Our three-year BSc Biology course offers you the flexibility to discover what kind of biologist you want to be.

Whether your interests lie in organisms and the environment, biomedicine, or the molecular biosciences, or span all three, from your first year you’ll have the freedom to choose the topics you want to study across the breadth of biology, including:
? biochemistry
? microbiology
? genetics
? molecular and cell biology
? physiology and pharmacology
? neuroscience
? pathobiology
? evolution
? zoology
? animal behaviour
? plant science
? ecology and conservation
? global change and sustainability

You’ll learn about these subjects in lectures, practicals, workshops and field trips to zoos, aquaria and wildlife reserves.

As you progress through your degree you'll explore your chosen topics in greater depth, specialising in one area or keeping a broad overview across the biosciences. You’ll learn the core practical laboratory skills that are used across biology including microscopy, cell culturing and DNA preparation so no matter what modules you choose to study, you’ll be ready to address your own research questions. You’ll also learn problem solving, communication skills, critical evaluation and data analysis, key transferable skills that make biology graduates very attractive to employers.

We’ll give you plenty of opportunities to apply your new skills and knowledge too. You’ll have the chance to carry out your own research projects in the lab, using the latest cutting-edge equipment to analyse stem cells, sequence DNA and study proteins and enzymes. You might choose to do field research projects in the Peak District National Park, or to embark on a once in a lifetime ecology field course in the UK or abroad. Or you can make the most of our links with the NHS, completing research in conjunction with the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. You can even choose to combine these areas.

Biology at Sheffield is all about enabling you to study what you’re passionate about. From genes and molecules, to organ systems and behaviour, biodiversity and ecosystems, and everything in between, your personal tutor will support you to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals.

Whether you want to pursue a career in science, apply your skills in industry, or continue your studies, Sheffield biosciences graduates are highly sought after due to their specialist laboratory and field skills, ability to solve problems, handle and analyse data, and effectively communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences.

Our students secure roles with leading scientific organisations like GSK, AstraZeneca, Cancer Research, the Environment Agency, Wildlife Trusts, and the Natural History Museum. Transferable skills are embedded and developed throughout our degrees, which means year on year many of our graduates join top 100 employers like the BBC, Deloitte, the Civil Service, and the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme. You can also apply your degree to other varied careers including bioinformatics, marketing and science communication, teaching and science policy. Some students go on to further study.

If you want to gain work experience as a recognised part of your degree, we have a Biology with Placement Year degree at both BSc and MBiolSci levels. You can test out a career path that you're considering between your second and third year - whether that's in the lab, the field, or applying your scientific knowledge and transferable skills in industry, and earn a salary while you're doing it