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Biology

  • BSc (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
More about Royal Holloway, University of London

Course options

2026-2027
Apply

Course summary

Biology helps us to understand the world around us – the way that plants and animals interact, the way that different living things evolve and adapt and our own role in the wider natural world. Biology at Royal Holloway, University of London gives you a sound understanding of the structure, function, evolution and diversity of living organisms and the interactions between them.

Our flexible Biology programme lets you tailor your studies to suit your specific interests throughout your degree. You will gain a foundation in cell biology and genetics, and study evolution, biological data analysis, and plant life. You may select from a very wide range of modules that include studies at molecular, organ, organism and ecosystem levels.

You will gain practical experience across all three years of the degree. In your first and second years you will attend laboratory-based and field-based practicals. In your final year, you will join our renowned research culture as you complete your individual research project alongside academics with expertise in a wide range of research areas. Your topic may be from biomedical, environmental, microbial or plant sciences, and you may choose to use a laboratory, field, or computer-based approach.

You’ll gain invaluable laboratory experience across all three years of your degree. In your third year you will complete an individual project, becoming part of our renowned research culture. Many of our former students have contributed to published scientific papers, and our low student-to-staff ratio maximises your contact time with our internationally respected and enthusiastic academics.

You will also develop a range of transferrable skills that you will need to impress potential employers, alongside experience of woking in teams, project management, resilience, determination and strong organisational skills.

Tailor your studies to suit your specific study interests in each year with our flexible degree structure.

Learn on a biodiverse campus in reach of sites of special scientific interest.

Develop an understanding of how to design and analyse ecological experiments.

Examine the major theories that seek to explain animal behaviour.

Equip yourself with the skills needed to work in a wide range of sectors.

Modules

Please refer to our website for information:
https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/biological-sciences/biology/

Assessment method

Your course will be assessed by a combination of examinations and in-course assignments in the form of essays or presentations.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BSc (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
C100
Institution code:
R72
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Royal Holloway, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
C100
Institution code:
R72
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - BBB - BBC

Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A-levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in lower A-level grades being required. Socio-economics factors which may have impacted an applicant's education will be taken into consideration and alternative offers may be made to these applicants. Required subject: Biology, plus a Pass in the practical element

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - Not accepted

Access to HE Diploma - D: 24 credits M: 21 credits

Including all Biology units at Distinction.

Scottish Higher - BBBBB

Including Biology.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DM

Distinction Merit in BTEV National Diploma plus grade B in A-level Biology. A Pass is required in the practical element of all Science A-levels taken.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) - D

Plus A-levels grade BB including Biology. A Pass is required in the practical element of all Science A-levels taken.

Scottish Advanced Higher - BBB - BBC

Including Biology.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 30 points

5,5,5 at Higher Level OR with a minimum of 30 points overall, including Biology.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Requirements are as for A-levels where one non-subject-specified A-level can be replaced by the same grade in the Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3, H3

Including Biology.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Applicants with the Cambridge Pre-U are strongly encouraged to apply to Royal Holloway. Offers will be made on the basis of equivalent A-Level grades as can be found on the Royal Holloway website.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

We require English and Mathematics at grade 4/C

T Level - D

T-Level should be in a Science Pathway with Distinction achieved overall, Merit in the occupation specialism and B in the Core Component.

Combinations of qualifications will be considered on an individual basis, please contact us on admissions.enquiries@rhul.ac.uk to discuss your situation.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At Royal Holloway, we know every student approaches university with different experiences and backgrounds. We look at each application individually, and different factors can affect the exact offer a student receives. For instance, our contextual offer scheme means students from disadvantaged socio-economic background can receive a different offer. For full details please see our website.

Learn more on the Royal Holloway, University of London website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
International£29900Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535*Year 1
England£9535*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535*Year 1
Scotland£9535*Year 1
Wales£9535*Year 1
Channel Islands£9535*Year 1
EU£29900Year 1

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £9,535

EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £29,900

Other essential costs***: There are no single associated costs greater than £50 per item on this course.

*The tuition fee for Home (UK) undergraduates is controlled by Government regulations. This figure is the fee for the academic year 2025/26 and is shown as a guide. The fee for the academic year 2026/27 has not yet been announced.

**This figure is the fee for EU and international students on this course in the academic year 2026/27.

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually for all students. For further information see: https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/fees-and-funding/

*** These estimated costs relate to studying this particular degree at Royal Holloway during the 2026/27 academic year. Costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing, have not been included.

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