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Biological Sciences

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,B

BBB in three A level subjects including Biology. BBC in three A level subjects including Biology and B in either Core Maths or Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). BCC in three A level subjects including Biology for our contextual offer scheme (more details https://www.aston.ac.uk/undergraduate/contextual-offer-aston-ready). Excluded Subjects: We welcome the following subjects as an additional A level, but not as one of the core three A levels - General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies. We welcome applications from students who have tried to improve their examination grades by taking resits and only your latest grades will be accepted. We treat these applications in exactly the same way as other applications.

Access to HE Diploma

D:30,M:15,P:0

We accept the QAA-recognised Access Diploma which must consist of 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 30 distinction and the rest must be at merit or distinction. Please note that we do not accept the English and Maths components within the Access qualification, and you must meet the GCSE entry requirement. Subjects Accepted: Applied Science, Biology combined with Chemistry, Biomedical Science, Biosciences, Combined Sciences, Health Sciences, Health Sciences Professions, Life Sciences and Sciences. Please note we do not accept Health and Social Care as it does not contain the amount of core science material required for subsequent undergraduate studies on this degree.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Five GCSEs which must include Mathematics and English all at grade C/4. Please note we do not accept Key skills or Functional skills in place of these.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

31

31 points overall and must include grades 5, 5, 5 in Higher Level subjects which must include Biology and Chemistry. You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in both Mathematics and English Language. Or 28 points overall and must include grades 5, 4, 4 in Higher Level subjects which must include Biology and Chemistry. You must also have Standard Level grade 5 in both Mathematics and English Language for contextual offer students (more details: https://www.aston.ac.uk/undergraduate/contextual-offer-aston-ready).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DD

With this BTEC you must also achieve grade B in A-Level Biology. Contextual offer students must also achieve grade C in A-Level Biology (more details https://www.aston.ac.uk/undergraduate/contextual-offer-aston-ready).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

D

With this BTEC you must also achieve grades BB in two A levels of which one must be Biology. Contextual offer students must also achieve grade BC in two A levels of which one must be Biology (more details https://www.aston.ac.uk/undergraduate/contextual-offer-aston-ready).

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

D*D*D*-DDD

BTEC RQF* – National in Applied Science D*D*D* (you do not require an additional A Level) BTEC QCF* in Applied Science DDD and you must also achieve grade B in A Level Biology. Contextual offer students must also achieve grade C in A-Level Biology (more details https://www.aston.ac.uk/undergraduate/contextual-offer-aston-ready). If you are studying a non-science subject in this BTEC which is QCF or RQF – National then you must achieve DDD and grade B in A Level Biology. *QCF – Qualification Credit Framework, RQF – Regulated Qualification Framework. If you are unsure of the exact BTEC Qualification name, please contact your school or college provider to confirm.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

D

With this BTEC you must also achieve grades BB in two A levels of which one must be Biology. Contextual offer students must also achieve grade BC in two A levels of which one must be Biology (more details https://www.aston.ac.uk/undergraduate/contextual-offer-aston-ready).

Scottish Higher

B,B,B,B,B

Must include Biology at higher level.

UCAS Tariff

120-135

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

4 years | Sandwich | 2024

Subject

Biological sciences

Course summary
Biological science asks deeper questions about the human body and challenges facing humankind such as:; Why are some people more prone to certain diseases and medical conditions than others? How can we ensure that people remain healthier as they get older? Why do bacteria evolve to defend themselves against antibiotics and what can we do about it in the future? In its attempt to answer these questions, biology encompasses many areas of scientific study such as living organisms, life cycles, adaptations, and the environment. Biological science also incorporates a wealth of exciting and diverse topics from biochemistry and biotechnology to genetics, microbiology and physiology. Biological Sciences at Aston offers you an incredible mix of top-quality teaching, world class research and the opportunity to gain real world experience with our optional placement year. For those who achieve the required grades in the second year, you will be given the option to enhance your learning by transferring onto our integrated masters MBiol programme; giving you the platform to be a research and development leader and innovator of the future.

Professional accreditation
Our BSc Biological Sciences course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB). RSB accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills, preparing graduates to address the needs of employers. The criteria set by the RSB requires evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills. Students who achieve a minimum of 65% in their second year will be given the option to transfer onto the MBiol Biological Sciences integrated masters programme which holds Advanced Degree Accreditation by the RSB*. This advanced accreditation recognises academic excellence in biosciences and highlights degrees that educate the research and development leaders and innovators of the future. The criteria require evidence that graduates from the course meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including gaining a substantial period of research experience.

Placement year
The best way to prepare you for your future career is to gain experience in the real world of work. That's why our course offers you the option to complete an integrated placement year, taken between the second and final years of your degree. Designed to make you stand out in the graduate crowd, you can undertake placements in hospital, industrial or research laboratories, as well as non-laboratory settings.

*Please note we do not offer a Foundation Programme, if you select year 0 on your application form this will be amended to year 1 at admissions review stage.
*

Modules

Year 1 Study a range of key bioscience topics where you will gain knowledge of the structure, function, synthesis and degradation of biomolecules, how genetic material is stored and inherited, and how to work safely in a laboratory setting.

Core modules: Biomolecules, Cells to Systems, Microbiology and Genetics, and Metabolic Physiology for Biology. Year 2 Build your knowledge gained in your first year, as well as discovering exciting new topics all while developing the skills to apply fundamental biological concepts to experimental and real-world problems. Core modules: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Mechanisms of Pathology, Human Disease, and Cell Signalling and Physiology.

Placement Year (Optional) Opportunity to gain valuable career boosting experience by setting your studies in a real-world context of a working environment alongside professionals.

This course is available as BSc Biological Science (3 year without placement) or BSc Biological Science (4 year with placement year) and both options are available to home, EU, and international students. After year 2, students who achieve a minimum of 65% in their second year will be given the option to transfer onto the integrated masters MBiol programme. Please note you can choose to take the placement year as MBiol Biological Science is available as 4 year without placement or 5 year with placement year.

Final Year (BSc) Develop the skills required to complete a substantial original research project and choose from a selection of advanced subjects those that most suit your future career aspirations. Core modules include Research Project Preparation, Research Project and Professional Development for Biological Scientists. In addition, you will complete a series of specialist optional modules. Final Year MBiol (Optional) Students who achieve a minimum of 65% in their second year will be given the option to transfer onto the integrated masters MBiol programme. Please note you can choose to take the placement year as MBiol Biological Sciences is available as 4 year without placement or 5 year with placement year. In the final year for MBiol Biological Sciences students will complete a substantial six-month research project, where you will get the opportunity to work alongside postgraduates and post-doctoral fellows in addition to studying advanced masters level modules

Assessment methods

You will be continuously assessed throughout the course with a wide range of assessments linked to learning outcomes, such as:; exams, essay writing, practical and laboratory reports, presentations and peer assessment.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

England
£9,250
per year
International
£20,100
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Aston University, Birmingham

Department:

School of Biosciences

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

78%
Biological sciences

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Biosciences (non-specific)

Teaching and learning

79%
Staff make the subject interesting
96%
Staff are good at explaining things
71%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
71%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

74%
Library resources
79%
IT resources
79%
Course specific equipment and facilities
75%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

95%
UK students
5%
International students
41%
Male students
59%
Female students
84%
2:1 or above
3%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
D
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Biosciences (non-specific)

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£21,380
high
Average annual salary
94%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

28%
Natural and social science professionals
22%
Science, engineering and production technicians
11%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers

These stats refer to the prospects of graduates from general courses in biosciences. About a quarter go into further study and for those who go into work, bioscience, teaching and finance jobs are the most common types of employment. But you can go into most careers with this kind of degree — the majority of jobs for graduates don’t ask for a particular degree subject - and you will acquire a wide range of skills valued by many employers. If you want to find out more specifically about the prospects for your chosen subject, it might be a good idea to go on open days and talk to tutors about what previous graduates from your chosen subject went on to do.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Biosciences (non-specific)

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£21k

£21k

£28k

£28k

£31k

£31k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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