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Biology and Sport & Exercise Sciences

Entry requirements


A level

B,C,C-B,B,C

The Department requires one of the following subjects as essential for entry: GCE A Level: Biology, Applied Science

Access to HE (Science) Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at Merit

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

26

including 5 in HL Biology

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H3,H3,H3,H3,H4

including H3 in Biology

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

DMM

BTEC Extended Diploma (Applied Science): DMM

Scottish Higher

B,B,B,B

including Biology

T Level

M

T Level must be in Science

UCAS Tariff

112

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subjects

Biology

Sport and exercise sciences

A Combined Honours degree at Chester gives you the opportunity to study two subjects. You will spend a fairly even amount of time studying each subject area, with possible opportunities to declare a major – minor towards the end of your studies.

**Biology**
Gain practical experience in areas at the forefront of knowledge on this dynamic Biology degree.

Our Biology course offers a range of subjects and unique experiences due to links with Chester Zoo and other leading institutes, industries and charities. We supplement classroom learning with opportunities for work placements or fieldwork, and there are also opportunities to take part in exciting laboratory-based research.

This course introduces a variety of topics across the whole field of modern biology and emphasises that it is a science firmly grounded in observation and experimentation. We will encourage you to become a member of relevant, professional societies, such as a member of the Royal Society of Biology, and participate at organised events.

We undertake diverse research activities that ensure enthusiastic delivery of contemporary content. These include countering the illegal trade in endangered species using DNA-based techniques; improved understanding of disease processes; cancer biology; microbiology; animal behaviour; and conservation biology.

**Sport and Exercise Sciences**
Discover the science behind producing elite sporting performances and physical activity for health promotion through an applied and vocational approach.

In recent years, the sports, recreation and leisure industries have shown continued growth. International success and the growing health agenda has ensured that investment and interest in sport and exercise in the UK continues to increase substantially.

Therefore, the course is designed with two core principles in mind. Firstly, the development of knowledge, applied skills and analytical techniques in the conventional subdisciplines of sport and exercise sciences. Secondly, the orientation of studies around vocational opportunities and practices, including PE, sports management, development, coaching, health promotion, leisure and recreation, as well as sport science support and sport and exercise sciences generally.

The practical and applied nature of the course is a major feature. We have a wide range of facilities including Performance Analysis, Muscle Function and Sports Biomechanics laboratories. Exton Park also boasts a gym, swimming pool, floodlit 3G MUGA pitch, sprint track, floodlit tennis courts and more.
The Department prides itself on its approachable staff and varied teaching strategies, which external examiners and current students praise highly.

Modules

For the latest example of curriculum availability on this degree programme please refer to the University of Chester's Website.

Assessment methods

For Biology, assessment consists of coursework and end-of-module examinations (typically 50:50 in a module). Coursework can include practical reports, fieldwork, extended essays, presentations, posters or seminars. For Sport and Exercise Science, we use a wide portfolio of assessment methods, including examinations, essays, tests, presentations and laboratory practicals. These are designed to assess both academic knowledge and prepare students for specific, relevant vocations.

Tuition fees

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

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£9,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Chester

Department:

Biological Sciences

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

62%
Biology

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

90%
Staff make the subject interesting
81%
Staff are good at explaining things
90%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
71%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

67%
Library resources
95%
IT resources
71%
Course specific equipment and facilities
71%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

93%
UK students
7%
International students
37%
Male students
63%
Female students
88%
2:1 or above
7%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
E
B

Sport and exercise sciences

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?

91%
UK students
9%
International students
62%
Male students
38%
Female students
45%
2:1 or above
13%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
E

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.

£18,320
med
Average annual salary
100%
high
Employed or in further education
46%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

27%
Science, engineering and production technicians
16%
Natural and social science professionals
14%
Other elementary services occupations

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.

Sport and exercise sciences

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.

£17,310
med
Average annual salary
99%
med
Employed or in further education
40%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

33%
Sports and fitness occupations
10%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
7%
Natural and social science professionals

One of the fastest growing subjects in the country, the number of sports science graduates went from under 3,000 in 2003 to over 10,000 in 2013. Numbers have fallen slightly since 2015, but we still have over 9,000 graduates in the subject. However, the good news is the country's appetite for good health and fitness - and the adaptability of graduates in the subject - means that sports science grads are less likely than average to be out of work. Sports science graduates, not surprisingly, tend to get jobs in sport, fitness and health - coaching and teaching especially - but they're found all over the economy. Management and business are also popular options for graduates from this subject — and sports science graduates are particularly found where drive, determination and physical fitness are an advantage.

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

£21k

£21k

£27k

£27k

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.

Sport and exercise sciences

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

£17k

£17k

£21k

£21k

£26k

£26k

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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