Course summary

Biology helps us to understand the world around us – the way that plants and animals interact, the way that different living things evolve and adapt and our own role in the wider natural world. Biology at Royal Holloway, University of London gives you a sound understanding of the structure, function, evolution and diversity of living organisms and the interactions between them. Our flexible degree structure allows you to tailor your course to your own interests, even within the first year. You will gain a foundation in cell biology and genetics, and study evolution, biological data analysis, and plant life. You may select from a very wide range of modules that include studies at molecular, organ, organism and ecosystem levels. You will gain practical experience across all three years of the degree. In your first and second years you will attend laboratory-based and field-based practicals. In your final year, you will join our renowned research culture as you complete your individual research project alongside academics with expertise in a wide range of research areas. Your topic may be from biomedical, environmental, microbial or plant sciences, and you may choose to use a laboratory, field, or computer-based approach. You’ll gain invaluable laboratory experience across all three years of your degree. In your third year you will complete an individual project, becoming part of our renowned research culture. Many of our former students have contributed to published scientific papers, and our low student-to-staff ratio maximises your contact time with our internationally respected and enthusiastic academics. You will also develop a range of transferrable skills that you will need to impress potential employers, alongside experience of woking in teams, project management, resilience, determination and strong organisational skills. Tailor your studies to suit your specific interests in your second and third years. Learn on a biodiverse campus in reach of sites of special scientific interest. Develop an understanding of how to design and analyse ecological experiments. Examine the major theories that seek to explain animal behaviour. Equip yourself with the skills needed to work in a wide range of sectors.