Our degree courses are informed by world-class research that is addressing global challenges.
World-class research informs our teaching
From gene therapy to golden rice, our research has impact and ensures our students are taught at the cutting-edge of Biological Sciences.
- Our world-class research is highly ranked in the UK and in the University of London. In the most recent research assessment, the REF, we were recognised for the world leading quality of our research; our students contribute to this research during their third-year research projects.
- 100% of our research impact is rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)
- All of our undergraduate degrees have been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology
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Degree accreditation recognises our academic excellence and commitment to developing graduate employability skills. When you graduate from one of these degree programmes, you will be able to state that you have a degree accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, and you will meet in-part the academic and experience requirement for membership and chartered biologist (CBiol).
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A degree from the University of London is prestigious and internationally recognised.
- Our National Student Survey feedback scores from our students are consistently high. In the NSS (2023) 100% of our students agreed that the course is intellectually stimulating.
- We are ranked 7th in the UK for Animal Science (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2023)
State-of-the-art facilities
Our base is the Bourne Laboratory, right at the heart of Royal Holloway's parkland campus. We value hands-on practical time in well-equipped laboratories where we continually invest in new facilities for teaching and research.
- Our department houses state-of-the-art equipment for mass spectrometry, bioinformatics, protein and gene sequencing.
- We have top-class imaging facilities including confocal laser scanning microscopes for 3D live-cell imaging.
- Other facilities include marine and freshwater aquaria, glasshouses, and an electrophysiology suite.
- There are excellent campus amenities including the state-of-the-art Davison library, open 24 hours a day.
A biodiverse campus
Our leafy campus is home to a wealth of species of plants and animals with extensive areas of natural habitat for fieldwork.
- Our campus provides plenty of fieldwork opportunities for whole-organism biology.
- We are also within easy reach of Site of Special Scientific Interest, with sites of national scientific importance right on our doorstep such as Windsor Great Park and Chobham Common, and Box Hill nearby.
High employability
We're ranked 3rd in the UK by The Complete University Guide 2023, for graduates going into employment or further study within 15 months of graduating.
Our Careers Liaison tutor and central Careers Service help prepare you for finding a job after graduation through workshops, in-house surgeries, careers fairs and opportunities to meet past graduates. Our alumni work in diverse areas including:
- forensic medicine
- pharmaceuticals
- biotechnology
- clinical trials coordination
- medical research
- environmental monitoring
- practical conservation.
Flexible, supported learning
Our flexible degree structure allows you to keep your options open even within the first year, and follow your study interests throughout your degree course. You can change your course within the ‘organismal’ or ‘molecular’ portfolios right up to the start of the second year subject to capacity.
- Our high staff-student ratio means we can offer teaching in small groups, even one-to-one when the need arises. This makes for an exceptionally friendly and supportive environment.
- Part time degree programmes are also available, if commitments prevent you studying full time.
Opportunities to get involved
We host numerous outreach activities that provide opportunities for our students to develop wider skills and gain experience for their cv.
- Put your science communication skills into practice by running our hands-on activities for families and school groups at Royal Holloway Science Festival and at other taster events.
- Help organise our Rare Disease Day event, the largest such event in the UK, when we invite school pupils onto campus to showcase our research into novel therapies for rare diseases.
- Participate in our community volunteering programme, which develops your skills through a range of activities, such as environmental projects, tutoring or educational support.
- You can also get involved through BioSoc, our student run society which is a friendly network of like-minded people who organise socials, academic talks with visiting speakers and a range of activities to join in.
Undergraduate degree courses
All degrees are also offered with an integrated year in industry option, these courses have unique UCAS codes.
Degrees with an Integrated Foundation year:
If you are looking for extra support to make the transition to a degree, one of our Integrated Foundation Years could be for you.
BSc Biology with Integrated Foundation Year
BSc Biomedical Sciences with Integrated Foundation Year
