Semesters 1-4 cover a range of core modules – including Cell Biology Ecology Genetics and Evolution Biodiversity and Practical Skills – plus additional modules in other disciplines.

Semesters 5-6 cover three core advanced modules - Animal Physiology Behavioural Ecology and The Animal Cell – plus three optional modules.

In Semesters 7-8 you’ll work on an independent research project and take several advanced modules. Your options for these will include the field courses in southern Europe as well as Immunology and Disease; The Evolution of Sex; Conservation Biology; Cell Birth Life and Death Geomatics and Advanced Statistics.

Research projects reflect the active interests of academic staff. These include:

Assessing the impact of bumblebee parasites on their host populations.
Reconstructing growth trajectories for wild scandinavian populations of the invasive Pacific oyster.
Sexually transmitted disease and ladybird immune competence.
Sexual selection sexual conflict and mate choice in seaweed flies.
Do agri-environment schemes provide any benefits to foraging bats?
Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the current academic year (September 2022). Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.

Year 1 Semester 1
Compulsory module

Module Credits
Ecology: An Introduction (BIOU1IE) 20 credits
prior to 2021 2 BIOU1EC was taken instead

Compulsory module

Module Credits
Introduction to Cell Biology (BIOU1CE) 20 credits
Prior to 2021 2 BIOU1CB was taken instead prior to 2020 1 SCIU1LS was taken in year 1

Option module

Select 20 credits from any semester 1 (exc BIOU1CE) list

Module Credits
Accounting and Finance for Managers (ACCU7M1) 20 credits
Our Blue Planet (AQUU1OP) 20 credits
Ecology: An Introduction (BIOU1IE) 20 credits
Introduction to Computing Science (CSCU9P1) 20 credits
View all 28 choices

Year 1 Semester 2
Compulsory module

Module Credits
Introduction to Physiology (BIOU2PH) 20 credits
Prior to 2021 2 BIOU2IP was taken instead.

Compulsory module

Module Credits
Practical Science Skills II: Field Skills (SCIU2PS) 20 credits
prior to 2021 2 SCIU2FS was taken instead

Option module

Select 20 credits from list

Module Credits
Introduction to Management Accounting (ACCU9A2) 20 credits
Our Thirsty Planet: Man and the Aquatic Environment (AQUU2TP) 20 credits
Introduction to Physiology (BIOU2PH) 20 credits
Programming and User Interface Design (CSCU9P2) 20 credits
View all 28 choices

Year 2 Semester 1
Compulsory module

Module Credits
Evolution and Genetics (BIOU3GE) 20 credits
prior to 2021 2 BIOU3EG was taken instead

Compulsory module

Module Credits
Practical Science Skills I: Laboratory Skills (SCIU3LS) 20 credits
prior to 2021 2 BIOU1CB was taken in year 2

Compulsory module

Module Credits
Biology Field Course (SCIU3FB) 20 credits
Year 2 Semester 2
Compulsory module

Module Credits
Biodiversity (BIOU4BD) 20 credits
Compulsory module

Module Credits
Statistical Techniques (SCIU4T4) 20 credits
Option module

Select 20 credits from list

Module Credits
Introduction to Management Accounting (ACCU9A2) 20 credits
External Reporting (ACCU9A4) 20 credits
Our Thirsty Planet: Man and the Aquatic Environment (AQUU2TP) 20 credits
Science of Diving (AQUU4DS) 20 credits
View all 64 choices

Year 3 Semester 1
Compulsory module

Module Credits
Animal Physiology (BIOU9AP) 20 credits
Option module

Select 40 credits from Biology Options list

Module Credits
Microbiology (BIOU5MB) 20 credits
Population and Community Ecology (BIOU9PC) 20 credits
Environmental Policy and Management (ENVU5EP) 20 credits
Habitat Management and Restoration (ENVU9MR) 20 credits
View all 5 choices

Year 3 Semester 2
Compulsory module

Module Credits
The Animal Cell (BIOU6AC) 20 credits
Compulsory module

Module Credits
Behavioural Ecology (BIOU6BE) 20 credits
Option module

Select 20 credits from Biology option list

Module Credits
Changing Oceans (AQUU6MB) 20 credits
Plant Ecology (BIOU6PE) 20 credits
Infectious Disease (BIOU9IN) 20 credits
Year 4 Semester 1
Dissertation

Module Credits
Biology Project (BIOU9PR) 60 credits
Continued in semester 8.

Option module

Select 30 to 50 credits from semester 7 Animal Biology list

Module Credits
Conservation Biology (BIOU7CB) 10 credits
Biological Control Mechanisms (BIOU7CM) 20 credits
Biology Field Course (BIOU7FC) 20 credits
Phylogenetics Bioinformatics and Omics (BIOU7SB) 20 credits
View all 11 choices

Students must select 60 credits of options across autumn and spring semesters and cannot choose to do more than one module from the following list BIOU7FC BIOU8FC and BIOU8GA as they are mutually exclusive.

Year 4 Semester 2
Option module

Select 10 to 30 credits from semester 8 Animal Biology list

Module Credits
Changing Oceans (AQUU6MB) 20 credits
Plant Ecology (BIOU6PE) 20 credits
Biology Field Course (BIOU8FC) 20 credits
Infectious Disease (BIOU9IN) 20 credits

You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it