BSc (Hons) Molecular Biology Bachelor's degree at the University of Manchester
BSc (Hons) Molecular Biology at University of Manchester. Molecular biology sits at the level where biology stops being descriptive and starts being explicable in terms of atoms, bonds and interactions.
About this course
Our BSc Molecular Biology degree will enable you to understand the structure and function of biologically important molecules. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Molecular Biology is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Manchester, based in Main Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry graduates from this provider, 70% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 70% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £32,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Biological Sciences, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 70% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 100% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 10 modules
- Academic Tutorials Year 110 credits
- Biochemistry10 credits
- Molecular Biology10 credits
- From Molecules to Cells10 credits
- Introduction to Laboratory Science10 credits
- Introduction to Experimental Biology - Molecular & Cellular Biology10 credits
- Genes, Evolution and Development10 credits
- Introduction to Microbiology and Immunology10 credits
- Writing and Referencing Skills
Module details
online unit
- Health & Safety online course
Year 2 9 modules
- Academic Tutorials Year 210 credits
- Molecular Biology RSM10 credits
- Molecular and Cellular Biology EDM10 credits
- Genome Maintenance & Regulation10 credits
- Proteins10 credits
- The Dynamic Cell10 credits
- Cell Metabolism & Metabolic Control10 credits
- `Omic Technologies & Resources10 credits
- Science Communication10 credits
Year 3 9 modules
- Molecular Biology - Essay Paper
- Molecular Biology - Problem Paper10 credits
- Projects10 credits
- Life Sciences Enterprise ProjectOptional40 credits
- Science Communication ProjectOptional40 credits
- HSTM ProjectOptional40 credits
- Post-Genome BiologyOptional10 credits
- Structural BiologyOptional10 credits
- Glycobiology: Glycan Function in Health & DiseaseOptional10 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The course is structured to take you from foundational molecular concepts through to independent research practice, with content organised around several strands, such as core theory, research & methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project and professional skills. Core theory covers the fundamental principles of molecular biology, how nucleic acids and proteins are built, how they fold, interact and carry out their functions within cells. Research & methods introduces the experimental techniques that underpin the field, giving you practical grounding in how molecular-level claims are actually tested and evidenced in a laboratory setting. Applied practice extends this into more realistic problem-solving, connecting molecular concepts to real biological questions rather than leaving them abstract. As you progress, specialist options allow you to steer your studies towards the areas of molecular biology that interest you most, while the independent project gives you the chance to design and carry out a substantial piece of work of your own, applying what you've learned to a question you help define. Professional skills run alongside the scientific content, supporting the kind of communication, analysis and organisational ability that matters in research and other graduate careers alike.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who wants to understand biology at the level of molecules rather than stopping at whole organisms or ecosystems, the kind of person who, faced with a biological phenomenon, wants to know what's actually happening chemically and structurally underneath it. If you enjoyed the more analytical, mechanistic side of school science and want to push that further, rather than a broader survey of biology, this is likely to appeal. You should be comfortable with sustained, detail-oriented study: molecular biology rewards patience with complex diagrams, structures and pathways, and a willingness to build understanding cumulatively over three years. Curiosity about laboratory technique matters too, much of what you'll do involves learning how scientists actually generate and interpret molecular evidence, not just reading about conclusions. Most students who join this kind of course arrive with A-levels or equivalent qualifications, around 90% of accepted students nationally came in this way, and the most common UCAS tariff among entrants was more than 240 points, reflecting what students typically had rather than a fixed requirement. Studying here will feel demanding in a specific way: less about memorising facts, more about developing a working, structural intuition for how molecules behave and interact, culminating in an independent project where you get to follow your own scientific curiosity.
Careers & job market
Molecular biology graduates typically move into further study, research, or roles in sectors where a detailed understanding of biological molecules is valuable, from laboratory-based science to health, biotechnology and beyond. Nationally, across Biological Sciences courses, 85% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 60% of those working are in roles classed as highly skilled or are continuing into further study. These figures describe national outcomes for the field rather than results specific to this course or university. On earnings, national Graduate Outcomes/LEO data for Biological Sciences shows starting salaries (15 months after graduating) typically ranging from £23,000 to £29,000. Three years on, the range sits at £20,400 to £28,800, and by five years it moves to £25,075 to £35,400. These are national figures reflecting a spread of outcomes across the whole field, not a promise of what any individual graduate, from this course or any other, will earn. It's also worth noting that continuation is strong nationally: 90% of students in Biological Sciences continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed their studies, which gives some sense of how manageable most students find the transition into this kind of degree.
University & format
This is a full-time, three-year BSc (Hons) delivered in English at the University of Manchester's main campus. The University is a Russell Group institution, founded in 1824, which situates undergraduate teaching within a research-intensive setting. On quality markers, the course benefits from a Silver rating in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 for teaching, and the University is. The degree itself is awarded by a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so the qualification is nationally recognised on completion.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 90% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
| a foundation course | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Manchester →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Biological Sciences graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £32,000 | £26,000 – £33,000 | 10 |
| 3 years after | £26,000 | £22,500 – £32,500 | 65 |
| 5 years after | £33,500 | £27,500 – £46,500 | 70 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in biological sciences · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Biological Sciences nationally
National figures for Biological Sciences graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 10; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Biological Sciences courses at the same study level.
Compared with 771 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Business, Research and Administrative ProfessionalsSOC 2020 243 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £48,746
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Natural and social science professionalsSOC 2020 211 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £44,243
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 70; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Biological Sciences graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Biological Sciences graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- NHS & hospital labs
- Pharma & biotech
- Universities & institutes
- Public-health bodies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Biological Sciences graduates.
Head of School, Biological Sciences - Strategic Leadership & GrowthUNIVERSITY OF READINGEducation-Focused Assistant Professor, Biological SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBiological Structures Data Engineer I/IIIambicBiological Structures Data Engineer I/IIIambic Therapeutics, IncCrop Geneticist The James Hutton Institute, Department of Cell & Molecular SciencesEuropean Plant Science OrganisationRegional Lead, Life Sciences FM, UK, Ireland & NordicsJLLIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
70% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £32,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.7 out of 10: NSS 90.6% · in work or study 70% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Manchester
Biological and sport sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Main Campus
3 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Biological Sciences right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Manchester from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £36,200 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Manchester’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Manchester and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Manchester
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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