Biology
Entry requirements
A level
The Department requires one of the following subjects as essential for entry: GCE A Level: Biology, Applied Science
Access to HE (Science) Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at Merit
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
including 5 in HL Biology
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
including H3 in Biology
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
BTEC Extended Diploma (Applied Science or Animal Management): DMM
Scottish Higher
including Biology
T Level
T Level must be in Science
UCAS Tariff
About this course
Gain practical experience in areas at the forefront of knowledge on this dynamic Biology degree.
Our Biology course offers a range of subjects and unique experiences due to links with Chester Zoo and other leading institutes, industries and charities. We supplement classroom learning with opportunities for work placements or fieldwork, and there are also opportunities to take part in exciting laboratory-based research.
This course introduces a variety of topics across the whole field of modern biology and emphasises that it is a science firmly grounded in observation and experimentation. We will encourage you to become a member of relevant, professional societies, such as a member of the Royal Society of Biology, and participate at organised events.
Exciting Research Opportunities
We undertake diverse research activities that ensure enthusiastic delivery of contemporary content. These include countering the illegal trade in endangered species using DNA-based techniques; improved understanding of disease processes; cancer biology; microbiology; animal behaviour; and conservation biology.
If you’re interested in research, we have an experiential module that involves a range of field trips. In the past we have been to the Philippines, Madagascar and Egypt.
Modules
For the latest example of curriculum availability on this degree programme please refer to the University of Chester's Website.
Assessment methods
Assessment consists of coursework and end-of-module examinations (typically 50:50 in a module). Coursework can include practical reports, fieldwork, extended essays, presentations, posters or seminars.
Tuition fees
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What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Biology (non-specific)
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Biology (non-specific)
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
The recession was tough on biology graduates, and although the jobs market has improved for them - a lot - it's still not back to where it was a few years ago. If you want a career in biology research — and a lot of biology students do - you'll need to take a doctorate, so give some thought as to where you might do it and how you might fund it (the government still funds doctorates for good students). A lot of graduates also take 1 year Masters courses to specialise in this wide and deep subject - most students take a standard biology course for their first degree and then specialise in subjects like ecology, conservation or marine biology later. Hospitals, universities, biotech firms, zoos and nature reserves and clinical and scientific testing are common industries of employment for biology graduates.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Biology (non-specific)
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£19k
£21k
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.
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Course location and department:
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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):
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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).
This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.
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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.
You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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