BSc (Hons) Biology

Career Prospects

This biology degree provides an excellent basis for careers in biomedicine, biotechnology, conservation, the pharmaceutical or food industries, research or teaching. Prospective employers include BASF Agrochemical, hospitals, forensic laboratories, and the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in Farnborough.

A number of students continue on to postgraduate study, either taught science masters’ courses, research degrees or teaching qualifications.

Alumni Profile

Dave Greenwood - 2008 graduate: first class

As a mature student I had spent a number of years out of education and was anxious about my ability to complete what had always been to me, a fairly intimidating degree subject. On arrival I found the staff to be both welcoming and supportive and they provided all the encouragement I needed for success. The course included a range of practical assessments and field studies. I decided on biological sciences as I was unsure of which career direction to take but I wanted to create the widest possible choice of career options.

After completing a Masters Degree an opportunity arose to re-join Salford University for a GSK funded PhD in Molecular-Microbiology.

My four years as a Salford University undergraduate were challenging, stimulating, and on more than a few occasions, difficult. However, there are numerous resources within the school to assist with problems, academic or otherwise. I was given the opportunity to peruse a thrilling and invigorating career, one that I would never have dreamed of 10 years ago. More importantly however, it has provided me with the confidence and ability to pursue my own interests, to make my own career choices and reach a potential that I had not considered possible.

Industry Links

We encourage all of our students to take up an additional industrial placement year, which we will help to arrange, between years 2 and 3 of the full-time course, making a four-year course overall. In many cases this can be a salaried position with a major company or have financial support linked to a public health laboratory or hospital (such as the Respiratory Physiology Unit at the Royal Aintree Hospital in Liverpool). In our experience, final degree results and employability are enhanced for students who undertake a placement year. The placement also counts towards the final degree classification as part of the year 2 mark.

Placements

Recent biology placement students have been based at Apem Ltd, Manchester Royal Infirmary and the lung physiology unit at Aintree Hospital.

Further Study

• MSc Analytical Bioscience and Drug Design
• MSc Biotechnology
• MSc Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology 
• PhD in Bioscience Research