BSc Life Sciences with Industrial or Professional Experience

You won’t just learn biology—you’ll experience it. From hands-on lab work and field trips to ethical projects and a full-year placement, this programme is designed to make your learning practical, impactful, and career-ready.

How your learning comes to life

• Year-long industrial or professional placement (Year 3) : Spend a full year working with leading organisations—past partners include AstraZeneca, Pfizer, GSK, and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew—as well as top research institutes in the UK and overseas. It’s your chance to gain real experience, make industry connections, and strengthen your CV.
• Ethical Grand Challenges & University Living Lab : Take your learning beyond the classroom by working on sustainability and social responsibility projects. You’ll collaborate with external organisations to address real-world issues and see how biology can make a difference in society.
• Field Trips : Step outside the lecture theatre and study biology in its natural setting. Whether it’s biodiversity, ecology, or organismal biology, field trips give you the chance to apply your learning in the real world.
• Flexible learning options : Shape your degree to match your interests. Alongside core life sciences modules, you can explore entrepreneurship, learn a new language, or take optional courses in business or other specialisations through University College.
• Research-driven final project : In your final year, you’ll take ownership of an independent project—this could be lab-based, bioinformatics, e-learning, or even enterprise-focused. Supported by Manchester’s facilities and expert academics, you’ll graduate with a major piece of work that showcases your skills and ambitions.

Graduates from this programme leave with more than just a degree—they’ve built the kind of professional experience and confidence that employers notice straight away. With a strong scientific foundation and a year in industry, you’ll be ready for roles like research associate, conservation consultant, clinical lab technician, or biotech specialist. That placement year acts as a real launchpad, turning your academic knowledge into skills that stand out on your CV.

• University Career Support : You won’t be on your own when it comes to planning your next step. Manchester’s Global Careers team will support you with personalised CV advice, interview coaching, help finding internships, and introductions to mentors and employers.
• Graduate Outcomes & Salary Trends : Life sciences graduates with placement experience achieve excellent results—74% are working in degree-related roles within 15 months of graduating. Salaries also grow steadily, from around £24.5k in the first year after graduation to £32.8k by year five.
• Industry Connections : Your placement year puts you shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the biggest names in the sector—previous students have worked with AstraZeneca, GSK, the Mayo Clinic, and Kew Gardens. It’s a chance to gain practical experience, explore your career interests, and make valuable contacts.
• Accreditation Advantage : This programme is recognised with Advanced Accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology. That means you can apply for professional membership (MRSB) after just two years of work experience instead of three—fast-tracking your progress towards Chartered Biologist status.
• Where Our Graduates Go : Alumni from this course take a wide range of paths: many continue into PhDs or research-based master’s degrees, while others move into clinical labs, conservation roles, science communication, education, or public sector careers. The skills you gain here give you the flexibility to shape your own path.

Further Study Options
If you decide to continue your education, this degree opens doors to MSc or PhD programmes in areas like molecular biology, environmental science, or bioenterprise. With your placement experience and accreditation, you’ll stand out as someone ready to lead in both research and industry.