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UWE Bristol · Undergraduate
BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences Bachelor's degree at UWE Bristol
BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences at UWE Bristol covers core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.
BSc (Hons)
Award
–
Years
Part-time
Study mode
University of the West of England
Location
About this course
BSc(Hons) Biological Sciences allows you to explore human biology, ecology and molecular biology and tailor your degree to your own areas of interest. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at UWE Bristol, based in University of the West of England. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Biological Sciences, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 4 modules
- Life on EarthCore
Module details
You'll examine the plants, animals and micro-organisms that make up life on earth, looking at how the living world is structured and how organisms interact with one another and their own environment.
- Human Anatomy and PhysiologyCore
Module details
You'll explore the structure and function of the human body across all major body systems, including support and visceral systems plus mechanisms of action and homeostasis.
- Cells, Biochemistry and GeneticsCore
Module details
You'll explore molecular cell biology, considering what cells are made of, how they function and reproduce, and how we study them.
- Skills for BiosciencesCore
Module details
This module introduces analytical techniques, data handling and statistical methods used within the research process. You'll be introduced to a range of practical and transferable skills including scientific writing, teamwork and research practices.
Year 2 10 modules
- Wildlife EcologyCore
Module details
You'll explore the concepts of animal behaviour and the adaptations that allow animals to exist, interact and behave within their environments and niche habitats.
- Human Health and DiseaseCore
Module details
You'll examine the causes and consequences of human disease, the underlying biochemical and molecular processes involved, and develop the practical skills to investigate and diagnose a range of pathologies.
- Research SkillsCore
Module details
You'll build up the key skills you need as a scientist, learning how to formulate ideas, design and carry out experiments, and collect, interpret and share your data and results.
- GeneticsCore
Module details
You'll develop your understanding of genetic material, how it is studied, the processes it undergoes, and applications and ethics arising from genetic research.
- The Microbial WorldCore
Module details
You'll look at microorganisms in the environment, studying viruses and microorganisms, discovering their role in ecosystems and their impact on humanity.
- Microbial PathogenesisOptional
- Molecular BiotechnologyOptional
- Cell SignallingOptional
- Human PhysiologyOptional
- Plant Growth and SurvivalOptional
Year 3 1 modules
- Professional Practice in Applied SciencesCore
Module details
Placement year module for sandwich course students.
Final year 15 modules
- Research Dissertation ProjectCore
Module details
You'll undertake an independent research project under the guidance of an academic supervisor, developing your skills and knowledge in contemporary scientific research.
- Developmental and Stem Cell ScienceOptional
- Environmental MicrobiologyOptional
- Genomic TechnologiesOptional
- Global Forest SystemsOptional
- Marine EcosystemsOptional
- Medical GeneticsOptional
- Medical MicrobiologyOptional
- Neuroscience and NeuropharmacologyOptional
- PathophysiologyOptional
- Physical Activity, Nutrition and HealthOptional
- Primate Ecology and ConservationOptional
- Science CommunicationOptional
- Sustainable Food ProductionOptional
- Expedition to a Biodiversity HotspotOptional
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.
Who it's for
This course suits those seeking flexible study in biological sciences whilst balancing other commitments. The part-time structure allows you to develop knowledge across core theory and applied practice, with opportunities to specialise according to your interests and career direction.
Careers & job market
Across Biological Sciences courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 60% are in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. National earnings data shows graduates starting at £23,000–£29,000, rising to £25,075–£35,400 after five years. Check UWE Bristol's funding pages for bursaries and scholarships.
University & format
UWE Bristol is a public university founded in 1970, located in Bristol. This BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences is studied part-time and taught in English. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; degrees are nationally recognised. UWE Bristol holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Published entry112 UCAS points typical offer · Grade C in a Science subject · English: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with 5.5 in each component
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
2027 entry deadlineApply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Contextual offersPublished by this provider
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
PlacementPublished placement option
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
2026 entryLive availability check
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of 112 UCAS points Grade C in a Science subject. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
English languageThis course lists IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or equivalent). See the International students section below for the full picture.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check UWE Bristol's official course page for the current offer.
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Offer-based entry
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
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.
Apply byApply directly to the providerfor this course
- 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 Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. 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.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask UWE Bristol whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Homeup to £9,790 / yr
Internationalset by the university
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at UWE Bristol →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
Check providertuition used per year, no published course home fee, total not estimated
total borrowing, course length not published
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.
Funding matched to this course
All UWE Bristol funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Biological Sciences graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 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
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£23,000 – £29,000
After 3 years LEO
£20,400 – £28,800
After 5 years LEO
£25,075 – £35,400
national rangeaxis £19,000 – £36,500
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.
Job market & outlook
How Biological Sciences graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Biological Sciences courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes60%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled90%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow 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 & NordicsJLLLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the West of England, Bristol
All students36,380
International24.8%
Aged 25+34.8%
Biological and sport sciences across the UK
Students111,380
Aged 25+16.5%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around University of the West of England
547 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 188Anti Social Behaviour 89Shoplifting 50Other Theft 43Criminal Damage Arson 37
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 UWE Bristol from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by UWE Bristol; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
This course lists IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with 5.5 in each component. 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 UWE Bristol’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 UWE Bristol and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at UWE Bristol
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
Set by UWE Bristol. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates earn?
See the career and earnings data for Biological Sciences below (national Graduate Outcomes / LEO figures).
What will it cost me?
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. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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