Biology

This is a Connected Degree

Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

Overview

Discover how biology helps safeguard endangered species and fight disease on this BSc (Hons) Biology degree, accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB).

You'll get the skills you need to turn your curiosity and love of nature into a career that matters.

• Put your knowledge to work in our molecular biology labs, using world-class equipment such as our ancient DNA and gene analysis facilities, fluorescence microscopes and research greenhouse

• Get involved with the European Xenopus Resource Centre, one of the largest frog resource facilities in the world

• Explore the diversity of local ecosystems and go on field trips to destinations such as Dorset, Devon and Mexico

• Have the chance to gain valuable work experience on a one-year placement or to spend a year studying abroad to experience a different culture and enhance your CV

• Be eligible to apply for Associate Membership of the Royal Society of Biology when you graduate, which includes access to exclusive grants and awards

Accredited by:
This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.

Careers and opportunities
As the scientific study of life and living organisms, biology covers a huge variety of sub-disciplines – from ecology to genetics, botany to zoology – and everything in between.

On this BSc (Hons) Biology degree, you’ll start the course with key biological theories, before being able to shape it to your interests and choose from specialist areas like animal science, enzymes, hydrology and environmental microbiology.

You'll develop problem-solving, communication and numeracy skills alongside technical skills, and in your final year, you’ll have the opportunity to investigate a research question for your honours project.

Once you graduate, you’ll have the knowledge and practical skills needed to work in areas including research, biotech, consultancy, teaching and journalism. You could also continue your studies to postgraduate level, such as on our MSc Applied Aquatic Biology.

Graduate roles
Roles our graduates have taken on include:

• microbiologist

• microbiology laboratory technician

• research scientist

• science technician

• medical laboratory assistant

• grant administrator

• medical writer

• biomedical sales specialist

• ecological surveyor

Graduate destinations
They've gone on to work for organisations such as:

• NHS

• Ministry of Defence

• European Xenopus Resource Centre

• MGS Laboratories

Placement year
After your second year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. Placements give you the opportunity to apply what you've learnt so far in a real workplace, boosting your employability and making you attractive to employers after graduation.

You can work for a company or organisation here in the UK or overseas, or you could go independent by setting up and running your own business.

Previous students have completed work placements at organisations including Pfizer and Thermo-Fisher Scientific.

Whichever route you choose, you'll receive support and guidance. Our specialist team of Science and Health Careers advisors can help you with finding a work placement and improving your employability skills. They'll provide you with a database of placement vacancies, support with your job search and support you throughout your placement year.

Study abroad
You'll also have the opportunity to spend a year studying abroad on a conservation or research scheme to experience a different culture and enhance your CV.

Year 1
Core modules in this year include:

• Biodiversity & Evolution (20 credits)
• Ecology, Plants and Human Impact (20 credits)
• Experimental Biology (20 credits)
• Graduate Employability Skills (20 credits)
• Introduction to Cell Biology & Biochemistry (20 credits)
• Microbiology & Molecular Biology (20 credits)

There are no optional modules in this year.

Year 2
Core modules in this year include:

• Genetics (20 credits)
• Research Skills (20 credits)

Optional modules in this year include:

• Animal Adaptations: From Ocean to Land (20 credits)
• Business for Biosciences (20 credits)
• Cell Biology (20 credits)
• Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology (20 credits)
• Development, Stem Cells and Differentiation (20 credits)
• Enzymes and Metabolism (20 credits)
• Gis and Remote Sensing (20 credits)
• Introduction to Teaching (20 credits)
• Marine and Terrestrial Field Ecology (20 credits)
• Marine Organisms and Ecosystems (20 credits)
• Microbiology (20 credits)
• Micropalaeontology, Palaeobotany, and Palaeoenvironments (20 credits)
• Plant Diversity, Development and Evolution (20 credits)

Placement year (optional):

Boost your employability by taking an industry-based work placement year with a relevant organisation or immerse yourself in another culture by studying for a year at one of our partner universities worldwide.

This is an amazing opportunity to either put everything you’ve learned so far into action in a real workplace or expand your horizons and set yourself up for your future career by studying abroad.

Depending on what you choose, we’ll help you find and secure an exciting placement opportunity within an appropriate company or organisation, or you’ll expand your global perspective and develop additional skills to boost your future career during a study abroad year.

This is a Connected Degree

We're the only university that gives you the flexibility to choose when to take a work placement. Take it after your 2nd year, before returning to finish your studies. Or after your final year, connecting you into the workplace.

If you're not sure if or when to take your placement, don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to settle into your studies and explore your options before making your choice.

Year 3
Core modules in this year include:

• Research Project (40 credits)

Optional modules in this year include:

• Climate Change (20 credits)
• Conservation in a Changing World (20 credits)
• Environmental Assessment and Management (20 credits)
• Environmental Pollution and Waste Management (20 credits)
• Evolution, Ecology and Environment (20 credits)
• Gene Organisation and Expression (20 credits)
• Genomics in Molecular Medicine (20 credits)
• Marine Ecology and Conservation (20 credits)
• Mechanisms of Development (20 credits)
• Microbiomes (20 credits)
• Surveying Terrestrial Habitats (20 credits)

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.