Biological Sciences

Biological sciences encompasses the full breadth of the life sciences, from the molecular machinery inside cells to the ecology of the biosphere, and from the evolutionary processes that have shaped life over billions of years to the biotechnologies being developed in laboratories today. It is a discipline where theory and experiment are inseparable, and where the questions under investigation have direct implications for human health, environmental sustainability and our understanding of what it means to be alive.

At the University of Brighton this four-year full-time programme develops your knowledge and skills across the core areas of biology. You will study cell biology, genetics, evolution, physiology, ecology and microbiology, building an integrated understanding of living systems at multiple scales. Substantial laboratory and fieldwork experience runs throughout the programme, giving you the practical skills that employers and postgraduate programmes expect.

The programme includes a sandwich year, providing a full year of professional experience in a relevant biological, healthcare, environmental or research setting, as well as further work placement opportunities across the course. Brighton's location gives you access to both coastal and downland environments as fieldwork contexts, alongside the university's well-equipped research facilities.

Biological sciences graduates are in consistent demand across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, environmental, food and agricultural sectors. Many graduates go on to work in research, clinical laboratory settings, environmental consultancy, conservation, science teaching, public health or science communication. Others move into management, regulatory affairs or technical sales roles in the life sciences industry.

The sandwich year experience, combined with a broad and well-grounded scientific education, makes graduates from this programme particularly attractive to employers who want people who can contribute effectively from day one. Postgraduate study in specialist areas of biology, ecology, biotechnology or biomedical science is also a common next step for those who want to develop deeper expertise.