY: We work closely with organisations such as the Royal Derby Hospital, SeaLife, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Derby Museums, the Olive Ridley Project and Eurofins. These partnerships pave the way to work experience and internship opportunities where you can apply your skills in real world situations.

• EXPERT TEACHING: Our teaching team are active researchers whose work is shaping debates in areas such as ecology, entomology and biodiversity, so your learning will be informed by the very latest research and developments in biology.

• Your first year provides an introduction to some of the key themes you’ll need to understand, including evolution, genetics and ecology. Optional modules in your second and third years give you the opportunity to begin tailoring your degree to meet your career aspirations. You will also have opportunities to work in industry. You’ll learn through lectures, seminars, tutorials, e-learning, hands-on laboratory practical work and fieldtrips.

• You’ll be assessed using a range of written assignments including portfolios, practical and fieldtrip write-ups and data analysis, essays, computer-based assessments, poster presentations and seminar presentations, as well as traditional written examinations.

• Our graduates are now working as research scientists, laboratory and pharmacy technicians, healthcare assistants, medical laboratory assistants and wildlife conservation officers. Others have progressed to teaching and lecturing careers after completing postgraduate study or have advanced to gain veterinary and medical qualifications.

• This course is available with a Foundation Year option.

• This course is available with an Industrial Placement Year.