Biological Sciences with Professional Experience
University of Reading
UCAS Code: C101 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
University of Reading
UCAS Code: C101 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
ABB with B in Biology. Or BBB with B in Biology and a second science. Acceptable second science subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Science/Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Computer Science.
Access to HE Diploma
including relevant science units.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
D3 M2 M2 including M2 in Biology. Or M2 M2 M2 including M2 in Biology and a second science subject. Acceptable second science subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Science/Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Computer Science.
Extended Project
In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification provides to students for University study, we now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer. Eligible applicants would receive two offers, our usual offer plus an alternative offer of a B in the EPQ and one grade lower in their A level subjects
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE Maths C (or 4), English Language or English Literature C (or 4).
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
32 points including 5 in Biology at higher level. Or 30 points including 5 in Biology and a second science subject, both at higher level. Acceptable second science subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Science/Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Computer Science.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
including relevant science modules.
Scottish Higher
A,A,B,B,B-A,B,B,B,B
AABBB including B in Biology. Or ABBBB including B in Biology and a second science subject. Acceptable second science subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Science/Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Computer Science.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Our BSc Biological Sciences with Professional Experience course enables you to develop your knowledge of biology around your specific interests, whilst gaining valuable industry experience. This four-year course includes a professional placement year, which takes place between your second and third year of study.
The majority of modules in our biological sciences course are optional, giving you the opportunity to cover a broad range of topics or specialise in a particular area such as ecology and wildlife or human biology. Within environmental biology, you'll develop an understanding of ecology, conservation biology and humankind's impact on biodiversity. Within biomedical subjects, you can focus on topics such as human physiology and the basis of disease. During your final year, you'll have the chance to spend 11 weeks working on an original research project using our cutting edge facilities and equipment.
The course has a strong practical element, providing you with valuable experience of laboratory work and an opportunity to learn key molecular genetic and cell biology techniques.
For more information, please visit our course page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/biological-sciences-ug/bsc-biological-sciences-with-professional-experience
Modules
The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2025/26. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change. Please check our website for more details about the course structure.
Sample modules for this course include:
- Cellular and Molecular Principles of Life
- Fundamentals of Microbiology
- History of Life on Earth
- Marine Biology and Conservation
- Venoms and Poisons: From Pharmacology to Therapeutics
- Evolution in Health and Disease.
The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available in the summer of 2024. We suggest that you regularly revisit our course page during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
University of Reading
School of Biological Sciences
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.
Biosciences (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.
Biosciences (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
These stats refer to the prospects of graduates from general courses in biosciences. About a quarter go into further study and for those who go into work, bioscience, teaching and finance jobs are the most common types of employment. But you can go into most careers with this kind of degree — the majority of jobs for graduates don’t ask for a particular degree subject - and you will acquire a wide range of skills valued by many employers. If you want to find out more specifically about the prospects for your chosen subject, 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.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Biosciences (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.
£21k
£24k
£28k
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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