Biology

Biology is the science of life, encompassing the study of living systems from the molecular and cellular level through to organisms and the ecosystems they inhabit. It is one of the most expansive of the natural sciences, drawing on chemistry, physics, mathematics and statistics to understand the processes that govern how living things are built, how they function, how they reproduce, how they evolve and how they interact with each other and with their physical environments. The discipline sits at the centre of some of the most consequential scientific challenges of the present century, including climate change, biodiversity loss, pandemic preparedness and the development of new medicines.

At York, this three-year full-time programme takes an interdisciplinary approach to biology, giving you a broad foundation across the major areas of the subject while allowing you to specialise as your interests develop. The degree includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and a work placement, which together provide substantial professional and international experience alongside the academic content. This combination is particularly valuable in biology, where career paths span academic research, industry, government and the voluntary sector, and where practical experience in a laboratory or field context is consistently valued by employers.

You will develop your skills across both laboratory and field settings, building the experimental and analytical competence that biological research demands, alongside your theoretical understanding of genetics, cell biology, ecology, physiology and evolution.

Graduates of biology programmes move into pharmaceutical and biotechnology research, conservation and environmental consultancy, teaching, healthcare science, science communication, government and NGOs. Many continue to postgraduate study, including doctoral research in specialist areas of biological science.