University of Nottingham
UCAS Code: C204 | Master of Science (with Honours) - Msci (Hon)
Entry requirements
A level
ABB including Biology, or BBB including Biology plus an A in the EPQ or Level 3 Core Maths. General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies, Leisure Studies and Science and Society are not accepted
AQA Certificate in Mathematical Studies (Core Maths)
This qualification is considered alongside 3 A-levels (or equivalent). Level 3 Core Maths qualifications from other awarding bodies are also acceptable: - Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Certificate in Mathematics in Context - OCR Level 3 Certificate in Core Maths A (MEI) - OCR Level 3 Certificate in Core Maths B (MEI)
Access to HE Diploma
This qualification will be considered where appropriate biology content is being studied. The requirement is 60 credits- overall with 45 graded credits at Level 3. 24 credits must be achieved at Distinction plus 21 graded Level 3 credits at Merit, including 15 credits from biology units.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
To include Biology.
Extended Project
Considered alongside 3 A Levels or equivalent including Biology.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English and Maths grade C/4.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
including Higher Level Biology grade 5. Alternatively, 655 in 3 Higher Level Certificates including Higher Level Biology.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
This qualification will be considered alongside A Level grade B. Applications are considered on an individual basis to ensure sufficient biology has been studied. The required A Levels for mixed BTEC and A Level grade profiles depends on the science content studied in the BTEC.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
This qualification will be considered alongside A Level grades B,B. Applications are considered on an individual basis to ensure sufficient biology has been studied. The required A Levels for mixed BTEC and A Level grade profiles depends on the science content studied in the BTEC.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Applications are considered on an individual basis to ensure sufficient biology has been studied.
Scottish Advanced Higher
To include Biology. This qualification is only accepted in combination with five Scottish Highers at grades ABBBB.
Scottish Higher
This qualification is only accepted in combination with two Scottish Advanced Highers at grades AB including Biology.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
This qualification - or the WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate - is accepted alongside Biology plus one other additional A level or equivalent.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
All the food we eat stems from plants and crops. As the human population grows and our climate changes, we need to improve crop productivity. Plant and crop scientists have a vital role in the future of food.
Our integrated masters degree provides an additional year of study to gain valuable research and project management skills.
You'll investigate and experiment with plant growth. You'll understand how plants develop, reproduce and how they evolve to respond to their environment.
Benefit from our international reputation for research in plant science. You'll be taught by experts across different aspects of plant science.
Explore many exciting aspects of modern plant biology, including:
- cell and molecular biology
- genetic engineering
- plant-pathogen interactions
- environmental physiology
- ecology
You'll apply plant biology to uses in the agricultural, horticultural, biotechnology and food industries.
Modules
You will learn how mutant plants can be used to improve crop yield. You'll hear about the latest research from different professors. You'll find out how this research is helping us to understand plant function. Alongside lectures, you'll have practical sessions in our Super Lab and visit farms. Core modules in your first year will help build your foundation science. You'll also study ecology, molecular biology and genetics.
In the second year and third years, you have more optional modules. You can choose to study plant evolution and ecology in The Green Planet module. You can work as a team in the Enterprise Management Challenge module. You'll grow your own crop on the University Farm, make key decisions and measure the result.
Your third year research project enables you to use your skills to work on a piece of original research. You will design the study, collect and analyse data and prepare a report. You will be supervised by an individual member of academic staff.
This additional fourth year enables you to graduate with an integrated masters level qualification. You'll carry out an independent piece of research, and have modules to support this. You'll develop further skills in the co-ordination and communication of research projects.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University Park Campus
School of Biosciences
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.
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.
Plant sciences
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.
Plant 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.
Top job areas of graduates
Only a handful of students take botany for a first degree - the subject is mostly studied at Masters or by doctorate-level graduates, usually after a biology degree. Last year's botany graduates were most likely to be working six month after graduation, but it might be a good idea to go on open days and talk to tutors about what previous graduates from your chosen subject went on to do, or to have a look on their website.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Plant 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.
£21k
£25k
£30k
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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Teaching Excellence Framework (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?
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