Program Overview

Our five-year MBiolSci is designed to give you the best start for a career in industrial or academic research. You'll combine the research-focused integrated masters with a year-long, paid work placement as part of your degree.

Our students have found placements in industry, charities or government at organisations that include GSK, Pfizer, the Institute for Cancer Research, Microsoft Business Unit, West Yorkshire Police, the Environment Agency and the Field Studies Council. You could even apply your scientific knowledge and transferable skills to areas outside the bioscience industry such as market research, communications or business development. A placement is a great opportunity to test out a career path and many students are offered a graduate-level job at the end. You'll pay reduced fees for the year you're on placement and you'll have the support you need from your tutor and the University.

The majority of your final year is devoted to a major research project where you'll develop advanced laboratory and fieldwork skills. You’ll work alongside our world-leading academics and explore everything from genetics to biodiversity and climate change.

Whether your interests lie in organisms and the environment, biomedicine, or the molecular biosciences, or span all three, from your first year you’ll have the freedom to choose the topics you want to study across the breadth of biology. Topics include:

• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Genetics
• Molecular and cell biology
• Physiology and pharmacology
• Neuroscience
• Stem cells and development
• Pathobiology
• Evolution
• Zoology
• Animal behaviour
• Plant science
• Ecology and conservation
• Global change and sustainability

You’ll learn about these subjects in lectures, practicals, workshops and field trips to zoos, aquaria and wildlife reserves.

As you progress through your degree you'll explore your chosen topics in greater depth, specialising in one area or keeping a broad overview across the biosciences. You’ll learn the core practical laboratory skills that are used across biology including microscopy, cell culturing and DNA preparation so no matter what modules you choose to study, you’ll be ready to address your own research questions. You’ll also learn problem solving, communication skills, critical evaluation and data analysis - key transferable skills that make biology graduates very attractive to employers.

We’ll give you plenty of opportunities to apply your new skills and knowledge too. You’ll have the chance to carry out your own research projects in the lab, using the latest cutting-edge equipment to analyse stem cells, sequence DNA and study proteins and enzymes.