Plant Biology
Plant biology is one of the most consequential scientific disciplines of the present century. Plants underpin virtually all terrestrial life on Earth, providing the oxygen we breathe, the food we eat and the materials we build with, while also playing a central role in carbon cycling, water management and the stability of ecological systems. As climate change, population growth and the pressure on agricultural systems intensify, the science of how plants grow, adapt and interact with their environments has become central to some of the most important applied challenges in science and engineering.
At Aberystwyth University, this four-year full-time programme includes a year in industry, giving you professional experience in a plant science, agricultural or related scientific context. Aberystwyth has particular strengths in plant science, hosting internationally recognised research programmes in plant breeding for high-sugar grasses, plant genetics resources and databases, a botany garden and the National Plant Phenomics Centre. You will study plant genetics, physiology, biochemistry, ecology and biotechnology, developing both the scientific knowledge and the laboratory and field skills that professional plant biologists need.
The campus's setting within accessible and diverse countryside provides additional opportunities for field observation and study.
Graduates from plant biology programmes pursue careers in plant breeding, agricultural science, crop research, food science, biotechnology, conservation, horticulture, environmental science and academic research. The sector includes major private companies, public research institutes, international agricultural organisations and government agencies. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study at masters or doctoral level, specialising in plant genetics, crop improvement, plant biochemistry, agronomy or related fields.
The combination of fundamental biology and applied agricultural science that plant biology develops is valued across a sector facing some of the most urgent scientific challenges of the coming decades.