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Description
Why study Biological Sciences at Dundee?
The huge breadth of biology offers a corresponding wealth of opportunities for students who choose to study it to follow many paths through to a final degree.
Biological sciences is the growth industry of the 21st century, with increasing capacity for humans to intervene in, control and perhaps repair defective biological systems. Genetic manipulation of plants and animals, in particular, offers enormous possibilities for improving our lives but, at the same time, there are inherent dangers present in the unthinking application of these techniques. The next generation of professional biologists will have to play an important role, not only in the continued development of such methods, but also in deciding how they can be responsibly and safely applied.
Our relationship with the rest of the natural world is one which has been established over many hundreds of millions of years, and the early modules of the biological sciences programme have a strong evolutionary theme. They emphasise the fact that it is impossible to understand any aspect of biology unless you have a clear understanding of its most important general theory evolution by natural selection.
What's so good about Biological Sciences at Dundee?Flexible pathways
The Biological Sciences degree gives you the opportunity to study a wide range of different aspects of the life sciences, or to delay your subject specialisation until you have gained experience of a variety of different subject areas.
You can choose both to specialise later in your studies and study for a more specifically named degree (see related courses below), or if you wish to maintain a broad learning experience, you can graduate in Biological Sciences.
Lab work and field workThroughout the programme there is an emphasis on laboratory teaching, and students are encouraged to see the blending of field and laboratory based research as essential to the training of a properly rounded biological scientist.
Students on the Biological Sciences degree programme participate with all our students in a number of field visits that take advantage of our unique proximity to an unrivalled variety of natural habitats, from sandy shores to mountain tops.
The programme of Honours research projects benefits from our links with outside bodies such as the Scottish Crop Research Institute and the Game Conservancy Trust.
Annie Irving is a graduate in Biological Sciences. She says "The practicals in my sciences classes were brilliant. The ability to work with lecturers from Ninewells and experts in the fields was a great experience. The projects and labs were like a brain massage, both intellectually stimulating, but fun as well!"
Study abroadThere are also opportunities to study abroad, for example on the Transatlantic Student Exchange Scheme.
CareersStatistics for recent years show us that our graduates find employment in a very wide variety of destinations. Perhaps most importantly, our graduates consistently figure close to the top of national league tables of graduate employment in life sciences.
Examples of recent employment destinations for Dundee life sciences graduates include government research institutes, teaching and research in universities, teaching in primary and secondary schools, the pharmaceutical and food industries, and conservation bodies.
Throughout your studies you will also be developing transferable skills such as:
- Information processing
- Use of computers
- Problem solving
- Experimental design
- Analysis and critical evaluation of scientific literature
- Report writing
- Making presentations
- Communication
- Time management
These will help to ensure that you have the skills to make you attractive to a wide range of employers.
Postgraduate StudySome of our students proceed to higher degrees (MSc or PhD) and go on to undertake or supervise original research.
We offer a number of Masters level courses in addition to PhD research opportunities in the College of Life Sciences.
Detailed Course Facts
Application deadline January 15 Tuition feeThe fees you pay will, in most cases, depend on your current country of residence.
The fee shown is annual, and may be subject to an increase each year.
Fee category
Fees for students starting September 2015
Scottish students
£1,820 per year of study (for Sept 2014 entry). Fees for September 2015 will be confirmed by the Scottish Government in early 2015.
Rest of UK students
£9,000 per year, for a maximum of 3 years, even if you are studying a four year degree. See our scholarships for rest of UK applicants.
EU students
£1,820 per year of study (for Sept 2014 entry). Fees for September 2015 will be confirmed by the Scottish Government in early 2015.
Overseas students (non-EU)
£15,950 per year of study. See our scholarships for international applicants.
Not specified Start date September 2015 Course start date is in September Duration full-time 48 months Languages Take an IELTS test- English
Course Content
Programme progressionThe Biological Sciences degree is a broad-based programme which allows you to combine a wider range of subjects than a single Honours degree.
If you choose to leave at the end of Level 3 with a non-Honours degree, you will graduate with a BSc Ordinary degree in Biological Sciences that reflects the breadth of subjects you studied at Level 3, as well as the core knowledge and skills gained throughout your degree programme.
If you are aiming for an Honours degree it is likely that this will be in a single named subject e.g. BSc (Hons) Biochemistry.
However, there are also options to study a combination of two main subjects at Levels 3 and 4, e.g. biochemistry and pharmacology, and graduate with a BSc Honours degree that reflects your subject choice e.g. BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology).
What you will studyTypical Degree Programme
Levels 1 and 2
All Life Sciences degree programmes share common core modules at Level 1 that provide a general introduction to the life sciences through an integrated programme of lectures, tutorials, practical work and field excursions.
Please refer to the Biological/Biomedical Sciences degree structure and overview webpage for details of the common curriculum in Levels 1 and 2.
Levels 3 and 4
At Levels 3 and 4 you will study a combination of modules appropriate to your chosen degree subject within the biological sciences theme:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery
- Microbiology
All modules are assessed by a combination of in-course and end-of-course procedures. Regular in-course assessments (e.g. practical reports, computer-based exercises, essays and data processing exercises) provide feedback on your progress and help you prepare for end-of-module examinations.
On-line assignments are used extensively at Levels 1 and 2, with access via a PC on or off campus. Peer assessment operates in many team projects.
Requirements
See Course Homepage for Full Details
Work Experience
No work experience is required.
Related Scholarships*
- Academic Excellence Scholarship
"The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."
- Access Bursary
Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.
- Alumni Bursary
Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students
* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Dundee.
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