Biology

Biology and Zoology - your questions answered

Programme Leader for Biology Dr David Elliott answers your frequently asked questions about Biology and Zoology. 

Why study Biology

The Biology programme at Derby encourages and enables students to become game changers in the modern economy, through developing knowledge, skills, and personal effectiveness in an integrated programme which is supportive of diverse needs and interests.  

It takes an inter-disciplinary approach where all scientific skills are valued in the context of potential applicability in the biosciences and collaborating with other subject specialists, supported by the staff of different discipline areas.

Many Biological processes are essentially circular in nature, providing a model for transitioning society to a circular economy which engineers out material and energy wastage. Governments, companies and inter-governmental agencies are investing in Biology because they see this potential and the economic need not only for environmental solutions, but also for the significant business opportunities enabled by recent progress in the Biosciences. Enormous advances in DNA sequencing technologies and related “omics”, plus the computational capacity to support these are transforming our understanding of Biology, leading to opportunities for enhancing health, wellbeing, and environment. Hence, Biology is a highly inter-disciplinary subject where collaboration with the other sciences is of key importance to success, ensuring that Biologists can play a role in all walks of life. 

The world is being severely impacted by human pressures including climate change, overexploitation of natural capital, and irreversible biodiversity loss on a massive scale. These and other issues collectively represent an existential threat to humanity, and biology is at the cutting-edge for providing sustainable solutions. This programme answers the call from the UN, through UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), to address the urgent and dramatic challenges to our planet, and to people. The module content and practical skills within the curriculum prepare graduates to make a positive impact on climate change, biodiversity loss, unsustainable resource use and inequality. 

For people who want to be part of these solutions Biology is the ideal subject - enabling graduates to enter the workplace doing jobs that make a difference whether that is in the lab, in the field, or in the office. 

Expert teaching

You will be taught by experts in their fields who are passionate about their subjects and enabling you to succeed. All teaching staff are engaged in their subject beyond teaching, ensuring that they can teach up-to-date content with relevant insight from their personal experience in the field.   

Their wide-ranging work includes research into:

• Improving the resilience of coral reefs to climate change
• Plant conservation and biotechnology
• Biodiversity ecosystem functioning
• Cell biology
• The evolution of primates
• Insect reproduction and behaviour
• Animal ecology
• Coral Reef systems and megafauna
• Soil microbiology

We strongly encourage prospective students to take a look at the projects being carried out in our Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) and become inspired by the scope and reach of Biology research at Derby. We actively support and enable our students to become involved in our projects.

You will be assigned a personal tutor who will help you in your own personal development to become an expert in your own right, according to your interests and ambitions.

Excellent fieldwork opportunities

Fieldwork is a vital element of this course and so every stage your studies will be enriched with fieldwork opportunities - the cost of mandatory fieldwork is included in your course fee. Through our fieldwork programme, we introduce students to a variety of survey techniques for a wide range of species, such as:

• studying animal interaction at Twycross Zoo
• conducting ecological projects in Mallorca
• those selecting our optional Tropical Marine Biology module have undertaken scientific investigations in the Maldives
• investigating plant adaptations at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew
• exploring Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK Burnaston, to survey wildlife in their nature conservation area

You’ll also have access to Cuckoos Tor, a site on the edge of the Peak District National Park and owned by the University of Derby that is dedicated to long-term research and ecological experiments. Current projects include restoration ecology, natural flood risk management, community engagement with biodiversity, and sustainable land management - and you’ll be able to get involved.

For further practical experience, you'll have plenty of opportunity to apply for work placements and paid internships. All of this means you'll be well placed to launch your career, whether you are looking for a graduate job or are planning to go into further study or research.

Accredited course

Royal Society of Biology

Our accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) follows an independent and rigorous assessment, ensuring that the degree provides a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge, key technical abilities, and transferrable skills.

This means that, when you graduate, you will meet the requirements for Associate Membership of the Society (AMRSB), and after appropriate professional experience you can then apply for full membership, which is widely recognised throughout the industry and by potential employers.

Specialist facilities

Our facilities include high-specification laboratories with modern instrumentation, such as:

• Digital Microscope (Keyence VHX7000) - imaging (3D stacking and measurements) from microbes to whole organisms
• Scanning electron Microscope - low-high magnification of samples
• Upright and Inverted Fluorescent Microscopes - imaging from slides ranging from cells to whole organisms
• Infrared Gas analyser - measuring greenhouse gas processes in relation to land use
• FTIR analysis FTIR (Agilent Technologies – Cary 630 FTIR) - analysis soil samples and monitor air and water quality
• Bench Top Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) - measures fat, oil and grease in wastewater
• AAS, GC FID HPLC, GCMS Auto-titrator

We also have a glasshouse with plants from diverse habitats, a microbiology lab that will aid your learning of biotechnology, an insectary housing many different species, an Aquatic Research Facility and our dedicated student research laboratory gives you a dedicated space for your independent study project at the end of your degree - take a virtual tour.

Partnerships that open doors for you

We work closely with organisations such as Sea Life, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Derby Museums, and the Olive Ridley Project. These partnerships pave the way to work experience and internship opportunities where you can apply your skills in real world situations. They also give you access to field sites, employer-led projects and guest lectures – all of which broaden your perspective on the wealth of career opportunities open to Biology graduates.

We are currently working with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Derby City Council on rewilding Allestree Park. This is the UK’s largest rewilding space which has involved a community consultation to find out what local people want. Some of our students are already working on independent studies projects in the park, with one test-driving the citizen science protocols for monitoring the changes in the park as the rewilding continues.

We have also just won two associate Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, lasting two years, to predict the trajectory of rewilding ecosystems. This will enable you to learn about the remote sensing and modelling we use for this. It will also enable staff to further stretch their research impact in a complex and growing subject area, as well as providing the chance to apply cutting edge, technical research to commercial activities. 

We have also been working for several years with Down to Earth Derby, on nature-based regeneration and connecting communities with nature and growing food. A major project we are working on at the moment, with the Eden Project, is a community garden on part of Sturgess Fields, a site owned by the University between Kedleston Road and Markeaton Street sites. The plan is to create a New Commons that will be managed with the community. There are lots of opportunities for you to work on here, both in creating and maintaining the site, undertaking ecological monitoring and getting involved in community education programmes.

Boost your employability with a placement year

Take an optional placement year to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting. We’ll support you in finding a placement and throughout your time in industry. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before you graduate.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

You’ll learn through lectures, seminars, tutorials, e-learning, hands-on laboratory practical work and fieldwork in the UK and overseas. Our varied teaching methods help you show your individual strengths and enhance your understanding. Prioritising personal development in terms of skills, knowledge, and career planning.

The programme has at its core 40 credits worth of “through” modules in every year stage. These modules are used by programme leaders to ensure continued contact and coaching of students throughout their programme of study, thus provisioning a built-in capacity for the scaffolding of personal development which is co-delivered through tutorials

Work placements 

Placements allow you to develop the skills you learn at University and apply them to real world situations. This is something which potential employers are always looking for. We encourage you to gain experience with potential employers by offering a range of internships. BSc (Hons) Biology graduate, Eryk Gadomski carried out a work placement at Peak Wildlife Park and developed many transferable skills.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed using a range of written assignments including portfolios, practical and fieldtrip write-ups and data analysis, essays, computer-based assessments, poster presentations and seminar presentations, as well as traditional written examinations.

We take an authentic approach to assessment for learning whereby students learn as part of the assessment process rather than learning for the assessment. Practical assessment and record of skills ensures that all graduates can evidence a core skill set in biology plus more advanced skill development in selected areas according to student choices within the programme.

We're serious about getting you started in your career, whether you've already decided what you want to do or need to find inspiration. With opportunities for internships, volunteering and placements, our hands-on approach to study will ensure you're ready for the world of work. Biology at Derby provides an excellent platform for a broad range of scientific careers, such as:

• Molecular Consultant
• Crop Development Scientist
• Patent Adviser
• Biologics Production Technician
• Quality Laboratory Manager
• Aquaculture Entrepreneur
• Synthetic Biology Biotechnologist
• Clinical Trials Co-ordinator
• Research Scientist
• Pharmacy Technician
• Medical Laboratory Assistant
• Wildlife Conservation Officer
• Health Care Assistant

Some graduates progress to teaching and lecturing careers after completing postgraduate study, or have advanced to gain veterinary and medical qualifications.

Through our Professional Development Package, you'll gain valuable skills, including:

• Scientific writing and use of scientific software
• Written and verbal communication
• Research and statistical analysis
• Data handling and analysis
• Personal motivation, organisation and self-reflection
• Digital competency
• Laboratory and fieldwork analysis 
• Critical awareness
• Project management

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

2025/26

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.