Biological Sciences MSci
London, Bloomsbury
Biological Sciences MSci (2025)
This four-year MSci offers an additional year on top of the Biological Sciences BSc, which includes an extended research project in the fourth year, providing extra depth and knowledge. This will particularly benefit those interested in further research. This programme offers you the possibility to spend your third year abroad in Asia, Australia, Europe or the USA.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
Programme starts
September 2024Application deadline
31 Jan 2024UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAA
- Subjects
- Biology required plus one from Chemistry, Life and Health Sciences, Mathematics or Physics. For Mathematics, the programme will accept either 'Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretation' at higher level.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- ABB more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- Biology at grade A required plus one from Chemistry, Life and Health Sciences, Mathematics or Physics.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6.
- Points
- 38
- Subjects
- A total of 18 points in three higher level subjects including Biology at grade 6 and one from Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics, with no higher level score below 5. The programme will accept either 'Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches' or 'Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation' at higher level.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 34 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects including Biology at grade 6 and one from Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics, with no score below 5. The programme will accept either 'Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches' or 'Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation' at higher level.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
D3,D3,D3 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. Biology required plus one from Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics
A,A,A at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher). Biology required plus one from Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics at Advanced Higher.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades AAA. Biology required plus one from Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 4
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Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
The MSci Biological Sciences at UCL will provide you with an advanced biological knowledge and extensive experience of performing research. During your studies you will have the option to transfer onto a specialised degree programme. Our selection of modules will allow you to specialise in your biological interests or maintain a broad interest in the field.
Our degree is internationally recognised for its excellence. Based on the QS World University Rankings, UCL ranked 11th in the world (4th in Europe and 3rd in the UK) for the Biological Science. Similarly, based on the Shanghai Ranking, UCL is ranked 10th in the world (2nd in Europe and 2nd in the UK) for the Biological Sciences.
What this course will give you
The MSci programme will be of interest to anyone who wants to pursue a career in biological research. You will develop an advanced understanding of the field through engaging with the research performed in our department and through performing research yourself. This will culminate in the final year research project where you will spend the majority of the fourth year working on an independent research project under the supervision of an academic.
Students will benefit from our thriving Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment and its associated research centres, and our partnerships with the Natural History Museum, the Francis Crick Institute and the Zoological Society of London. This means that students can attend lectures from experts based in these institutions. There may also be an opportunity to undertake research projects in these facilities.
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 480 credits, you will be awarded a MSci (Hons) in Biological Sciences.
Modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
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The first year of this programme covers a core range of subjects from across the spectrum of biological sciences, giving you a firm foundation upon which to base your later choices.
In your second year, you can either continue towards a degree in general Biological Sciences, or you can choose from six specialised degree programmes:
- Biological Sciences: Biodiversity and Conservation
- Biological Sciences: Cell and Developmental Biology
- Biological Sciences: Computational Biology
- Biological Sciences: Genetics
- Biological Sciences: Human Genetics
- Biological Sciences: Zoology
In your third year you will develop a more advanced understanding within your degree programme. The majority of the fourth year involves an independent research project. Students on the MSci programme can apply to the international programme, where you spend the entirety of the third year studying abroad.
In your second and third year you will take a combination of compulsory and optional modules. The optional modules give you the opportunity to customise your own specialised degree.
Compulsory modules
Compulsory Modules:
BIOC0001: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
CELL0007: Cells and Development
BIOL0001: Quantitative Biology
BIOL0002: First Year Core Skills
BIOL0003: Introduction to Genetics
BIOL0004: Life on Earth
BIOL0006 Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Optional Modules:
There are two optional modules that can be taken in the first year. You are required to select one optional module from the Term 1 list and one optional module from the Term 2 list:
Term 1 Optional Modules:
BIOL0006: Fundamentals of Biology OR CHEM0010: Chemistry for Biologists
Term 2 Optional Modules:
BIOL0055: Biodiversity and Conservation OR BIOC0004: Introduction to Microbiology
Compulsory modules
Programme Options
In the second year, you will have the opportunity to either remain on the generalist Biological Sciences degree programme, or select a specialist degree programme in:
Biological Sciences: Biodiversity and Conservation
Biological Sciences: Cell and Developmental Biology
Biological Sciences: Genetics
Biological Sciences: Human Genetics
Biological Sciences: Zoology
Each degree route has a range of compulsory and optional modules.
Compulsory Modules:
Note that this list is based on the 2022-2023 academic year and is subject to change.
1) Biological Sciences
BIOL0008: Fundamentals of Molecular Biology
BIOL0012: Animal Biodiversity
BIOL0013: The Biology of Development
BIOL0015: Second Year Core Skills
BIOL0030: Energy and Evolution
CELL0009: Intermediate Cell Biology: Cell Structure and Function
2) Biological Sciences: Biodiversity and Conservation
BIOL0007: Introduction to Field Ecology
BIOL0012: Animal Biodiversity
BIOL0014: Fundamental of Ecology
BIOL0015: Second Year Core Skills
BIOL0029: Computational Biology
GEOG0020: Ecological Patterns and Processes
3) Biological Sciences: Cell and Developmental Biology
BIOC0005: Molecular Biology
BIOL0013: The Biology of Development
BIOL0015: Second Year Core Skills
CELL0009: Intermediate Cell Biology: Cell Structure and Function
4) Biological Sciences: Genetics
BIOL0008: Fundamentals of Molecular Biology
BIOL0010: Introduction to Human Genetics
BIOL0011: Evolutionary Genetics
BIOL0015: Second Year Core Skills
Either BIOL0013: The Biology of Development OR BIOL0029: Computational Biology
5) Biological Sciences: Human Genetics
BIOC0005: Molecular Biology
BIOL0010: Introduction to Human Genetics
BIOL0011: Evolutionary Genetics
BIOL0015: Second Year Core Skills
BIOL0029: Computational Biology
6) Biological Sciences: Zoology
BIOL0008: Fundamentals of Molecular Biology
BIOL0011: Evolutionary Genetics
BIOL0012: Animal Biodiversity
BIOL0013: The Biology of Development
BIOL0014: Fundamental of Ecology
BIOL0015: Second Year Core Skills
BIOL0029: Computational Biology
GEOG0020: Ecological Patterns and Processes
Optional Modules:
You will select between 45 and 60 credits (depending on the degree programme selected) from a wide range of optional modules in your chosen degree programme and from other approved disciplines within UCL.
Compulsory modules
Compulsory Modules:
Students on all degree programmes are required to take BIOL0044: MSci Investigative Project in Biological Sciences and Core Skills Y3: Advanced Paper and Seminar Discussion. Each degree programme may have additional compulsory modules. The list of additional compulsory modules below is based on the 2022-2023 academic year and is subject to change:
1) Biological Sciences
No additional Compulsory Modules
2) Biological Sciences: Biodiversity and Conservation
BIOL0032: Species Conservation and Biodiversity
3) Biological Sciences: Cell and Developmental Biology
BIOL0022: Biology of Ageing
BIOL0025: Regulatory Genomics and Evolution
4) Biological Sciences: Genetics
BIOL0021: Advanced Human Genetics
5) Biological Sciences: Human Genetics
BIOL0021: Advanced Human Genetics
BIOL0027: Diseases of Ageing
6) Biological Sciences: Zoology
No additional Compulsory Modules
All students on the MSci programme will be able to transfer onto the Biological Sciences: Computational Biology degree programme at the start of the third year. The year of entry for this degree is subject to change. In addition to BIOL0044, students are required to take:
BIOL0033: Molecular Evolution
BIOL0050: Advanced Computational Biology
Optional Modules:
You are required to select between 60 and 90 credits (depending on the degree programme) from a wide range of optional modules in your chosen degree programme and from other approved disciplines within UCL.
International Programme:
If a student is successful in applying for the International Programme, the Study Abroad Tutor will guide you on module selection in your third year.
Compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
Students on all degree programmes are required to take BIOL0041: MSci Extended Research Project in Biological Sciences (90 Credits)
There are no other compulsory modules in the 4th year except for the Human Genetics degree programmes where students are required to take BIOL0034 Applications in Human Genetics.
Optional modules
You are required to select between 15 and 30 credits (depending on the degree programme) from a wide range of optional modules in your chosen degree and from other approved disciplines within UCL.
Your learning
The programme consists of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practicals, problem-based learning, e-learning and supported personal study. You will have the opportunity to take part in UCL's world-leading research right from your first year, through engaging with the research of academics from our research department or partner institutions by directly working in the laboratory or studying animals and plants in their natural habitats.
There are optional field-based modules you may wish to take in your degree. You will have the option of studying at our Blakeney Point field station in Norfolk in year one. In year two, we run two field trips, the first in the south of Spain and the second in the Lake District, UK.
Students on the Biological Sciences: Biodiversity and Conservation and Biological Sciences: Zoology degree programmes will have the option to participate on our tropical field trip in the fourth year (subject to completing pre-requisite modules).
The academic year is split over three terms. Most teaching takes place in terms 1 and 2 (field courses generally run outside of this time period), and typically you would take 60 credits in term 1 and 60 credits in term 2 (totalling 120 credits across each academic year). A typical 15 credit module would consist of 150 learning hours. This would be split over approximately 20 hours of lectures plus a combination of tutorials, practicals, workshops etc and independent study.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a combination of coursework and end-of-year examinations. Coursework assignments range from practical reports, tutorial exercises, essays, multimedia presentations, poster presentations, oral presentations, and scientific papers. From the first year of your programme, research-based coursework will be important and will culminate in a final-year research project.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.
The foundation of your career
Many of our graduates choose to undertake further studies, aiming for a research career in a university or in industry. As well as careers in scientific fields, such as in the health service, conservation or the pharmaceutical industry, our graduates have also pursued further training or employment in management, teaching, accounting, the civil service and law.
Employability
Biological Sciences can lead to a wide range of careers. There is key skills training embedded in our degrees (e.g., in statistics, computing and in giving presentations), which helps make you attractive to employers.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2024/25) | £9,250 |
| Tuition fees (2024/25) | £34,400 |
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2024/25 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2024/25 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
The programme includes optional field trips spread across the three years of study. For all field trips, students are expected to be able to provide basic field equipment such as a sleeping bag, torch and suitable clothing such as walking boots. Students on the BSc Biodiversity and Conservation are required to take the compulsory field based module 'Introduction to Field Ecology'.
The exact cost of each fieldtrip will depend on the location, prevailing exchange rates and the price of travel and accommodation. It is estimated that students would need to contribute between £50-£150 depending on the location and previous years cost.
Students will need to purchase a lab coat. This will cost approximately £10-£20.
A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
Your application
We are looking for independent and confident thinkers who have a genuine interest and curiosity in the subject.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
You will have the chance to talk to current students and staff and ask any questions you might have about studying biological sciences, or about UCL. If we have made you an offer, you will be invited to attend an offer-holder event. This may include talks from staff about the programme and the department. It could also include a research presentation, tours of UCL and the department, and a visit to a laboratory facility.
Got questions? Get in touch
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