There are many good reasons to study a Biosciences degree at Swansea University. We are proud to have consistently high student satisfaction scores (Zoology 98%, Biology 97% National Student Survey 2017) and are 16^th in the UK for graduate prospects [Complete University Guide 2018]. 

The Biosciences Department has also been recognised for the quality of its research and teaching [Research Excellence Framework 2014, Times & Sunday Times University Guide 2018] and has been recently voted Top in Wales [Times & Sunday Times University Guide 2018].

As a Biosciences student at Swansea, you will benefit from Royal Society of Biology accredited degrees, state-of-the art Science laboratories, a Visualisation Centre which is unique in the world and a purpose-built 18 m catamaran-class survey vessel equipped with state-of-the-art survey and research equipment Spring 2018 launch).

By joining Swansea Biosciences, you will also have access to the expertise of many internationally-renowned academics:

• Professor Rory Wilson, Rolex Laureate and Chief Scientific Consultant behind National Geographic’s Great Migrations – invented the Daily Diary tag to monitor animal movement/behaviour
• Professor Tariq Butt, bio-control of crops (fungi) – develops products and strategies for pest control, including plant health, tree health, animal health and human health (mosquitoes, ticks, midges)
• Dr Richard Unsworth and his team - technical advisor, Blue Planet ll, leading on behavioural and collaborative hunting interactions between Grouper and Octopus
• Associate Professor Carole Llewellyn – innovative algal research to help provide solutions to global challenges of climate, human health, bioenergy, food security and industrial biotechnology

Disclaimer: Module selection options may change.

The BSc Biological Science degree at Swansea University will provide you with an understanding of a wide range of biological and ecology theoretical and practical skills as well as providing opportunities for you to learn and undertake a range of sampling and survey techniques for both plants and animals. We will equip you with the practical, taxonomic, numerical and computational skills that are valued and required by many employers as well as develop your essential transferable skills, such as team working, communication, presentation, problem solving and analytical skills.

Biology graduates have a wide range of specialist and generic skills that can take you around the world.  Our degrees open up career opportunities in medicine, veterinary science, environmental management and conservation, teaching and many, many more including:

• Bat Conservation Trust
• Animal Keeper - All Things Wild
• Taxonomist - Marine Ecological Surveys Limited
• Wildlife and Education Officer - Ipswich Borough Council
• Research Assistant - TRP Research
• NHS Medical Lab Technician
• Benthic Taxonomist at Ocean Ecology Ltd.
• Assistant Aquarist, Brighton Sea Life Centre
• Senior Conservation Officer for CCW
• Project Officer - Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Trust
• Lecturer in Marine Biology, Plymouth University

• 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.

• 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 2018/19 are as follows:

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK/EU students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

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 http://www.swansea.ac.uk/international/students/requirements/

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.



"I think Swansea has the friendliest bioscience department in the country - it’s not only has world-leading researchers teaching you about discoveries as they are making them, but it felt like everyone genuinely cared about my welfare and wanted to see me succeed. 

Swansea University gave me the best environment to grow into a fully-fledged scientist, but it also allowed me space to decide for myself what it was that I cared about".

Carly Green, BSc Zoology, Propagator at National Botanic Garden of Wales

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 and new for Spring 2018, a purpose-built 18 m catamaran-class survey vessel equipped with state-of-the-art survey and research equipment.

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

Sikkim, Himalayas

Terrestrial Ecology

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

Find out more