BSc (Hons) Biology Bachelor's degree at the University of Portsmouth

Through a mixture of lectures, workshops, and practical classes, you'll delve into evolutionary concepts and the fundamentals of phylogenetics. You'll also gain an understanding of the rich diversity of life from its origins to present day and you'll explore the major groups of organisms from the smallest bacteria to the largest plants and animals. This module will give you a strong foundation on which to build your understanding of diversity, ecological processes, choice of biomedical or industrial model organisms, comparative physiology and more.

You'll develop a strong understanding of the structure and function of the molecules and organelles that make up living cells. Sessions in laboratories will see you build your practical confidence in using key biochemical and microbiological techniques. Your progress on this module will see you explore the diversity of microbial life, including how microorganisms grow and how they are studied in the labs.

You'll be given a thorough introduction to key laboratory equipment, techniques and methods that are widely used in biological sciences, and that will allow you to adopt good laboratory practice (glp). You'll learn these important lab techniques through various hands-on lab practical sessions, providing a learning-by-doing approach. Additionally, a series of lectures and computer sessions will provide theory and practise for experimental design strategies and statistical analyses of resulting data sets, providing fundamental skills for interpreting scientific experiments and data. these skills will collectively form a basis for your future scientific studies and careers.

On this module, you'll explore the basics of ecology, including core concepts such as biodiversity and surveying techniques. You will develop your understanding of human impacts on ecosystems across the world and through time. engaging local field days will support your learning, develop your practical skills, and enable you to see ecological theory in practice in a range of habitats.

Explore how plants and animals are adapted to their environments, linking physiology, structure and behaviour to evolution and ecology. you'll compare adaptations across marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, from plant growth and reproduction to animal responses to temperature and oxygen. You'll also develop practical and data-handling skills by collecting, analysing and communicating biological data from real plant and animal studies.

This module will introduce you to the core principles of genetics, from inheritance and gene expression to molecular and evolutionary processes. You'll work with real genetic data through practical sessions and interactive workshops, building confidence in analysing sequences, mutations and inheritance patterns. You'll also apply bioinformatic tools and case studies to solve problems and understand how genetics informs modern bioscience research.

Learn how to plan and design a scientific research project, exploring experimental design, ethics and health and safety. You'll develop practical data analysis and coding skills by working with real datasets and using r to run and interpret statistical tests. You'll strengthen your career readiness by developing academic writing skills, creating professional cvs and cover letters, and reflecting on your future career goals.

You’ll get familiar with the big issues and contemporary debates in education studies as well as the role and expectations of a teacher. You’ll develops fundamental knowledge and skills that teachers require, as well as your capability to structure and critique a lesson plan.

This module will see you study microbial interactions with humans, animals, and plants, and will learn about antimicrobial resistance. You will also learn how microbes can modify the availability of essencial nutrients and their role in the environment. In the laboratory practical sessions, you will learn how to work independently in a microbiology lab and how to cultivate and identify microbes.

This module will see you examine in context the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underpin cell division, differentiation and death. you'll connect core cell biology to human disease and modern therapeutic approaches. Through hands-on laboratory work, you'll also develop practical experience with immunological techniques used in cellular and molecular biology.

The teaching and learning is accelerated to enable non-business students to gain a flavour of real world entrepreneurial opportunity as it exists within the bioscience sector and how they might successfully access it. The module will: develop graduate skills inclusive of enterprise, self-starting, effective communication, effective team work to include cooperation, negotiation and diversity, effective project management, problem solving, decision making, independent development by reflection and handling critical feedback, research and critical skills analysis, effective use of it, numeracy and literacy. It also provides a medium for students to develop 'simulated business relationships' to

You'll discover how species interact within marine and terrestrial ecosystems and what shapes biodiversity and ecological balance. Take part in a week-long field course to develop practical skills in sampling, data analysis, and experimental design. Learn to apply ecological theory to real-world challenges and communicate your findings like a professional scientist.

Through hands-on fieldwork, you'll nurture your ability to collect, collate, and analyze environmental data using real-world quantitative techniques. Working closely with peers, you'll strengthen your teamwork skills while exploring the diverse challenges and opportunities within the environmental sector. By the end of the module, you'll not only gain practical experience but also develop the professional competencies that set you up for a successful career in environmental consultancy or other exciting roles in the field.

This module introduces you to developmental biology, exploring how complex organisms form, grow and change from early development through to adulthood. You'll learn how organs develop, how things can go wrong before birth, and how cells and stem cells help repair tissues later in life, linking development to disease and modern medicine. Taught by active researchers, the module combines lectures, workshops and practical sessions to build your understanding, curiosity and confidence in this fascinating area of biomedical science.

You'll plan and deliver an independent research project guided by your interests and career ambitions. Through structured supervision and self-directed enquiry, you'll strengthen your ability to frame research questions, work with evidence, and evaluate findings critically. The module helps you build confidence as an emerging professional, preparing you for postgraduate study or graduate roles that require independent thinking, problem solving and clear communication.

You'll explore how biological, evolutionary and ecological processes create and maintain diversity, from visible traits to genetic variation within and between species. You'll investigate real-world research questions using current scientific methods, learning how researchers study past, present and future biological change. You'll also engage with staff-led research on plants and animals, building confidence in analysing evidence, evaluating techniques and communicating scientific ideas clearly.

You'll discover how marine ecosystems function and the impact of human activity on biodiversity. Learn the principles of conservation and restoration through labs, workshops, and field trips. Develop practical skills in ecological data collection and analysis while exploring strategies to protect vulnerable species and habitats.

In this module you'll discover the complexities of gene regulation, focusing on how gene expression is controlled at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Through hands-on workshops you'll develop your data analysis abilities for gene expression studies, learning how to find, access, and effectively use key information from sequence databases. you'll also investigate the wider applications of genome analysis and critically eavluate methodologies for sequencing human genomes. by the end you'll deepen your understanding of gene regulation and its role in health and disease.

Through real world examples, fieldtrips and workshops you'll develop your understanding of conservation, habitat restoration and protected areas management. You'll explore conservation challenges from a range of perspectives and learn how to develop tailored and targeted environmental messaging for diverse stakeholders. In a supportive environment, you'll develop your own environmental code and vision for conservation.

Bioinfomatics is an essential part in modern life sciences. this module will introduce key concepts in bioinformatics and its application in various fields of biology and biochemistry. You'll develop practical skills in computer workshops. these include the application of web-based apps and databases, as well as scripting to employ existing programme libraries.

You'll take part in an exciting field course in a tropical country, applying classroom learning to real environments in different cultural and climatic settings. you'll investigate human impacts on marine and terrestrial ecosystems, explore conservation practices, and consider solutions for protecting and restoring fragile environments. you'll work as part of a research team to design studies, collect and analyse field data, and build confidence in presenting professional environmental research findings.

The aim of this module is to enable students to understand and apply a variety of applied approaches to environmental management. the techniques include carbon auditing, waste management, ecological mapping and impact assessment. these applications are used in the world of work and the module is designed to enhance the student's employability skills. the assessment is via reports which are representative of the types of report graduates will be expected to produce.

In this module, you'll study the presence, functions and activity of microbes in their natural environments; looking at how they adapt to different environments and interact with each other. You'll learn modern approaches and techniques - including advanced molecular methods - and apply these in practical lab sessions after which you'll interpret and analyse results in scientific reports. In computational workshops you'll learn how to analyse microbiome sequence data and enhance on the skills needed for exciting careers in microbiome sciences.

In this research-led module you'll explore current hot topics in developmental biology. embryonic development not only is a fundamental life process but also holds the key to understanding birth defects and regeneration. Through seminars and workshops you'll delve into current research papers, giving you the opportunity to learn about advanced methods and to analyse and interpret experimental evidence. With the focus on up-to-date research, you'll also develop critical and reflective knowledge and understanding of developmental biology and its medical applications.