Biological Sciences
University of Brighton
UCAS Code: C100 | Master of Science (with Honours) - Msci (Hon)
University of Brighton
UCAS Code: C100 | Master of Science (with Honours) - Msci (Hon)
Entry requirements
A level
Must include A-level Biology.
Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Must include 24 credits at distinction in biology and chemistry. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 30 credits at distinction.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
At least three GCSE subjects at grade C or grade 4 including Maths, English Language and a Science.
May enable you to start the course in year two.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Must include three subjects at Higher Level, two to be Biology and another science at grade 5.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
To include specified subjects.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Plus A-level Biology at grade B.
UCAS Tariff
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**Biological scientists play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of life forms and processes, leading to life changing innovations in areas such as medicine, agriculture and environmental conservation.**
Our Biological Sciences MSci includes an extra year of in-depth study at masters level, so you can develop advanced research skills and specialise in the areas you are most interested in.
You’ll explore biological systems at molecular, cell, tissue and whole organism levels. Through practical, research-driven teaching, you will learn to apply scientific knowledge and investigative skills to help find solutions to environmental and societal issues.
This course offers a guaranteed interview scheme with the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) for students wishing to pursue a degree in medicine. See the careers section for more information about entry and eligibility criteria.
**Top reasons to choose this course**
- Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology
- Guaranteed interview scheme with BSMS medical school
- Fieldwork opportunities including optional trips to destinations such as South Africa.
- Specialist facilities such as our Image Analysis Unit and purpose-built ecology, microbiology, molecular biology and tissue culture labs.
- Learn with internationally-recognised researchers who specialise in areas including human physiology, diabetes, genomics, disease processes, and ecology and conservation.
- Guest lectures and optional placement year.
Modules
Year 1
Core modules
Introduction to Biochemistry
Introduction to Human Physiology
Essential Skills for Bioscientists
Fundamentals in Genetics and Evolution
Introduction to Microorganisms and Plants
Options*
Introduction to Ecology and Conservation
Introduction to Marine Biology and Ecology
Fundamentals in Blood Sciences
Year 2
Core modules
Research Skills and Professional Development
Animal Diversity and Adaptations
Options*
Earth Surface Processes
Climate Change
Sustainable Futures
Environmental Pollution
Population Biology for Conservation
Applied Conservation Field Course (UK)
Ecology and Conservation International Field course
Ice Age Earth
GIS and Remote Sensing Principles and Practice
Marine and Freshwater Ecology
Global Challenges: Climate Change and Environmental Degradation
Intermediate Blood Sciences
Infection and Immunity
Clinical Genetics and Molecular Biology
Intermediate Human Physiology
Human Biochemistry, Metabolism and Pharmacology
Year 3
Core modules
Bioscience Research Project
Species Interactions
Innovations in Bioscience Research
Options*:
Ecological Impact Assessment
Independent Study Module
Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing
The Frozen Planet
Political Ecology: Contested Environments
Current Topics in Aquatic Environments
Cellular Pathology
Advanced Diagnostics in Blood Science
Clinical Microbiology and Immunology
Hot Topics in Ecology and Conservation
Final year
Core modules
MSci Research Project
Evaluating Research in Biosciences
Options*
Issues in Ecology and Conservation
Regenerative Medicine and Medical Devices
Ecology and Conservation in Practice (Work Placement)
Applied Nucleic Acid Biochemistry
Clinical Microbiology in the Post-Antimicrobial Era
Bioscience Independent Study
Oxidative Stress and Human Disease
Monitoring Signalling Molecules in Neuroscience
Cancer: Bench to Bedside
Understanding Age-Related CNS Disorders
Controversies in Science
Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
Omics for Diseases: Theory, Practice and Applications
Biological Membranes: Drug Targets and Disease
Applied Protein Biochemistry
Microbiology, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Remediation
Applications in GIS
Astrobiology
Water Quality Assessment and Management
*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
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)
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
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.
Top job areas of graduates
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.
£23k
£24k
£29k
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 requirementsLower entry requirements
Nearby UniversitySame UniversityThis 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
