Biological Sciences is the study of biology in its broadest sense – from the smallest molecules to large populations. Of the four degree courses taught by the School of Life Sciences, this is our widest ranging and most flexible degree in terms of module choice. You will study the molecules and cells that are the basis of life, through to biology of organisms (animals, plants, bacteria and viruses) and populations (evolution, epidemiology of disease, ecosystems).

This course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB).

Biological sciences students looking through microscopes

Our Biological Sciences course spans the entire scale of biological systems, from molecules to ecosystems. Our exceptionally wide range of options allows you to choose modules that are best suited to your interests and career ambitions.

You will be exposed to cutting-edge research in molecular, cellular and whole organism biology, while covering applications of science to major global challenges such as environmental management, food security and human health.

Our four-year MBio with Industrial Placement gives you the opportunity to undertake an extended final-year research project in industry.

Entry requirements

A levels

A level typical offer

AAA including Biology and a second Science (e.g., Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Applied Science, Environmental Science, Statistics, Geology, Geography, or Psychology)

A*AA including Biology.

A level additional information

Applicants who are not taking Chemistry at A Level must have grade C/5 in GCSE Chemistry or grades C,C/5,4 in GCSE Combined Science.

A level contextual offer

We welcome applications from candidates who meet the contextual eligibility criteria and whose predicted grades are close to, or slightly below, the contextual offer level. The typical contextual offer is AAB including Biology, or ABB including Biology and one of the following: Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Environmental Science, Statistics, Geology, Geography, or Psychology. See if you're eligible.

General GCSE requirements

Unless specified differently above, you will also need a minimum of GCSE grade 4 or C (or an equivalent qualification) in English Language and either Mathematics or a Science subject. Find out more about our entry requirements and the qualifications we accept.

We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.

International Baccalaureate (IB) typical offer

36 including 5 in HL Biology and 5 in HL Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Geography, or Psychology

38 including 5 in HL Biology

Applicants not taking Chemistry at Higher Level must meet essential Chemistry requirements with:

Grade 4 in Chemistry at Standard Level
Grade C/5 in GCSE Chemistry (or equivalent)
Grades C,C/5,4 in GCSE Combined Science

International Baccalaureate (IB) contextual offer

32 including 5 in HL Biology and 5 in HL Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Geography, or Psychology.

34 including 5 in HL Biology

Applicants not taking Chemistry at Higher Level must meet essential Chemistry requirements with:

Grade 4 in Chemistry at Standard Level
Grade C/5 in GCSE Chemistry (or equivalent)
Grades C,C/5,4 in GCSE Combined Science

See if you're eligible.

General GCSE requirements

We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.

Other UK qualifications

BTEC

We welcome applications from students taking BTECs as long as essential subject requirements are met. We are happy to consider applicants who are studying BTECs alongside A Level Biology. We are also happy to consider applicants who have taken the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science on an individual basis.

Scotland Advanced Highers

AA in two Advanced Highers in Biology and one of the following: Chemistry, Mathematics, Mathematics of Mechanics, Physics, Statistics, Engineering Science, or Psychology - and AAB in three further Highers subjects.

AA in two Advanced Highers including Biology and AAA in three further Highers subjects.

Applicants who are not taking Chemistry at Advanced Higher must have grade C in Chemistry at either National 5 or Higher.

Welsh Baccalaureate

AAB in three subjects at A level including Biology and one of the following: Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Environmental Science, Statistics, Geology, Geography, or Psychology - plus grade C in the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales.

AAA in three subjects at A level including Biology plus grade C in the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales.

Applicants who are not taking Chemistry at A level must have grade C/5 in GCSE Chemistry or grades C,C/5,4 in GCSE Combined Science.

Access to Higher Education Diplomas

We will consider applicants returning to study who are presenting a QAA-recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma on a case-by-case basis.

Typically, we require 45 Credits at Level 3, including Distinction in 33 Level 3 credits and Merit in 12 Level 3 Credits. We may also require subject specific credits or an A level to be studied alongside the Access to Higher Education Diploma to fulfil essential subject requirements.

General GCSE requirements

We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.

International English language requirements Frequently asked questions

Does Warwick make contextual offers?

Warwick may make differential offers to students in certain circumstances, such as those who have participated in a Widening Participation programme or who meet the University’s contextual data criteria. These offers are usually one or two grades below Warwick’s standard offer.

Do you offer foundation programmes?

All students who successfully complete the Warwick International Foundation Programme (IFP) and apply to Warwick through UCAS will receive a guaranteed conditional offer for a related undergraduate programme, for selected courses only. Further details are available in the standard offer and conditions for the IFP.

Can I take a gap year before starting my course?

Yes, Warwick welcomes applications for deferred (gap year) entry.

Will I need to interview for this course?

Warwick does not typically interview applicants. Offers are made based on the UCAS application, including predicted and achieved grades, the personal statement, and the school reference.

Modules

We recognise that your interest in particular aspects of biology will develop as you learn. In the first year of all degree programmes, we offer a core syllabus encompassing essential concepts in biology and biochemistry to provide a strong foundation. Beyond this core curriculum, you have the flexibility to tailor your academic path in all years of study by selecting from a variety of optional modules. This optionality allows you to explore specialised areas of biology that align with your evolving interests and career aspirations throughout your entire course of study.

In your third year you will complete a challenging research project on an area of particular academic interest. This may be lab-based or involve data analysis and will give you invaluable experience of applying your subject knowledge to real-life workplace challenges.

The fourth year comprises of an Extended Research Project and Research Skills (training in advanced laboratory techniques, data handling and statistical analyses, critical analysis of the literature and designing research proposals.

Note that information found by following the links to the module catalogue is subject to change for future years of study, as we evolve our courses in response to the latest developments in academia and industry.

Year 1

You will choose three optional modules, typically from the following list:

Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Additional modules

Fees and funding

Home

Tuition fee

£10,050

For the 2027-28 academic year, the UK government announced in March 2026 that the tuition fee cap for UK undergraduate students for the 2027-28 academic year would be £10,050.

If you are joining Warwick for the 2026-27 academic year, the University of Warwick’s Executive Board has confirmed a change in fees to £9,790 (from the 2025-26 rate of £9,535), following the UK government announcement in November 2025 to increase in the tuition fee cap for Home students for the 2026-27 academic year.

Students who qualify for government-regulated fees are classed as ‘Home’ students for fees purposes. In future years, fees for continuing students may be subject to an increase in fees in line with any inflationary uplift as determined by the UK Government (if permitted by law or government policy).

How are fees set? Fee status guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee statusLink opens in a new window

Funding your studies

Eligibility for student finance (including the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)Link opens in a new window) will depend on certain criteria, such as your nationality, residency status, course, and previous level of study.

The information below is based on the package of financial support available to students starting their course in 2026.

Check if you're eligible for student financeLink opens in a new window

Tuition Fee Loan

Eligible Home students residing in England can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, which is not based on household income, to cover your tuition fees
The Loan is paid directly to the University so, if you choose to take the full Tuition Fee Loan, you will not need to set up any payments

Maintenance Loan for living costs

You can apply for a Maintenance Loan to help with your living costs, such as accommodation, food, books and bills
This loan is means-tested, so the amount you receive is partially based on your household income and if you choose to live at home or away from home
For the latest information about student loans, including how you repay them, visit Student finance for undergraduatesLink opens in a new window

Repaying your loans

You will repay your loan or loans gradually once you are working and earning above a certain amount. For students starting their course after 1 August 2023 (on Student Finance England’s Plan 5), you will repay when your income is over £25,000 a year.

Repayments will be taken directly from your salary if you are an employee. If your income falls below the earnings threshold or you stop working, your repayments will stop until your income goes back up above this figure.

Find out more about repaying your student loanLink opens in a new window

Home students residing outside of England Part-time work

Access thousands of part-time opportunities through our agency UnitempsLink opens in a new window (such as office work, retail jobs or helping at events)
Choose to apply for a job as one of our Student Ambassadors to share your own experience at events like Open Days

Financial support The Warwick Bursary

Provides additional financial support for qualifying Home students from lower income families of up to £2,500 for eligible students
This bursary is paid directly into your bank account in three equal termly instalments to help with the costs of studying
There is no application for this bursary as your details will be provided directly from the student support awarding bodies (Student Finance England, Student Finance Northern Ireland, and Student Awards Agency Scotland)

Find out more about The Warwick Bursary

Other scholarships and bursaries Hardship funds Does the department offer any specific scholarships and bursaries?

Overseas

Tuition fee

If you are an overseas student enrolling in 2027-28, your annual tuition fees will be as follows:

Band 0 - £21,950 per year

Band 1 – £29,260 per year (classroom-based courses, including Humanities and most Social Science courses)

Band 2 – £37,310 per year (laboratory-based courses, plus Mathematics, Statistics, Theatre and Performance Studies, Economics, and courses provided by Warwick Business School, with exceptions)

Overseas Tuition fees for 2028-29 academic year have not been set. In future years, fees for continuing students may be subject to an increase in fees in line with an inflationary uplift. Please check our website for updates about 2028-29 fee rates before you apply.

If you are an EU student and eligible for student finance, you may be able to get a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your fees, please visit our Student Funding webpage for guidance for students ordinarily resident outside of England.

Fee status guidance

Find out more about how universities assess fee statusLink opens in a new window

Funding your studies

Eligibility for student finance will depend on certain criteria, such as your nationality, residency status, course, and previous level of study. The information below is based on the package of financial support available to students starting their course in 2026.

Check if you're eligible for student financeLink opens in a new window

Tuition Fee Loan (eligible EU students)

Eligible European Union (EU) Undergraduates can apply for a loan to help with the cost of Tuition Fees. Eligible EU students who meet additional residency criteria may also be eligible for a loan to assist with living costs. For more information please see Student Finance for Undergraduates - EU StudentsLink opens in a new window.

Part-time work

Access thousands of part-time opportunities through our agency UnitempsLink opens in a new window (such as office work, retail jobs or helping at events)
Choose to apply for a job as one of our Student Ambassadors to share your own experience at events like Open Days

International scholarships

If you are an international student, you may be eligible for financial help from your own government, from the British Council or from other funding agencies. You can usually request information on scholarships from the Ministry of Education in your home country, or from the local British Council office.

A number of scholarship opportunities are open to full-time undergraduate students. These include sporting and musical bursaries, and scholarships offered by commercial organisations.

Discover our full range of scholarships and bursaries

Hardship funds

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2026/27 year of study). Information about module specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Are there any course specific costs?

Where a Year 4 MBio research project requires attendance at the Innovation Campus in Stratford-upon-Avon, students will be required to cover any additional travel costs incurred, as this location is separate from the main University campus.

Teaching and learning

Teaching

Students learn through a combination of tutorials, lectures, laboratory work, and independent and group research.

Purpose-built teaching facilities are fully integrated with research laboratories, meaning you will be learning alongside teaching and research staff who are at the cutting edge of their fields. You will spend one or two days a week undertaking lab work.

This becomes more project-oriented in your second year, culminating in an individual research project in your third year. In their final year, MBio students undertake a further 27-week research project.

Class sizes

Our first-year cohort comprises around 400 students drawn from our four-degree streams (Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry and Neuroscience).

Class sizes vary significantly between modules, with lectures, labs, workshops and tutorials covering a broad mix of teaching types and spaces.

Most first year lectures are delivered to the full cohort in our Biomedical Research Building Lecture Theatre, while second- and third-year modules are more degree specific, typically ranging from 50 to 200 students per module.

Tutorials are typically taught in small groups of around seven students, with occasional larger sessions, while our teaching laboratories accommodate approximately 100 students per session.

Typical contact hours

10-16 hours per week over 25 weeks. In your first year you should expect around 10 lectures per week, a half to a full day in the lab and a taught tutorial with your personal tutor and 6-7 of your peers.

Independent learning, reading and preparing for lectures, as well as preparing assessments, will occupy the rest of your study time.

Assessment Study abroad

Careers

Career pathways

Graduates on our courses have gone on to work for employers including:

AstraZeneca
NHS
Civil Service
KPMG
Johnson and Johnson
Tesla
ALS: Sarstedt Ltd
Novartis
Universities and Schools

They have pursued roles such as:

Graduate-entry medicine students
NHS scientists
Biomedical research and development scientists
Scientific publishing professionals
Laboratory technicians
Teachers
Business, marketing and accountancy professionals
Postgraduate student or researcher

Find out more about career opportunities from Life Sciences.

Careers support

Throughout your time in the School of Life Sciences your personal tutor, and careers and placements staff will work in conjunction with Student Opportunity to support you to find the right career. Through our unique taught tutorial system, you put into practice a range of scientific and transferable skills. As a Life Sciences student you will develop the hands-on laboratory, problem solving and research skills desired by employers. Our graduates are highly employable and go on to a range of scientific and non-scientific careers.

Our unique careers and placements service is tailored to your academic subject area. Our team offer a range of activities within the School to help you to consider your career once you graduate. Opportunities include:

One-to-one careers advice appointments within the School
Termly networking events featuring presentations from Life Sciences alumni and employers about a range of careers
The option to undertake a full year industrial placement or study abroad year as part of your degree
A wide range of summer work placement opportunities in industry and the School
Careers talks throughout the degrees to ensure that you are thinking about your next steps throughout the programme
Links with Warwick alumni to present to you the potential pathways of your degree

Find out more about careers support at Warwick.

Placements and work experience

Our Student Opportunity (Careers) department offer a wide range of workshops, from developing confidence and interview techniques to learning how to articulate what you have to offer in order to impress potential employers. Online resources are also available, including training in drafting CVs and covering letters, practice aptitude and psychometric tests, practice online interviews, and other resources to help you research job opportunities. The myAdvantage databaseLink opens in a new window also advertises job, placement and internship vacancies that are from employers who are targeting Warwick students for their recruitment.

Within the School of Life Sciences, all of our degrees offer a placement year option of either a year’s work experience or a year’s study abroad, and our in-house placement officer provides support.

Life at Warwick

This is where your journey begins. Our campus is the heart of it all. It’s more than just a campus - it's the places you visit, the people you meet, the fun that you have; the experiences you have here will be transformative.

Explore Life at Warwick

Day in the life

Our campus

Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.

Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus

Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.

Teaching facilities

Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.

Oculus,  our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
The  University Library
Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more

Supporting you

Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.

Accommodation Societies

Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.

Explore Warwick Students' Union societies and sports clubsLink opens in a new window

Why Warwick

Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.

Warwick Rankings

68th

Warwick is ranked 68th in the world and top 10 in all major UK league tables

(QS World University Rankings 2027Link opens in a new window, see our Reputation page for details)

92%

Of our research has been assessed to be 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent' in the Research Excellence Framework

(REF 2021Link opens in a new window)

Gold

Awarded Gold in all categories

(Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023Link opens in a new window)

Alumni

Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.

As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.

Learn more about our Alumni community

About the department

School of Life Sciences at Warwick

Top 6%

of universities globally,

(Times Higher World University Rankings 2024Link opens in a new window)

90%

of research in the School of Life Sciences was rated as 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent' .

(REF2021Link opens in a new window)

Warwick Life Sciences is an international centre of excellence with more than 90% of our research rated as 'world leading or internationally excellent' in the REF 2021 assessment. Our focus is in excellent teaching and research with impact.

Find out more about us on our website

Our courses

Related degrees

Our facilities

As a School of Life Sciences student, you will have access to high-quality teaching facilities. You will be taught in dedicated lecture rooms and have access to a variety of work spaces.

Our facilities include:

Our Interactive Computational Learning Suite which contains 120 iMacs for bioinformatics and computational skills teaching and a range of bio-analytical technology resources
Full access to our BioMed Grid based on Gibbet Hill Campus, a learning environment for biologists with reference books, careers information, video editing, SMART boards, plasma screens and presentation rooms

QuBiC provides an opportunity for you to obtain support with the data handling skills that are important for Life Science research and a range of careers. The Centre provides drop-in sessions for students at all levels within the School

Our Gibbet Hill campus is surrounded by lush greenery and nestled next to Tocil Wood and nature reserves, it provides a peaceful and inspiring environment for study and research. State-of-the-art labs and modern lecture theatres sit alongside open green spaces, perfect for relaxing between classes or taking a refreshing walk. The on-site café offers a welcoming space to connect with fellow students, while the main campus is just a short walk away, ensuring easy access to Warwick’s wider academic and social opportunities.

U-C1A7/FullTime

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