BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Current students

Undergraduate study

Exciting opportunities

Teaching is led by world-leading researchers, whose knowledge you will share and whose work you could contribute to

Why choose Bristol?

"I most enjoyed being around experts in their field, passionate about what they are doing - you learn a lot from them."
Nicola, Final Year (BSc Biology)

Teaching

Our research-led teaching is rated ‘excellent’ by HEFCE. Field courses, lab workshops and research projects are particular highlights

Student feedback

We received a 98 per cent satisfaction rating in the 2011 National Student Survey, reflecting our commitment to achieve high educational standards

Source: Unistats

Our degree courses

Field classes, practicals, laboratory work and tutorials are part of the innovative and stimulating experience we aim to create for all our students. Our courses provide the ideal training for any future, whether in research, industry, the media or further education.

BSc Biology (UCAS code C100)

This programme offers the opportunity to study a wide range of organisms and to appreciate the interdependence of plants and animals and their common processes. It is especially relevant for students interested in ecology, environmental studies and applied aspects of biology. Our biology students learn to apply biological, physico-chemical, molecular, mathematical and statistical techniques to solve a variety of problems.

BSc Biology

Programme and unit information

BSc Zoology (UCAS code C300)

Zoology provides an exciting challenge: its breadth has a three-fold origin. Animals are diverse, they are complex, and their study involves the application of all major sciences and the most modern technologies. We cater for those interested in whole animal biology, for those interested in how animals function and for those hoping for careers in applied zoology. Thus behaviour and behavioural ecology form an important part of the programme, and link with work on nervous and sensory systems, reproduction and locomotion. Applied topics include parasitology, economically important insects, conservation, and aquatic environments.

BSc Zoology

Programme and unit information

BSc Geology and Biology (UCAS code FC61)

This three-year programme studies the evolution of life through the combined study of geology and biology. In the first year you study one unit in geology and two units in biology. In the two subsequent years you take some core units in both disciplines which are particularly relevant to your area of study, and have a wide choice of additional options both biological and palaeontological, from how the biosphere evolved to insect biology, micropalaeontology and on the large scale, biomechanics and vertebrate evolution.

BSc Geology and Biology

Programme and unit information

MSci Palaeontology and Evolution (UCAS code CF16)

This course studies the evolution of life through the combined study of geology and biology. A third of the first year is spent studying geology, and two thirds studying biology. After the first year, you take some core units in both disciplines which are particularly relevant to your area of study, but have a much wider choice of options, geological and biological to choose from.

MSci Palaeontology and Evolution

Programme and unit information

Did you know?

The flexibility of our degree programme gives you the option of changing between Biology and Zoology programmes once you arrive.

Applying to Bristol

Detail shot of the HH Wills Physics Building

Careers

Using a microscope

A quarter of our graduates go on to do postgraduate work for doctorates, while a further quarter or more enter a profession related to biology, either directly or after a short period of further training.

Read more

Nigel Franks

Watch a lecture