BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences with a Placement Year
Course options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Science
- UCAS Course Code
- C104
- Entry Requirements
- AAB (specific subject requirements apply)
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2024
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Why you should choose us
UEA is ranked 17th overall for research quality in Biological Science
Of graduates go on to work and/or study within 15 months after the course
Course Overview
We’re world leaders in biological research, so by studying with us you’ll benefit from exposure to our cutting-edge research in molecular, cellular and whole organism biology.
You’ll have the chance to get to grips with the application of science within major global challenges such as environmental management, food security, biotechnology and human health. And with the hands-on experience you’ll have gained, you’ll be one step closer to becoming a pioneer in your chosen field. You will benefit from our enviable position as an integral partner of the Norwich Research Park, which is also home to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and independent, world-renowned research institutes such as the John Innes Centre, the Sainsbury Laboratory, the Earlham Institute, and the Quadram Institute.
This four-year degree programme follows the structure of our BSc Biological Sciences, while giving you the opportunity to spend your third year on a work placement from anywhere across the breadth of biology.
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.
On this course, you’ll follow the same programme as our BSc Biological Sciences students, but you will spend your third year on a work placement relevant to your interests. You’ll be able to undertake a placement that could cover any aspect from across the field of biology. For example, our students have worked in large pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline, small biotechnology companies such as Phico Therapeutics, research institutes like the John Innes Centre, educational placements with the Field Studies Council or conservation placements like those taking place in the Norfolk Broads.
Your placement can be in the UK or abroad, with recent students travelling to Europe, Australia and North America. During your placement you’ll gain experience and insight that’s highly valued by future employers, putting you one step ahead of other graduates.
Upon returning 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. You could even see your research published.
Placement Year and Study Abroad
On this course, you’ll spend your third year working on a placement that is relevant to your interests, gaining experience and skills that are highly valued by future employers. You will be expected to seek your own work placement, and at the start of your second year you’ll be asked to write a CV and to apply to a range of employers. Not only will this ensure that you work within your preferred field, it will also provide you with the essential job-hunting skills you will require after graduation. We will, of course, offer our guidance and support whilst students are identifying and negotiating placement opportunities.
During this year, you’ll be supported by a placement supervisor and a mentor from the university. You and your placement supervisor will feed back during the placement to ensure that it is progressing well, and your UEA mentor will visit you during the year.
Please note that we cannot guarantee any student a work placement as this decision rests with potential employers. If you are unable to secure a work placement by the end of your second year you will have the option to apply to transfer onto the equivalent degree programme without a placement year or the Biological Sciences MSci degree.
Accreditations
This course has received Advanced Accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology.
Advanced accreditation recognises academic excellence in the biosciences, and highlights degrees that educate the research and development leaders and innovators of the future. The advanced accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from advanced accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including gaining substantial research experience. The current period of accreditation is for a five-year period, from 2020 to 2025. We expect to apply for renewal of accreditation at the end of this period.
Study and Modules
Structure
Our four-year degree programme allows you to study a wide range of science subjects in the first year without prematurely committing yourself to any particular specialisation. In your second and final years, you can steer your programme towards your key areas of interest. Your third year will be spent on a placement in the workplace that is relevant to your interests.
Year 1
In the first year of your degree, you’ll be given a thorough introduction to Biological Sciences, alongside other core elements relating to the study of science, such as mathematics. You’ll also begin to develop the key scientific skills essential to your future research projects.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our School is home to world-class academics and internationally recognised researchers. And we’re proud to say we have some of the best facilities in the country, including our fantastic undergraduate practical laboratories.
The majority of your learning will take place in lectures, seminars, practical laboratory sessions and fieldwork, where you’ll gain hands-on experience and benefit from invaluable contact time with lecturers. In your modules you’ll undertake applied work in collecting, analysing and reviewing data, plus making observations on biological processes, with a particular emphasis on the critical assessment of existing knowledge. In seminars and group discussions you’ll hone your problem posing and solving skills. And in your first year, you’ll focus on cultivating your mathematical and statistical skills.
Independent Study
You’ll have plenty of opportunities for independent study using our state-of-the-art University library throughout your course. During your final year dissertation project, you’ll develop your skills in research design and analysis, developing the independent study skills you’ll use throughout your career. You’ll also be assigned an Academic Adviser who will help you identify and work on areas for improvement across all your studies.
Assessment
We use a range of assessment methods throughout the course to best reflect the subject matter in hand. These include formal examinations, project reports, course tests, practical and fieldwork reports, poster and oral presentations, essays and worksheets. The balance of coursework and examinations will vary in accordance with your module choices. For example, many of our modules are split 40% coursework, 60% examination, but a small number are 100% coursework.
Your placement year will be assessed by an extended written report and a presentation upon returning to UEA, which will be graded on a pass or fail basis.
Structure
Our four-year degree programme allows you to study a wide range of science subjects in the first year without prematurely committing yourself to any particular specialisation. In your second and final years, you can steer your programme towards your key areas of interest. Your third year will be spent on a placement in the workplace that is relevant to your interests.
Year 2
Your second year will allow you to pursue your interests in specialist biological subjects through a range of optional modules. Meanwhile, a defined choice module will allow you to select a topic from other Science Schools or even a language, subject to the approval of the desired School of study.
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 60)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 60)Optional C Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our School is home to world-class academics and internationally recognised researchers. And we’re proud to say we have some of the best facilities in the country, including our fantastic undergraduate practical laboratories.
The majority of your learning will take place in lectures, seminars, practical laboratory sessions and fieldwork, where you’ll gain hands-on experience and benefit from invaluable contact time with lecturers. In your modules you’ll undertake applied work in collecting, analysing and reviewing data, plus making observations on biological processes, with a particular emphasis on the critical assessment of existing knowledge. In seminars and group discussions you’ll hone your problem posing and solving skills. And in your first year, you’ll focus on cultivating your mathematical and statistical skills.
Independent Study
You’ll have plenty of opportunities for independent study using our state-of-the-art University library throughout your course. During your final year dissertation project, you’ll develop your skills in research design and analysis, developing the independent study skills you’ll use throughout your career. You’ll also be assigned an Academic Adviser who will help you identify and work on areas for improvement across all your studies.
Assessment
We use a range of assessment methods throughout the course to best reflect the subject matter in hand. These include formal examinations, project reports, course tests, practical and fieldwork reports, poster and oral presentations, essays and worksheets. The balance of coursework and examinations will vary in accordance with your module choices. For example, many of our modules are split 40% coursework, 60% examination, but a small number are 100% coursework.
Your placement year will be assessed by an extended written report and a presentation upon returning to UEA, which will be graded on a pass or fail basis.
Structure
Our four-year degree programme allows you to study a wide range of science subjects in the first year without prematurely committing yourself to any particular specialisation. In your second and final years, you can steer your programme towards your key areas of interest. Your third year will be spent on a placement in the workplace that is relevant to your interests.
Year 3
You’ll spend your third year on a work placement, gaining experience and developing your skills and knowledge. We have established links throughout the UK and beyond, and we will help you identify and compete for appropriate positions.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our School is home to world-class academics and internationally recognised researchers. And we’re proud to say we have some of the best facilities in the country, including our fantastic undergraduate practical laboratories.
The majority of your learning will take place in lectures, seminars, practical laboratory sessions and fieldwork, where you’ll gain hands-on experience and benefit from invaluable contact time with lecturers. In your modules you’ll undertake applied work in collecting, analysing and reviewing data, plus making observations on biological processes, with a particular emphasis on the critical assessment of existing knowledge. In seminars and group discussions you’ll hone your problem posing and solving skills. And in your first year, you’ll focus on cultivating your mathematical and statistical skills.
Independent Study
You’ll have plenty of opportunities for independent study using our state-of-the-art University library throughout your course. During your final year dissertation project, you’ll develop your skills in research design and analysis, developing the independent study skills you’ll use throughout your career. You’ll also be assigned an Academic Adviser who will help you identify and work on areas for improvement across all your studies.
Assessment
We use a range of assessment methods throughout the course to best reflect the subject matter in hand. These include formal examinations, project reports, course tests, practical and fieldwork reports, poster and oral presentations, essays and worksheets. The balance of coursework and examinations will vary in accordance with your module choices. For example, many of our modules are split 40% coursework, 60% examination, but a small number are 100% coursework.
Your placement year will be assessed by an extended written report and a presentation upon returning to UEA, which will be graded on a pass or fail basis.
Our School is home to world-class academics and internationally recognised researchers. And we’re proud to say we have some of the best facilities in the country, including our fantastic undergraduate practical laboratories.
We use a range of assessment methods throughout the course to best reflect the subject matter in hand. These include formal examinations, project reports, course tests, practical and fieldwork reports, poster and oral presentations, essays and worksheets. The balance of coursework and examinations will vary in accordance with your module choices. For example, many of our modules are split 40% coursework, 60% examination, but a small number are 100% coursework.
Your placement year will be assessed by an extended written report and a presentation upon returning to UEA, which will be graded on a pass or fail basis.
Structure
In your final year, you’ll have an even greater range of modules to choose from, which will focus on specific biological issues ranging from molecular plant-microbe interactions to cancer biology. You’ll also study some topics in more depth and can choose to take modules that will support your research as you conduct your substantial independent research project.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 60)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 40)Optional C Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our School is home to world-class academics and internationally recognised researchers. And we’re proud to say we have some of the best facilities in the country, including our fantastic undergraduate practical laboratories.
The majority of your learning will take place in lectures, seminars, practical laboratory sessions and fieldwork, where you’ll gain hands-on experience and benefit from invaluable contact time with lecturers. In your modules you’ll undertake applied work in collecting, analysing and reviewing data, plus making observations on biological processes, with a particular emphasis on the critical assessment of existing knowledge. In seminars and group discussions you’ll hone your problem posing and solving skills. And in your first year, you’ll focus on cultivating your mathematical and statistical skills.
Independent Study
You’ll have plenty of opportunities for independent study using our state-of-the-art University library throughout your course. During your final year dissertation project, you’ll develop your skills in research design and analysis, developing the independent study skills you’ll use throughout your career. You’ll also be assigned an Academic Adviser who will help you identify and work on areas for improvement across all your studies.
Assessment
We use a range of assessment methods throughout the course to best reflect the subject matter in hand. These include formal examinations, project reports, course tests, practical and fieldwork reports, poster and oral presentations, essays and worksheets. The balance of coursework and examinations will vary in accordance with your module choices. For example, many of our modules are split 40% coursework, 60% examination, but a small number are 100% coursework.
Your placement year will be assessed by an extended written report and a presentation upon returning to UEA, which will be graded on a pass or fail basis.
Entry Requirements
- A Levels
- AAB including Biology or Human Biology. A-Level General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted. Where applicable Science A Levels awarded by an English Exam board require a pass in the practical element. If you are taking an EPQ and three A-levels, we may offer you a one grade reduction on our advertised typical offer alongside an A in the EPQ.
- T Levels
- Obtain an overall Pass including an A in the core of the T Level and a Distinction in the Occupational Specialism. Acceptable subjects are: Science.
- BTEC
- DDD in Applied Science, Applied Science (Medical Science) or Animal Management OR DDD plus B in A level Biology or Human Biology. Excludes Public Services, Uniformed Services, Forensic Science and Business Administration. See below for accepted subjects and combinations.
- Scottish Highers
- AAAAA including grade A in Biology. A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable.
- Scottish Advanced Highers
- BBC including Biology. A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable.
- Irish Leaving Certificate
- 4 subjects at H2, 2 subjects at H3 including Biology.
- Access to HE Diploma
- Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 36 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 9 credits at Level 3 including 12 credits in Biology.
- International Baccalaureate
- 33 points with HL5 in Biology.
- GCSE
You are required to have Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of Grade C or Grade 4 or above at GCSE.
- 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:
- Interviews
Most applicants will not be called for an interview and a decision will be made via UCAS Hub. However, for some applicants an interview will be requested. Where an interview is required, the Admissions Service will contact you directly to arrange a time.
- 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.
- Intakes
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake is in September each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
Extended Diploma: DDD in Applied Science or Applied Science (Medical Science) or Animal Management OR DDD plus B in A Level Biology or Human Biology.
Diploma: DD in Applied Science or Applied Science (Medical Science) or Animal Management plus B at A-Level in one other subject OR DD plus B in A level Biology or Human Biology.
Extended Certificate: D plus AB at A-level in Biology/Human Biology and one other subject.
Where applicable Science A Levels awarded by an English Exam board require a pass in the practical element.
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as BSc Biological Sciences with a Foundation Year.
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
We welcome and value a wide range of alternative qualifications. If you have a qualification which is not listed here, or are taking a combination of qualifications, please contact us via Admissions Enquiries.
International Requirements
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. View our International Students pages for specific information about your country.
INTO University of East Anglia
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:
International Foundation in Pharmacy Health and Life Science
Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You are eligible for reduced fees during the placement year. Further details are available on our Tuition Fees website. There may be extra costs related to items such as travel and accommodation during your placement year, which will vary depending on location.
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of other course-related costs.
How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information:
Employability
After the Course
You’ll not only gain scientific knowledge, you’ll also develop your skills in areas of research and communication, IT, data collection, analytics and critical thinking. This combination makes you highly employable. Our graduates have gone on to establish careers in pharmaceuticals, the food and brewing industries, medical laboratories, forensic sciences, conservation management, environmental assessment, teaching, science communication and more. A number of our graduates have progressed on to higher degrees (e.g. MSc, PhD).
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Recent graduates have entered a number of fields, including:
- Further academic research
- Pharmaceutical research and development
- Biotechnology
- Science education or communication
- NHS
- Bioinformatics
Discover more on our Careers webpages.