Biology involves the study of life at all levels of organisation, from the molecular biology of virus replication to the study of animals and plants in their natural habitats. Biology also touches on many aspects of contemporary life, from drug design and investigating the molecular basis of Alzheimer’s disease, to the migration and conservation of marine mammals.

Students interested in this course may also be interested in the Biology Integrated Masters course, which allows you to graduate with a Master in Biology.

Course details

The BSc in Biology is a four-year course run by the School of Biology. Biology at St Andrews provides students with a rich learning environment, with world-leading biologists spanning molecular through to whole-organism biology. Access to high-tech equipment, dedicated teaching laboratories and our wide range of biological expertise in both the laboratory and the field, facilitate both learning and the development of the intellectual and practical skillsets of a modern biologist.

In the first two years of your degree you will be introduced to core material relevant to all biology degree programmes such as animal and plant biology, molecular biology, cell biology and genetics.

Alongside biology, in the first year of your studies you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year you might carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.

In third year, there is a shift from core, broad-themed modules to more specialised modules that allow students to prepare for their Honours degree. In fourth year students continue specific research in their chosen area through student-led, enquiry-based learning.

You also have the opportunity to apply for Vertically Integrated Project Modules (VIPs), which are research-based modules led by an academic supervisor and made up of a team of students from all years of study. These modules provide hands-on, real-world research experience and the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary teams.

Centres of research within the School of Biology offer students the experience of working alongside experts and the opportunity to develop their own research in Honours years.

These facilities include:

The Scottish Oceans Institute houses a modern aquarium and laboratories for molecular, developmental and physiological studies of marine systems. The institute is ideally placed on the seashore near grey and common seal colonies and bottlenose dolphin feeding areas.

The Centre for Biological Diversity has excellent facilities for behavioural, ecological and evolutionary research on small animals (including birds and insects) and on plants. Many members of the CBD also run active field studies as part of their research, allowing access to field-based projects as well as laboratory studies.

The Biomedical Sciences Research Complex offers large multi-group laboratories which are focused on structural biology, molecular microbiology, virology, chemical biology, cell biology, and molecular medicine.

Field trips

From first year to Honours, students studying biology will also have the opportunity to go on field trips to gather data. Those who have a particular interest in ecology or marine biology will be perfectly located in St Andrews on the shores of the east coast. In Honours years, students can explore further afield, such as the Red Sea and Antarctica, visited by recent courses.

The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits.

Ask a student

If you are interested in learning what it's like to be a student at St Andrews you can speak to one of our student ambassadors. They'll let you know about their top tips, best study spots, favourite traditions and more.

“Studying biology at St Andrews has really opened my eyes to the world of academic research, and made it seem much more tangible and possible to get into than I would have expected! I also really enjoy how Biology is assessed, the balance of essays, lab reports, labs and exams is very even so should suit everyone in some way.”

- Cumbria, England

How it's taught

Teaching

The BSc in Biology is taught through a combination of:

lectures

seminars

tutorials

practical classes

field work

research projects

Typical class sizes include:

First year: lectures 250 to 300 students, practicals 80 to 100 students

Second year: lectures 80 to 175 students, practicals 40 to 60 students

Third year: lectures 20 to 140 students, practicals 20 to 60 students

Fourth year: 5 to 25 students per module

The practical elements of the course taught in state-of-the-art teaching laboratories and in the field enable you to learn the wide range of skills required of a modern biologist. Alongside the development of practical biological skills, students are given the opportunity to expand on their presentation and IT skills.

Fourth-year teaching differs from the typical lecture, seminar and tutorial format which students will experience from years one to three. Fourth year allows you to focus on a major project which occupies half of the year. Working on this project will enable you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees. The project can also lead to your first publication in a scientific journal.

When not attending lectures, tutorials and practical classes you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:

working on individual and group projects

undertaking research in the library or in PC classrooms

preparing coursework assignments and presentations

preparing for examinations

Open all

Assessment

First-year Biology modules are entirely assessed by coursework.

During second and third year, most Biology modules are assessed by an equal weighting of coursework and written examinations.

In fourth year, most Biology modules are entirely assessed by coursework, while some include written examinations in addition to coursework.

Most examinations are held at the end of the semester during a dedicated exam diet, and revision time is provided beforehand.

The School of Biology aims to provide feedback on every assessment within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.

Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.

You will be taught by a research-led teaching team with expertise and knowledge of biology. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken appropriate training may also contribute to the teaching of tutorials under the supervision of the module leader.

You can find contact information for all biology staff on the School of Biology’s website.

The University's services and support teams can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities, as well as many other difficulties and challenges students might face while studying.

In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours) you will take the required modules in biology alongside modules in at least one other subject.

Typically, you will take core biology modules during your first two years and advanced modules during your third and fourth year (known as Honours).

Course information may change. Module information and course content, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at the University of St Andrews. We display the most up-to-date information possible, but this could be from a previous academic year. For the latest module information, see the module catalogue.

First year

Biology 1: This module provides an introduction to molecular and cellular biology. It covers cell diversity and the origins of life, evolution, cellular structures and fundamental processes.

Biology 2: This module provides an introduction to the diversity of life on Earth and addresses key elements of organismal, behavioural and ecological aspects of life.

Second year

Biochemistry: a number of central metabolic pathways and their control are studied in detail, alongside examples of their importance in disease and recent metabolomic studies.

Cell Biology: This module will introduce cell biology and the diversity of cells across a range of Kingdoms, and how they form tissues and organisms, with a theme of structure and function and emphasis on practical experimental analysis.

Ecology: introduces essential concepts in population and community ecology and how they relate to biodiversity.

Evolutionary Biology: gives an overview of the history and major principles of modern evolutionary biology.

Molecular Biology: provides an introduction to modern molecular biology, covering fundamental biological processes such as transcription, translation, and DNA replication and repair.

Research Methods in Biology: This module will help students develop essential academic and transferable skills, with major emphasis on problem solving. It will provide an introduction to the scientific method, experimental design, understanding and presenting data.

In third year, you will continue to specialise in biology via a wide range of modules covering core topics. Modules that have been offered in previous years include:

Advanced Biochemistry

Animal Behaviour: A Quantitative Approach

Evolution

Genes, Cells and Development

Protein Structure and Function

Quantitative Ecology

In fourth year, you will study your chosen subject area at a deeper scientific level and will also have the opportunity to select from a wide range of small-group specialised modules. These modules are taught by academics at the forefront of their discipline.

In this year, students also undertake a substantial final-year research project. This research project is designed to develop skills in experimental design and problem solving, the evaluation and interpretation of data, and communication skills. The project is offered and supervised by a member of academic staff.

Fees and funding

Scotland: Tuition fees are yet to be confirmed by the Scottish Government.

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £10,050 (yet to be confirmed by the UK Government)

EU and overseas: £34,910

More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.

Additional costs

All students need to cover the costs of a laboratory coat and dissection kit.

Students may be asked to contribute towards the costs of participation in optional residential field trip modules.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

Entry requirements

The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about

Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.

For the following degrees, the entry requirements are slightly different than those listed below:

Biology and Chemistry BSc

Biology and Computer Science BSc

Biology and Mathematics BSc

Biology and Statistics BSc

Biology and Earth Sciences BSc

SQA Highers

Standard entry grades:

AAAB, including Biology (or Human Biology) and one other science from the following:

Chemistry

Mathematics

Physics.

Minimum entry grades:

AABB, including Biology (or Human Biology) and one other science from the following:

Gateway entry grades:

Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

GCE A-Levels

AAB, including Biology and one other science from the following:

ABB, including Biology and one other science from the following:

IB points

36 (HL 6,6,5), including HL6 in Biology and HL6 in one of the following subjects:

36 (HL 6,5,5), including HL6 in Biology and HL5 in one of the following subjects:

General entry requirements

All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.

SQA qualifications

SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:

Computing science

Geography

Applications of Mathematics

Psychology.

GCSE qualifications

GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:

Computing Science

Other qualifications

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.

More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University's entry requirements web page.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

Students must have studied Biology (or Human Biology) at SQA Higher, GCE A-Level or equivalent. Preference will be given to candidates offering strong science qualifications over and above the stated minimum requirements.

Alternative study options

Direct entry to second year

Well-qualified school leavers may be able to apply for admission directly into the second year of this course.

Integrated Masters

It is possible to take Biology as a five-year Integrated Masters course, allowing you to graduate with a Master of Science.

Gateway programmes

Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades but meet the University's contextual criteria may be interested in the Gateway to Science programme.

Study abroad

Biology students can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to apply to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad website.

International applicants

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability.

Joint Honours degrees

You can also take Biology as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

UCAS code C761: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Chemistry

UCAS code F899: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Computer Science

UCAS code CFC6: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Earth Sciences

UCAS code CL11: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Economics

UCAS code CF18: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Geography

UCAS code CG11: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Mathematics

UCAS code CV16: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Philosophy

UCAS code CC18: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Psychology

UCAS code CG13: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Statistics

UCAS code F896: Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology and Sustainable Development

The joint option with Psychology can also be taken as a degree programme with British Psychological Society accreditation.

"With" degrees

You can take Biology as part of a "with" Honours degree in which the majority of the course deals with the first name subject. St Andrews offers the following "with" degrees in Biology:

Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology with Arabic - UCAS code CT16

Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biology with French - UCAS code CCR1

Bachelor of Science (Honours) Psychology with Biology - UCAS code C8C1

Biology with French (With Integrated Year Abroad) - UCAS code C1R1

"With" degrees taken with French are also available 'With Integrated Year Abroad'.

Graduates from the School of Biology have a wide range of skills sought by employers:

Laboratory and field data collection

Data handling and presentation

Quantitative skills

Problem-solving

Critical thinking

Project design

Teamwork

Planning, organisation and time management

Written and oral communication skills

Graduates from the School of Biology are in high demand and are keenly sought after by institutions including the government, universities, research centres and major companies. They have gone on to find success in a wide variety of careers, including:

Researchers in academia

Researchers and advisers in government

Conservationists

Consultant ecologists

Marine mammal scientists

Researchers in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries

Clinical scientists

Advisers, researchers and managers in the National Health Service (NHS)

Forensic scientists

Professional biologists in higher education

Museum curators

School teachers

Science communicators

Beyond biology, recent graduates have gained employment in a wide variety of business sectors such as marketing and finance. Others have gone on to study for a wide range of Masters and PhD programmes in the UK and overseas.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

What to do next

Online information events

Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.

Undergraduate visiting days

We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.

Contact us

+44 (0)1334 46 3602Email

bioadmissions@st-andrews.ac.uk Address

Biomedical Sciences Research Complex

North Haugh

St Andrews

KY16 9ST

School of Biology website

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Legal notices

Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy

Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.

Curriculum development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.

Tuition fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.

Page last updated: 23 June 2026

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