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University Degrees - Biology
If you are considering an undergraduate degree in biology, it’s likely that you are already well informed about this enormously diverse science. And the number of university degrees on offer is growing.
Biology is one academic area that continually surprises us, with discoveries that have a direct impact on our lives, whether through the patenting of a new vaccine, the location of a new species or the protection of the latest endangered ecosystem. Biology is staggeringly diverse and offers students the opportunity to explore and question some of the theories at the very core of life.
What is biology?
The time when biology could be defined as a single and unified scientific discipline have long since past. At its most basic level, biology is the study and characterisation of living organisms by four underlying principles: cell theory, evolution, gene theory and homeostasis. From these principles biology investigates the processes at work in every living thing.
Biology continues to be one of the most complex and interrelated branches of the sciences. Discoveries in genetics and molecular biology have enabled us to understand more fully hereditary diseases and develop appropriate pharmaceutical solutions to reduce those most at risk. More directly, biology underpins our understanding of viruses and pathogens and helps us prepare, for example, for global pandemics such as SARS and bird flu.
Is biology for me?
Biology students tend to be interested in their particular field of study and with increasing competition in a number of the more popular areas are often able to demonstrate an active interest in their subject. Being aware of the latest research developments in biotechnology and ecology through the pages of the national newspapers and specialist publications like Nature can make the difference to a successful application.
As with the other sciences, prospective biology undergraduates have a good academic background in biology and chemistry and a confident level of mathematical ability. Also common with the other sciences, you will generally have a curious and imaginative approach to problems and be able to work well in a team – remember, much of your university work in biology will be undertaken in small groups where patience, organization and cooperation are vital.
What programs are available?
In recent years the range of biology undergraduate degrees have expanded considerably as new areas of related science and academic interest have become more mainstream in the world’s top universities - animal behaviour, biodiversity, ecology, marine biology and zoology offer prospective undergraduate students an absolute wealth of choice depending on their own individual interests.
Core degrees in biological sciences and biology are still very popular, often with specializations in molecular genetics, cell biology, microbiology, biomedicine and virology. It is also possible to pursue a specialist undergraduate degree in biological or biomedical sciences that satisfies the local requirements for graduate entry to medical school.
One particular growth area has been undergraduate degree programs in environmental resources, management and conservation. Such programs offer students the opportunity to blend biological, ecological and physical science approaches with issues that include responsible fishing policies, the management of endangered species and the protection of the world’s most threatened ecosystems.
Fieldwork is an essential part of many of these degrees and allows students to develop scientific skills integral to their program and test their theoretical knowledge and own ideas against the external world. If your interest includes studying biology in association with another unrelated subject, such as a language or management, most top universities will allow students to pursue a joint or combined degree. Equally it is common for biology students to enjoy an element of international study through an organized study abroad program, either as a full-degree or an exchange student.
What are the career prospects for a biology graduate?
For those students graduating with an undergraduate degree in biology, depending on the level of specialization, a range of career opportunities are available. At present amongst the most popular career fields are those related to biotechnology and health care; in the former, biologists apply scientific principles to develop and enhance products and tools in fields such as food sciences and medicine; in the latter, graduates work to develop new medicines, manage health campaigns and work to prevent the spread of diseases and illnesses.
A significant number of biology graduates work in some kind of research environment. The focus of such research varies and includes almost every aspect of our modern and complex lives. Research facilities can be attached to universities, governments, third-sector organizations or the commercial world and the work undertaken in them is very much dependent on the nature of the organization itself. Amongst the most dynamic fields of research at the moment are embryology and genetics.
As with all other science-based undergraduate degrees, if you choose to pursue a career away from biology the core elements of analysis, organization and detailed scientific investigation contained in your program will ensure that you are able to easily adapt to the business, finance, management or public service sector.
