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.

Why study Biological Sciences at UC?

Our courses will help prepare you for a career in biology, be it in biodiversity, biosecurity or biotechnology. Our lecturers are all actively engaged in research on diverse and exciting topics. These range from those of practical and economics importance to New Zealand society, to those probing the boundaries of fundamental, interest-driven science.

UC has New Zealand's top-ranked department for research in molecular, cellular and whole organism biology (the latest Tertiary Education Commission 2012 PBRF Assessment). The School of Biological Sciences has modern, well-equipped teaching and research laboratories with excellent technical support. The full suite of molecular biology and biochemistry equipment includes:

• a real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction machine (or DNA amplifier)
• an automatic DNA sequencer
• a confocal microscope
• tissue culture and image processing facilities
• controlled plant growth chambers
• an experimental garden and glasshouse complex
• and an extensive computer network.

Teaching and research activities are greatly enhanced by access to field stations. Many undergraduate courses involve a fieldwork component based at Cass in the Southern Alps. Field trips allow students to apply techniques and hypotheses they have learnt in lectures and to interact with staff in a more informal setting.

Qualification structure and duration

Students take courses from the Bachelor of Science schedule and are required to pass courses totalling a minimum of 120 points including 90 points at 300-level.

Further study

This qualification is an ideal pathway into postgraduate study.

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.

Entry criteria

Graduate diplomas require a bachelor's degree. If you gained your qualifications overseas, these will need to be assessed to ensure they are of an equivalent standard.

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.