Undergraduate degree programmes

Biology

www.york.ac.uk/biology

Biology

Biotechnology and Microbiology

Ecology

Genetics

Molecular Cell Biology

“Biology at York has an international reputation and outstanding facilities for teaching and research. Coming to York was the best decision I ever made.”Rebecca, Genetics with a Year in Industry

Studying Biology at YorkWhy choose Biology?

Biology is at the forefront of scientific and technological progress in the 21st century. Monumental advances and achievements, such as sequencing the genomes of humans and many other organisms, have revolutionised our knowledge and understanding of living systems, and will continue to have a tremendous impact on areas as diverse as medicine, biotechnology and ecology.

Biology has a vital part to play in shaping our future, and coping with many problems of our modern world, from human health and disease and feeding the world’s growing population, to global environmental problems.

There has never been a better time to study this important and fascinating subject. The demand for skilled biologists continues to rise and job prospects for biologists are excellent.

You will be taught by enthusiastic staff who are experts in their field, including a significant number with prestigious national and international awards.

• A supportive learning environment, with transferable skills incorporated into all aspects of our teaching - these are the general skills that help you to get a job and succeed in the workplace.

• Regular small group tutorials, usually with just four or five students. These are a distinctive and very popular feature of our programmes, ensuring close interactions between students and staff.

• A personal supervisor to oversee your academic progress and personal welfare.

• Spacious modern teaching laboratories, which provide excellent facilities for practicals and small group project work, and 24-hour computing facilities.

• An outstanding research environment with specialist units ranging from cancer, immunology and tissue engineering, to novel agricultural products, environmental studies and bioarchaeology.

• The opportunity to experience research at first hand during your final year research project.

• A friendly, informal and welcoming atmosphere. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, including a lively student-run Biosciences Society that organises lectures, sports and social events.

• Opportunities for progression to Masters and PhD programmes within the Department.

• Excellent career prospects.

Biology programmes at York We offer honours degree programmes in Biology and a range of specialist areas. All these can be taken as three-year programmes, or as four-year programmes with a year in industry or a year in Europe. We also offer an integrated Biochemistry programme with the Chemistry Department (described in a separate booklet).

Since all Biology degree programmes have a common first year, the final choice of programme need not be made until the

Why study Biology at York?

The University of York has an outstanding reputation for teaching and research. Being a student here is a special experience - the academic quality, supportive staff, campus community and beautiful city make it a popular choice with students.

The Department of Biology is one of the University’s largest departments, and is recognised as one of the leading biological sciences departments in the UK. It is ranked consistently amongst the top Biology departments for teaching, research and student satisfaction.

Some of the key features that we offer students: • Flexible, high quality programmes across

the spectrum of contemporary biology, with the opportunity to spend a year in industry or abroad.

• Teaching of the highest standard within an active and enquiring research environment.

specialist degree programmes, so you can take advantage of this opportunity whether your interests are towards the molecular/biotechnological or ecological end of the biological spectrum. An Industry Liaison Officer guides you through the process of finding a placement, and you receive support from the Department during your year away. You are paid a salary by the employer during your research placement.

We have excellent relationships with a wide variety of organisations and we place students with employers to match their interests, ranging from pharmaceutical companies (such as AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Pfizer) and medical research institutes (The Genome Analysis Centre, Institute of Animal Health, Rothamsted Research, MRC Harwell) to botanic and zoological gardens (Flamingo Land Zoo, Chester Zoo, Kew Gardens, National Botanic Garden of Wales,) and environmental organisations (Food & Environment Research Agency, Game & Wildlife

www.york.ac.uk/biology

end of the first year – ideal if you are not yet sure what area of the subject interests you most, or whether you wish to spend a year in industry or abroad.

Biology degree

Biology is a flexible, broad-based programme, spanning the breadth of contemporary biology which is useful if you are interested in maintaining an interdisciplinary approach to biology, or wish to keep open the opportunity for specialisation at a later stage.

Specialist degree programmes

Our specialist degree programmes are ideal if you have already developed a particular biological interest. It is also possible to transfer to one of these programmes from the Biology programme at the end of your first year.

Molecular Cell Biology aims to provide an understanding of biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels, from structure/function relationships of proteins and nucleic acids through to immunology, genetic engineering and cancer.

Genetics is the unifying theme of biology, determining cellular and organismal processes and acting as the link between generations. It ranges from molecular studies of genes and genetic engineering, through human genetics, to the genetics of populations and evolution.

Biotechnology and Microbiology allows you to focus on two aspects of biology of particular relevance to the application of biological knowledge to economically important areas, such as health, food and the environment.

Ecology covers both fundamental ecology from evolution to the structure of populations, and its applications in environmental biology.

Four-year degree programmes with a year in industry

Four-year degrees, in which the third year is spent gaining research experience in an industrial or research institute laboratory, are available in Biology and in all of the

Biology BSc degree programmes UCAS code3-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Biology C100 BSc/BioMolecular Cell Biology C130 BSc/CBioGenetics C400 BSc/GenetBiotechnology and Microbiology CJ57 BSc/BiotMEcology C180 BSc/Ecol4-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMMES WITH A YEAR IN EUROPE

Biology C101 BSc/BioEMolecular Cell Biology C131 BSc/CBioEGenetics C401 BSc/GenetEBiotechnology and Microbiology CJ5T BSc/BiotMEEcology C181 BSc/EcolE4-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMMES WITH A YEAR IN INDUSTRY

Biology C107 BSc/Bio4Molecular Cell Biology C134 BSc/CBio4Genetics C404 BSc/Genet4Biotechnology and Microbiology CJ5R BSc/BiotM4Ecology C184 BSc/Ecol4

Conservation Trust, Green Biologics, Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust).

Taking a year out in industry has many benefits, including hands-on experience of working in a research environment, and more generic skills, such as teamwork and time management – invaluable for your final year, and highly prized by prospective employers and PhD supervisors.

Four-year degree programmes with a year in Europe

We offer four-year programmes with the opportunity to spend the third year of your degree in a non-UK European country. These programmes are overseen by academic co-ordinators with relevant expertise and experience, and financial support is available from the European Union’s Socrates/Erasmus scheme*.

As well as continuing to develop your scientific knowledge and skills, you would have the opportunity to live in another country for a year, experiencing a different culture, improving your language

“Spending a year in Europe has been great for improving my language skills, and has been a really valuable experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the social side too!”Lisa, Biology with a year in Europe

abilities and gaining self-confidence - all advantageous when you apply for jobs, as international mobility is greatly valued.

There are two schemes to choose from:

Study Placements. Our study placement exchange scheme offers you the opportunity to spend your third year studying at one of our partner universities, currently in France (Grenoble), Germany (Bayreuth and Jena), Spain (Valencia and Madrid) and Denmark (Aarhus). During your year abroad, you take a range of courses and carry out a project to complement your studies at York.

Applicants for exchanges with universities in France, Germany and Spain should have good language abilities (normally to at least AS or equivalent level); additional language tuition is provided during the first two years at York. For exchanges with the University of Aarhus in Denmark, language prerequisites do not apply, as courses are taught in English.

Laboratory placements. As an alternative to a study placement, you can elect for a full-time laboratory placement during your third year, working on a research project in an internationally renowned European laboratory, either in a university

or in a research organisation. This scheme is independent of any bilateral exchange agreements, so there will be a wide choice of country and institution available.

Since English is the accepted working language in these laboratories, familiarity with the language of the host country is not a prerequisite, although some working knowledge will be useful for everyday life.

Studying in North America, Asia or Australia

If you are interested in spending some time overseas during your degree, the University offers opportunities to participate in exchange programmes outside Europe. It may be possible for you to spend a year studying in the United States, Canada, Asia or Australia. Currently, there are exchange schemes with the following partner universities: University of California, Columbia University (New York), University of Illinois, University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers (New Jersey), York University (Ontario, Canada), University of Hong Kong, National University of Singapore and the University of Sydney.

You would make an application during your first year at York, and if successful you would spend your second year at your host university. Arrangements are made to

transfer assessment marks for the second year to York, and you would graduate from York after three years.

What you studyFlexible course structure

If you are not sure which area of Biology interests you most then the flexibility of our degree programmes is ideal. Our programmes have a common first year so there is considerable flexibility in changing between the various three-year programmes, and also between the three-year and four-year programmes with a year in industry. Changing to the four-year programme with a year in Europe is also possible provided you have appropriate language skills for that course.

All programmes at York are modular, giving you choice in building up a programme that matches your particular interests, and it is often possible to include some modules taught in other departments.

Biology degree programme

The first year is based around our core modules (see ‘First year modules’), taught through a combination of lectures and practical classes. These provide an introduction to the main areas of modern biology, and lay the foundations for more specialised second and final year modules. An additional module each term, which includes regular tutorials, develops more general scientific and transferable skills. At the end of the first year, many students attend a highly popular field course in marine biology, held at Millport off the west coast of Scotland.

In the second year you begin to focus on areas of special interest, extending your knowledge and deepening your understanding through your choice of modules (see ‘Second year modules’) and tutorials.

In your final year, a free choice of modules (see ‘Final year modules’) allows you to concentrate on your special interests, and the two-term research project is your

“The academic staff in the Department are very approachable and use effective ways of explaining difficult concepts. I

particularly love that students get to work a lot in the labs from the very first

week, which has given me hands-on experience with tens of different techniques. Also, I was amazed by the support the Department gave me with obtaining my year-away placement.”

Andra (4th yr Biology with a Year in Industry)

www.york.ac.uk/biology

opportunity to interact with one of our many research groups, to gain hands-on research experience, and to produce an original scientific report.

Specialist degree programmes

In the first year you follow the Biology degree programme, as described above. In the second and final years, your selection of modules must contain a core set in the area of your specialisation (see ‘Second year modules’ and ‘Final year modules’), and the topic for your research project will usually also lie within your area of specialisation.

4-year degree programmes with a year in industry

The year in industry is the third year of this four-year programme. During the first two years and the fourth year, you follow the normal three years of the relevant Biology or specialist degree programme. During the third year, you carry out a research project in the laboratories of an industrial or research institute laboratory, and produce a written report.

4-year degree programmes with a year in Europe

The year in Europe is the third year of this four-year programme. During the first two years and the fourth year, you follow the normal three years of the relevant Biology or specialist degree programme. During the third year you can opt for a study placement at one of our partner universities, or a placement in an internationally renowned research laboratory, either in a university or a research organisation.

First year modules

In the first year, the modules described below are compulsory for all students. They run concurrently, and provide a foundation in all the main strands of the subject.

• Molecular Biology and Biochemistry explores the relationship between structure and function at the molecular and cellular levels. It examines how chemical reactions provide energy

and building blocks, and how enzymes provide catalysis and control.

• Genetics I & II consider how DNA is organised into chromosomes and genomes in a variety of organisms, from bacteriophage to humans, and examines gene expression through the processes of transcription and translation. Gene mutations and chromosome aberrations are considered in the context of human genetics and disease, and in terms of their significance in evolution.

• Microbiology examines the cell biology of microorganisms. It introduces the diverse world of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi and protozoa, with particular reference to the relationships between structure and functions.

• Cell and Developmental Biology introduces the cell biology of eukaryotic organisms, their evolution and diversity. The module looks at the behaviour of cells within the context of multi-cellular organisms. The roles of the extracellular environment, cell signalling and differential gene expression in the regulation cell fate,

differentiation and the patterning of structures within animals and plants.

• Physiology and Adaptation in Plants and Animals explores how the diversity of both animal and plant species, and their anatomical and physiological adaptations, have been shaped by evolutionary processes.

• Ecology highlights interactions between organisms and their environment, at the level of individual organisms and ecosystems through to biomes. It includes an introduction to animal behaviour, and a consideration of how an understanding of ecological concepts is crucial to conservation.

In addition, a module covering essential scientific and transferable skills, including a choice of tutorials, runs throughout the first year.

“ I really enjoyed my year in industry. It was a great opportunity to experience what it would be like to go into research after graduating.”Katherine, Genetics with a year in industry

• Environmental Field Skills

• Cellular and Molecular Imaging

• Protein Interactions

• Systems Biology

• Communicating Science to the Public

Final year modules

Biology students have a choice of modules from the list below, while specialist degree students select a set of core modules in their area of interest. The topics cover areas of current scientific importance, and may change from year to year.

Typical modules:

• Brain in Health and Disease

• Conservation Ecology

• Molecular Microbiology

• Molecular Machines

• Global Change Ecology

• Biocatalysis

• Cancer and the Cell Cycle

• Cell and Tissue Engineering

• Advanced Topics in Immunology

• Ecological Genetics

• The Dynamic Genome

• Nutrient Acquisition and Cycling

• Biorenewables

• Bioremediation

• Plant Biotechnology

• Molecular and Cellular Parasitolgy

• Epigenetics in Development and Disease

• Systems and Synthetic Biology

In addition, students undertake a final year research project. This is supported by a research skills module which includes information retrieval methods, problem solving, data handling and the final examinations.

• Immunology

• Evolutionary and Population Genetics

• Millport Field Course

• Human Genetics

• Behavioural Ecology

• Environmental Ecology

In addition, a scientific and transferable skills module runs throughout the second year. This includes tutorials, group projects and other sessions aimed at developing experimental design and research skills. You also choose two specialist experimental and transferable skills courses, which are likely to include

• PCR Applications and DNA Sequencing

• Cell Biology and Cytometry

• Genomics

• Evolutionary Trees

• Bioenterprise

Second year modules

Students select modules from the list below. For students registered for specialist degree programmes, a number of core modules in each term will be compulsory.

• Cell Biology

• Animal and Plant Ecology

• Experimental Design

• From Gene to Function

• Research Skills and Tutorials

• Developmental Biology

• Molecular Biotechnology

• Environmental Interactions

• Neuroscience

• Population Ecology

• Biomedicine

Our flexible programmes allow you to maintain a broad approach to biology, or to specialise in a particular area.

How you studyLectures

Much of the taught material is delivered through lectures. We aim to deliver lectures that are not just lists of facts, but which offer a stimulating and challenging perspective on a subject and encourage you to study further.

Tutorials

These are one of the most popular and distinctive aspects of our programmes. They are an opportunity for a group of usually just four students to hold informal scientific discussions on a weekly basis with a member of staff. Tutorials help you to develop skills in conceptual thinking and analysis, as well as oral and written communication. Students regularly give presentations, and there is plenty of opportunity to debate topical issues. After the first term, when your supervisor is also your tutor, you select a different tutor each term in the first and second years.

Seminars

The incorporation of student-led seminars provides an additional dimension to some modules. Students give presentations, often in small groups, based on recent research papers or on the wider implications of new technologies, from the use of human embryos in stem cell therapies and ‘designer’ babies, through DNA fingerprinting, to the pros and cons of GM crops and transgenic animals.

Practicals

Practicals are designed to complement your lectures and other studies. They help you to develop laboratory skills, and to become familiar with a wide range of practical techniques, training you how to use methods precisely, and encouraging you to assess objectively the reliability of your results. These laboratory skills, together with skills in planning experiments and solving problems, will culminate in your research project in the final year of the programme.

Skills and group work

Each term during the first two years, students take modules designed to develop more generic scientific and transferable skills. Some modules focus on specific scientific techniques, while others develop skills in problem solving, experimental design and data analysis. We encourage you to develop important communication skills, including working in groups to plan and carry out experiments to investigate a scientific problem, and presenting your work as an oral presentation or poster. The confidence and wide-ranging skills of our students are often commented on by employers.

Fieldwork

There are local field expeditions during term and longer field courses in the summer vacations. The ten-day course at the Millport Marine Station on the west coast of Scotland at the end of the first year is very popular. As well as studying the various shore ecosystems on the island, you go out on one of the Marine Station’s research vessels to sample the sea-bottom fauna. You may visit the offshore islands in inflatable boats to look at seals, seabirds, porpoises and occasionally sharks. You carry out your own project, usually in a small group, and of course there are also plenty of social activities.

Final year research project

Your final year research project is an essential part of your degree, and you will spend about two days per week working on this over two terms. For many students this is the aspect of the course that they find particularly rewarding. It is your chance to experience research at first hand. You have the support and advice of an academic member of staff, but you work independently and plan and carry out your own experiments. Projects span the whole range of contemporary biology, from cancer to conservation, and most students carry out their project work alongside research students and postdoctoral workers within the research laboratory of the project director.

www.york.ac.uk/biology

Assessment

In the first and second year, modules are examined by exams in January and exams in the summer term. Although you must perform to a satisfactory level, first year assessments do not count towards the final degree, which is determined by work in Year 2 (40%) and the final year (60%, including 20% for the research project). For students taking four-year programmes, the third year in industry or Europe contributes about 10% of the overall degree mark.

A typical Year 1 timetable

In a typical week in the first year, you would have around 20 contact hours, which might include six or seven lectures, two or three practicals, a skills workshop and a tutorial. You are also expected to spend time on private study, consolidating information from lectures and practicals, and preparing work for tutorials.

A typical week’s timetable is shown below.

Day Time Activity

Monday 09.15 - 10.15 Lecture

10.15 - 13.15 Practical

14.15 - 15.15 Lecture

Tuesday 09.15 - 10.15 Lecture

11.15 - 13.15 Tutorial

14.15 - 17.15 Practical

Wednesday 09.15 - 10.15 Lecture

11.15 - 12.15 Lecture

Thursday 09.15 - 10.15 Skills lecture

10.15 - 12.15 Skills workshop

Friday 09.15 - 10.15 Lecture

10.15 - 13.15 Practical

Regular small group tutorials are a distinctive and popular part of our teaching, contributing to the friendly supportive environment.

How to apply All applications for our degree courses must be made through UCAS (www.ucas.com), although we are happy to offer advice before and during the admissions process.

Our selection policy and programme requirements are subject to review, and we recommend that you consult our website for up-to-date information.

Entry requirements

A level applicants should have studied Biology, and either Chemistry or Maths to A2 level. Preference will be given to applicants with a traditional academic subject as the third A2 subject.

Applicants wishing to be considered for a study placement on the ‘Year in Europe’ programme (France, Germany or Spain) are expected to have appropriate language abilities, normally to the equivalent of AS level. If you wish to be considered for a study placement in Denmark, or a laboratory placement, this is not necessary.

Typical offers

We usually make offers on the basis of information on the UCAS form, including your personal statement, reference, and academic grades or predictions. We invite candidates for interview only where there are special circumstances or unusual qualifications. All applications receive equal treatment, irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or educational background.

Our typical offer is AAB, including Biology and either Chemistry or Maths, excluding General Studies.

Other qualifications

We welcome applicants offering the International Baccalaureate, European Baccalaureate, Scottish Advanced Highers, Irish Leaving Certificate, or any qualifications of equivalent standard that include Biology, Chemistry or Maths courses at an appropriate level. Please see our web site for further details.

If you have any specific enquiries about qualifications that are not listed, please email the Biology Admissions Tutors.

Taking a gap year

A significant number of our students defer entry for a year to enable them to travel or earn some money before beginning their degrees. We welcome such applications, and find that many students benefit enormously from this experience, which is sometimes - but not always - in an area connected with their future studies.

Mature applicants

We are always pleased to welcome mature applicants, whose skills and experience are valued by staff and students, provided you have an appropriate background in Biology and either Chemistry or Maths, such as through a Foundation or Access course. You may find it helpful to talk informally to the Admissions Tutors, who are happy to offer advice and guidance, before making an application.

Visits

Pre-application visits

The University has at least two Open Days each year, usually in July and September. Campus tours are often available during school holiday periods, with opportunities for departmental visits on some dates. If you are unable to come to an Open Day, we may be able to organise an individual visit to the Department; please email us to discuss this.

Post-application visit days

If we offer you a place, we will invite you to visit us to have a look around the Department and the campus. We would encourage you to attend one of our visit days, especially if you have not visited us before. You will meet staff and current students, and find out more about the course and other matters like accommodation and living at York.

There is a separate programme for parents and guardians, who are welcome to come with you.

International studentsInternational students form an important part of the community at York, and the Department welcomes students from all over the world.

We offer our international students:

• An outstanding educational experience in a dynamic multidisciplinary department with an international reputation for teaching and research.

• A friendly, supportive environment, with close interactions between students and staff, which allows students to flourish.

• A strong emphasis on small group teaching, with weekly tutorials in groups of usually only four students.

• An international student co-ordinator within the Department, and a personal supervisor to oversee your academic progress and welfare.

• One Biology Department Overseas Scholarship per year, based on academic achievement and financial need, tenable throughout the course subject to satisfactory progress.

Applications from international students are welcome, and you are encouraged to see our website or contact the Admissions Tutors for information and advice about specific qualifications.

A qualification in English as a foreign language is normally required. The preferred qualification is IELTS with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each skill. Alternative qualifications are accepted, including internet based TOEFL (87 overall with a minimum of 21 in each component), Pearson (61 overall with a minimum of 55 in each component), Cambridge Proficiency in English (grade C), Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (grade A), and GCSE/IGCSE English Language (grade C). In some cases, an offer may include an English qualification taken as part of the school or state examinations.

www.york.ac.uk/biology

Student supportThe supervisory system

The support and welfare of our students is a high priority. All students have a supervisor who is an academic member of staff. Their role is both academic and pastoral, providing advice and information about your academic progress and being available to help with any other problems. You have the same supervisor throughout the course, and you will meet them for scheduled meetings at least twice a term, and at other times whenever you need to. We believe that this personal relationship is one of the reasons why our students have a very low rate of failure to complete their degrees.

Support within your college

Every student and member of staff is a member of a college, so you will be part of a smaller society within the University. This allows you to get to know other students very easily, and to take part in college as well as university activities, including sports and social events. The head of each college is the Provost, who is responsible for the pastoral and welfare needs of students, and to whom you can also talk about any problems.

University sources of support

As well as your departmental supervisor and staff in your college, there are many other sources of advice and support within the University. There is a full-time Disability Advisor, a drop-in Dyslexia Centre, an ‘Open Door’ team, Student Counselling Service and a Medical Centre on campus. The Students´ Union also runs a number of support services and has an excellent team of welfare advisors.

Students with disabilities

The University has an explicit policy of accommodating students with disabilities, and it believes that those with disabilities should have access to the full range of academic, cultural and social activities. To that end, the University and the Department will undertake all reasonable

steps to meet the specific needs of individuals with disabilities.

A member of staff in the Department has special responsibility for students with disabilities and, in addition, the University of York Disability Services provide advice and support to all students and staff.

Accommodation

All new, single undergraduate full-time students who accept York as their firm or insurance choice by the date advertised, and apply for accommodation online by the due date, are guaranteed an offer of University accommodation, most of which is situated on or very close to the campus. Rooms are either en-suite study bedrooms or single study bedrooms with shared bathroom. There are also shared kitchen areas where you can prepare meals or snacks, and an excellent catering service is available in outlets across the campus. Many colleges have common rooms, a bar, television room and laundry facilities, and all on-campus accommodation is connected to the computer network, printing

facilities, the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), email and the web.

Bursaries

The University offers bursaries to help eligible students meet the costs of higher education. The level of bursary depends on the family household income. A number of other awards and scholarships are also available.

Further information and advice about student funding and financial issues can be obtained from the University Student Financial Support Unit ( www.york.ac.uk/students/housing-and-money/financial-support).

Personal development As well as a good degree, employers also look for other appropriate skills and qualities. We take a keen interest in the personal development of our students, and provide a structured and supported programme of personal development

“My year-in-industry placement with the Wildlife Trust conservation and my final year research project were excellent experiences that allowed me to learn practical and field ecology skills which have come in very useful during my PhD.”Naomi, Ecology alumni, currently studying for a PhD

to help you reflect upon your learning, performance and achievements, and plan your personal, educational and career development. You meet with your supervisor specifically to discuss this at least once a year.

We encourage you to widen your experience and skills and to develop your non-academic interests during your time at University. You can take advantage of the many extra-curricular activities on offer, both within and outside of the Department. Here are some examples of what’s on offer:

Student representatives

Student feedback is sought on all aspects of our teaching and learning environment, and each year-group has student representatives on the teaching boards and the staff-student liaison committee.

York Biosciences Society

There is a friendly student-run society for anyone studying or interested in the biosciences. There are lots of ways you can get involved, with regular activities ranging from guest lectures to sports and social events, or you could put yourself forward as a member of the committee.

York Award

You can sign up for the York Award scheme, which recognises and rewards personal development, offering a structure to help you gain skills for employment and life, and encouraging you to make the most of your university experience.

Outreach activities

You can help with our outreach activities, for example demonstrating scientific experiments to visiting schoolchildren either in our teaching laboratories or out in neighbouring schools.

York Students in Schools (YSIS)

Many of our students take part in YSIS, a voluntary programme that enables you to help in a variety of ways in schools, from classroom support to sports coaching.

Volunteering

There are plenty of opportunities to extend your range of skills and experience through other volunteering schemes. Whichever scheme you choose, the Students’ Union will give you advice and support when you’re finding a suitable role, as well as during and after your placement.

Languages For All (LFA)

Why not learn a new language or continue with another, from beginner to degree-level standard?

University clubs and societies

These cover pretty much everything, from sporting and musical activities to cultural, religious and political groups. There is something for everyone!

Unijobs

Many students work part-time to support themselves during their degree course. This can be a valuable and positive

experience, as well as helping financially. Unijobs is a one-stop job shop, based in the Careers Centre, for students looking for term-time jobs on campus or in the city.

After you graduateOur programmes equip you with knowledge and practical skills within the biological sciences, and develop a number of other widely applicable scientific abilities and skills sought after by prospective employers. Additional skills and personal qualities are also developed through active participation in other aspects of departmental and campus life.

The Careers Service provides support and advice throughout your time at University and after you graduate. In your final year they help you to polish up your CV and interview skills, and introduce you to prospective employers.

Around 50% of our graduates go on to study for a higher degree, which is well above the national average. Substantial numbers go directly into a career in science whilst others are appointed to graduate level positions in role allied to science.

Our graduates are not confined to science-related careers, and a significant number enter jobs within finance, public and private sector management, social and health service work, the media and law.

This chart shows the sorts of further study and kinds of employment taken up by York graduates from this Department over the past three years.

Destinations of York Biology graduates 2009/11Destination%

49.0Further studiesEmployment

EducationHealthcare professionsManagement

Computer / ITOther

Scientific / medical 20.06.0

3.03.0

3.0

16.0

www.york.ac.uk/biology

The University, city and beyondThe University

York is one of the UK’s most highly regarded and popular universities. In its forty years of history, York has established an outstanding reputation as a world-class university, and regularly ranks highly in external assessments of teaching and research quality.

York is a distinctive university, large enough to provide a vibrant social and cultural life, yet small enough to feel welcoming to all its students. The college system makes it easier for people to meet and make friends, and it encourages students to become involved in the huge range of social, musical and sporting activities available.

The University now occupies two modern campuses both offering a wealth of facilities, with bars, shops, a sports centre, tennis and squash courts, a health centre, theatres and concert halls, all within walking or cycling distance of each other and the centre of the city.

The city of York

York is one of the most historic and beautiful cities in Europe, with its famous Minster and attractive medieval streets. It is a British Heritage City and was voted ‘Britain’s Favourite Small City’ in an independent poll commissioned by the Rough Guide in 2011.

Against the backdrop of some of the most stunning and picturesque architecture in the country, York has incorporated a stylish new dimension to life in the city. Cafés, restaurants, riverside bars and boutiques combine with theatres, galleries and clubs to offer a vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere, as energetic and varied by night as it is by day.

Traditionally famous for railways and chocolate making, York has transformed into ‘Science City’; with the University at its heart, it is now recognised internationally as a centre for scientific

research and innovation, with over 500 biotech and other technology companies employing even more people than tourism in and around the city.

Beyond York

York is situated halfway between London and Edinburgh, with fast intercity rail links reaching London in less than two hours, from where Eurostar provides fast links to the mainland European rail system. Manchester Airport is two hours away, and Heathrow just three and a half. Ferries from Hull and flights from nearby Leeds/ Bradford Airport also provide easy access to mainland Europe.

It is easy to explore the cities and other attractions of Yorkshire, whether the club life of Leeds or the spectacular scenery at the coast and on the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales. If you like the outdoor life, Yorkshire offers boundless

open countryside and a range of outdoor pursuits and sports activities: walking, climbing, mountain biking, caving and canoeing are all on the doorstep, and there are many student societies that you can join to get involved in these activities.

And finally... If you have any questions about our programmes, or you would like to discuss your own personal circumstances, please feel free to contact the Admissions Tutors. We will endeavour to deal promptly with any queries you may have at any stage of the application process.

York, YO10 5DD, United KingdomTel +44 (0) 1904 320000

Biology AdmissionsTel +44 (0) 1904 328548

Email biol-admissions@york.ac.ukWebsite www.york.ac.uk/biology/undergraduate

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“Robot plant” is a sculpture designed for the 2011 BBRSC Impact with Excellence competition. The research interests of the department are depicted as leaves and branches on the plant, underpinned by the strong shared equipment infrastructure embedded in our

Technology Facility.