Introduction
Are you looking for a bioscience degree that allows you to pick and choose from the many sub-disciplines in biology? If so, this might be the degree for you.
This programme is studied on campus.
Studying Biological Sciences helps you develop a broad understanding of the nature of living things, from molecules and cells, organisms and populations, to communities and biomes.
Your courses will give you an excellent foundation in the theory and practical elements behind the study of life and provide you with the technical skills to pursue your own interests through your project work.
Key Programme Information
At a Glance
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification
- BSc
- Duration
- 48 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time
- Start Month
- September
- UCAS Code
- C901
What You'll Study
- Year 1
-
Year 1
Compulsory Courses
- Professional Skills Part 1 (PD1001)
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This course, which is prescribed for level 1 students and optional for level 2 students, is studied entirely online and covers topics relating to careers and employability, equality and diversity and health, safety and wellbeing. During the course you will learn about the Aberdeen Graduate Attributes, how they are relevant to you and the opportunities available to develop your skills and attributes alongside your University studies. You will also gain an understanding of equality and diversity and health, safety and wellbeing issues. Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’ (non-completion will be recorded as ‘Not Achieved’). The course takes approximately 3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks and it will be available to you throughout the academic year.
This course, which is prescribed for level 1 students and optional for level 2 students and above, is studied entirely online and covers topics relating to careers and employability, equality and diversity and health, safety and wellbeing. During the course you will learn about the Aberdeen Graduate Attributes, how they are relevant to you and the opportunities available to develop your skills and attributes alongside your University studies. You will also gain an understanding of equality and diversity and health, safety and wellbeing issues. Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Enhanced Transcript as ‘Achieved’ (non-completion will be recorded as ‘Not Achieved’). The course takes approximately 3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks and it will be available to you throughout the academic year.
- Frontiers in Biological Sciences (BI1009) - 15 Credit Points
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Eleven themes, critical to our understanding of the living world are explored in engaging lectures. Some topics explore evolutionary innovations, others the resilience of life. Throughout the course, we introduce the science that underpins current understanding of biology.
Practical sessions and activities develop your study and laboratory skills, and provide a foundation for a successful transition into university study.
Regular assignments, online tests, practical reports and reading assignments, structure your activities and help you progress through the course material.
Weekly guest lectures about current research helps you to see how basic biological concepts are applied to real world problems.
- Diversity of Life 1 (BI1012) - 15 Credit Points
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A walk through the evolutionary tree of life, examining the amazing diversity of major groups of organisms from plants through fungi to invertebrates. Learn about how each group of organisms arose, their characteristics, and how they achieved success.
Practical activities provide hands on experience of materials demonstrating the diversity of plants and invertebrates.
You will be assessed by a combination of short online pre-lab tests to help you prepare for practicals, laboratory reports, on which you will get detailed feedback to help you develop your skills, and an exam.
- Ecology and Environmental Science (BI1511) - 15 Credit Points
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This course will take you on a journey through the physical workings of the Earth, the interactions between species and their environments and then on to the effects humans are having on the planet, potential solutions and thoughts on the future.
Teaching is by staff with different subject specialisms who give both variety and immediacy to course material.
Exposure to the problems we are facing both now and in the future will help you make informed choices in their everyday lives.
A range of ‘wet’ and computer-based practicals enhance the classroom teaching and develop generic scientific skills.
- Diversity of Life 2 (BI1512) - 15 Credit Points
-
- A walk through the evolutionary tree of life, examining the amazing diversity of advanced invertebrates and vertebrates.
- Learn about how each group of organisms arose, their characteristics, and how they achieved success.
- Practical activities provide hands on experience of materials demonstrating the features of amphibians, fish, birds and mammals.
- You will be assessed by a combination of laboratory reports, on which you will get detailed feedback to help you develop your skills, and an exam.
- The Cell (SM1501) - 15 Credit Points
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- cells are the fundamental unit of life – without them life could not exist, and as such understanding how they function is crucial to our understanding of biology and medical science;
- this course provides theoretical knowledge in a diverse range of topics covering the fascinating world of cells, from molecules like DNA, to how different cell types function within our bodies;
- all practical classes are research based and will provide theoretical knowledge and skills training in many areas of molecular and cell biology;
- employability skills will also be explored through a highly interactive session run by the Scottish Institute for Enterprise
Optional Courses
Plus 45 credit points from courses of choice
- Year 2
-
Year 2
Compulsory Courses
- Biological Enhanced Skills Training (BEST) (BI2018) - 15 Credit Points
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The course will help you consolidate and develop skills in experimental design, sampling, analysis, presentation, and interpretation of data. You will be encouraged to seek to improve your academic writing and develop other transferable skills.
Each week, there is one 1-hour introductory lecture. In two 2-hour sessions when will work through a series of computer-based data tasks, using relevant and realistic biological and environmental themes.
Teaching is informal and friendly. During sessions, staff will chat to you about your progress and provide help where necessary.
Assessments are two online multiple-choice tests (each 25%) and an individual project (50%).
Optional Courses
Select at least one of the following:
- Genes & Evolution (BI2017)
- Ecology (BI2020)
Select at least one of the following:
- Principles of Animal Physiology (BI2510)
- Plants, People and Environment (BI25P4)
Plus 45 to 75 credit points from courses of choice, with a minimum of 30 credits with a BI code.
- Genes and Evolution (BI2017) - 15 Credit Points
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- look at how instructions in genes are transformed by natural selection to produce the diversity of life on Earth;
- learn how species evolve, how we determine evolutionary relationships;
- why populations change, understand why humans (and other organisms) must carry genetic diseases;
- meet enthusiastic staff; each teach about areas we are expert on;
- take 3 Genes & Evolution Practicals to gain hands on experience of approaches used by researchers to map genes, estimate rates of evolution, and determine evolutionary relationships;
- keep up to speed with in-course tests, understand basic statistics, see why mutations are not the only evolutionary currency
- Ecology (BI2020) - 15 Credit Points
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A range of practical and workshop classes will enable you to consider information from lectures in more detail and develop ideas.
A range of types of continuous assessment allow you to consolidate learning throughout the semester.
Weekly opportunities to practice writing skills needed for the exam and regular feedback provided on writing exercises.
Detailed feedback on practical assignments will help you develop essential scientific writing skills
You will use Peerwise to write multiple choice questions, requiring thorough engagement with taught material and developing an extensive set of questions for use in revision
- Principles of Animal Physiology (BI2510) - 15 Credit Points
-
Physiology is the study of the normal functions of living systems. This course will introduce you to the basics of invertebrate and vertebrate physiology.
Lectures will guide you through the various body systems and their interactions that maintain homeostasis in animals. Associated practicals allow you to explore particular systems in further detail and to develop relevant lab skills.
Through the study of examples from across different phyla, you will gain an appreciation of processes fundamental to all animals, and of differences across groups.
- Plants, People, and the Environment (BI25P4) - 15 Credit Points
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A course in which several researchers explore both core and emerging issues in the plant sciences, focusing in particular on the inter-dependence of plants, people and environment. Students are encouraged to develop a range of important generic and applied skills, through lectures, practicals and seminars. Two practicals and one seminar contribute 50% of the course mark. An exam contributes 50% of the overall course grade and consists a choice of multiple-choice questions and short, structured questions.
- Year 3
-
Year 3
Compulsory Courses
- Statistical Analysis of Biological Data (BI3010) - 15 Credit Points
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Review of basics of probability theory, data exploration and analysis using the linear modelling framework; depending on the option taken - fundamentals of using geographic information systems (GIS); bioinformatics and their application; statistical computing with R; capturing data; experimental design.
- Animal Evolution and Biodiversity (ZO3011) - 15 Credit Points
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In lectures you are guided through the theory of evolution, complementing your other biological sciences courses and helping you make sense of the diversity in the living world.
In practical sessions on microevolution and phylogenetics, you gain insight into the processes of evolution and the tools used to study them.
Through talks and poster presentations you gain specialised knowledge and experience communicating complex ideas and synthesizing information from multiple sources.
With focus on the fundamental importance of evolution for our understanding of the natural world, you learn about the interactions between science and society and how science progresses.
Optional Courses
Select at least one of the following:
- Environmental Physiology (ZO3513)
- Plant-Environment Interactions (PL3505)
Plus 60 to 75 credit points from courses of choice, at least 30 of which must be from courses delivered by the School of Biological Sciences at level 3
- Plant Environment Interactions (PL3505) - 15 Credit Points
-
Lectures, workshops and an excursion provide a diverse set of learning opportunities relating to plant physiology and adaptations to the environment.
A literature-based research exercise forms the continuous assessment part of this course, in which you choose a plant adaptation to investigate in detail in terms of physiological adaptations to natural conditions. The exercise develops specialist knowledge and your capacity for creative, independent and critical thinking, problem identification and problem solving. Participation in the oral presentations of the projects helps you to develop confidence and oral communication skills.
- Environmental Physiology (ZO3513) - 15 Credit Points
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By exploring how animals adapt to their environments within-life and during evolution, you gain an overview of the integrated nature of physiology, from molecules to whole organism. Learning is rooted in staff’s research interests. You explore diverse aspects of physiological adaptation through individual and group work. In groups, you research animal adaptations to extreme environments- present a scientific poster, developing skills in communication and team work. In an assessed practical you perform quantitative PCR, a keystone life sciences method for gene expression analysis. You develop skills in concise scientific writing through essays developed around reading primary research papers.
- Year 4
-
Year 4
Compulsory Courses
- SBS Honours Project (Semester 1) (BI4016) - 45 Credit Points
-
This independent research project develops your skills in scientific inquiry and critical analysis, as well as important generic skills, including presentation and time management.
Projects are field-, lab- and/or desk-based, developed on a topic of your interest under the direction of a supervisor.
Training in skills needed to perform your project is provided by world-leading researchers and their teams.
Workshops and drop-in sessions provide training in data analysis and thesis production.
This skill set will be appropriate for advanced study in the field of biological science or other careers where the generic skills that you will develop are highly valued.
Optional Courses
Plus 75 credit points from courses of choice, at least 45 of which must be from courses delivered by the School of Biological Sciences at level 4.
Course Availability
We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to timetabling and other constraints. Please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
How You'll Study
Combine practice and theory
Typically, one third of your class time is practical and many courses include full-day practical classes and field visits. Most students take at least one residential field trip during their degree; these trips bring the subjects to life and provide the opportunity to make great friendships and get to know staff members.
Research experience
You are actively involved in scientific research throughout your degree. In Year 4, you conduct independent research which can be pivotal to your career choice whether it be in dolphins, water voles, rare plants, tropical forest ecology, climate change in the Arctic, or any one of a diverse range of other exciting topics!
Engaging and inspiring teaching
Our teaching methods are diverse, innovative and based on research on how students learn. For example, we use problem-based learning approaches, creative presentations, peer and self-assessment, presenting posters in public meetings, writing and editing wikis, writing grant proposals, science writing for publication, and the creation of portfolios using multi-media.
Opportunities for Study Abroad and work-related learning
You can take advantage of an optional year-out on a work placement in any of our degree programmes. Study Abroad is encouraged for students in their second year; we have established partnerships with institutions in the USA, Canada, Australia, China and numerous countries in Europe.
Learning Methods
- Field Work
- Group Projects
- Lab Work
- Lectures
- Research
- Tutorials
Assessment Methods
Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:
- coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course;
- practical assessments of the skills and competencies learnt on the course; and
- written examinations at the end of each course.
The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, year of study and individual courses.
Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.
Why Study Biological Sciences?
- Our researchers work on birds, mammals, and invertebrates in terrestrial and marine environments and plants in all environments from alpine to the tropics.
- You will benefit from the range of teaching and research we have to offer in everything from advanced molecular research in the laboratory to pioneering field work in the mountains, deep sea and tropics.
- You will gain invaluable experience from attending at least one of our highly-rated residential field courses in the Cairngorms, Shetland, Spain or at one of our own facilities, namely The Lighthouse (Sea Mammal Research Centre) on the Black Isle, and the field centre at Bettyhill, on the north coast of Sutherland.
- You will have the opportunity to get involved in our research through summer research assistantships, project work and a compulsory final year research project.
- At our regular careers events you will have the opportunity to listen to and meet prospective employers from outside the University, giving you excellent opportunities to get a fulfilling and challenging job in a biological field.
Entry Requirements
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
General Entry Requirements
- 2020 Entry
-
SQA Highers
Standard: AABB*
Applicants who have achieved AABB (or better), are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/ Advanced Highers may be required.
Minimum: BBB*
Applicants who have achieved BBB (or are on course to achieve this by the end of S5) are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will normally be required.
Adjusted: BB*
Applicants who have achieved BB, and who meet one of the widening participation criteria are encouraged to apply and will be considered. Good performance in additional Highers/Advanced Highers will be required.
* Including good performance in at least two Mathematics/ Science subjects by the end of your senior phase of education.
More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.
A LEVELS
Standard: BBB*
Minimum: BBC*
Adjusted: CCC*
* Including good performance in at least two Mathematics/ Science subjects by the end of your senior phase of education.
More information on our definition of Standard, Minimum and Adjusted entry qualifications.
International Baccalaureate
32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL*.
* Including good performance in at least two Mathematics/ Science subjects by the end of your senior phase of education.
Irish Leaving Certificate
5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3 OR AAABB*, obtained in a single sitting. (B must be at B2 or above)
* Including good performance in at least two Mathematics/ Science subjects by the end of your senior phase of education.
Entry from College
Advanced entry to this degree may be possible from some HNC/HND qualifications, please see www.abdn.ac.uk/study/articulation for more details.
The information displayed in this section shows a shortened summary of our entry requirements. For more information, or for full entry requirements for Sciences degrees, see our detailed entry requirements section.
English Language Requirements
To study for an Undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.0 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 78 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 54 with: Listening - 51; Reading - 51; Speaking - 51; Writing - 54
Cambridge English Advanced & Proficiency:
OVERALL - 169 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
International Applicants
Fees and Funding
You will be classified as one of the fee categories below.
Fee Waiver
Most RUK students (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) on a four year honours degree will be eligible for a full-fees waiver in their final year. Scholarships and other sources of funding are also available.
| Fee category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Home / EU | £1,820 |
| All Students | |
| RUK | £9,250 |
| Students Admitted in 2020/21 | |
| International Students | £19,700 |
| Students Admitted in 2020/21 |
International non-EU Applicants
Further Information about tuition fees and the cost of living in Aberdeen
Additional Fees
- In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
- For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our InfoHub Tuition Fees page.
Our Funding Database
View all funding options in our Funding Database.
Careers
Graduates find full-time employment in a wide range of careers. Typical employers include universities, research institutes, government agencies (eg SEPA, SNH), environmental consultancies, charities (including WWF and RSPB), the NHS, libraries and commercial enterprises in aquaculture, animal nutrition, and animal health.
One of the great advantages of having a biology degree from the University of Aberdeen is that it provides you with a very broad range of skills to offer employers. Not only do we train students in scientific methodology in the laboratory and in the field, we incorporate what we call 'graduate attributes' into the whole curriculum. Employers now expect an impressive list of skills, knowledge and experience in their graduate recruits and we aim to help you acquire these.
Recent graduate employers include:
- Environmental Consultancy
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Natural England
- National Trust for Scotland
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
- Science Communication (eg Scubazoo)
- Scottish Natural Heritage
- Scottish Seabird Centre
Industry Links
We have strong local, national and international links to industry, government bodies, charities and other research institutions. You will benefit from these links in several ways:
- Exposure to policy-makers, practitioners, regulatory professionals and experts.
- Our curriculum is informed by an employer advisory board that provides insight into changing requirements of employers.
- You can take advantage of our collaborators' facilities and expertise for your research projects or placement.
Our Experts
- Other Experts
- Dr John Baird
- Professor Sam Martin
- Professor David Burslem
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. Staff changes will occur from time to time; please see our InfoHub pages for further information.
Facilities
Teaching laboratories
Students in all degree programmes carry out practical experiments in our recently redesigned teaching laboratories.
Research facilities
Our research facilities on campus include animal holding facilities, greenhouses, fresh and salt-water aquaria, an insectarium, molecular and analytical laboratories, and a state of the art genomics lab.
Field Centres
We have three field centres in Scotland that support our marine, ecology and conservation work. You have the opportunity to spend time at each of these during residential field courses
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions Service
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX