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Biological Sciences

  • Msci (Hon)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time with year in industry
  • 29/09/2025
  • Undergraduate
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2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

The Biological Sciences with Professional Placement MSci empowers you to blend academic excellence with real-world experience, equipping you with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in your future career while gaining invaluable professional insights! The flexibility to explore diverse biological fields or focus on specialised areas will make you ready to tackle challenges and seize opportunities in your career!

In Year 3, you'll step into the professional world, working in industry, a research lab, or out in the field! This immersive placement year is your chance to apply everything you’ve learned. You'll be supported by an academic mentor and a placement supervisor, and finish the year with an assessed report and seminar presentation.

Why study Biological Sciences at Birmingham?

Placement Year: What sets this course apart is its 10-11 month industry placement, giving you a real taste of the professional world and allowing you to work with prestigious organisations like GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, and Kew Gardens.

Field Courses: Learn beyond the classroom by travelling to exciting locations like Norway and Pembrokeshire. Explore new environments and gain practical experience in the field.

Study Abroad: Spend your third year in France, Spain, Germany, or one of 300+ global destinations, immersing yourself in new cultures and learning from experts with our year abroad option.

Royal Society of Biology Accreditation: Our degree ensures you meet employer needs and stand out in the job market.

Join BioSoc: Connect with fellow Biosciences students through team sports, events, and specialist career conferences. Make friends, have fun and build your network.

Specialist Degree Labels

Across all of our Biological Sciences programmes, you have the exciting opportunity to reflect on your journey and add a specialised pathway in your final year (if you meet the requirements). These pathways allow you to showcase your unique strengths and areas of interest, giving you a competitive edge as you step into the next phase of your career. The following labels may be added to our Biological Sciences degree programmes:

Human Health and Disease
Microbiology and Infection
Genetics
Food Security and Sustainability
Conservation Biology
Zoology

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • Msci (Hon) • Full-time with year in industry • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 29/09/2025

Apply by
29 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
C102
Institution code:
B32
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Birmingham has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
C102
Institution code:
B32
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - AAA

A Level Biology/Human Biology and a second science: Chemistry, Mathematics (or Further Mathematics or Statistics), Physics, Geography, Geology, Psychology. Specified subjects excluded for entry: General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies, Applied Science, Communication and Culture, Critical Studies, Global Perspectives, Science in Society, Use of Maths and World Development. Minimum of five GCSEs to include Mathematics, English and double award science at grade 4/C. The typical offer for the Professional Placement course is higher than that for the corresponding three year BSc degree course. However, all candidates who firmly accept the offer as their first choice will be automatically offered a place on the corresponding three year course should they fail the higher, but meet the standard offer.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D*D*

BTEC National Extended Diploma D*D*D* in Applied Science BTEC National Diploma D*D* in Applied Science or Forensic and Criminal Investigation and A Level grade A in Biology or Human Biology. BTEC National Extended Certificate D* in Applied Science, Applied Human Biology, or Applied Psychology and 2 A Levels with grades AA, to include Biology or Human Biology. Or BTEC National Extended Certificate D* in any subject and 2 A Levels with grades AA, to include Biology or Human Biology and a second science subject.

Access to HE Diploma

Access to HE (Science) with sufficient Biology and Chemistry content is considered. Contact Admissions Team for details.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 32 points

6, 6, 6 in Higher Level subjects plus 32 points overall. Higher Level subjects need to include the required subjects as defined for the A Level qualification.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

The most common grades on entry for this course are below our standard offer. These include students admitted with alternative offers through our contextual admissions schemes. These are typically 1 or 2 grades below the standard offer. You can find information on these schemes using the link below.
You can check your eligibility to receive an offer for this course using our Offer Calculator using the same link.

Learn more on the University of Birmingham website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For details of the annual tuition fee for International Students please see the course web page listed in the 'course details' section above.
If you are made an offer to study by the University, the yearly tuition fee will be stated in your offer letter.

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