• We are in the UK TOP 20 for graduate prospects  [Complete University Guide 2016]
• 97.3% in graduate employment or further study six months after leaving University [HESA data 2013/14]
• Zoology at Swansea is 1st in the UK for student satisfaction [National Student Survey 2016]
• We are 7^th in the UK for Research Excellence [Research Excellence Framework 2014]
• We are in the UK TOP 20 for teaching quality [Times & Sunday Times University Guide 2016]
• £4.2m investment in state-of-the art Science laboratories
• £1.3m Visualisation Centre which displays and manipulates multi-dimensional information from animal tag monitoring – unique in the world!  
• Research vessel RV Noctiluca for training and project work at sea
• Excellent transferable skills that open doors to careers in all sectors of the economy
• A department with over 40 years of commitment to the best international standards of University education
• A University with a high success rate for graduation, low drop out rate and excellent student support
• Year in Industry programmes available for 2016 entry

Disclaimer: Module selection options may change.

• Our Biology degree scheme offers an excellent range of laboratory and field-based topics with a strong emphasis on the development of key practical skills.
• Most modules in Biology have two or three practical and/or field excursion classes.
• All students have the opportunity to attend a week-long field courses either at the end of Year Two or at the start of Year Three.
• Our close proximity to a diverse range of contrasting environments plus our own facilities provides a wide scope for customising your learning experience.
• All Biology students carry out a ten week research project module in Year Three.  This can be either laboratory or field-based depending on the interests of the student.  Some students carry out their projects abroad.
• The course has a strong emphasis on the development of personal and transferable skills to assist in later employability.

• A levels: grades ABB-BBB, to include Biology or Human Biology, or equivalent
• Welsh Baccalaureate:  Requirements are as for A levels where you can substitute the same non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Level Core Grade
• BTEC Extended Diploma - Grades DDD plus at least one GCSE grade B in Science with GCSE Grades C in English/Welsh and Mathematics. Only science-based BTECs will be considered (excluding Animal Management and Health Science).
• Scottish Highers: ABBCC to include Biology grade B
• Access to HE (Science): Pass with Distinction (24 Distinctions to include 3 in Biology, plus 15 Merits). Only science-based Access will be considered (excluding Health Sciences).
• IB: 33-32 to include 5 in Higher Level Biology or Human Biology
• IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) or equivalent English test
• We may consider other qualifications if they are Science-based, if they are equivalent to A-levels, and if the content of the qualification includes significant amounts of Biology (i.e., equivalent to A-level Biology).
• All applications will be considered on an individual basis, and we will look at the whole application when deciding whether to make an offer of a place, including: the balance, nature and quality of A-level, AS and GCSE subjects (or equivalent); personal statement and referee’s comments.
• General Studies and Key Skills qualifications are normally excluded from our offers.
• International students:  please visit our International pages for information on entry requirements for your country. Contact international-science@swansea.ac.uk

• All applications for full-time undergraduate degrees must be made through UCAS. Further information is available on the UCAS website.
• For UK applicants, please apply online at www.ucas.ac.uk
• For International students, please click here

Annual tuition fees for entry in the academic year 2016/17 are as follows:

Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3% for International students and at the capped fee rate as set by the UK Government for UK/EU students.

You can find further information on fees and how to pay on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

• Lab coat and dissection kit (Level 1 for all degree programmes) – approximately £30
• Tropical Marine Biology field course in Puerto Rico - (costs ~£1200 - £1700 tbc)
• Sikkim overseas field trip (Biology and Zoology Level 3 - optional) – student contributes £500 towards travel and accommodation

*We also advise all students to have suitable outdoor clothing and sensible footwear (wellington boots)

International students:  please visit our International pages for information on entry requirements for your country:  Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Europe and Russia, Middle East, North America, South America, South East Asia.  If your country is not listed within these regions, please contact international-science@swansea.ac.uk

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars and discussion groups, supported by practical classes and field courses.

You will be assessed through a variety of methods, including examinations, coursework and a practical research project.



Biosciences at Swansea has a good relationship with a wide range of external partners, including SMEs, Government Agencies, Local Government , UK and overseas research institutes and universities. Find out more about our links with industry.



“Having achieved a First Class Honours in Biology in 2010, I now work as a Research Assistant in the microbiology lab at Zoobiotic where I am responsible for product testing.  It is a challenging position which I was well prepared for because my dissertation involved culturing maggots and testing their medically important secretions.”

Mark Martin, BSc Biology

Read our student profiles

The Department of Biosciences provides access to an extensive range of specialist facilities for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.  These include: Research and IT laboratories; Constant temperature rooms; Growth rooms; Aquaria; Greenhouses; Zoology Museum; A custom-designed 12.5m coastal research vessel, RV Noctiluca.

Our new Teaching Laboratory is a significantly upgraded facility to teach a higher level of transferable laboratory techniques and skills, with a capacity to hold 150 students; it includes a full range of AV facilities able to transmit to several plasma screens output from a variety of sources including microscopes, PCs, DVD/Video players and visualise/camera units.

Find out more about the facilities used by Biosciences students at Swansea University.
 
 



As scientists in training you will be taught a full range of core skills and practises by leading experts that will enable you to successfully pursue a career within biology and ecology.

Every year we survey our recent graduates to ascertain their employment status.  The data is more commonly known as the Graduate Destinations Survey and is reported to HESA (the Higher Education Statistics Authority).  Here are some examples of job titles from the recent survey:

• Ecologist (Jacobs Engineering & CSA Environmental)
• Delivery Officer (Biotechnology & Biological Science Research Council)
• Project Officer (Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Trust)
• Hydrometry and Telemetry Officer (Natural Resources Wales)
• Benthic Taxonomist (Oceanology Ltd)
• Wildlife and Education Officer (Ipswich Borough Council)
• Crop Technician (Humber Growers)
• Animal keeper (All Things Wild)
• Quality Control Associate (Amgen Biovex Ltd)
• Royal Navy Officer (Britannia Royal Navy College)
• Research Assistant (TRP Research)

Find out more about employability

All academic staff in Biosciences are active researchers and the department has a thriving research culture. Find out more

All biology students carry out a ten week research project module in Year Three. This can either be laboratory or field-based depending on the interests of the student. Some students carry out their projects abroad.

Our field courses include:

Animal Ecology

Tropical Marine Biology, Puerto Rico

Sikkim, Himalayas

Terrestrial Ecology

Welcome to new and returning students.

You will find information regarding Departmental Enrolment and Induction events, along with enrolment instructions here.

• Biosciences Level 1: Semester 1
• Biosciences Level 1: Semester 2