Biology with a Year in Applied Research

Biology is the science of life in all its extraordinary diversity, from the molecular machinery inside a cell to the ecology of entire biomes. It explores how living organisms are built, how they function, how they reproduce and evolve, and how they interact with each other and with the physical environment they inhabit. The discipline is at the centre of some of the most important questions facing humanity, from the causes and treatment of disease to the conservation of biodiversity and the development of sustainable food systems.

At Swansea University, this four-year, full-time programme includes a year in applied research, which gives you a full year of immersive experience in a research setting before you complete your degree. This is a transformative opportunity: you will work alongside professional researchers in a relevant laboratory, institute, or field-based organisation, developing the research skills, scientific judgment, and professional confidence that applied biological work requires. The year in applied research is particularly valuable for those who wish to pursue postgraduate study or a research career, and it also builds practical experience that is attractive to employers across the biological sciences and healthcare sectors.

Studying living organisms in their full variety, from the smallest scale of molecular biology to the largest scale of ecological systems, gives you a scientific worldview that is both rigorous and wide-ranging. Graduates go on to careers in research, biotechnology, environmental science, conservation, healthcare science, food science, education, and science communication. Many continue to postgraduate study or doctoral research in biological sciences, ecology, biomedical research, or related fields, building on the strong academic and research foundation the programme provides.