Anatomy and Development

Anatomy and development is a discipline that sits at the very foundation of biological and medical knowledge. Anatomy describes the physical structure of organisms, asking how the body is built at every level from the cellular to the gross structural, and why it is built the way it is. Developmental biology explains how that structure comes to be, examining the genetic, molecular, and cellular processes through which a fertilised egg gives rise to a complete organism, and how those processes can go wrong in ways that cause congenital conditions and disease.

Together, these disciplines provide a biological framework that is fundamental to medicine, surgery, and our understanding of life itself.

At the University of Edinburgh, which has one of the oldest and most distinguished medical and biomedical traditions in the world, you will study anatomy and development over four years full-time, engaging with the physical structure of the human body and the developmental processes that produce it at a level of rigour and depth that reflects the research environment in which the programme is embedded. You will develop skills in laboratory and dissection work alongside the scientific reasoning and critical analysis that research in this field requires. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution in a different country and encounter different approaches to the discipline.

The typical entry tariff is 200 UCAS points.

Graduates of anatomy and development programmes are well placed for a range of careers in biomedical science, healthcare, and research. Many go on to medical or dental school, where the anatomical and developmental foundation provides a significant advantage. Others pursue research careers in developmental biology, regenerative medicine, or related fields, and graduate entry into areas such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or clinical science is also common.

Postgraduate study at MSc or PhD level is the standard path for those pursuing academic or research careers in the field.