BASc Life Sciences and Global Sustainable Development
Ecology or Biological Sciences route
Three years full-time programme
Joint honours degree
Study abroad & work placement opportunities
Expand your knowledge of sustainability as you study the natural world through scientific analysis and practical activity on our BASc Life Sciences and Global Sustainable Development (GSD) degree. As the course progresses, you will have the opportunity to choose either a Biological Sciences or Ecology route. Your chosen route will allow you to study modules tailored to your interests and career aspirations.
Duration*
- 3 years full-time; or
- 3 years full-time with integrated study abroad programme; or
- 4 years full-time with intercalated year spent either studying abroad or on work placement.
Entry requirements
Please see our Entry Requirements page.
UCAS code
CATS
An Honours Degree requires a minimum of 360 CATS during the course, comprising 120 CATS per year.
Qualification
Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
Location of study
University of Warwick, Coventry
Tuition fees
Find out more about fees and funding.
Scholarship and Bursaries
Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship
We believe there should be no barrier to talent. That's why we are committed to offering a scholarship that makes it easier for gifted, ambitious international learners to pursue their academic interests at one of the UK's most prestigious universities. This new scheme will offer international fee-paying students 250 tuition fee discounts ranging from full fees to awards of £13,000 to £2,000 for the full duration of your Undergraduate degree course. Find out more about the Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship.
Find out more about scholarships and bursaries.
Additional course costs
There may be costs associated with other items or services such as academic texts, course notes, and trips associated with your course. Students who choose to complete a work placement or study abroad will pay reduced tuition fees for their third year.
* Students are automatically enrolled on the three-year course, however, you have the option to change to a four-year course with an intercalated year in your third year. During the intercalated year, you may pursue a study abroad programme or a work placement (subject to you meeting departmental academic requirements).
What challenges does the natural world face in the wake of unprecedented human impact upon the environment? How might new research and innovations in Life Sciences work to secure the future of sustainable societies by countering infectious disease and biodiversity loss?
By choosing to pursue a degree in Life Sciences and GSD, you will be encountering these questions daily.
You will gain valuable lab and analytical experience whilst studying with Life Sciences. You will apply that knowledge to our current understandings of climate change, social justice, and food security. At the end of the first year, you will choose either a Biological Sciences or Ecology route, allowing you to study modules tailored to your interests and career aspirations.
By studying GSD, you will take a transdisciplinary approach and confront issues from a diverse array of perspectives. You will need to be ready to think creatively and embrace new opinions from your peers from across the world. We will challenge you to become an active participant in your own learning.
You can enhance your skills and studies through optional work placements, study abroad, and certificates.
"This course encourages students to dream of a brighter future"
"Studying both Life Sciences and Global Sustainable Development simultaneously is a truly unique opportunity. This one-of-a-kind course empowers students to bridge the gap between the sciences and the interdisciplinary global sustainability agenda. Through the lens of real-world problems and complex solutions, this course provides in-depth knowledge about how the world works. By combining this knowledge with the principles of sustainable development, this course encourages students to dream of a brighter future and gives them the intellectual tools to make it a reality."
Senior Teaching Fellow, GSD
See the course structure diagram in full here
First Year
Core GSD modules
- Economic Principles of Global Sustainable Development (GD104)
- Social Principles of Global Sustainable Development (GD106)
- Environmental Principles of Global Sustainable Development (GD105)
- Global Sustainable Development Project (GD107)
Core Life Sciences modules
- Molecules, Cells and Organisms (LF104)
- Quantitative Skills for Biology (LF103)
- Tutorial Programme (LF107)
Optional core Life Sciences module
You will choose one module from the following list:
Choosing your route
At the end of your first year you will opt to follow one of two routes, either Biological Sciences or Ecology.
Certificates
Second Year
(remaining at Warwick)
Optional core GSD module
You will choose one module from the following list:
Optional module(s) with a GSD focus
- Approved optional module(s) with a GSD focus, including from other departments across the University
Biological Sciences route
Core Life Sciences modules
Optional core Life Sciences module
You will choose one module from the following list:
Ecology route
Core Life Sciences modules
Optional core Life Sciences modules
You will choose one of the following modules:
You will also choose one of the following modules:
Certificates
Second Year
(integrated year abroad with Terms 2 and 3 at Monash University)
Term 1
Optional core GSD module
You will choose one module from the following list:
Optional module with a GSD focus
- Approved optional module with a GSD focus, including from other departments across the University
Life Sciences modules
For the Life Sciences half of your first term at Warwick, you will study modules within your chosen route.
Terms 2 and 3
Students spend Terms 2 and 3 abroad at Monash University, studying relevant modules. Students are required to register on the module Study Abroad Part-Year (GD200) which recognises the period of study abroad.
Final Year
Core GSD module
Optional module(s) with a GSD focus
- Approved optional module(s) with a GSD focus, including from other departments across the University
Biological Sciences route
Optional core Life Sciences modules
You will select either:
- Research Project (BS341) or
- Exploiting Innovations in Biology (BS365) and Bioenergy and Biorefining (HR305)
You will also choose two modules from the following list:
- Exploiting Innovations in Biology (BS365) (If not already taken)
- Bioenergy and Biorefining (HR305) (If not already taken)
- Science Communication (BS349)
- Synthetic Biology (LF306)
- One World Health and Neglected Tropical Diseases (LF307)
- Integrative Neuroscience (BS362)
- Modern Approaches to Disease (BS374)
- Bacteria: Genes to Behaviour (LF301)
Ecology route
Optional core Life Sciences modules
-
You will select either:
- Research Project (BS341) or
- Environmental Science and Management (BS371) and Extreme Environmental Biology (HR308)
You will also choose two modules from the following list:
- Environmental Science and Management (BS371) (If not taken already)
- Extreme Environmental Biology (HR308) (If not taken already)
- Exploiting Innovations in Biology (BS365)
- Science Communication (BS349)
- Biological Clocks (BS358)
- One World Health and Neglected Tropical Diseases (LF307)
- Principles of Development (BS373)
Certificate
Your university experience could be a truly global one by studying overseas. You can access study abroad opportunities via two routes:
1. Study abroad in terms 2 and 3 of your second year
Read the transcript for this video.
You could spend terms 2 and 3 of your second year studying abroad at our Department's partner institution, Monash University, home to the world-leading Monash Sustainable Development Institute. Our integrated programme is specifically structured so you can spend time abroad without having to extend the overall length of your course. Your academic achievements abroad will count towards your degree awarded by Warwick, meaning your studies will be both rewarding and rewarded! You will continue to pay your course fees in full to Warwick and you will also continue to receive your student loan, if eligible.
2. Year-long study abroad
You may, alternatively, choose to spend an intercalated year at one of Warwick's many other partner institutions across the world. You will spend your first and second years at Warwick, studying abroad in your third year. You will then return to Warwick for your final year. Your year abroad won't count towards your final mark, but it will be recorded on your Higher Education Achievement Report, giving you the freedom to take chances with your module choice and push yourself outside of your comfort zone with your learning. Please see here for more information about the intercalated study abroad opportunity.
Find out more about your options for studying abroad.
Read the transcript for this video.
In the GSD Department, we have a dedicated Employability and Placement Manager who’ll provide you with one-to-one careers guidance. They work in collaboration with employers, so you will be supported in securing appropriate work placements. You will have access to specialist pre-placement advice, guidance and preparation, as well as on-going support during your placement.
Find out more on our Careers pages.
Single honours
Joint honours
- Economic Studies and Global Sustainable Development
- Education Studies and Global Sustainable Development
- Global Sustainable Development and Business Studies
- Hispanic Studies and Global Sustainable Development
- History and Global Sustainable Development
- Philosophy and Global Sustainable Development
- Politics, International Studies and Global Sustainable Development
- Psychology and Global Sustainable Development
- Sociology and Global Sustainable Development
- Theatre and Performance Studies and Global Sustainable Development
93.3%
Our single honours Global Sustainable Development course scored 93.3% for overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2022
87.2%
Our Global Sustainable Development courses (single honours and joint courses collectively) scored 87.2% in the National Student Survey 2022
Our joint honours Global Sustainable Development courses are fully accredited with the Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment. This means that upon graduation from the courses, our students receive a professionally recognised level of knowledge, skills and tools for working in sustainability practice.