Biological Sciences with Professional Training Year Cardiff University

Our integrated master's degree in Biological Science is aimed at aspiring researchers and those seeking a career in science. This five-year undergraduate course enables you to explore the current frontiers of knowledge in your chosen field and provides training in advanced research techniques.

We offer a wide choice of subjects across the biological sciences including: animal and plant biology; microbiology; genetics; systems biology; ecology; disease; behaviour; neuroscience; zoology; developmental and stem cell biology; and evolution. As part of our Ecology and Conservation module, we also run a range of subsidised field courses both within the UK and overseas, including River Ecology in Wales, Tropical Marine Ecology in Tobago, and Rainforest Biodiversity in Malaysia.

As part of this course you will spend your third year on placement at a field centre, zoological or botanical institute, museum, industrial research laboratory, or other approved establishment of your choice. This offers a great opportunity to gain first-hand professional research experience, and it has been shown to greatly enhance your degree and subsequent employment prospects.

Many placements are in the UK, but in recent years we have had an increasing number of students taking up placements in international locations, including Southeast Asia, South Africa, Germany, Italy, Australia, Madagascar, and the USA.

You can tailor the degree to your own interests as they develop, choosing to focus on one particular aspect of biology or opting to study a wider range of topics. Your final year will include an extended project in an active research laboratory. This project will be novel and the results may even be complete enough to be published in a scientific journal. You will be trained and supported by researchers, helping you to develop your skills as a practical research scientist

Our Biological Sciences course provides an excellent foundation for careers within all areas of biological sciences, and offers strong training for research scientists. Our graduates have gone on to a range of exciting and fulfilling careers in both scientific and non-scientific related fields, including marine biology, ecology and conservation, scientific publishing, pharmaceutical industries, molecular biology, journalism, teaching and veterinary science. Many also choose to further progress their studies with a higher degree.

You may also be interested in the following courses:

BSc Biological Sciences with Professional Training Year

MBiol Biological Sciences

MBiochem Biochemistry with Professional Training Year

Entry requirements for this course

Contact Cardiff University to find course entry requirements.

View foundation and pathway programmes to help you meet academic and language entry requirements.