Biology-related degrees enable students to develop key skills, for example the ability to critically analyse data, research topics, develop valid methodology and use information to draw conclusions and evaluate.
- Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary and related careers
- Scientific Research in academia and for industry (e.g. Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology)
- Medical and Scientific Communication
- Environmental scientist including marine biologist, agriculturist, nature conservationist
- Pharmacist
- Food science/Nutrition
- Civil Service/ Government/Policy/Charities
- Medical Sales
- Museums/Zoos/Wildlife Film-maker
- Step to various career paths e.g. Finance, Business, Banking, Law, Education, Journalism
Where to find job adverts for Bio-scientists
Scientific journals including New Scientist, Scientific American
Society websites e.g. www.biochemistry.org, www.genetics.org, www.nutritionsociety.org
Careers in Biology
Subjects to study at A Level:
Biology (many universities also require Chemistry at A Level).
Wider reading:
Journals including New Scientist, Biological Science Review, Scientific American, Nature Books by popular Science authors including Genome, The Blind Watchmaker, Language of the Genes, Almost like a Whale.
Top Universities:
Most universities offer excellent Biology and other Bioscience courses. For the specialism you are interested in you can search for universities on the UCAS website and the Complete University Guide.
According to the Complete University Guide, the top 10 UK Universities for Biological Sciences (December 2014) are:
- Cambridge
- Oxford
- Imperial College London
- York
- Durham
- Sheffield
- Bristol
- Bath
- King’s College London
- Glasgow
(check UCAS website for entry requirements for these universities: www.ucas.com)
Useful Websites
Society of Biology – www.societyofbiology.org
• Nature – www.nature.com
According to the higher education careers service unit almost 60% of Biology graduates were employed six months after graduating in 2013. A further 24% continued their studies.
Useful websites for Biology and Life Science – related work placements and internships:
www.nuffieldfoundation.org/students – The Nuffield Foundation offers bursaries to support A Level students on work experience placements
www.ucl.ac.uk/zebrafish-group/outreach – University College London offers lab based workshops and work experience via its Zebrafish group
www.csc.mrc.ac.uk/Students/TypesOfStudy/SummerStudent – The MRC Clinical Sciences Centre in London offers work experience as well as tours of the facilities uk.gsk.com/en-gb/careers/school-students – GlaxoSmithKline offer experience in labs in institutions in London, Essex and Hertfordshire
www.sanger.ac.uk/workstudy/placements – The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute offer 1 to 2 weeks work experience for students interested in scientific research
www.ncl.ac.uk/marine/outreach/careers.htm – The Dove Marine Laboratory, Newcastle University offers a number of work experience placements for 16-18 year olds
www.etrust.org.uk/the-year-in-industry – The EDA Year in Industry helps post A Level/Higher/Advanced Higher and undergraduate students find 9 to 12 month paid work placements in all areas of science
www.stfc.ac.uk/home.aspx – Science & Technology Facilities Council offer students lab work experience at Chilbolton Observatory, Daresbury Laboratory, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and The UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UKATC)
You could also try contacting some organisations near you, for example:
- natural history or science museum
- a wildlife conservation centre
- research lab in a university
- research or production lab in an industrial setting
- clinical lab in a hospital
- Zoo
- medical, dentist or veterinary practice
- scientific writing company
- school