BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences

Course content

Year 1

Introduces Biology largely as Human Biology with accompanying courses in Applied and Environmental Biology. Additional subjects include Mathematics for Scientists and Chemistry, as required for an understanding of future courses in Biochemistry and Physiology.

Year 2

Concentrates on broad topics in Biology, especially Whole Organism Biology of Animals, Plants and Microorganisms; Cell Structure and Biochemistry; and Nutrition and Health.

Year 3

Brings specialisation in key areas, such as Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering; Microbes and Disease; and Environmental Biology.

Year 4

Students pursue a research project as the practical component of the course, and may choose from a range of courses from various specialist degrees, such as: Cell and Molecular Biology; Food Science; Marine Biology; and Microbiology.

Discover Uni course data

Discover Uni provides data on each university's degree courses across a range of measures including student satisfaction, graduate jobs and salaries.

Employability

Work and study

This is what our BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences students are doing 15 months after graduating:

• 65% are working
• 10% are studying
• 5% are working and studying.

In highly skilled work

• 55% of those are in highly skilled work 15 months after graduating.

Salary

• The average salary of students 15 months after graduating: £22000
• The average UK salary of students 15 months after graduating from a similar course: £22000

Jobs

These are the most common jobs students go into 15 months after graduating:

• Science, engineering and technology associate professionals
• Business and public service associate professionals

Entry requirements

Year 1

Standard entry requirements

• Highers AABB (including a science subject)
• A-Levels BBC (including a science subject)
• Int. Baccalaureate 27 points to include a science subject at Higher Level 5
• BTEC DMM (in relevant subject)
• HNC C in graded unit (in relevant HNC)

Minimum entry requirements*

• Highers BBBC (including a science subject at B)
• A-Levels BCC (including a science subject)

Additional information
Suitable science subjects are Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Human Biology, Mathematics and Physics.

* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for Scottish students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:

• live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20), or
• are care experienced.

We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements

Year 2

• Advanced Highers BB (including Biology or Human Biology plus Highers AABB)
• A-Levels ABB (including Biology or Human Biology)
• Int. Baccalaureate 32 points (with Biology or Human Biology)
• HNC B in graded unit (in relevant HNC)
• HND BB in graded units (in relevant HND)
• BTEC DDM (in relevant subject)

Year 3

• HND AB in graded units (in relevant HND)

Additional information

• For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications,  mature candidates and overseas students.
• If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk
• Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.
• English language requirements - the minimum requirement for English language for all our undergraduate Biology courses is IELTS 6.0. Please see our English language requirements.

Fees

Tuition fees for 2021 entry

Status*	Scotland	England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland**	International***
Fee	Paid by SAAS	£9,250	£19,792

* Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course. Find out more about tuition fees.

** 'Rest of the UK' (RUK) and Republic of Ireland students entering at Level 1 receive a fee waiver of one year's tuition fee. Normally this will be the final year, or a year during which students study abroad (either at a partnership institution, or at one of Heriot-Watt's overseas campuses).

*** 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above). Read more about the application process for EU nationals.

Additional costs

You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.

Scholarships and bursaries

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.