Biological Sciences BSc (Hons) – 2023 entry

• Select modules tailored to your interests, with the option to specialise in either animal biology and ecology, cellular and molecular sciences, or infection and immunity.  
• Access our £12.5 million Innovation for Health Learning Laboratory to acquire practical experience that is essential for a research career and valued by a wide range of employers.  
• Gain industry experience through our Professional Training placements, where you can work in one of our partner laboratories across the world.  
• Conduct fieldwork both on campus and further afield, with the opportunity to practise your scientific skills in a non-controlled environment.

On this course, you’ll investigate biological structure and function at various levels, from molecules to cells, through to whole organisms, communities and ecosystems. 

In your first year, you’ll study topics that are fundamental to biosciences, ensuring you have a solid foundation upon which to build the rest of your degree. 

During your second year, you’ll have the option to specialise in either animal biology and ecology, cellular and molecular sciences, or infection and immunity. 

Alternatively, you can choose from a variety of broader modules including analytical biochemistry, cellular microbiology and neuroscience. 

In your third year, you’ll further your knowledge of your chosen specialism or broader study by exploring topics such as advanced pharmacology, genetics, and the impact of humans on the environment. You’ll also complete a research project, bringing together all the practical, analytical, and presentation skills you’ve developed. 

The academic year is divided into two semesters of 15 weeks each. Each semester consists of a period of teaching, revision/directed learning and assessment.

Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that modules may be subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps.

The University operates a credit framework for all taught programmes based on a 15-credit tariff. Modules usually can be either 15, 30, 45 or 60, 75 and 120 credits, and additionally for some masters dissertations, 90 credits.

The structure of our programmes follow clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes.

Timetables

Course timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday). Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities. View our Code of practice for the scheduling of teaching and assessment (PDF).

Your teaching will be delivered through a combination of: 

• Fieldwork 
• Group work (e.g. discussion groups) 
• Laboratory-based practicalspractical's 
• Lectures 
• Online learning 
• Role plays 
• Seminars 
• Tutorials. 

Outside of these, you’ll be expected to carry out independent study, including coursework, essays, laboratory write-ups and reading. 

There may be occasions when the delivery of your teaching is supported by graduate teaching assistants. The University has a set of procedures that govern the use of postgraduate research students in this way.

We use a variety of methods to assess you, including: 

• Coursework 
• Essays 
• Examinations 
• Practical write-ups 
• Presentations. 

You’ll have approximately 24 contact hours each week. You’ll spend almost a quarter of your first-year teaching in laboratory-based practicals or completing fieldwork. This will vary in your second-year, dependent on what modules you choose to study. 

Contact hours can vary across our modules. Full details of the contact hours for each module are available from the University of Surrey's module catalogue. See the modules section for more information.