Biology
University of Nottingham
UCAS Code: C101 | Master of Science (with Honours) - Msci (Hon)
University of Nottingham
UCAS Code: C101 | Master of Science (with Honours) - Msci (Hon)
Entry requirements
A level
Biology and a second science at A level. A pass is required in science practical tests, if assessed separately. Suitable second science subjects include: maths, further maths, chemistry, physics, geology, applied science, environmental science/studies, AQA use of maths, statistics, geography, psychology.
Access to HE Diploma
30 Level 3 credits at distinction of which 15 are in biology and 15 in a second science.
Extended Project
If you have already achieved your EPQ at grade A you will automatically be offered one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject. If you are still studying for your EPQ you will receive the standard course offer, and also an alternate offer with a condition of one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject if you achieve an A grade in your EPQ. If you qualify for a contextual offer, your EPQ will be taken into consideration and the appropriate adjustment will be made to your offer. Please note that if you qualify for an enhanced contextual offer, your EPQ will not be taken into consideration as we are unable to make any further adjustments to your offer.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English language or Literature and maths at grade 4 or above also required.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
6,6,5 at Higher level to include biology and another science subject at Higher Level. Suitable second science subjects include: maths, further maths, chemistry, physics, geology, applied science, environmental science/studies, AQA use of maths, statistics, geography, psychology.
Applications are assessed on an individual basis
Applications are assessed on an individual basis
Applications are assessed on an individual basis
Scottish Advanced Higher
including Biology and a second science subject. Suitable second science subjects include: maths, further maths, chemistry, physics, geology, applied science, environmental science/studies, AQA use of maths, statistics, geography, psychology. Offers made in combination with grades AABBB in the Scottish Highers
Scottish Higher
in combination with grades AA in Scottish Advanced Highers, to include Biology and a second science. Suitable second science subjects include: maths, further maths, chemistry, physics, geology, applied science, environmental science/studies, AQA use of maths, statistics, geography, psychology.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
Acceptable in combination with 2 science A-level qualifications, to include Biology.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Are you ready to join the next generation of biological researchers, tackling challenges such as emerging infectious diseases or the biodiversity crisis?
Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, this integrated master's degree will take you on a journey from learning about the building blocks of life and its incredible diversity in year one, to the cutting edge of biological research in year four.
You will receive training in the key knowledge, practical and transferable skills needed to enter the world of research and development in academia and industry. Be part of a community where scientists develop new drugs, create more productive crops, and devise new conservation strategies.
You will gain experience of laboratory and field work techniques in a wide range of core and optional modules across the first three years. In the fourth year, you will choose from a range of specialist research topics, such as the biology of the malaria parasite, or the effects of neurotoxins in venom.
You will develop a novel research project under the supervision of a leading expert in their field. At the same time, you will receive training in key research skills relevant to your interests, from bioinformatic analysis to manuscript writing and conference presentations.
Modules
There are a range of optional modules to choose from in every year of the course. You'll study these alongside core modules.
In your first year, you'll study the biology of animals, plants and microbes and the biochemical, evolutionary and genetic processes that underlie their biology. The experimental approach forms a key component to the year, with modules teaching practical skills and the principles of experimental design and analysis.
In your second year, a major theme is health and disease in humans, other animals and plants. You'll learn about the genetic and developmental basis of disease, the fundamental biology of pathogens and parasites, and what happens when the nervous system doesn’t work properly.
In your third year you'll work on a year-long research project, alongside studying optional modules. This major practical project that allows you to undertake your own biological investigation. In addition, there are wide-ranging optional modules. The research project is a biological investigation to suit your personal interests and aspirations, taken under the guidance of our expert academics.
If you choose to study the integrated masters (MSci), you’ll complete a year-long research project in your fourth year. This could be lab- or literature-based.
For the most up-to-date module information and full details, please visit the course page on our website.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University Park Campus
School of Biology
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.
£22k
£27k
£32k
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 requirementsSame University
Nearby 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
