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All Biological Sciences Degrees
First Year
Six variations of the degrees in Biological Sciences are offered but all students take the same modules that provide a common first year covering the breadth of modern biology, from molecules to populations.
Module Topics
The first year develops your understanding of information transfer in biological systems, macromolecular structures, enzyme kinetics, membrane structure and function and metabolic pathways.
You will be introduced to the cell and developmental biology of plants and animals and their vast diversity, from both evolutionary and environmental perspectives.
You will study the basic concepts of genetics and genetic analysis using both traditional and molecular approaches, so that you will be able to describe the effects of mutations and explain how they arise.
Physiological processes in whole tissues and body systems, such as the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, are investigated.
You will also explore the diversity of plants and animals and the links between environmental and evolutionary biology and how these relate to animal behaviour. There will be an introduction to the structure and function of microorganisms and consideration of their impact on the biosphere.
Key Skills
Modules will also be taken in IT and Numeracy Skills, Study and Communication Skills and Chemistry, which provide an essential basis for second and third year modules, and will help you to develop your key skills.
Teaching
Throughout the first year, you will gain practical experience in the laboratory classes associated with each module and have the opportunity to discuss topics in the tutorials that form an integral part of the learning process.
Second Year
Third Year
To be awarded your chosen Biological Sciences degree you must take the following qualifying modules:
BSc Biological Sciences
Any combination of modules is acceptable, subject to the constraints of timetabling and prerequisites.
BSc Biological Sciences (Physiology with Pharmacology)
To qualify you must take three of the following five third year modules: Brain and Behaviour, Molechular and Cellular Pharmacology, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Cellular Physiology of the Cardiovascular System and Comparative Neurobiology.
BSc Biological Sciences (Biochemistry)
To qualify you must take two of the three following modules: Protein Complexes: from Cells to Molecules, Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology and Gene Expression: Molecular Basis and Medical Relevance.
BSc Biological Sciences (Genetics)
To qualify you must take 60 credits from the following modules: Human Genetics, Evoluntionary Genetics, Mutagenesis, Genomics: A Microbial Perspective and Genes and Development.
BSc Biological Sciences (Microbiology)
To qualify you must take three of the five following modules: Genomics: A Microbial Perspective, Infection and Immunity, Environmental Microbiology, Microbial Biotechnology and Virology.
BSc Biological Sciences (Zoology)
To qualify you must take 60 credits from the following modules: Comparative Neurobiology, Genes and Development, Molecular Ecology, Social Evolution, Behavioural Ecology in Nature, Oceanic Biology - from plankton to whales, Ecology for sustainability, Current Research topics in Animal Behaviour.
