Biology

Biologists are vital to the UK's future. Demand for biological expertise is rising fast.

The biological sciences sector is growing 5–15% faster than average according to the UK Office for National Statistics (2025). Biostatistics, for example, is now one of the most sought-after and highest-paid career paths. In the UK, biostatisticians typically earn £55,000–£100,000 in pharmaceutical companies, public health agencies, and research institutes (Apex Learning Aug 2025). Our Data Analysis and Biostatistics pathway gives you the skills to step into this growing field.

On our BSc Biology degree, you’ll develop knowledge and practical skills in cell biology, genetics, physiology, ecology and biodiversity. You’ll learn fieldwork and quantitative techniques during on-campus and residential field courses. Training covers laboratory and field skills in all areas of biology. You can also improve your data skills by choosing modules in programming, data science, and statistics with R.

Gain valuable industry experience on a placement

As part of our biology BSc, you’ll have the option to complete a professional placement with an external organisation. Opportunities include working with environmental charities, government agencies or industry.

Past students have worked in organisations including:

• Collagen Solutions

• Valneva

• Tissue Solutions

• Natural England

• Loch Lomond and The Trossachs

Exciting fieldwork opportunities

Fieldwork is a vital part of your learning experience. Our biology course gives you hands on experience in different settings.

You’ll make the most of our beautiful 330-acre campus, which offers diverse habitats for field-based work. We also organise short trips to nearby locations where you’ll study different species. You’ll develop key skills such as environmental monitoring, fauna and flora identification, plant identification, and landscape history and management.

The course also offers the choice of two residential field trips:

• Southern France (7 days): Based in the Merops Field Station in southern France, this trip focuses on field ecology and animal biology. You’ll learn how to design, carry out, and analyse your own scientific project.

• South Africa (10 days): This experience develops your field research skills. You’ll examine different physical and environmental processes and ecosystem functioning. You’ll also learn about the challenges of conserving and managing international landscapes.

On either trip you’ll gain knowledge on:

• Regional biogeography

• Ecosystem processes

• Anthropogenic impacts

• Landscape evolution

• Conservation practices

• Anthropogenic impacts

The course fees do not include travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs on residential field courses.

Specialise in an area of biology that interests you

During years 3 and 4 of this biology degree you can stay on the general pathway or choose to gain a specialism. To do this you need to complete three prescribed modules and a relevant dissertation project. These are the options:

• Biodiversity and Sustainability

• Data Analysis and Biostatistics

• Ecological and Evolutionary

• Physiology and Molecular

https://www.stir.ac.uk/courses/ug/biology/#panel_1_3