Biology

Study Biology and you study life. Biology degree courses explore the full scope of life: from bacteria to blue whales, from enzymes to ecosystems.

The University of Stirling Biology courses train you in laboratory and field skills across the entire scope of biology, from cell biology through to ecology. Biology degree students develop sound practical skills and become involved with our research, giving them the opportunity to contribute to important biological discoveries.

Stirling is the perfect place to study Biology with wild landscapes and habitats on our doorstep. We are a hub for conservation activity in Scotland and link up with many environmental and conservation organisations across the world.

Biology courses

Courses labelled are available for online study only.

Undergraduate courses
CourseStart date
BSc (Hons) Animal BiologyJanuary 2024, September 2024, January 2025
BSc (Hons) Applied Biological SciencesAugust 2024
BSc (Hons) BiologyJanuary 2024, September 2024, January 2025
BSc (Hons) Cell BiologyJanuary 2024, September 2024, January 2025
BSc (Hons) Marine BiologyJanuary 2024, September 2024, January 2025

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Environmental Science

Scholarships

We offer a variety of scholarship and funding options to help you finance your studies at the University of Stirling.

Undergraduate scholarships

See more undergraduate scholarships

Postgraduate scholarships

See more postgraduate scholarships

Graduate careers in Biology

Our Biology graduates progress to successful careers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agricultural industries. Many find employment in:

  • biotechnology
  • microbiology
  • conservation
  • environmental agencies
  • civil service
  • forensic science
  • teaching
  • food industry
  • hospital analytical laboratories
  • government and industrial research laboratories
  • zoology

In addition, there is a wide range of more general graduate employment for Biology graduates, which includes:

  • bioinformatics
  • health and clinical sciences
  • medical sales and marketing
  • science journalism
  • teaching

About one third of our recent Biology graduates have continued their studies to obtain a further qualification, such as a Masters degree or PhD.

Partnerships and industry

Our campus is a conservation hub for organisations including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, British Trust for Ornithology and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

We work closely with these and other organisations, such as the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, in conducting research, arranging placements and field training, and developing our Biology courses.

We also have links with environmental science organisations throughout the UK and overseas, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature, European Environment Agency, Gabonese National Parks Service, and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research.

We’ve worked with Scottish employers to develop our Applied Biological Sciences course, to help solve skills shortages in the life sciences sector.

Biology research

We’re world leaders in Biological and Environmental research. We seek to understand the fundamental processes driving the evolution and maintenance of biodiversity – from how environments and ecosystems have changed over time, to predicting and mitigating the future impacts of anthropogenic change and natural hazards.

We’re involved with many international projects around the world, including in Malaysia, Botswana, Nigeria, Iceland, Norway, Greenland, Ukraine, Hungary and China.

We consistently attract major research grant support from the Natural Environment Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Leverhulme Trust, charitable trusts and industrial sponsors.

Our key areas of research:

  • conservation
  • plant ecology and biogeography
  • evolutionary ecology
  • environmental protection
  • environmental change
  • landscape history
  • biogeochemical cycling
  • terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
  • environment, heritage and policy

Postgraduate research opportunities

Study for a Biology, Ecology or Environmental Science PhD or MPhil at the University of Stirling and you’ll be supervised by experienced and expert staff. See all our PhD and MPhil opportunities in Biological and Environmental Sciences.