Our BSc (Hons) Applied Bioscience & Zoology course will equip you with the skills to pursue a career within the animal sciences sector.
With excellent field and work-related learning opportunities, career options include animal welfare, countryside ranger, pest and infestation control, zoo keeper, fish farmer, aquaculture research and teaching.
Laboratories play a vital role in research, diagnosis and treatment, with biomedical scientists carrying out tests on specimens, with timely and effective analysis of results informing the effective diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and prevention of disease .
Our course will ensure that you gain the knowledge, skills and experience to play a leading role in a modern and dynamic sector.
In year three you will have the opportunity to take part in relevant work-based learning module. Work-based learning is available as part of this course and can help to provide relevant skills and experience that will boost your employment prospects upon graduation.
Recent student placements include Blair Drummond Safari Park, Amazonia and with the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
of students were satisfied with the quality of this course
of students were in work or further study six months after completing this course.
This degree has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) following an independent and rigorous assessment.
Accredited degrees contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of employers. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited degrees meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.
This course meets, in part, the academic and experience requirement for the Membership of the RSB and Chartered Biologist (CBiol) status.
The Royal Society of Biology is the leading professional body for the biological sciences in the United Kingdom. The Society represents over 18,000 biologists from all areas of the life sciences, as well as over 100 organisations which make up the diverse landscape of biology in the UK and overseas. The Royal Society of Biology offers members unique opportunities to engage with the life sciences and share their passion for biology.
We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Don’t worry if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience.
If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.
Direct entry into year 2 and 3 is possible.
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.
General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.
For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:
* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:
* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*
*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
Scotland’s bio-industry is expanding rapidly and the sector needs highly skills graduates to fill skills gaps and skills shortages. The UK is recognised as a global leader in life sciences and is one of the leading destinations for life sciences research and development alongside Boston, San Francisco, San Diego and Singapore.
The BSc Applied Bioscience & Zoology will equip you with the practical and transferable skills for a rewarding career in the life sciences sector in Scotland or abroad.
Our highly qualified and experienced team, supported by industry guest speakers will deepen your understanding of bioscience and help you to understand the range of career options and professional accreditations that will be available to you upon completion.
In year 1 you will complete modules that include an introduction to biological sciences (cell, molecular and organismal biology) and two additional science subjects from chemistry, forensic science, mathematics or physics.
In year 2 you will begin to specialise with modules including:
You will also complete a module that will equip you with practical skills in data collection, analysis and presentation.
In year 3 you will deepen your knowledge of bioscience with core modules in entomology, parasitology, animal diversity, conservation and animal behaviour. In year three you can also choose to take part in a work-related learning module in a relevant area of interest.
You will also complete a one-week residential marine biology fieldtrip.
In year 4 you will complete a research dissertation of your choice alongside your continued study of specialist modules.
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and workshops.
You will also have the opportunity to take part in group work and independent learning to develop your transferable skills such as research, presentation, communication and working as part of a team.
This degree is assessed using a variety of assessment methods including:
This course also gives you the option of taking a language module, which can count towards your degree. These modules cover multiple languages and range from absolute beginner to near-native speaker level. The cost of your language module is included in the tuition fees. Find out more
Find out more about the structure, learning outcomes, compulsory and optional modules in this course.
With the BSc (Hons) Applied Bioscience & Zoology you will gain a mix of specialist and generic transferable skills essential for your career.
In addition this course is recognised for entry onto teacher training for biology and science courses.
Some graduates choose further study including MSc Advanced Biomedical Science or MSc Biotechnology. Options to study biosciences at PhD level are also available.
£1,820 cost per year of study (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
£14,000 per year of study
£305 per module (20 credits)
£1,550 per module (20 credits)
£1,550 per module (20 credits)
£2,350 per module (20 credits)
£1,820 cost per year of study (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
£13,000 per year of study
£305 per module (20 credit)
£1,550 per module (20 credit)
£1,550 per module (20 credit)
The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career.
In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs like study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms.
Fortunately, there is a great deal of financial support available to help students meet the cost of their study. This ranges from:
The sections below provide details of additional costs that your course may involve along with any financial support that may be available.
You can also find additional information in our Undergraduate Money, Fees & Funding section.
Students on certain degrees will incur some additional costs not covered by their tuition fees. These could be for things like specialist equipment, study materials, work placements, graduation, membership of relevant organisations or costs related to carrying out fieldwork.
For students on course with an element of fieldwork, there may also be extra costs for travel and accommodation.
Please contact the course leader for details of the additional costs associated with this course.
Tuition fees are calculated based on where you are from and what you are studying. Some courses also involve additional costs, such as mandatory field trips, equipment or studying abroad.
Find out how much it will cost you to study at UWS as an undergraduate student.
Scottish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
English, Welsh and Northern Irish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
EU students studying at undergraduate level of UWS may be eligible for SAAS funding, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
There are several scholarship and incentive schemes available to international students studying at undergraduate level at UWS, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
UWS administer a range of discretionary and childcare funds. These are designed to support students who are experiencing financial difficulty or struggling to meet the costs of childcare.
Becoming a student can have an impact on your entitlement to certain benefits. It may mean you are no longer eligible to claim a benefit you have been receiving, or your new income from student funding may affect the amount you are able to receive.
If there isn’t a statutory source of funding for you or your course, or you are in need of additional financial support, you may wish to consider more alternative sources of funding such as trust funds and scholarships.
Choosing to become a student can have a big impact on your budget and you may need to reassess your spending to account for a reduced income. We’ve put together some guidance to help you manage your money and make the right financial choices for you and your family.
All UK and EU applicants for undergraduate study, not applying through an agent or partner, should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The on-time application deadline for 2020/21 entry is 15 January 2020, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 30 June 2020, 18:00 (UK time). Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via ‘UCAS Clearing’ if the course you are interested in has remaining places.
Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide for domestic & EU/EEA to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.
Students from non-EU/non-EEA countries can apply directly to UWS via our dedicated online application system. The latest we can process your application is 6 weeks before the course start date to allow for visa processing times. For more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS please refer to our International Undergraduate Application Guide.
For part-time & online study, you should apply directly to the University through our online application system, not through UCAS. Please select the part-time mode of study when submitting your application. Before you begin your application, it is important to read the part-time application step-by-step guide for a smooth process.
To come to UWS as a visiting student on a study abroad or exchange programme, you must apply entirely through our online system.
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
Going to university is about much more than getting a qualification, it’s also the chance to enjoy an exciting social life, gain some independence and make the most of the new opportunities available.
DiscoverWe will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.