BSc Life Sciences

You’ll be learning in ways that go far beyond the lecture hall—through hands-on lab work, exciting field trips, and projects that connect your science studies to real-world issues. The course is designed to give you practical experience, ethical awareness, and opportunities to see biology in action:

• Field Courses at Home & Abroad: Bring your studies to life with optional field courses such as Animal Behaviour in South Africa, Marine Biology in Scotland, or Mediterranean Biodiversity in Mallorca. You can also take part in local trips exploring urban biodiversity around Manchester.
• Ethical Grand Challenges & University Living Lab: Get involved in projects that tackle real-world issues, working with external organisations to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These experiences put sustainability and ethics at the centre of your scientific learning.
• Interdisciplinary and Applied Learning: From your very first year, you’ll develop practical and collaborative skills through fieldwork, group presentations, and research-led assignments. Your final-year project brings everything together in an in-depth, independent study.
• Study Abroad Opportunities: Broaden your academic and personal horizons with the chance to spend a year studying overseas, gaining fresh perspectives on biology while immersing yourself in a new culture.

Graduates from the BSc Life Sciences go on to succeed in a wide variety of careers, from research associate and conservation scientist to clinical laboratory technician or science communicator. The flexibility of this degree means you’re not tied to one path—you’ll have the freedom to move across scientific, professional, or creative fields:

• Dedicated Career Support: Manchester’s Careers Service is with you every step of the way, offering tailored CV workshops, interview practice, internship guidance, and placement support. You’ll even have access to their services for two years after graduation.
• Strong Graduate Outcomes & Salaries: Within 15 months of graduating, 74% of bioscience students are in skilled roles. Typical starting salaries are around £24.5k, rising to £28.8k after three years and reaching about £32.8k by year five.
• University–Industry Visibility: As one of the UK’s most targeted universities by top employers, Manchester gives you direct access to leading recruiters. Global companies regularly take part in careers fairs, networking sessions, and employer-led events on campus.
• Flexible Specialisation Pathways: Many Life Sciences students choose to transition into accredited streams such as Life Sciences with Industrial/Professional Experience or with Entrepreneurship. These carry Advanced Accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology, helping you achieve professional status more quickly.
• Global Career Trajectories: Manchester graduates have gone on to impactful roles worldwide—from advancing vaccine research at Pfizer in New York to launching conservation projects in India—showing how far this degree can take you.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’re excited to take your studies further, this degree gives you an excellent foundation for postgraduate pathways. Many students continue into research-focused MSc or PhD programmes in biosciences, while others branch into applied fields such as bioentrepreneurship, biotechnology commercialisation, or science policy. With both strong academic grounding and career-ready skills, you’ll be well placed to succeed at the next level—whether in higher study or professional life.