Biological Sciences

The Biological Sciences BSc offers you an extremely wide choice of optional modules ranging from molecular genetics to behaviour and ecology, and a flexible programme of study. Taught across the Faculty of Life Sciences, we offer a breadth of biological education unmatched in almost any other UK university.

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 0.5 or 1.0 credits, adding up to a total of 4.0 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 1.0 credit is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

The first year of this programme covers a core range of subjects from across the spectrum of biological sciences, giving you a firm foundation upon which to base your later choices. 
In your second year, you can either continue towards a degree in general biological sciences, or you can choose from five specialised degree pathways.

In your third year you have the choice to take modules from many different subjects across UCL. You can choose a research or a literature project based with one of UCL's research groups.

Specialist degree programmes

You can transfer to any of the following specialist degree programmes after year one:

• Biodiversity and Conservation focuses on the interactions between organisms and populations with the environments they inhabit;
• Cell Biology focuses on cell function and its role in major human diseases;
• Genetics focuses on evolutionary, genomic and population genetics;
• Human Genetics focuses on gene function in disease; and
• Zoology focuses on the study of animals in all their complexity and diversity.

A levels

Grades - AAA

Subjects

Biology required plus one from Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics.

GCSEs

English Language and Mathematics at grade B. For UK-based students, a grade C or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs

IB Diploma

Points - 38

Subjects

A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects including Biology at grade 6 and one from Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics, with no score below 5.