Biological Sciences
Biological sciences encompasses the study of life in all its forms, from the molecular machinery inside cells to the ecological relationships between species and the evolutionary processes that have shaped living things over billions of years. It is a discipline defined by curiosity about how living systems work, and it sits at the intersection of chemistry, physics, and mathematics, using insights from all of them to answer questions that matter deeply for medicine, agriculture, environmental science, and our understanding of the natural world.
At Dundee this five-year full-time programme includes a year in industry and a year abroad, giving you exceptional exposure to both professional and international contexts alongside your academic study. You will build a broad foundation in biological sciences, typically engaging with cell and molecular biology, genetics, physiology, ecology, and evolution, before focusing your studies in areas of particular interest as you progress. The year in industry gives you direct experience of biological science in a professional research, commercial, or applied setting, and the year abroad broadens your scientific and cultural perspective, exposing you to research environments and academic traditions beyond the UK.
Research skills are central to the programme: you will learn to design and conduct experiments, analyse data, interpret findings in the context of current literature, and communicate your work effectively. Dundee has particular strength in biomedical and life sciences research, and students benefit from a research culture that takes their scientific development seriously.
Graduates from biological sciences go into careers in research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, environmental science, science education, healthcare, and science communication. Many pursue postgraduate study, either a masters or doctorate, to develop specialist expertise. The year in industry substantially strengthens your professional credentials and often leads directly to employment offers.