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University of Essex homepage Course Finder Biological sciences
Subject

Biological sciences

Impatient to understand the world?

Biological sciences
Undergraduate Masters Research

Biology is the scientific exploration of the vast and diverse world of living organisms.

Biology has expanded enormously within recent years, revealing a wealth of knowledge about ourselves and the millions of organisms on our planet. At Essex, you will learn modern lab techniques, participate in research field trips, develop employability skills and explore the most recent developments in the field. You will study integrative biology, which covers the breadth of biology from molecules and cells, to whole organisms and ecosystems - giving you a solid foundation across biological sciences. There has never been a more exciting time to be a biologist.

Why study here?
  • Tailor your degree to your specific interests, whether they be molecular biology or field-based ecological science.
  • We’re 23th in the UK for Biology in the Guardian University Guide 2024.
  • We are ranked 15th in the UK for overall student satisfaction for Biosciences in the National Student Survey 2022.

Looking to start in 2024?

Two students and member of staff in a lab using a microscope

Two students and member of staff in a lab using a microscope

Students and staff discussing research in the greenhouse surrounded by plants

Students and staff discussing research in the greenhouse surrounded by plants

The large research greenhouse - part of our School of Life Sciences

The large research greenhouse - part of our School of Life Sciences

A student and a member of staff use liquid nitrogen in a lab

A student and a member of staff use liquid nitrogen in a lab

A research student working with plants in a specialist lab

A research student working with plants in a specialist lab

Photo of BSc Biological Sciences student, Mireia Corbera SerraJordia
"The amount of fieldwork the degree offered amazed me. With the University I travelled to Portugal, Indonesia and Greece! I also had the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of modules, from marine biology topics to biomedical science topics. I spent my Placement Year working in both Barcelona and Greece, and it has been an enriching and fulfilling experience that has improved my personal and academic skills."
Mireia Corbera Serrajordia BSc Biological Sciences (including placement year)
A graduate at graduation in robes, smiling at the camera holding their certificate. The graduate is outside, with a few other graduates in robes behind her.
Apply now through Clearing

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Biological sciences courses in Clearing for 2023

1 - 6 of 17 results

Courses (17)

Now in clearing

BSc Genetics

Study mode:

Full-Time

Campus:

Colchester Campus

Course options:

Study Abroad

Placement Year

Genetics is at the forefront of modern biology, driving progress in medicine and synthetic biology.

Now in clearing

BSc Marine Biology

Study mode:

Full-Time

Campus:

Colchester Campus

Course options:

Study Abroad

Placement Year

The majority of life on earth is found under the sea, but most of it remains to be explored. Tropical reefs, deep-sea trenches, seagrass meadows and frozen polar seas are all individually unique and complex environments, but connected within Earth’s single, vast ocean.

Now in clearing

BSc Biological Sciences

Study mode:

Full-Time

Campus:

Colchester Campus

Course options:

Study Abroad

Placement Year

How can we use gene-editing technology to understand and treat human disease or improve crop yield? What is big data and how can we use it to advance our understanding of biological systems? How are we using synthetic biology to engineer bacteria to clean up oil pollution? How does bioimaging allow us to see inside the molecular machinery of a cell? Integrative biology brings together all the tools of modern biology to unravel the complexity of living systems.

Now in clearing

BSc Global Sustainability

Study mode:

Full-Time

Campus:

Colchester Campus

Course options:

Study Abroad

Placement Year

Our BSc Global Sustainability course is focused on addressing the grand challenges facing Planet Earth and its living systems. This course will involve you in problem solving at a global scale and equip you with the tools needed to address complex problems through a highly innovative and interdisciplinary degree.

Now in clearing

BSc Human Biology

Study mode:

Full-Time

Campus:

Colchester Campus

Course options:

Study Abroad

Placement Year

How does the body respond to challenges such as infection? What is the future of stem cell therapies? How does our lifestyle and genes affect our risk of disease? Understand the structure and function of the human body, from the cells and molecules that perform the chemical reactions for life, to the mechanisms of disease and how our immune system fights infection.

Now in clearing

BSc Biomedical Science

Study mode:

Full-Time

Campus:

Colchester Campus

Course options:

Placement Year

From cancer-screening to blood transfusions, from infections to genetic diseases, biomedical scientists research the causes and diagnosis of diseases and the effectiveness of the medicines that cure them. You apply the concepts of biochemistry and cell biology to the study of health and disease in the human body.

Our multi-disciplinary environment enables us to offer a wide range of modular, interdisciplinary taught postgraduate courses which provide targeted training in specialist areas of biological sciences.

In addition, we collaborate with a number of academic departments from across the University including social sciences and humanities.

Why study here?
  • As one of the largest schools at our University, we offer a lively, friendly and supportive environment.
  • We are ranked top 25 for overall student satisfaction for Biology in the National Student Survey 2021.
  • Study specialist modules taught by our academics, industry experts and clinicians within academic and hospital settings.
Postgraduate study
Learn more about postgraduate study in our School of Life Sciences
Facilities
Discover the Life Sciences facilities in our STEM building
Biomedical science
Take a look at our biomedical science degrees
Our School provides a stimulating environment for research training. 

The research being conducted by members of staff and research students in our School of Life Sciences covers the whole spectrum of biology from genes, proteins, and cells through to whole organisms, communities, and entire ecosystems. We employ a range of state-of-the-art techniques covering all the biological sciences including biochemistry, biomedical science, environmental microbiology, marine biology, ecology, statistics, and computational approaches for biologists.

Why study here?
  • As one of the largest schools at our University, we offer a lively, friendly and supportive environment.
  • A dedicated study room allows all our students to have office space, a desk and a computer outside of the research laboratories.
  • We offer an innovative professional development scheme for doctoral students, unique to the University of Essex.
Photo of Gareth Thomas, PhD Environmental Biology student, scuba diving
"I’ve always been interested in the environment, and Essex specialises in the areas I’m most interested it: conservation, ecology and marine biology. After a decade of working I decided to return to education to pursue a more fulfilling and worthwhile profession, and I definitely haven’t regretted it. Now I’m studying for a PhD in environmental biology, which I wouldn’t have been able to do without the support of my undergraduate dissertation supervisor, personal tutor, and the Employability and Careers Centre, who assisted me with my application."
Gareth Thomas BSc Marine Biology, 2017; PhD Environmental Biology 
A row of old looking library books
Explore our research

Discover cutting edge research from the University of Essex. Browse our site to find relevant publications, projects, groups, centres, postgraduate opportunities for research supervision and wider areas of interest. Simply search our site to find information relating to your subject.

Search our research
Essex Plant Innovation Centre (EPIC)
Life Sciences Research
Find out about our current research in the School of Life Sciences
Research degrees in the School of Life Sciences
Find out more about our research degree types, information on how to apply, and our current studentships.
Student holding books next to the library at Colchester Campus
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Subject area: Marine Biology
Estuaries, coasts, oceans, coral reefs, whatever your interest in underwater life we cover it in marine biology.
Subject area: Biomedical science
Our biomedical science degree options include our Applied degree with a year in an NHS placement, so you can put what you learn in the classroom in to practice.
Subject area: Genetics
Interested in biological sciences? Want to specialise in an important area of human health? Try a degree in genetics!

 

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.



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