Biology with Placement

Biology is the science of life in all its forms, from the molecular mechanisms of a single cell to the complex interactions of entire ecosystems. It is a discipline of extraordinary breadth and contemporary relevance, touching on questions of medicine, conservation, agriculture, biotechnology and the response to environmental change. Studying biology gives you both the scientific knowledge to understand how living systems work and the practical laboratory and field skills to investigate them.

At the University of Gloucestershire, this four-year full-time programme includes a placement year in industry, giving you the opportunity to apply your biological knowledge in a professional context and strengthen your career prospects.

Across the four years you will study cell and molecular biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, physiology, microbiology and conservation biology, developing the broad scientific knowledge that a biology degree provides alongside the practical skills in laboratory work, data collection and analysis and scientific communication that employers and postgraduate programmes value. The placement year is supported by dedicated careers guidance to help you secure a placement that aligns with your interests and enhances your future career, giving you professional experience that many graduates without a placement year lack.

Graduates in biology move into careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, environmental consultancy and monitoring, conservation and wildlife organisations, education, the food industry, healthcare science and research. The professional experience built into this degree through the placement year gives graduates a meaningful advantage in a competitive market. Many also go on to postgraduate study in biology, ecology, biomedical science, conservation or related fields, and the depth of scientific training at Gloucestershire provides a solid foundation for those routes.

As climate change and biodiversity loss intensify, biologists with both academic knowledge and practical experience are in increasing demand.