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Biology with Science & Society

Entry requirements


A level

A,A,A-A,A,B

We require grades AAA-AAB, including two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics (the Core Sciences ). You must have a minimum of grades AA in at least two Core Sciences. Applicants predicted/who have achieved a B in their third A level will receive an offer of AAB, while those predicted/who have achieved an A or A* will be eligible for an offer of AAA. If you are taking only one of the above Core Science subjects, we can consider you for an AAA offer if you are also sitting an A level in at least one of Geography, Psychology, Environmental Studies or Physical Education in place of the second Core Science. If your predicted grades are one grade below our minimum entry requirements we may still make you an aspirational offer if you meet our contextual criteria . Subjects with overlapping content are not normally considered as separate A-levels. For example, Further Mathematics is not considered alongside Mathematics and Human Biology is not considered alongside Biology. If you are concerned there is too much overlap in your A level subjects, please contact us for advice before applying. We believe that practical skills in the sciences are integral to a candidate s understanding and appreciation of these subjects. Therefore we encourage all applicants to undertake any practical skills assessment if it is available in their qualification. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offers you will receive. Typical Contextual Offer: AAB-ABB (including specific subjects). Typical WP++ Contextual offer: ABB-ABC (including specific subjects).

AS level results are not considered as part of the standard admissions process at The University of Manchester.

Each application is considered individually. Applicants should contact the Admissions Office to discuss their particular circumstances. In general, we require 60 credits overall with 45 graded credits at Level 3, which must include a minimum of 15 credits in Biology and 15 credits in Chemistry. All 45 graded credits must be at Distinction grade. We may also consider applications from applicants whose course has allowed only 12 credits at Level 3 in Biology, with the remaining three credits at Level 3 with Distinction in Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

D3,D3,D3-D3,D3,M1

We consider applicants offering Pre-U Principal Subjects, or a mix of Pre-U and A-level subjects, provided a minimum of three distinct subjects overall is taken. We require D3, D3, D3 to D3, D3, M1 in the Cambridge Pre-U, including two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics (the Core Sciences). You must have a D3 in both of the Core Science subjects. Applicants predicted/who have achieved a M1 in their third subject will receive an offer of D3, D3, M1, while those predicted/who have achieved a D3 or higher will be eligible for an offer of D3, D3, D3. If you have achieved or are predicted D3 in one of Geography, Psychology, Environmental Studies or Physical Education in place of one of the Core Sciences, you will receive an offer of D3, D3, D3. The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Cambridge Pre-U Global Perspectives and Research (GPR) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. However, the qualification will not form part of your offer conditions. For further details, please contact [email protected]

The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. Although the Extended Project will not be included in the conditions of your offer, we strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview (if applicable). A number of our academic Schools may also choose to take your performance in the EPQ into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 4 or C in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language. Please note that if you hold English as a Second Language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact [email protected] for clarification.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

35-36

35-36 points overall with 6, 6, 5 to 6, 6, 6 at Higher Level including two science subjects, normally Biology and Chemistry.

We consider all the Cambridge Level 3 Technicals (except the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate) with grade D or above for entry when it is taken with two science A-levels (minimum AA required).

We consider all the Cambridge Level 3 Technicals (except the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate) with grade D or above for entry when it is taken with two science A-levels (minimum AA required).

We consider all the Cambridge Level 3 Technicals (except the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate) with grade D or above for entry when it is taken with two science A-levels (minimum AA required).

We consider all the Cambridge Level 3 Technicals (except the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate) with grade D or above for entry when it is taken with two science A-levels (minimum AA required).

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

DD

We consider the National Diploma in Applied Science with grades DD for entry when it is taken with two A-levels including grade A in a science subject and a minimum of grade A in any other subject.

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

D

We consider the National Extended Certificate in any subject with grade D for entry when it is taken with two science A-levels (minimum AA required).

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

DDD

We consider the National Extended Diploma in Applied Science with grades DDD for entry when it is taken with one science A-level with grade A.

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

D

We consider the National Foundation Diploma in any subject with grade D for entry when it is taken with two science A-levels (minimum AA required).

Scottish Advanced Highers are normally required in one of the following combinations: Three Advanced Highers with grades AAA-BBB including two science subjects, normally Biology and Chemistry or Two Advanced Highers with grades AA-BB in two science subjects, normally Biology and Chemistry, plus two additional Highers with grades AA-BB. Students with Highers only with grades AAAAA-AABBB may be considered for the Foundation Year. English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C/Intermediate 2 grade C/Standard Grade Credit level grade 3). If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact [email protected]

Scottish Advanced Highers are normally required in one of the following combinations: Three Advanced Highers with grades AAA-BBB including two science subjects, normally Biology and Chemistry or Two Advanced Highers with grades AA-BB in two science subjects, normally Biology and Chemistry, plus two additional Highers with grades AA-BB. Students with Highers only with grades AAAAA-AABBB may be considered for the Foundation Year. English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C/Intermediate 2 grade C/Standard Grade Credit level grade 3). If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact [email protected]

We consider the following T levels for the Foundation Year: - Level 3 T Level Technical Qualification in Science (Delivered By NCFE) - Level 3 T Level Technical Qualification in Healthcare Science (Delivered By NCFE) - Level 3 T Level Technical Qualification in Health (Delivered By NCFE) For the Foundation Year, we require Distinction overall in one of these T levels with a minimum of grade A in the core component and Distinction in the occupational specialism.

The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma/Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and would consider this when taken with two science A-levels (minimum grades of AA required). If you are taking two core science subjects, the minimum grade required will be A or B (depending on your predicted grade), or grade A if you are taking one core science and one soft science. For further details, please contact [email protected].

UCAS Tariff

136-144

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About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Biology

Our BSc Biology with Science and Society course will give you the opportunity to study both the biological sciences and their contemporary social context, combining science, the humanities and social sciences in a single course.

You will explore the changing social, ethical and political dimension of the biological sciences while also developing research, writing and communication skills.

You will learn from staff at our world-renowned Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine , whose specialisms range from the critical history and social implications of genetics to evolutionary theory, biomedical sciences and modern medical practice.

The course features science media projects where you produce a portfolio of communication materials that could include a scientific article or a podcast. There are also science communication placements through our industrial/professional experience option , where you could spend a year working in an organisation that communicates science, such as a medical writing company or a museum.

These and other elements of our course will help you to graduate with the skills and knowledge you need for non-laboratory-based science careers such as management, museum work, science communication or science policy work.

Tuition fees

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

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

The Uni


Course location:

University of Manchester

Department:

Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

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.

68%
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

83%
Staff make the subject interesting
85%
Staff are good at explaining things
87%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
60%
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

58%
Library resources
85%
IT resources
75%
Course specific equipment and facilities
52%
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?

85%
UK students
15%
International students
34%
Male students
66%
Female students
90%
2:1 or above
6%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

A
A
A

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.

£19,000
med
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education
43%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

16%
Science, engineering and production technicians
9%
Natural and social science professionals
7%
Sales, marketing 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.

£22k

£22k

£28k

£28k

£34k

£34k

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 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?

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