Based on the major/minor model, this single honours course draws on modules taught by the School of Biosciences and the Birmingham Business School. Each year you will follow both Biosciences and Business modules with a weighting of two thirds to one third, where sessions include lectures, tutorials and workshops. Equally, you will get hands-on training in experimental techniques through practical sessions in Biosciences. In addition to subject-specific skills and knowledge, you will be trained in a variety of skills that are in demand in any professional sector, including communication, leadership, teamwork, critical evaluation and academic writing, to name a few. The ‘Modules’ section below has more details on the course content, including a link to brief descriptions of each module.

While you need to decide at the outset which of the two available pathways – Molecular Biosciences or Environmental Biosciences - you wish to pursue, each route offers flexibility in terms of choosing between alternative elective modules, allowing you to follow your curiosity rather than being confined to a set academic syllabus.

Take a virtual tour of one of
our teaching labs

As a Birmingham student you are part of an academic research elite and will learn from world-leading experts. From the outset you will be encouraged to become an independent thinker, however you will have plenty of contact with the staff who teach you.

• Lectures - Your learning will take place in a range of different settings, from scheduled teaching in lectures and small group tutorials, to self-study and peer group learning. As well as traditional whiteboard and pen, our lecture theatres are equipped with the latest techology including movies and animations, molecular graphics and ‘ask the audience’ style electronic voting systems. Student interaction using various social media is encouraged before, during and after lectures.
• Practical classes - Laboratory-based practical work is an integral part of our degree. A typical practical session will last 3 hours  delivering important transferable skills, experience of practical work is essential if you wish to move into a research career and is valued by a wide range of employers. You will be able to engage with academic and post graduate researchers who will help you during these practical sessions.
• Field courses - Biological Sciences students have the opportunity to develop their field skills on a wide range of field courses in different environments. See the Course Modules tab for details.
• Tutorials - A personal tutorial system is an essential feature of our degree programme and your tutors will help you in three important areas: supporting your academic progress, developing transferable skills and helping with any welfare issues.

To begin with you may find university level education challenging, but we will support you to enable you to make this transition. You will have access to a comprehensive support system in the School, including personal tutors and welfare tutors, who can help with both academic and welfare issues throughout your course. You will have a formal transition review during your first year to check on your progress and identify areas where you may need some additional support, and the School’s academic small group tutorial system will provide you with skills based support throughout the course.

Clinical anatomist, author and broadcaster Alice Roberts is the University's Professor of Public Engagement in Science. You can watch Alice's lecture Origins of us: Human Anatomy and Evolution above.  

Alice carries out a range of academic duties which include teaching second year Biosciences students.

Graduates of the University of Birmingham are highly regarded among employers in the UK, and a Biosciences with Business Management degree from Birmingham is an excellent qualification for securing your future career in a diverse range of industries and employment sectors. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal. And once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs, interview practice and job applications will further help to give you the edge.

Advances in the biosciences are having a profound impact on our daily lives in areas from human health to conservation. Biotechnology, biological pharmaceuticals, and personalised medicine are key growth areas in the health sector. Environmental remediation, climate change and related themes pose multi-faceted challenges for the coming decades. Expert knowledge in biology and the life sciences, especially when combined with an understanding of business and enterprise, will be in high demand for the foreseeable future. Indeed, bright prospects for exciting and rewarding careers await you in research, teaching, industry, the NHS and the public sector.

In order to help you build an attractive CV, bursaries from the University can help fund a summer internship in a research laboratory or in a company. Also, you can apply for one of the highly prestigious (and competitive) Alumni Leadership Mentoring or Global Challenge programmes of the University, which provide unique opportunities to see top-notch organisations from an inside perspective. Furthermore, the Personal Skills Award (PSA) scheme gives formal recognition to skills you acquired outside the course, for instance when volunteering for a charity or taking on responsibility within the Guild of Students.

Helping you find the right career

The University and the School of Biosciences provide a range of services to support you in finding a career and to build a CV that stands out from the crowd. During term time, professional career advisers hold weekly drop-in sessions, discussing with you how to prepare a CV and cover letters, the graduate application process and how to explore possible career paths. An annual Biosciences Careers Fair brings employers from the life sciences sector to our School for networking and discussions, while professionals highlight the diverse employment opp ortunities in the life sciences in weekly sessions of the Biosciences Insight Series throughout the term.