Biological Sciences

Biological Sciences is one of the most expansive and consequential fields of study available at university, encompassing the full range of life from the molecular machinery inside a single cell to the ecology of the planet's largest ecosystems. To study it is to engage with questions about how living things work, how they evolved, how they interact with each other and their environments, and how understanding those processes can be applied to medicine, conservation, agriculture, and biotechnology. The discipline is evolving rapidly, driven by advances in genomics, imaging technology, and computational biology.

At Durham University, this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich year with work placement opportunities and a year abroad, making it one of the more richly structured biology degrees available. You will cover cell biology and biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology, ecology and evolution, and the specialist topics that Durham's research strengths bring to the curriculum. Laboratory work and fieldwork are central throughout, developing your practical skills alongside your theoretical understanding.

The year abroad and placement year allow you to experience biology in different professional and geographical contexts before graduation.

Biology graduates from a research-intensive university such as Durham are in strong demand across science-based industries. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, the NHS, environmental agencies, conservation organisations, government scientific advisory bodies, and academic institutions all recruit graduates from this field. Roles in research, quality control, environmental monitoring, science communication, and education are all common starting points.

Many graduates pursue postgraduate study, whether a Masters in a specialist area, a conversion to medicine or veterinary science, or a PhD leading to academic or industrial research. The sandwich year placement strengthens your CV and professional network considerably.