Biology and History and Philosophy of Science

Biology and history and philosophy of science is a degree that asks not only what life is and how it works, but how we know what we know about it, and how our understanding has changed over time. Biology provides the scientific content, from cell biology and genetics to ecology and evolution, developing your practical laboratory skills alongside your theoretical understanding of living systems. History and philosophy of science provides a complementary reflective framework, examining how scientific knowledge is produced, how theories rise and fall, how science has interacted with religion, culture, and power, and what it means for an explanation to be genuinely scientific.

At the University of Leeds, this three-year full-time joint honours degree develops both disciplines in depth. You will combine practical laboratory work with classroom-based learning in biology, while the history and philosophy of science component explores the development of scientific thought, the links between science and other forms of knowledge, and the philosophical questions that underlie scientific practice. A sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities are all incorporated into the programme, giving you substantial professional and international experience before you graduate.

The typical entry tariff of 152 points reflects the intellectual demands of this combined degree.

You will develop both scientific competence and a sophisticated understanding of how knowledge is constructed and contested, which is an unusual and valuable combination in a graduate market that often values either technical skill or critical thinking, but rarely both.

Graduates pursue careers in science communication, research, science policy, biomedical science, education, publishing, journalism, and the broader life sciences sector. Postgraduate study in biology, history of science, philosophy of science, or science communication is a well-established route for those wishing to develop specialist expertise.