BSc Biology with Entrepreneurship

The BSc Biology with Entrepreneurship at the University of Manchester is designed to give you the best of both worlds: a strong foundation in biological sciences and practical entrepreneurial skills. With hands-on experiences, access to cutting-edge facilities, and opportunities to apply your learning in real-world contexts, you’ll graduate ready to make an impact.

Key Experiential Learning Opportunities

• Year-Long Industrial Placement : In your third year, you’ll spend a full year working in a professional environment, applying both your biology knowledge and entrepreneurial skills. Placements are available across the UK and internationally, in areas like research, business innovation, and biotechnology—giving you invaluable experience and a CV that stands out.
• Masood Enterprise Centre (MEC) : Entrepreneurship modules are delivered through the MEC at Alliance Manchester Business School, where you’ll explore innovation, develop business ideas, and learn how to turn your scientific knowledge into real-world solutions.
• Research Facilities : In your final year, you’ll have the chance to carry out independent projects in labs led by world-class bioscience researchers, working with advanced equipment and technology to bring your ideas to life.
• Modern Teaching Labs : You’ll gain practical lab skills using state-of-the-art facilities, performing techniques like PCR, DNA sequencing, and immunofluorescence microscopy, ensuring you’re confident in modern bioscience methods.
• Computing Facilities : Manchester provides access to over 200 PCs in dedicated clusters, plus a wealth of e-learning tools—lecture notes, discussion boards, podcasts, and quizzes—to support your studies and collaboration.
• Field Courses : Explore biology in the wild with field courses in Europe, Africa, or Central America, observing plants and animals in their natural habitats and gaining a broader ecological perspective.
• University Living Lab : Work alongside external organisations on projects tackling real-world sustainability challenges. These experiences connect your learning to global issues and contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
• Ethical Grand Challenges : You’ll also have the chance to participate in Ethical Grand Challenges, learning how to create positive social impact and develop a strong sense of responsibility as a scientist and global citizen.

Graduates go on to roles such as research scientists, business development managers, biotech entrepreneurs, or lab-based professionals in industry and academia. Many also pursue careers in healthcare or education, or further study in medicine or physiotherapy.

Future progression & opportunities:

• University services to support employment

  • Placement support through a dedicated year-long business or research placement, coordinated by the Masood Enterprise Centre in the third year, which helps you gain real-world experience in a UK or overseas biotech start-up, enterprise setting, or lab environment.

  • Entrepreneurial training through Masood Enterprise Centre (Alliance Manchester Business School), offering entrepreneurship units alongside students from diverse disciplines .

• Employment statistics and salary figures

  • Around 70% of graduates are in jobs where their degree is essential or beneficial, 85% are engaged in work, study or other productive activity, and 55% say the career aligns with their future plans.

  • Median annual earnings: ~£24.5 k in Year 1, rising to ~£28.8 k by Year 3 and ~£32.8 k by Year 5 post-graduation.

• University–industry partnerships

  • Students may secure placements with leading organisations such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, GSK, Mayo Clinic, Unilever, Eurofins, and others, giving direct exposure to industry environments .

  • The Advanced Accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology ensures research-led education and accelerated professional recognition.

• Long-term accreditation value

  • Graduates of this advanced accredited course are eligible to apply for Member (MRSB) status of the Royal Society of Biology after just two years of professional experience—one year sooner than usual—and can qualify as Chartered Biologist or Chartered Scientist correspondingly faster.

• Graduation outcomes

  • Career pathways include: researchers in academia or industry, biotech entrepreneurs/business leaders, lab-based professionals, healthcare (e.g. physiotherapy, medicine with further study), and education roles.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this BSc, you could advance your studies through:

• A Master’s degree in fields such as biotechnology, business innovation, biomedical sciences, or bioscience research.

• A Medical degree or allied health professions (e.g. physiotherapy), as many graduates pursue these with further study.

• Postgraduate business qualifications such as an MBA or specialised entrepreneurship programmes if you're inclined to expand your commercial or startup ambitions.