Biological Sciences

Evolutionary biology addresses one of the most profound questions in all of science: how have the extraordinary diversity and complexity of life on earth come to be, and what processes continue to shape living organisms today? Evolution by natural selection is the unifying theory of biology, the framework that makes sense of everything from the molecular mechanisms of heredity to the diversity of species in a tropical rainforest. Studying evolutionary biology at degree level means developing a deep understanding of genetics, ecology, palaeontology, developmental biology, and the mathematical modelling of evolutionary processes, all integrated by the overarching framework of Darwinian theory.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year full-time programme in biological sciences with a specialisation in evolutionary biology includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study in another country and to encounter evolutionary biology research from a different institutional and cultural perspective. Edinburgh is one of the world's leading universities for evolutionary research, with faculty working on topics including sexual selection, adaptation, speciation, genome evolution, and the evolutionary basis of behaviour. You will build a strong foundation in the core biological sciences before specialising progressively in evolutionary biology, developing both theoretical and empirical skills in genomics, field ecology, computational phylogenetics, and experimental evolution.

The analytical and quantitative skills that evolutionary biology develops are substantial: the field draws heavily on mathematics, statistics, and computation, and graduates who can work fluently at the interface of biology and quantitative science are in sustained demand.

Graduates in evolutionary biology work in academic research, conservation biology, the pharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology industries, environmental consultancy, science communication, and policy. Many pursue postgraduate study at masters or doctoral level, contributing to research on evolutionary genomics, biodiversity, conservation genetics, or the evolution of pathogens. The year abroad adds an international credential and professional network that strengthens career prospects in a competitive academic and scientific job market.