Course details

Summary

Biology means the study of living things. Biologists investigate animals, plants and microbes in many different ways and on a huge range of scales from molecules and cells to individual organisms, populations and ecosystems.

During the past few decades the study of biology has undergone rapid change and has had a significant impact on the way we live. We are now able to produce antibiotics and vaccines, grow disease resistant crops, transplant organs and manipulate genes. Biologists today are actively researching solutions to vital concerns such as increasing world food supply, improving and protecting our environment and conquering disease.

We need to know how micro-organisms, plants and animals work and how they interact on land and in the sea and freshwaters. Of increasing importance to us is global climate change and how this affects the living world.

Recommended preparation

Year 13 biology, statistics and chemistry are strongly recommended. Students who have not completed Year 13 chemistry may find the Headstart summer preparatory course very useful.

For certain disciplines, some knowledge of physics is helpful.

All students should have adequate English skills.

Courses

100-level courses

The first-year Biological Sciences courses provide an overview of all the sciences relating to plants, animals and micro-organisms.

Of the five first-year courses three are foundation courses and are required in order to advance in Biological Sciences:

BIOL111 Cellular Biology and Biochemistry

BIOL112 Ecology, Evolution and Conservation

BIOL113 Diversity of Life

STAT101 Introductory Statistics is also required at 100-level to advance in Biological Sciences.

Some of these courses also form part of the Intermediate requirements for Forestry. Students who have not taken chemistry to Year 13 level are strongly advised to take one Chemistry course (eg, CHEM114 Foundations of Chemistry).

200-level and beyond

You can choose to follow a specialised life science stream, honours major or endorsement such as Animal Behaviour, Animal Physiology, Biochemistry, Biosecurity, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Microbiology and Plant Biology.

Career opportunities

Our graduates have gone on to positions as teachers, technicians, researchers, managers and diverse other careers in agriculture, horticulture, veterinary and medical science, freshwater and marine fisheries, aquaculture, oceanography, entomology, soil biology, and food, brewing and pharmaceutical industries.

Government agencies frequently target Biological Sciences graduates. Regular employers of our graduates include Crown Research Institutes, government ministries concerned with conservation, the environment, agriculture, forestry and health, and regional and local councils.

A Biological Sciences degree indicates you have the ability to access, understand, analyse and communicate complex information. This is attractive to many employers.

Further study

The Certificate in Science can be used as a stepping stone to a Bachelor of Science.

Entry criteria

Admission to UC with University Entrance, or equivalent, is required to enrol for a Certificate in Arts. Applicants must have completed New Zealand University Entrance through NCEA; or Cambridge International Examinations (CIE); or International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) or any other equivalent overseas qualification.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 550 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum C+ grade; CAE or CPE minimum score of 169 with at least 162 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 57 and no PTE communicative skills score below 50.