Biology and Economics

Biology and economics are rarely studied together, but the combination is more coherent than it might first appear. Biology is the science of life, exploring how organisms function, reproduce, evolve, and interact with each other and their environments, from the molecular machinery inside cells to the dynamics of entire ecosystems. Economics, meanwhile, is the study of how societies allocate scarce resources, how markets and institutions coordinate behaviour, and how incentives shape decisions at every scale.

Both disciplines demand rigorous, evidence-based thinking, and together they open perspectives on some of the most consequential challenges of the present, from biodiversity loss and conservation policy to the economics of healthcare, food systems, and the pharmaceutical industry.

At St Andrews this four-year full-time programme develops both subjects properly, giving you a genuine education in each rather than treating one as the poor relation of the other. The biology component introduces you to the study of life at multiple levels, from molecular biology and cell biology through to ecology, animal behaviour, and conservation. The economics strand covers microeconomic theory, macroeconomic policy, quantitative methods, and the application of economic frameworks to real-world problems.

The programme includes a year abroad, providing the opportunity to study at an international partner institution.

You will develop the capacity to think rigorously across both disciplines, to work with quantitative data, to design and evaluate empirical research, and to communicate your findings clearly. The combination of biological knowledge and economic reasoning is genuinely distinctive and positions you well for roles where both matter.

Graduates move into careers in environmental economics, policy analysis, ecological consultancy, public health, the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries, development economics, conservation organisations, and research. Postgraduate study in economics, environmental policy, ecology, or related fields is a natural route for those wishing to specialise.