Biology

On our BSc Biology degree course, you won’t have to limit yourself to just one area of Biology. You might be studying microbiology in the morning, and investigating the life found in sand dunes in the afternoon. Our degree structure is flexible and gives you the opportunity to keep your options open or to specialise. 

You will be taught by passionate, engaged, and friendly staff who have expertise across the full range of Biology topics. Our staff are not only lecturers but also active researchers and their research interests feed into our courses, meaning that you will benefit from the very latest information. We have invested heavily in our research facilities over many years, and as part of the Research Project module, you may get the opportunity to work in the research units on the main campus, or in our dedicated research facility at Gogerddan just outside Aberystwyth. 

Your academic studies will be bolstered by a wealth of laboratory and field classes which build real scientific skills essential for your future career. You will explore anatomy and structure, physiology and behaviour, alongside the scientific rationales for habitat requirements and ecosystem interactions. This is a practical course where you will sample, record and analyse data in our excellent, well-equipped laboratories as well as out in the field. Aberystwyth is situated amongst hills, wooded valleys, wetlands, sandy and rocky shores and, of course, alongside the pristine waters of Cardigan Bay. 

If you would like to study Biology with an Integrated Masters, then have a look at our sister course (C109), which has an additional year that allows you to gain a Masters qualification.

Our Staff

The majority of teaching staff in the Department of Life Sciences are qualified to PhD level and are research active. Vocational courses also have staff whose background lies within industry. The Department has a large number of research only staff with whom students may have contact.

Recent graduates are working for education authorities, the Environment Agency, conservation organisations, pharmaceutical companies, the NHS, sea-life centres, public health laboratories and the water industry, to name a few. 

They are working as: 

• research scientists 
• clinical molecular geneticists 
• nature conservation officers 
• educators. 

With a degree in Biology, you could also progress to further training in the following fields: 

• dentistry 
• medicine 
• science writing.  

Aberystwyth University has an excellent Careers Service and we have our own dedicated, professional Careers Advisors. We also have a member of staff who is Director of Employability for the Department, and we are constantly striving to embed and enhance the delivery of real-world skills into every module we offer. 

What skills will I develop while studying Biology? 

Employability is embedded in our teaching. Our students leave Aberystwyth University with the following: 

• research and data analysis skills 
• enhanced mathematical and computational skills 
• effective problem-solving and creative thinking skills 
• information technology skills 
• the ability to work independently 
• time-management and organisational skills, including the ability to meet deadlines 
• the ability to express ideas and communicate information in a clear and structured manner, both written and spoken 
• self-motivation and self-reliance 
• team-working skills, with the ability to discuss concepts in groups, accommodating different ideas and reaching agreement. 

What work experience opportunities are available to me while I study? 

Find out about the various opportunities that our Careers Service offers. 

Enhance your employability prospects with GO Wales and our Year in Employment Scheme. 

It's great, I get to cover a large range of topics which allows me to tailor my modules to my own taste and make it fit my interests and needs. Elizabeth Smith

It is very broad and caters for the interests of anyone wishing to study biology. The modules in the second year allow you to specialize in subject areas that you are interested in. The flexibility of the degree scheme is very attractive to a prospective student who is not yet sure where their true interests lie. The practicals are diverse and well spread over the academic year and reinforce lecture material. Jodie Ackland

Biology is the study of life. To me, that is the most important study of all. From the smallest Archaea in extreme conditions to the dense masses and diversity of a rainforest, Biology covers it all with unbelievable detail and fantastic enthusiasm, particularly at Aberystwyth University. The teaching at Aberystwyth has allowed me to explore certain aspects of biology that I find fascinating, allowing me to acquire skills that will help me succeed in the future with a career I want. Biology at Aberystwyth: I wouldn't have it any other way. Matthew Collins