Biology MBiol (Honours) 2022 entry
Biology involves the study of life at all levels of organisation, from the molecular biology of virus replication to the study of animals and plants in their natural habitats. Biology also touches on many aspects of contemporary life, from drug design and investigating the molecular basis of Alzheimer’s disease, to the migration and conservation of marine mammals.
The MBiol allows you to combine undergraduate and postgraduate study into a single five-year programme, graduating with a Masters degree. The course is designed to enhance your research experience, preparing you for a career within the scientific sector.
Students can also take Biology as a standard four-year BSc degree.
Key information
UCAS code
C101
Course type
Master in Biology (Integrated Masters degree)
Course duration
Five years full time
- Start date: 5 September 2022
- End date: 30 September 2027
Entry requirements
These grades are the overall standards required to consider you for entry. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.
We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.
Direct entry to second year
Well-qualified school leavers may be able to apply for admission directly into the second year of this course.
International applicants
If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. Find out more about English language requirements.
How to applyDo I need to have studied this subject before?
Students must have studied Biology (or Human Biology) at SQA Higher, GCE A-Level or equivalent. Preference will be given to candidates offering strong science qualifications over and above the stated minimum requirements.
General entry requirements
All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.
Other qualifications
More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University’s entry requirements web page.
Reputation
The School of Biology was ranked first in Scotland by the Guardian University Guide 2022 and second in Scotland by the Complete University Guide 2022.
The University of St Andrews as a whole was voted top in the UK for student academic experience in The National Student Survey 2021. More than 93% of St Andrews final-year students gave the University top marks for the quality of the learning and teaching experience.
The School of Biology conducts world-class, innovative multidisciplinary research, and in the UK Research Excellence Framework 2014, Biology was ranked second in the UK based on the impact of its research.
Course information
The MBiol in Biology is a five-year Integrated Masters course run by the School of Biology. Biology at St Andrews provides students with high-tech equipment, laboratories and expertise to facilitate learning and to develop the skillset of a modern biologist.
Alongside biology, in the first year of your studies you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.
In the first three years of your degree, you will cover the fundamental aspects of biology and begin to focus on advanced core material in your chosen area. In third year, there is a shift from core, broad-themed modules to more specialised modules that allow students to prepare for their Honours degree.
In your fourth year, students typically undertake a year-long research placement, often away from St Andrews, in a research institute or in industry, along with an experimental design distance learning module.
The fifth and final year of the Masters degree involves highly specialised taught courses in your chosen speciality.
The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.
Well-qualified school leavers may be able to apply for admission directly into the second year of this course.
Students can also take Biology as a standard four-year BSc degree.
Centres of research within the School of Biology offer students the experience of working alongside experts and the opportunity to develop their own research in Honours years.
These facilities include:
- The Scottish Oceans Institute houses a modern aquarium and laboratories for molecular, developmental and physiological studies of marine systems. The institute is ideally placed on the seashore near grey and common seal colonies and bottlenose dolphin feeding areas.
- The Centre for Biological Diversity has excellent facilities for behavioural, ecological and evolutionary research on small animals (including birds, insects and fish) and on plants.
- The Biomedical Sciences Research Complex offers large multi-group laboratories that are focused on structural biology, molecular microbiology, virology, chemical biology and molecular medicine.
Modules
In the first three years of your degree, you will take the required modules in biology alongside modules in at least one other subject. Find out more about the modular Scottish degree system.
In first year, modules introduce you to core subject material relevant to all degree programmes in areas such as animal and plant biology, molecular biology, cell biology and genetics. Both of the following modules are compulsory.
- Biology 1: provides an introduction to molecular and cellular biology. It covers cell diversity and the origins of life, cellular structures and fundamental processes.
- Biology 2: provides an introduction to the diversity of life on Earth and addresses key elements of organismal and ecological aspects of life.
In second year, modules are chosen which will best prepare you for your intended degree (or group of possible degrees) and new topics are introduced in some second-year modules such as evolutionary biology and ecology.
- Research Methods in Biology (compulsory): develops essential academic and transferable skills, with major emphasis on problem solving. This is achieved through a combination of interactive lectures, independent data-handling workshops and group work on a mini research project.
You also take three of the modules listed below.
- Applied Molecular Biology: examines case studies to provide examples of how molecular biology techniques are applied in research to address real-life questions and problems.
- Biochemistry: a number of central metabolic pathways and their control are studied in detail, alongside examples of their importance in disease and recent metabolomic studies.
- Cell Biology: introduces the concept of ‘a cell’, moving on to discuss different types of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell.
- Cell Systems: explores how cells interact with one another to form complex tissues and organisms.
- Comparative Physiology: covers the principles of physiological adaptation in a range of animals, including examples from all major taxa and from all habitats.
- Ecology: introduces basic concepts in population and community ecology and how they relate to biodiversity.
- Evolutionary Biology: gives an overview of the history and major principles of modern evolutionary biology.
- Invertebrate Zoology: surveys the major invertebrate groups, emphasising the diversity of body plans while demonstrating how the common functional requirements such as feeding, reproduction, respiration and excretion are achieved.
- Molecular Biology: provides an introduction to modern molecular biology, covering fundamental biological processes such as transcription, translation, and DNA replication and repair.
- The Oceans: introduces basic concepts in biological and physical oceanography, and provides an understanding of physical processes such as circulation patterns, waves and tides, and how these physical processes affect plants and animals living in the different ocean biomes.
- Vertebrate Zoology: explores the diversity of vertebrate animals, beginning with the closest relatives of vertebrates and the evolutionary origins of the group.
In third year, you will continue to specialise in biology via a wide range of modules covering core topics. Modules that have been offered in previous years include:
- Animal Behaviour: A Quantitative Approach
- Ecosystems and Conservation
- Evolution
- Genes, Cells and Development
- Terrestrial Zoology.
In fourth year, students typically undertake an independent 7 to 12-month research placement hosted by an external institute or company. The external placement gives students the opportunity to practice and learn a range of scientific and generic skills, including experience in a working environment outside of St Andrews.
For biology students, this will be a 12-month research project, collecting data within a research group at St Andrews or in an external organisation (environmental company, conservation non-governmental organization or research institute). A research placement in an external organisation is subject to this being arranged and funded successfully by the student, facilitated by expertise in the School of Biology.
During fifth year, you will take advanced research-led modules in your chosen speciality subject to availability. Advanced modules offered in the past include:
- Advanced Microscopy and Image Analysis - Seeing is Believing
- Animal Cognition
- Chromatin and Genome Stability
- Complex Systems in Animal Behaviour
- Evolution in Action
- Evolutionary Developmental Biology
- Marine Mammals and Man
- Molecular Virology
- Scientific Communication in Biodiversity and Conservation.
- The CRISPR system for Antiviral Defence and Genome Engineering
The compulsory modules listed here must be taken in order to graduate in this subject. However, most students at St Andrews take additional modules, either in their primary subject or from other subjects they are interested in. For Honours level, students choose from a range of Honours modules, some of which are listed above. A full list of all modules appropriate to the programme for the current academic year can be found in the programme requirements.
Teaching
Teaching format
The MBiol in Biology is taught through a combination of:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- practical classes
- field work
- research projects.
Typical class sizes include:
- First year: lectures 250 to 330 students, practicals 80 to 100 students
- Second year: lectures 80 to 175 students, practicals 40 to 60 students
- Third year: lectures 20 to 140 students, practicals 20 to 60 students
- Fourth and fifth year: 5 to 25 students per module
The practical elements of the course taught in the laboratory and in the field enable you to learn the wide range of skills required of a modern biologist. Students are provided with teaching microscopes and are taught in state-of-the-art teaching laboratories. Alongside the development of practical biological skills, students are also given the opportunity to expand on their presentation and IT skills.
During fourth year, your project will be fully supervised at the host institute or company.
When not attending lectures, tutorials and practical classes, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:
- working on individual and group projects
- undertaking research in the library or in PC classrooms
- preparing coursework assignments and presentations
- preparing for examinations.
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team with expertise and knowledge of biology. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of laboratory classes and seminars under the supervision of the module leader.
You can find contact information for all biology staff on the School of Biology website.
In addition to your studies in the School, optional academic support is available through practical study skills courses and workshops hosted within the University.
The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.
Field trips
Throughout the course, students studying biology will also have the opportunity to go on field trips to gather data. Those who have a particular interest in ecology or marine biology will be perfectly located in St Andrews on the shores of the east coast. In Honours years, students can explore further afield, where recent courses have visited places such as Indonesia and Antarctica.
Assessment
During first and second year, all modules are assessed by an equal weighting of coursework and written examinations.
In third year, most modules give a higher weighting to examinations, and in fifth year some modules are entirely assessed by coursework, while others still include written examinations in addition to coursework.
During the external placement in fourth year, you will be assessed jointly by the immediate supervisor in your host institute or company and a member of staff in the School of Biology.
Most examinations are held at the end of the semester during a dedicated exam diet and revision time is provided beforehand.
Group activities may also be assessed and in this case marking methods will be communicated to you in advance.
The School aims to provide feedback on assessments and coursework within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments..
Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. Please note that some Schools offer qualified entry to Honours, and this will be clearly specified in the programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.
Meet us online
If you're interested in studying at St Andrews, join us on a visiting day or online information session to find out about our courses, how to apply, and to meet current students.
Fees
Tuition fees for entry
| Home-funded | £1820 |
|---|---|
| RUK (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) and Republic of Ireland | £9250 |
| Islands (Channel Islands, Isle of Man) | £9250 |
| EU and overseas | £26350 |
For overseas students, tuition fees will be fixed at this level for the duration of your programme.
More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.
Accommodation fees
Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.
Your future
Careers
Biology graduates are in high demand and are keenly sought after by institutions including the government, universities, research centres and major companies. Those who take an Integrated Masters degree receive advanced research training and are prepared for a career within the scientific sector.
Biology graduates have found success in a wide variety of careers including:
- professional biologists in biological research, conservation, higher education and the pharmaceutical, biomedical industries
- researchers and advisers in government
- journalists
- advisers, researchers and managers in the National Health Service
- teachers
- forensic scientists
- management consultants
- marketing and advertising experts.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
Study abroad
Biology students can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to apply to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad site.
Working abroad
Completing a work placement abroad is a good opportunity to gain work experience in another culture or language and to enhance valuable skill sets. As part of specific degree programmes in biology, you may apply to undertake a work placement abroad for credit.
Student life
The University of St Andrews offers an array of events and opportunities which result in a truly unique student experience. Students participate in a range of traditions, notably, the red academic gown and the academic family, where older students adopt first-year students as ‘children’ and help guide them in a system of mentoring. These traditions, and the choice of over 150 sports clubs and student societies to choose from, ensure a community feel amongst students from first year onwards.
Biology students have lectures and practicals in purpose built facilities on the North Haugh. Also at the North Haugh, students can study and access library resources at the JF Allen Science Library. One other area available for biology students is the Bell Pettigrew Museum in the Bute Building, a spectacular zoology museum which includes the arrangement of species to show the evolutionary and taxonomic relationships between animals.
There’s also the opportunity to join the popular student-run Biology society, which organises regular social meetups and biology-related events throughout the year.
The town of St Andrews itself has lots to offer. As University buildings are located throughout the town, walking around you encounter ancient and modern buildings, parks and beaches, providing a rich, beautiful backdrop to learning. Find out more about the town of St Andrews.
Find out more about student life at the University of St Andrews.
"A big motivation of mine for studying at St Andrews was the excellent research that is being carried out. As a biologist with the aim of going into research, it was important to me that the university had the facilities and people that would drive me in that direction. I love how personal the teaching style is here – students are welcome to chat to the lecturers and they are always happy to help."
Rebekka (Vienna, Austria)
Contact
University of St Andrews
Biomedical Sciences Research Complex
North Haugh
St Andrews
KY16 9ST
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 3401
Email: biology@st-andrews.ac.uk
Policies
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.
Discover Uni
Discover Uni provides official statistics about higher education courses taken from national surveys and data collected from universities and colleges about all their students. You can use this data to compare information for different degree programmes to help you make a decision about what and where to study.