BSc (Hons) Molecular Biology and Genetics with a Placement Year

Course Overview

After the enormous advances made in the last few years, this is the perfect time to study molecular biology and genetics. Studying this BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics with a Placement Year will provide you with a fundamental grounding in biology while allowing you to determine which areas of molecular biology or genetics best align with your interests.

You’ll study alongside students from other biology courses and will have the flexibility to shape your degree to reflect the areas of biology you want to explore. This may include specialising in medical genetics, biotechnology, or agriculture, as well as their applications in fields such as human health and disease, microbial or plant molecular biology, cellular signaling, and evolutionary biology.

This four-year programme follows the structure of our BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics while giving you the opportunity to spend your third year on a work placement of your choice. A placement year makes an invaluable addition to your scientific knowledge and skills, increasing your employability and giving you the chance to put your first two years of learning into practice. Your placement can be in the UK or abroad, with recent students traveling to Europe, Australia, and North America. Previous students have worked in large pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline, small biotechnology companies such as Phico Therapeutics, or research institutes like the John Innes Centre, the Quadram Institute, and the Earlham Institute.

At UEA, you’ll benefit from our enviable position as an integral partner of the Norwich Research Park, which is home to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and independent, world-renowned research institutes: the John Innes Centre, the Sainsbury Laboratory, the Quadram Institute (a food and health research centre), and the Earlham Institute (a genomics, bioinformatics, and molecular biology research centre).

In your final year, you’ll have the chance to further develop your skills with an independent research project in a unique area of science and could even see your research published. 

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.

You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.

English and Mathematics

All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade 4.

We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.

Typical International Entry Requirements

We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students.

A levels

AAB including Biology or Human Biology

Where applicable, Science A Levels awarded by an English exam board require a pass in the practical element. Not accepted: Critical Thinking and General Studies.

International Baccalaureate

33 points overall with HL 5 in Biology

INTO UEA

If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

• IELTS:  6.0  overall (minimum 5.5  in all components) 

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

  If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.

Deferred Entry

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.

Recent Study

We would prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.

Employability

Our courses don't just provide you with scientific knowledge; they also develop your skills in the areas of research and communication, IT and data science, data collection, analytics and critical thinking. Our graduates have entered careers in pharmaceuticals, food and brewing industries, medical laboratories, forensic sciences, conservation management, environmental assessment, teaching, science communication and more.

The School of Biological Sciences works together with UEA’s Careers Service to offer you support at every stage of your course, from choosing a career through to applying for graduate jobs and further study.

Example of careers that you could enter include:

• Healthcare
• Medical laboratory work
• Genetics
• Teaching

Discover more on our Careers pages.