BSc Genetics

At Glasgow, studying genetics goes far beyond lectures—you’ll be doing real science from the start. You’ll spend time in the lab developing practical skills, learning how to analyse and present complex data, and getting a feel for what it’s really like to work in research. By the time you graduate, you won’t just have studied genetics—you’ll have lived it.

How You’ll Learn

• Hands-on Lab Training : You’ll gain extensive lab experience, from core molecular techniques to problem-solving and data analysis. Alongside this, you’ll sharpen skills like scientific writing, teamwork, and presenting results—tools that are just as valuable outside the lab as they are in it.
• Research Placement (MSci Option) : If you choose the MSci pathway, you’ll spend a full year between Years 3 and 4 working in a real research lab—either in Glasgow or in industry. It’s an incredible chance to apply what you’ve learned and get ahead with real-world experience.
• Field Courses : As part of the wider Life Sciences community, you’ll also have the opportunity to join annual field courses at inspiring locations around the world. These trips give you a chance to explore ecology in action and see how genetics connects to wider biological systems.
• The Hunterian Museum Collections : Your studies will be enriched by access to the Hunterian Museum—one of the world’s greatest university museums. From ancient fossils to zoology collections, you’ll see how genetics links past discoveries to modern science.
• Cutting-Edge Research Facilities : You’ll work with advanced tools through the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, including imaging, protein analysis, and genomics facilities—exactly the kind of technology that drives modern genetics.
• Bioinformatics & Omics Workshops : As genetics becomes more data-driven, you’ll be supported with training in bioinformatics and omics—genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and beyond. These workshops give you both the theory and practical know-how to tackle today’s big biological questions.

Graduates from this programme go on to roles such as research scientists, clinical lab technicians, biotech consultants, or science educators, applying the strong lab skills and analytical mindset they developed throughout the course. At Glasgow, you’re supported every step of the way—whether you’re aiming for a career in STEM or exploring wider professional options.

• Careers support tailored to you: From the Glasgow Careers Service, you’ll have access to Peer Career Support for CVs, job searches, and LinkedIn guidance, along with one-to-one Career Coaching sessions. You’ll also benefit from job listings, internships, and alumni networking opportunities—available not just while you’re a student, but for up to two years after graduation.
• Graduate outcomes & salaries: Around 90% of Bioscience graduates, including those in Genetics, are in work or further study within 15 months of completing their degree. Typical salaries start at £25,000–£25,500, with earnings rising toward £27,500 after five years.
• Industry-sourced employability events: Through initiatives such as the Scottish Life and Chemical Sciences Graduate Employability Masterclasses, you’ll connect with life science employers, improve your application skills, and begin building a professional network.
• Accreditation that matters: The Genetics degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, giving your qualification added value for careers in research, teaching, and beyond.
• Diverse graduate outcomes in practice: University data shows that alumni progress into careers across academia, industry, and public services, including teaching, medicine, management, and journalism—demonstrating the wide versatility of your training.

Further Academic Progression: After your BSc, you can continue your studies with an MSci year, advance into research with a PhD, or pursue professional pathways in areas such as healthcare, genetic counselling, or biotech leadership. You’ll be equipped to shape the future, whether that’s in the lab, in the classroom, or in a leadership role.