Bachelor of Science in Biology

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

Modern zoology is interdisciplinary and we believe that you need to be aware of the breadth of animal biology from the molecular to the ecological. Our zoology degree begins broadly and introduces more choice in years two and three.

You will have the freedom to tailor your course to your interests and to specialise or maintain breadth in your studies. Opportunities include a week-long field- or laboratory-based course selected from a range of subject areas, and a practical research project. The range of research and transferable skills you will learn will enhance your employability as a graduate.

We have outstanding facilities in our state-of-the-art Life Sciences Building and our lecturers are world-leading researchers in their fields.

BSc Economics and Politics combines an enriching experience with exciting intellectual challenges in two schools with strong reputations for teaching and research. By studying these two social sciences you will develop a deep understanding of global markets and political systems.

Economics follows a series of core units in the first and second years, covering micro- and macro-economics, mathematics, statistics and econometrics. This lays the foundations for specialising in the areas of economics that most interest you in your third year. Popular unit options previously have included Development Economics, Behavioural Economics, History of Economic Thought and International Economics.

You will also study the politics of individual countries and governments and the relationships between countries, communities and individuals. Politics is organised around three themes: political theory, comparative and national politics, and international relations. In addition to compulsory units, which will give you a solid grounding in politics, you be able to select from a range of units that are closely linked to staff research interests and thus unique to Bristol.

Sociotechnical changes create a wide range of challenges and opportunities for educators and those who participate in and support learning around the world. Digital technologies (such as microcomputers, digital games, mobile devices, massive online open courses, artificial intelligence, robots, social media, big data, and virtual or tangible technologies) are increasingly becoming embedded in our societies and being used in both educational settings and our everyday learning. The Learning, Technology and Society pathway is designed for those who wish to take a critical perspective on the use of technology in diverse educational settings.

It is suitable for people with a variety of educational backgrounds and experiences, including teachers and lecturers, creative technologists and those who support informal learning settings such as museums and public spaces.

The pathway will provide you with a firm foundation for developing your career in teaching and facilitating learning in formal and informal settings, education leadership, research or learning technology. You will develop an in-depth understanding of sociotechnical change and a critical perspective on if and how digital technologies can support learning in a wide variety of settings. In addition, the pathway will prepare you to undertake further research in this rapidly developing field.

This pathway is taught in an international centre of excellence in teaching, research and educational technology. The tutors on the course are world-class academics with excellent research records in the field of education, technology and society.

The centrepiece of the MSci Biochemistry degree is an extended research project that allows you to develop in-depth expertise in your area of specialism and acquire the skills required to embark on a research career. The MSci covers all the major aspects of biochemistry with an emphasis on cutting-edge research.

The first two years of the MSci are identical to the BSc. You can tailor the course to suit your interests across all years by combining your study of biochemistry with a choice of subject options.

In the first year these include anatomy, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology and physiology. Your second year combines biochemistry and molecular genetics with a choice of units covering topics such as neurophysiology, infection and immunity, mathematics and languages.

In your third year you will learn about a range of advanced topics in biochemistry and cell biology and participate in a laboratory-based research training unit where you will develop the skills needed to define and solve research problems.

This prepares you for a research-intensive fourth year, where you will spend up to 16 weeks on an individual research project under the supervision of one of our research group leaders.

You will learn about the context in which scientific research is undertaken through the Science and Society unit and complete your studies by choosing two advanced options, which could include Synthetic Biology, Cell Biology of Development and Disease, and Protein Assemblies and Molecular Machines.

This interdisciplinary MSc programme is for students who are passionate about early life, mass extinctions, macroevolution, climate change and fossil preservation. It bridges the biology-geology divide. You will learn the latest techniques in phylogenetics, biomechanics and macroevolution, providing you with a strong foundation for independent research to PhD level or for a career in museum curation, science education, science policy, management or the media.

You will join Bristol's established palaeobiology research group and engage in current debates in evolution, systematics and palaeobiology. You will learn how to analyse problems quantitatively and design experimental approaches to resolving questions in macroevolution and the study of both ancient and living organisms.

A key aspect of the programme is preparing your research project for publication, and many of our previous students’ projects have been published in leading international journals. Recent research project topics include the origin of cellular life, the preservation of colours in dinosaurs and the evolution of culture in humans.

This programme gives you the opportunity to develop a wide range of professional skills, including research planning, problem-solving and communication. You will learn to present palaeontological data through talks, visual displays and formal written reports. You will also develop computing skills in data handling, phylogenetics, macroevolution, function and 3D digital modelling.