About

Course description

Why study this course?

Top 100 in the world for life sciences

THE World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Close links with the NHS

Complete research on cancer and ageing in partnership with the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

Real lab experience

Complete an extended laboratory project or field course in the UK or abroad, then bring all your knowledge and skills together with your third-year research project.

Our three-year BSc Biological Sciences course offers you the flexibility to discover what kind of biologist you want to be.

You'll start by studying a broad foundation in biological science. This will allow you to explore the subject and discover what excites you most. You can then choose to focus on areas including biodiversity and conservation, the anatomy or biochemistry of plants and animals, or the molecular basis of human health.

Explore your modules in detail

At Sheffield, you’ll be encouraged to be creative, think independently and express your ideas. Depending on what modules you choose, you could be carrying out fieldwork in the Peak District, studying life at the atomic level, modelling the gene networks that resulted in speciation, or even working with scientists from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to diagnose cancer samples.

No matter what areas of biological science you choose to study at Sheffield, you'll develop practical laboratory and transferable skills - such as project management, problem-solving, communication skills and data analysis - that make our graduates attractive to employers.

All this experience will prepare you for your third-year research project where you could be laboratory-based, field-based, focus on computer modelling, or even science communication.

Gain extra experience as part of your degree

You can add an extra year of research experience with an integrated masters (MBiolSci), or spend a year on a work placement and gain transferable skills working with a top employer. Explore our other biological sciences courses:

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Requirements

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements

With Access Sheffield, you could qualify for additional consideration or an alternative offer - find out if you're eligible.

Standard offer

The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
AAB
including Biology and a second science

A Levels + a fourth Level 3 qualification: ABB including Biology and a second science + B in the EPQ
International Baccalaureate: 34 with 6,5 (in any order) in Higher Level Biology and a second science
BTEC Extended Diploma: (RQF) DDD in Applied Science (Basic, Biomedical Science, or Analytical & Forensic Science* streams only), or Health and Social Care**
BTEC Diploma: DD in Applied Science + A at A Level
Scottish Highers + 2 Advanced Highers: AABBB + AB in Biology and a second science
Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels: B + AA in Biology and a second science
Access to HE Diploma: Award of Access to HE Diploma in Science, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 36 at Distinction (to include Biology and a second science), and 9 at Merit

Routes for mature students

Other requirements

Second science subjects include Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology, Environmental Science, Geology or Geography. Human Biology accepted in lieu of Biology, but Biology and Human Biology cannot be accepted in combination as the two sciences
GCSE Maths grade 4/C
*Applied Science (Analytical & Forensic Science) must include the units: Practical Chemical Analysis, Applications of Organic Chemistry, and Applications of Inorganic Chemistry; and at least one of the following units: Physiology of Human Body Systems, Human Regulation & Reproduction, Biological Molecules & Metabolic Pathways, Diseases & Infections, Microbiology & Microbiological Techniques, Biomedical Science, or Medical Physics Applications
**Health & Social Care must include at least two of the following units: Infection Prevention and Control, Microbiology for Health Science, Genetics, Biomedical Science, or Biochemistry for Health

Access Sheffield offer

The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
ABB
including Biology and a second science

A Levels + a fourth Level 3 qualification: ABB including Biology and a second science + B in the EPQ
International Baccalaureate: 33 with 5 in two Higher Level Biology and a second science
BTEC Extended Diploma: (RQF) DDD in Applied Science (Basic, Biomedical Science, or Analytical & Forensic Science* streams only), or Health and Social Care**
BTEC Diploma: DD in Applied Science + B at A Level
Scottish Highers + 2 Advanced Highers: ABBBB + AB in Biology and a second science
Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels: B + AB in Biology and a second science
Access to HE Diploma: Award of Access to HE Diploma in Science, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 30 at Distinction (to include Biology and a second science), and 15 at Merit

Routes for mature students

Other requirements

Second science subjects include Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology, Environmental Science, Geology or Geography. Human Biology accepted in lieu of Biology, but Biology and Human Biology cannot be accepted in combination as the two sciences
GCSE Maths grade 4/C
*Applied Science (Analytical & Forensic Science) must include the units: Practical Chemical Analysis, Applications of Organic Chemistry, and Applications of Inorganic Chemistry; and at least one of the following units: Physiology of Human Body Systems, Human Regulation & Reproduction, Biological Molecules & Metabolic Pathways, Diseases & Infections, Microbiology & Microbiological Techniques, Biomedical Science, or Medical Physics Applications
**Health & Social Care must include at least two of the following units: Infection Prevention and Control, Microbiology for Health Science, Genetics, Biomedical Science, or Biochemistry for Health

English language requirements |

You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification

Equivalent English language qualifications

Visa and immigration requirements

Other qualifications | UK and EU/international

Pathway programme for international students

If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for an International Foundation Year in Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield International College. This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.

English Program Requirements

English language requirements |

You must demonstrate that your English is good enough for you to successfully complete your course. For this course we require: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C; IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component; or an alternative acceptable English language qualification

Equivalent English language qualifications

Visa and immigration requirements

Other qualifications | UK and EU/international

Career

Graduate careers

You won't be short of career options with a degree in biological sciences from Sheffield.

Employers seek out our graduates because of their ability to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences, handle data and work to deadlines, independently and as part of a team.

Many of our graduates choose to pursue a research career, working within higher education, for public bodies and charities, or in research and development institutions around the world. Some are saving local biodiversity and developing solutions to global food shortages. Others are interested in industrial research, joining pharmaceutical, biotechnology and consumer goods companies like Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Reckitt.

Our graduates are also applying their training from Sheffield working in healthcare, in the NHS or for private healthcare providers or charities.

If conservation or ecological consultancy is something that you're passionate about, the RSPB, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Wildlife Trusts are just some of the places where our graduates now work. Roles can cover environmental management, sustainable forestry, crop protection and breeding, and climate change mitigation.

Further study in areas including medicine, veterinary science, physiotherapy or teaching, or taking the next step towards a PhD is another popular route.

A good degree from a great university can take you far, whatever you want to do. We also have graduates putting their transferable skills to good use in marketing, human resources, science communication, IT and teaching with Top 100 employers like GSK, Google and Aldi.

You can find out more about where a biological sciences degree can lead to on our careers web pages.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

39,147 / year(s)

Biological Sciences BSc