Careers

Alongside a comprehensive knowledge of life on earth, on this course you’ll gain practical laboratory, data science, bioinformatic and field skills.

You’ll also develop crucial skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.

These skills will equip you to work in the broad field of science. And we'll help you build experience through field trips, Live Briefs, and connections with local employers who may be able to offer placements.

What can you do with a Biology degree?

How can ARU help with my employability and career development?

Teaching and modules

Discover how life works. From microbes to ecosystems, every lecture and practical brings new insights into the world around us.

Dr Max Carter-Brown, Lecturer

You’ll start the course by getting to grips with the fundamentals of cells, molecules, and organisms; genetics and evolution; ecology and sustainability; and mathematics and statistics for scientists.

In Year 2, the focus is on topics and skills you’d like to specialise in, with a range of optional modules. You'll also continue to refine your broader knowledge and skills.

In your final year, you’ll examine your chosen areas through the lens of sustainability, and complete a major independent research project to pull together everything you’ve learned.

What will I study?

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1

Principles of Biology (30 credits)
Mathematics for the Biosciences (15 credits)
General Microbiology (15 credits)
Animal Physiology and Behaviour (30 credits)
Introduction to Ecology and Conservation (30 credits)
Continuing Professional Development
Into ARU

Year 2

Principles of Genetics (15 credits)
Ruskin Module (15 credits)
Preparation for Research (15 credits)
Continuing Professional Development
Vertebrate Biology (15 credits) *
Invertebrate Biology (15 credits) *
Plants and Microbial Sciences (15 credits) *
Laboratory Techniques in DNA Manipulation (15 credits) *
Laboratory Techniques for Bioinformatics (15 credits) *
Field Skills in Biology (15 credits) *
Animal Health and Disease (15 credits) *
GIS and Spatial Ecology (15 credits) *
Proteomics and Molecular Structures (15 credits) *

Year 3

Undergraduate Project (30 credits)
Developmental Biology and Genetics (15 credits)
Policy, Globalisation, and Economics of Sustainability (15 credits)
Biogeography (15 credits) *
Comparative Ecophysiology (15 credits) *
Human-Animal Interactions (15 credits) *
Microbial Pathogenicity (15 credits) *
Molecular Cell Biology (15 credits) *
Current Advances in Bioinformatics (15 credits) *
Current Advances in Plant and Microbial Sciences (15 credits) *
Current Advances in Evolution and Biodiversity (15 credits) *
Systems Biology (15 credits) *

Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1

Interactive Learning Skills and Communication
Information and Communication Technology
Maths for Scientists
Cellular Biology
Critical Thinking
Biology: Physiology
Chemistry
Physics for Life Sciences

Module details

You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.

Year 3

Work Placement Life Science

Module details

What happens on a foundation year?

What happens on a placement year?

How is BSc (Hons) Biology assessed?

Who teaches Biology at ARU?

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Dr Max Carter-Brown
Lecturer
Dr Ben Gregson
Lecturer
Dr Bas Boots
Senior Lecturer
Dr Harisree Paramel Nair
Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science
Dr Caray A Walker
Senior Lecturer
Dr Philip Pugh
Senior Lecturer

Entry requirements

Standard entry requirements

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email [email protected] for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

We don't accept AS level qualifications on their own for entry to our undergraduate degree courses. However for some degree courses a small number of tariff points from AS levels are accepted as long as they're combined with tariff points from A levels or other equivalent level 3 qualifications in other subjects.

Main

5 GCSEs at grade D, or grade 3, or above and evidence of two years post-GCSE study at Level 3.

If you have achieved at least grade E in one A level, or equivalent, you are exempt from the two years post-GCSE study requirement, but you still must meet the GCSE requirements.

Applicants who do not meet the two years post GCSE study at level 3 may be considered based on their satisfactory employment history, which must be a minimum of two years full time employment supported by employer evidence and deemed appropriate by the University for meeting the course of study applied for.

If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 5.5 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

Important additional notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

International students

English language requirements

Making you an offer

Fees and funding

UK students

£9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Part-time students should be studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year.

You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

If you start a course on or after 1 August 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £25,000. This is called repayment Plan 5. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £25,000. After 40 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

If you started a course on or before 31 July 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £27,295. This is called repayment Plan 2. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £27,295. After 30 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

For example for students who are on repayment Plan 5:

If you earn £25,500, you'll repay £45 a year or £3.75 a month
That's because £25,500 is £500 above the threshold, and 9% of £500 is £45.

What you repay depends on how much you earn after university. The more you earn, the more you pay back.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

£9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Part-time students should be studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year.

You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

For example for students who are on repayment Plan 5:

If you earn £25,500, you'll repay £45 a year or £3.75 a month
That's because £25,500 is £500 above the threshold, and 9% of £500 is £45.

What you repay depends on how much you earn after university. The more you earn, the more you pay back.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

£9,535 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Part-time students should be studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year.

You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

For example for students who are on repayment Plan 5:

If you earn £25,500, you'll repay £45 a year or £3.75 a month
That's because £25,500 is £500 above the threshold, and 9% of £500 is £45.

What you repay depends on how much you earn after university. The more you earn, the more you pay back.

For more information about student loans, see our undergraduate student finance page.

This information also applies to:

Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement.

£1,400 Placement year (2024-25)

International students

£18,600 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter

Find out about paying your fees.

£18,600 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter

Find out about paying your fees.

£18,600 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments. We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter

Find out about paying your fees.

Placement year fee

Living costs

Bursaries, sponsorship and working

Apply for Biology

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UK students, apply through Clearing for a September 2025 start

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01245 686868

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Biology

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

With placement

Careers

Teaching and modules

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

With placement

Facilities

Entry requirements

BSc (Hons)

Important additional notes

With foundation year

Important additional notes

With placement

Important additional notes

International students

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BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

With placement

BSc (Hons)

With foundation year

With placement

Apply for Biology

Clearing places available

UK students

01245 686868

UK students

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