University of Wales, Bangor

Programme overview

This four-year degree incorporates a foundation year that prepares students for degree-level study in biology and leads to the same BSc (Hons) award as the three-year programme. Teaching emphasises practical and field-based learning, using nearby coastal, upland and terrestrial habitats alongside campus facilities such as aquaria, aviaries, a herpetarium, Treborth Botanic Garden, a study farm, a herbarium and a natural history museum. Research-active centres at the university, including environmental and biotechnology groups, inform teaching and offer links to real-world environmental issues.

What you'll study

The foundation year covers core science topics to introduce higher-level study; across the degree you will encounter a range of organisms, laboratory techniques and statistical analyses. Practical provision includes biological, chemical and environmental labs, environmentally controlled rooms, imaging and analytical equipment, and Europe’s largest underground soil laboratory. Fieldwork is integral, with past student trips to locations such as Tenerife and Arizona and local opportunities via the university’s shorelines, botanic garden and Henfaes Research Centre.

Entry requirements

The course page describes this programme as an alternative route for applicants who cannot meet standard entry requirements or who would benefit from a preparatory year; specific grade or qualification thresholds are not stated on the source text. The course is listed as available through clearing and can be studied full time over four years, with part-time study possibly available.

Career prospects

The school highlights strong regional links with employers and organisations such as the Environment Centre for Wales, UKCEH, British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Wales, Natural Resources Wales, Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water, RSPB and North Wales Wildlife Trust. Those links support opportunities for placements, volunteering and work experience that can build employability in environmental, conservation and applied biology roles.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The programme information notes part-time study routes and that eligibility for government student loans depends on prior study, age and residency status. The university’s Careers and Employability Services support placement preparation. The source does not list specific scholarships or bursaries for this programme.