In this module you’ll explore the intricate processes through which cells respond to environmental and developmental signals. You’ll study the cellular signalling pathways, gene expression regulation, and the molecular mechanisms that guide processes such as growth, differentiation, migration, and survival.

The contribution of stem cells to these processes and how tightly regulated mechanisms shape tissues and organs will also be examined. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the dynamic interplay between cells and their surroundings, and how disruptions in these mechanisms contribute to developmental disorders and disease.

In this module you will gain a deep understanding of the molecular processes that underpin the normal function of genes and genomes, with a focus on eukaryotes, and how these processes can become disrupted in disease.

We'll discuss DNA replication and the importance of faithful transmission of genetic information from one generation to the next. We will also consider the molecular mechanisms used by cells to ensure the information encoded in the genome is transcribed and translated appropriately to produce proteins. You'll gain insight into the crucial role epigenetics plays in genome function through its regulation of gene expression and learn about how mutations arise in genomes and their effects on human health. We'll also cover the experimental techniques used for genome manipulation and analysis - foundational methods to much of modern biology.

Life on earth is fuelled through plants, algae and other organisms using solar energy to fix carbon into organic compounds. The evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis, which originated in cyanobacteria, marked a turning point in the path of life on Earth. Its adoption through symbiosis in algae and its impact through oxygenation of the atmosphere, enabled the emergence and evolution of multicellular life, including macroalgae and land plants. Building on core ideas from ecology and biology, you will explore the diversity of photosynthetic organisms and their interactions with the environment, with an emphasis on land plants. Topics include insights from the fossil record, functional diversity in modern ecosystems, and the role of photosynthesis in global nutrient cycles. You will also examine how these organisms respond to competition, herbivory, pathogens, environmental stress and human-driven changes such as domestication and agriculture.

Vertebrates (including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) display a staggering diversity of shapes and sizes, and are adapted to a wide array of environments, from hot deserts to freezing oceans. The aim of this module is to introduce you to the broad range of forms and functions, putting physiological and behavioural processes firmly within a whole organism and evolutionary context. You will be able to apply your general knowledge of vertebrate biology to species-specific examples: comparing and contrasting different groups and their adaptations; and critically evaluating hypotheses to explain vertebrate diversity. You will learn through critical discussion, data analysis and interpretation, science communication and a fieldtrip, providing practical skills essential for careers in biodiversity conservation, wildlife management and scientific research. Learn from research-active lecturers and discover how vertebrates are responding to environmental challenges, from habitat loss to on-going climate change.

In this module you’ll explore the molecular principles that govern cellular function and metabolism. You’ll study the structure and function of key biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, with an emphasis on their roles in metabolic pathways and other essential cellular mechanisms.

Topics include enzyme kinetics, metabolic regulation, and the biochemical basis of energy transfer within the cell. The module will provide you with the molecular underpinnings of human health and highlight how disruptions in biochemical pathways contribute to disease development. Laboratory sessions will let you gain a more in-depth and practical understanding of the topics covered. By the end of the module, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of key cellular biochemical processes relevant to molecular medicine and biotechnology.

Scientists need to understand scientific method, design robust experiments, collect data unbiasedly, use appropriate statistical methods and present research in a clear and concise format suitable to a relevant audience. They also need to be flexible to adjust research plans as needed, a quality that will make you resilient and resourceful in the face of challenges. In this research skills module, you will work in groups to design and deliver a research project from start to end. Activities include appraising information critically and establishing a working hypothesis or prediction, developing a robust experimental design, performing experiments and collecting data, carrying out statistical analyses, interpreting findings and presenting research orally and in written form. You will train to think and act as scientists and gain the confidence and skills required to complete your final year projects and compete in the jobs market.

This module takes you through the process of drug development - from initial discovery to market. We'll cover target identification and validation followed by hit identification and lead discovery. You’ll learn about different approaches for finding new drugs: from high throughput screening of compound libraries to focused screens, virtual screens and structure-based drug design.

You’ll gain insight into challenges in assessing the efficacy and safety of new drugs, including the testing strategies and legal requirements involved. We will explore how preclinical models are used to test pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters and how this helps determine factors like drug formulation and dosing schedule. You’ll learn about the role of clinical trials in determining drug safety and efficacy, considering trial design and the importance of post-approval surveillance. The module will also provide contextual information on how preclinical and clinical trials fit into the international medicines regulatory process and its requirements.

Explore the scientific foundations of conservation biology and ecosystem ecology by examining how species, communities and environments interact. You'll develop an understanding of the significant threats to global biodiversity, such as habitat loss, climate change, invasive species and overexploitation and learn the ecological reasons why conservation is vital.

Through a mix of theory, real-world case studies and practical work, you'll learn how to quantify biodiversity, assess population sizes and threats and apply conservation strategies at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels. Key topics include ecosystem resilience, habitat connectivity, conservation prioritisation and designing protected areas to optimise biodiversity conservation. You'll also build essential skills in ecological assessment and conservation planning, which will give you a solid foundation for a career in ecology, environmental management, or conservation science.

Graduates looking for employment as field biologists or ecologists need to have gained skills in basic field biology, including identification of different kinds or organisms and experience of commonly used field survey techniques. The module will focus on building identification skills and the use of identification keys on several groups of organisms including plants and animals. Experience of sampling methods for these taxonomic groups will also be developed, as well as familiarity with basic habitat survey techniques. During this module there will be excursions to natural habitats in local reserves.

Evolution is the fundamental concept in biology and an understanding of its processes and effects are important for biologists in all disciplines. Discover how animals and plants are shaped by the environments they live in and the species they interact with, whether predators, parasites, competitors, or their own kin. You’ll explore how natural and sexual selection influence individual traits and behaviour and how these adaptations ripple out to affect entire populations. Blending key theoretical concepts with real-world examples from cutting-edge research, this module gives you insight into the evolutionary forces that drive biodiversity and behaviour across ecosystems.

In this module you'll gain a detailed understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system. You will learn how the diverse cell types of the nervous system work together to allow it to perform its various complex functions.

We will cover aspects from the microscopic scale, such as the molecular inner workings of single neurons and synapses, up to the large-scale complexity of how brain areas work together to process information and produce behaviour. How these processes are impacted in a variety of neurological disorders will also be considered. You will also gain new insight into the range of experimental approaches and techniques that have been used to reveal fundamental aspects of how the nervous system works. This module provides a firm foundation for your future studies in neuroscience.

In this module you will develop your understanding of the key stages in the life cycle of proteins, from their synthesis to their breakdown. You will explore amino acid biosynthesis, protein translation by ribosomes, the intracellular trafficking of proteins, and the post-translational modifications that influence protein function. Protein degradation pathways, such as the ubiquitin-proteasome system, will be considered.

The importance of regulation of protein homeostasis in health and disease will also be discussed. The module will integrate experimental approaches and techniques used to study proteins and provide you with new insights into their applications.

This module will equip you with an in-depth understanding of critical concepts in the science of pharmacology through exploration of real-world examples. You will gain deeper insight into how pharmacodynamic parameters determine how drugs are administered and their effects on the body.

In addition to looking at how drugs affect the body, we'll also discuss how the body affects drugs - exploring in detail the pharmacokinetic parameters of absorption, distribution metabolism and excretion (ADME). You'll learn how drug formulation and delivery route can alter ADME characteristics, enabling a drug's effects to be fine-tuned to achieve the required clinical outcome. We will cover adverse effects of some drugs and how these can be mitigated. You'll also find out how individual and population genetics can affect drug responses and learn what this means for drug discovery and personalised medicine.

Study at one of our approved international partner universities in your year abroad. This will help you to develop your global outlook, expand your professional network, and gain cultural and personal skills. It is also an opportunity to gain a different perspective on your major subject through studying the subject in another country.

You will choose specialist modules relating to your degree and also have the opportunity to study modules from other subjects offered by the host university.

Places at overseas partners vary each year and have previously included universities in Australia, USA, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Asia.

The research project provides you with first-hand experience of research and the opportunity to be immersed in an area of work of current interest in biomedical and life sciences. Your research project is underpinned by training in research methods to support you in planning, conducting, and reporting on an open-ended investigation.

Throughout your project, you’ll receive one-to-one support from a member of academic staff with expertise in your specific area of study. Projects cover a wide variety of topics and may be carried out in a variety of ways. They involve a significant amount of original work and analysis, so you gain experience in a range of skills, including experimental design and testing of hypotheses. The project also helps you to develop graduate attributes relevant to employment, including time management, communication skills, and independent working. The results of your research are reported in a written dissertation and an oral presentation.

This module will provide an in-depth exploration of novel pharmacological approaches that are revolutionising the treatment of many conditions. You will be introduced to new concepts in the design and use of small molecules to treat disease. For example, we will look at how PROTACs and molecular glues can be used to degrade target proteins rather than inhibit them. We will also discuss recently emerging therapeutic avenues such as biologics, nanotechnology, cell and gene therapy, immunological therapies, and other medicine modalities. You'll understand how these approaches work and the benefits they offer in treating and preventing disease.

In this module you will learn how brain circuits are set up and how they work to process information and produce behaviour. This module will give you a deep and broad understanding of nervous system function, from the mechanisms involved in the development of the nervous system, to how it is set up to process sensory information.

You will learn about the neural control of complex behaviours, learning and memory and higher order cognitive processes. You’ll also learn about the valuable role that experiments conducted in a diverse range of model organisms has played in elucidating the developmental pathways, molecular mechanisms and neural circuits underlying behaviours. Practical exercises will enable you to further develop your skills in experimental design and data collection, analysis, and interpretation, as you learn about how nervous system function can be manipulated by genetic approaches and measured by behavioural analysis.

Animal behaviour has been captivating scientists for centuries and it remains a key subject in ecology, evolution and conservation. Explore how and why animals behave in the way that they do by applying an evolutionary framework to investigate the costs and benefits to the individuals involved. You will learn about the very latest research on animals of all kinds, introducing you to amazing behaviours that at first seem puzzling to understand, but also challenging you to think differently about well-known examples. Topics include reproduction, sociality and communication and how the study of non-human animals helps us to understand behaviour in our own species. You will develop skills in critical thinking, data interpretation and scientific writing.

Ageing is perhaps the most multidisciplinary area of study and certainly one of the remaining great mysteries in biology. Although we have known for decades why we age, our understanding of the biological mechanisms of ageing remains incomplete.

In this module you will learn about current evolutionary and mechanistic thinking on ageing. We will cover how the advent of modern molecular biology tools has empowered experimentalists to put theories to the test, unravelling context-specific and conserved mechanisms of ageing, to paint a complex, but hopeful picture of human ageing. You'll journey through the intricate, sometimes shocking, history of biogerontology, from early rate of living and molecular damage theories to more recent theories involving genetic programs, inflammation, and epigenetic clocks. You will gain insight into how ageing rate may be modulated through genetics, lifestyle and pharmacology.

This module will examine the fundamental genetic causes of cancer, before discovering how modern genomics is transforming our understanding and treatment of this disease. You’ll explore the genetic and environmental factors that drive cancer, including inherited predisposition syndromes and lifestyle risks.

You’ll learn about cancer prevention strategies, screening techniques and diagnostic methods used in clinical practice. You will also explore the latest advances in cancer treatment, from targeted therapies to immunotherapy and the challenges of turning scientific discoveries into real-world treatments. You’ll engage with current research, gaining insights into the future of cancer care and study a range of common and rarer cancers. This will help your understanding of how research is shaping personalised medicine. By the end of the module, you’ll have a strong understanding of the causes, prevention, and latest advancements in the treatment of cancer, equipping you with the knowledge and skills for careers in research, biomedicine, biotechnology, and healthcare.

In this module you will examine the role of cell signalling in maintaining health and the results of its dysfunction in disease. You will cover key signalling pathways and second messenger systems and their roles in cellular communication.

Emphasis is placed on experimental techniques used to study signalling pathways and their potential as therapeutic targets. Through case studies, research literature and experimental approaches you will develop a critical understanding of signalling mechanisms in both normal physiology and disease states.

Coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth and have inspired the development of some of the most far-reaching theories in ecology. These ecosystems are distributed throughout the tropics and often dominate shallow seas. They are important for billions of people worldwide yet are under increasing threat from climate change and direct disturbances. This module will provide you with a grounding in biology, ecology and evolution of hard corals and reef fishes, building on broad ecological principles from previous years. You will apply this understanding to evaluate threats and their potential solutions, developing critical knowledge on the most complex habitat in the oceans. Specifically, you will explore how and where coral reefs have emerged through time and thrived in the oceans, the behavioural and community dynamics that allow such an enormous variety of species to coexist and emerging threats and solutions to their continued existence.

Advances in biomedicine raise complex ethical challenges that shape research, policy, and healthcare. In this module you will explore key ethical principles, examining how cultural, social, and political factors influence biomedical debates.

This module will equip you with the critical thinking skills to navigate dilemmas across public health, genetics, regenerative medicine, and clinical trials. Through interactive seminars and workshops, you'll engage with real-world ethical controversies, enhancing your ability to assess biomedical advancements and their societal impact. Key topics include the development of ethical principles in biomedicine, ethical considerations in human and animal research, and emerging challenges in biomedicine. This module develops ethical literacy, professional awareness and analytical skills to support a career in biomedicine.

Whilst scientific advances have led to tremendous improvements in human health over the past century, significant challenges remain. These include, problems associated with an ageing population and an increase in non-communicable diseases, new and re-emerging infectious diseases, the impact of environmental factors and social determinants on health, as well as continued disparity in access to healthcare provision across different population groups.

In this module you will study challenges of global significance that will provide you with a real-world perspective on human health and the multi-disciplinary and collaborative approaches required to tackle challenges on a national and international scale. You will consider how technological advancements, such as the use of artificial intelligence, could positively transform healthcare, but also ethical concerns that may be raised by the implementation of new technologies.

All living organisms are susceptible to parasitism, but this pervasive mode of interaction is an underappreciated feature of ecosystems. Explore the range and complexity of interactions between parasites and their hosts. The outcomes of host-parasite interactions are determined by the balance between host defences, parasite virulence and environmental factors. We will use this ‘disease triangle’ as a basis from which to understand the relationships between hosts and parasites. You will examine the ways in which parasites infect and manipulate their hosts to their own benefit and in turn, discover the different strategies that plants and animals use to defend themselves. The conflict between parasite virulence and host defence is a classic illustration of co-evolution: a theme that will be central to the module. You will also discover how host-parasite interactions are influenced by environmental conditions and ecological communities and the implications of these effects for disease transmission.

Conservation is as much about human behaviours and values as it is about species and biological diversity. As a field, conservation science has come to recognise the complex nature of environmental challenges, requiring a blend of knowledge from various disciplines. While the foundations of conservation are still in traditional biology, the incorporation of social sciences, economics and law are increasing. This module introduces you to the increasingly holistic approach to conservation, emphasising the interplay between ecological and social systems, that recognises human behaviours, economic pressures and cultural values alongside biological factors. The need for collaboration across diverse stakeholders will be explored. Through case studies, you will learn to apply interdisciplinary frameworks to real-world scenarios, to recognise and engage with the often conflicting values and priorities. The module will prepare you for careers in conservation organisations, government agencies and research institutions, empowering you to become effective agents of environmental change.

Based on the Isle of Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde, gain hands-on experience studying UK intertidal and subtidal ecosystems, focusing on ecological patterns, processes and field research techniques. You’ll explore rocky shores, sandy beaches and underwater habitats while investigating biodiversity, species interactions and the effects of environmental gradients. Activities will include ecological surveying, species identification, habitat mapping and experimental design. You’ll learn to analyse ecological data using statistical techniques and interpret marine community structure and function patterns. A major part of the module is an independent research project, giving you the chance to design, carry out and present your own ecological study. With a strong focus on field skills, critical thinking and scientific communication, this module equips you with valuable experience in marine ecological research.

In this module you will deepen your knowledge of clinical genetics and immunology. The genetic bases for diseases will be covered, along with the role of the clinical geneticist, the variety of diagnostic approaches and the future of genetics in medicine.

Examining immune function and immunopathologies, you'll consider clinical conditions such as autoimmunity, allergy and immunodeficiencies and how immunological techniques facilitate diagnosis and treatment. You will examine genetic and environmental causes of immune dysfunction and learn how this knowledge can be harnessed clinically in the context of transplantation and genetic disease.

Bioinformatics is a technical field that uses software applications to analyse many kinds of information relevant to biochemistry and other branches of biology. These include databases of biological sequences, structures, networks, and functional annotations.

In this module you’ll learn how to apply various important software tools to investigate a protein. Specifically, you will learn how to visualise and manipulate protein structures, how to detect evolutionary pressures in gene sequences and how to track their history using phylogenetics. The scientific computing skills you will acquire are also a valuable transferrable skill for other disciplines.

Despite delivering abundant cheap food, farmers and society have economic, environmental and social concerns about our modern resource-intensive agricultural systems. Explore the strengths and weaknesses of current intensive and proposed extensive agricultural systems by examining their food production, resource use, efficiency and environmental impacts. You’ll be introduced to key sustainability metrics such as carbon and water footprints and delve into the biological mechanisms behind a range of agronomic techniques. The module also looks at how agriculture contributes to ecosystem services. Through hands-on workshop sessions, you’ll compare microbial inoculants (bio-fertilisers) with synthetic fertilisers in a greenhouse-based plant growth trial and take part in a virtual farm management exercise to identify strategies for making UK agriculture more economically and environmentally sustainable.

Africa’s Great Rift Valley is home to some of the richest biodiversity on the planet. Take a trip to Kenya to explore a wide range of habitats and encounter a remarkable variety of species, gaining insight into their ecology, behaviour and conservation challenges. You’ll visit locations with varying levels of protection, from private game reserves and national parks to unmanaged landscapes, allowing you to compare conservation strategies in practice. Alongside unforgettable encounters with African wildlife, you’ll build essential field skills and develop a strong understanding of tropical ecosystems and the complex threats they face.