Biology and Chemistry

Biology and chemistry is a combination that connects the study of living systems with the molecular and atomic science that underpins them. Biology explores life at every level of organisation, from the molecular mechanisms within a single cell to the ecological dynamics of entire ecosystems. Chemistry provides the language and tools for understanding the molecules that make those biological processes possible: the enzymes that catalyse metabolic reactions, the proteins that carry out cellular functions, the DNA that encodes genetic information, and the drugs that can modulate these systems.

At the University of St Andrews you will study both disciplines to a high standard across a four-year full-time programme, developing expertise in biological science alongside a rigorous grounding in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. The combination is particularly valuable for understanding processes at the boundary between the disciplines, including biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology and the chemical basis of disease. A year abroad is integrated into the programme, giving you international academic experience and the opportunity to study in a different scientific environment.

Graduates of biology and chemistry are well placed for careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, where the combination of biological understanding and chemical expertise is particularly sought after in drug discovery, development and quality assurance. Research careers in academia and industry draw heavily on this combination, and PhD study in biochemistry, chemical biology, pharmacology, molecular biology or related disciplines is a well-established route. Environmental science, food science, teaching, clinical laboratory work and science communication are further careers that draw on the breadth of knowledge this degree develops.