Biology

Biology is the science of living organisms, concerned with understanding life in all its diversity, from the molecular mechanisms inside cells to the ecology of entire ecosystems and the evolutionary processes that have shaped life over billions of years. It is a discipline of extraordinary breadth, encompassing genetics, physiology, developmental biology, microbiology, ecology, and conservation, and its questions have practical implications for medicine, agriculture, environmental policy, and the management of biodiversity. A biology degree provides both a deep scientific foundation and the analytical skills to engage with complex biological systems.

At the University of Chester, this three-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study biology in another country and to experience a different scientific and environmental context. Chester's location gives you access to diverse natural environments in northwest England and north Wales, which enrich the fieldwork component of the degree. You will study cell biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, physiology, and the experimental and quantitative methods used to investigate biological questions, developing both laboratory skills and field competencies.

The year abroad broadens your perspective on biological science in an international context and is increasingly valued by employers and postgraduate programmes. A typical entry tariff of 104 points makes the programme broadly accessible.

Biology graduates work in research, healthcare, environmental science, conservation, education, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and many other fields where scientific literacy and analytical thinking are valued. Laboratory research, fieldwork, and the ability to communicate scientific findings clearly are all skills that employers in both science and non-science sectors recognise. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in a specialised area of biology, ecology, environmental science, or a health-related discipline.

Teaching is also a rewarding and common destination for biology graduates, who are in consistent demand in secondary schools.