Get degree ideas using our A level explorer tool

Biological Sciences (with placement year)

Entry requirements


A level

A,A,B

AAB including Biology and one other science or Maths * Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Geology, Psychology and Environmental Science are all considered sciences for the purposes of admission and although PE is accepted as a third A-level, it is not a science for the purpose of admission

Considered on a case by case basis. Please contact Loughborough University directly.

This qualification is accepted in combination with other qualifications. For details please contact Loughborough University.

We recognise the benefit of the Extended Project in developing independent research and critical thinking skills. We would consider this as evidence of motivation to study a specific subject in more depth, and while we do not generally include it as part of our offer conditions, it may be used to further consider an application upon receipt of final examination results. www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Maths and English Language grade 4/C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

35

35 points with 6 6 5 at HL including HL Biology and one other Science or Maths at HL.

We accept a wide range of international qualifications for entry as outlined on our website – please view the individual course typical offers on our website and choose Ireland in the Country/region drop down field for more information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

D*D

BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science: D*D plus A Level Biology at grade B. Preferred subject: Applied Science.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science: DDD. Preferred subject: Applied Science.

Considered on a case by case basis. Please contact Loughborough University directly.

For 2024 entry, the following T Levels are currently being considered on a case by case basis. More information can be found on our website at https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/

Applicants taking the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma will be asked to achieve the A level requirements for their course as part of their qualification. The Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted alongside two A levels providing individual course entry and subject requirements are met. www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/

UCAS Tariff

136

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

4years

Sandwich | 2024

Subject

Biology

Biological Sciences is an exciting and rapidly developing field, bringing together knowledge, ideas and techniques to allow us to expand our understanding of the human body and its interplay with the environment.

Our BSc Biological Sciences degree is designed to develop your understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying life and health in whole organisms.

During the Biological Sciences course, you will explore topics including genetics and molecular biology, biochemistry and metabolism, cell biology and regenerative medicine, human evolution, anatomy and physiology, growth, development and ageing, as well as research methods.

You will also focus on the development of practical laboratory skills and benefit from teaching in STEMLab, the University's £17 million state-of-the-art facility, as well as other specialist laboratories.

Optional year-long professional placement opportunities are also available to help you develop essential skills and boost your employability, while international placements provide an opportunity to experience another country during your studies.

**What's the difference between MSci and BSc?**
At Loughborough, you can choose to study Biological Sciences as a BSc degree or an MSci.

The BSc Biological Sciences degree will provide a thorough grounding in the discipline, equipping you with the knowledge, practical laboratory experience, and professional and transferable skills to support your career aspirations in biological science, health, or broader graduate destinations.

The MSci is aimed at those who aspire to work in research or posts requiring more experience. The inclusion of a major research project allows you to demonstrate that you are capable of independently tackling a specific research question, demonstrating a range of skills important to employers.

Modules

For a full list of areas studied, see the 'What You'll Study' section of the course page on our website.

Assessment methods

Depending on the nature of the material, modules are assessed by a mixture of coursework and examination.

For example, some modules may be 25% coursework and 75% examination, whilst other modules may be assessed by 100% coursework or 100% examination. Coursework includes laboratory reports, class tests, group work, individual essays, presentations, and projects. You will also have formative assessments to provide you with feedback to help you to evaluate and develop your skills, for instance using online quizzes, electronic voting, or discussion in tutorials.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

England
£9,250
per year
EU
£27,250
per year
International
£27,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Loughborough University

Department:

Biosciences

Read full university profile

What students say


How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Biology (non-specific)

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

93%
UK students
7%
International students
38%
Male students
62%
Female students
90%
2:1 or above
6%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
B
B

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Biology (non-specific)

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£18,500
med
Average annual salary
98%
high
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

22%
Sports and fitness occupations
11%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals
9%
Business, finance and related associate professionals

The recession was tough on biology graduates, and although the jobs market has improved for them - a lot - it's still not back to where it was a few years ago. If you want a career in biology research — and a lot of biology students do - you'll need to take a doctorate, so give some thought as to where you might do it and how you might fund it (the government still funds doctorates for good students). A lot of graduates also take 1 year Masters courses to specialise in this wide and deep subject - most students take a standard biology course for their first degree and then specialise in subjects like ecology, conservation or marine biology later. Hospitals, universities, biotech firms, zoos and nature reserves and clinical and scientific testing are common industries of employment for biology graduates.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Biology (non-specific)

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£19k

£19k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
University of Nottingham | Nottingham
Biology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Sandwich 2024
UCAS Points: 112-147

Share this page

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here