Program Overview

Biology and Earth Sciences BSc 2025 entry

Overview

From understanding how molecules and cells work to the study of entire ecosystems, Biology covers all aspects of the natural world. A joint degree with Earth Sciences, this programme will also help you to understand the changing environment of our dynamic planet.

Entry Requirements

SQA Highers

• Standard entry grades: AAAB, Including Biology (or Human Biology) and one other subject from the following: Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: AABB, Including Biology (or Human Biology) and one other subject from the following: Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics.
• Gateway entry grades: Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

GCE A-Levels

• Standard entry grades: AAB, Including Biology and one other subject from the following: Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: ABB, Including Biology and one other subject from the following: Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics.

IB points

• Standard entry grades: 36 (HL 6,6,5), including HL6 in Biology and HL6 in one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics.
• Minimum entry grades: 36 (HL 6,5,5), including HL6 in Biology and HL5 in one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics.

General Entry Requirements

• All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.
• SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing science
  • Geography
  • Applications of Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.
• GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing Science
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

• Students must have studied Biology (or Human Biology) at SQA Higher, GCE A-Level or equivalent.
• Most students who enrol on this course have not studied Earth Sciences at school, and choose Earth Sciences based on a love of the environment, the outdoors, and science.
• Preference will be given to candidates offering strong science qualifications over and above the stated minimum requirements.

International Applicants

• If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability.

Course Details

• The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits.
• More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.

Modules

• First year
• Second year
• Honours
• In first year, modules introduce you to core subject material relevant to your degree. Students will take the following compulsory first-year modules:
  • Biology 1: provides an introduction to molecular and cellular biology. It covers cell diversity and the origins of life, evolution, cellular structures and fundamental processes.
  • Biology 2: provides an introduction to the diversity of life on Earth and addresses key elements of organismal, behavioural and ecological aspects of life.
  • Understanding Planet Earth: provides a foundation in the study of the Earth, introducing key elements of geological and environmental sciences.
  • Earth's Resource Challenges: introduces the fundamental roles Earth and environmental scientists play in society, addressing issues including natural resources, the hydrological cycle, natural hazards, and solutions to the climate crisis.
• In second year, you will continue to study modules tailored to your degree combination. Students will take the following compulsory second-year modules:
  • Research Methods in Biology: develops essential academic and transferable skills, with major emphasis on problem solving. This is achieved through a combination of interactive lectures, independent data-handling workshops and group work on a mini research project.
  • Ecology: introduces essential concepts in population and community ecology and how they relate to biodiversity.
  • Dynamic Earth: The Earth System: focuses on Earth's history, including plate tectonics and its role in the evolution of Earth’s environment and the history of life.
• Students will also select one from each pair of modules listed below:
  • Evolutionary Biology: gives an overview of the history and major principles of modern evolutionary biology.
  • The Oceans: introduces basic concepts in biological and physical oceanography, and provides an understanding of how physical processes such as circulation patterns, waves and tides affect plants and animals living in the different ocean biomes.
  • Vertebrate Zoology: explores the diversity of vertebrate animals, providing a detailed look at the defining characteristics of the body plans and lifestyles of the key vertebrate groups.
  • Biochemistry: a number of central metabolic pathways and their control are studied in detail, alongside examples of their importance in disease and recent metabolomic studies.
  • Dynamic Earth: Earth Surface Processes: focuses on the processes that occur in the outer envelopes of the Earth including land-atmosphere interactions, oceanography, biogeochemical cycles and geomicrobiology.
  • Dynamic Earth: Magma, Minerals and Metamorphism: focuses on the geology and geochemistry of the solid Earth and processes in Earth's interior.
• In your third and fourth years, you will continue to specialise in your joint subjects via a wide range of modules covering core topics. Modules that have been offered in previous years include:
  • Evolution
  • Methods in Aquatic Biology
  • Rewilding and Restoration Ecology
  • Biology of Dinosaurs and Other Extinct Vertebrates
  • Geochemistry
  • GIS and Spatial Analysis for Earth Scientists
  • Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
  • Special Topics in Climate Science
• In fourth year, students also undertake a final year research project on an area of combined Biological and Earth Sciences which will allow students to pursue a topic of personal interest in depth. This project develop skills in experimental design, the evaluation and interpretation of data, and communication.

Teaching

Fees

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £9,535
• EU and overseas: £31,670

Accommodation Fees

• Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and Scholarships

• The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

Careers

• The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.