Biological Courses at University

Biology is an A-level course that lends itself to lots of different careers. Combined with Chemistry, you can go on to be a doctor, vet or biochemist. Combined with Maths you can become a medical statistician, or a medical lawyer. Alternatively, you can take a pure Biology course, such as Marine Biology, Biological Sciences or Ecology.

What to study at university:

Here are some courses you might not have though of;

Biology (for the love of Biology)

Biological Sciences

Applied Biology

Bioscience

Marine Biology

Ecology

Environmental Studies

Biology + Chemistry

Medicine

Biomedical engineering

Psychology

Biochemistry

Biotechnology

Biomolecular technology

Natural Science

Physiology

PPP

Vetinary Science

Pharmacology

Pharmacy

Toxicology

Neuroscience

Biology + Physics

Biomaterials

Biomechanical

Bioengineering

Biology + P.E.

Nutritional studies

Physiotherapy

Chiropractice

Health sciences

Biology + Maths

Biomedical Statistics

Bioprocessing

For more information on any of these courses click on the UCAS Homepage link here. Alternatively, why not use the careers intranet, careers library, or the careers room in the Biology Department?

Reading List - getting ahead for the interviews:

General Interest:

Barley, N (1983) - The Innocent Anthropologist

Dawkins, M (1986) - Unravelling Animal Behaviour

dawking, R (1989) - The Selfish Gene

Diamond, J (1998) - Guns, Germs and Steel

Evans-Pritchard, E.E (1980) - Witchcraft Oracles and Magic among the Azande (abridged edition)

Feldman and Marks - Panic Nation

Gould, S.J (1980) - Ever Since Darwin

Jones, S (1993) - The language of genes

Keesing, R.M (1981) - Cultural Anthropology

Kuper, A (1996) - The Chosen Primate

Leakey, R (1994) - The Origin of Humankind

Livi-Bacci, M (1994) - A Concise History of World Population

Lewontin, R.C (1993) - The Doctorine of DNA

Payne, G (2000) - Social Divisions

Spector, T (2004) - Your Genes Unzipped

Sykes, B - The Seven Daughters of Eve

Wells, S - The Journey of Man

Wills, C (1997) - Plagues

Wilson, E.O (1992) - The Diversity of Life

Cells:

Campbell, N, A - Biology

Clegg, C.J & Mackean, D.G - Advanced Biology: Principles and Applications

Lane, N - Power, Sex and Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life

Lewontin, N.R - It Ain't Necessarily So

Postlethwaite, J.H & Hopson J.L - The Nature of Life

Rowland, M - Biology

Taylor D, Green N.P.O and Stout G.W - Biological Sciences 1 & 2

Evolution and Behaviour:

Dawkins, M.S - Through Our Eyes Only

Dawkins, R - The Blind Watchmaker

Dawkins, R - Climbing Mount Improbable

Diamond, J - The Rise and Fall of hte Third Chimpanzee

Jones, S - In the Blood

Margulis, J - The Symbiotic Planet: A New Look at Evolution

Physiology:

King, J - Reaching for the Sun

Levick, J - An Introduction to Cardiovascular Physiology

McGowan, E.P - Diatoms to Dinosaurs: The Size and Scale of Living Things

Vogel, S - Cat's Paws and Catapults

Widmaier, E.P - Why Geese Don't Get Obese

Neurobiology:

Greenfield, S - The Human Brain

Matthews, G., Zeidner, M. & Roberts, R.D - Emotional Intelligence: Science & myth

Pearce, J. M - Animal Learning and Cognition

Rolls, E.T - The Brain and Emotion

Sacks, O - The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat

Biology is a popular subject and you will need to prepare your application carefully. Read the guidance below for help planning and writing your Personal Statement

Writing your Personal Statement

This will take time. You really ought to start it in the summer holidays, so it is nearly ready when you return in the Upper 6th.

The easiest way to start writing a personal statement is to brainstorm words, phrases or experiences you think ought to go into the finished work. E.g. "team-player," "I have 3 weeks work experience," "I love working with people," "I am very interested in the future of the NHS."

Try and have the first half of the statement about the course and why you want / should do it. The second half of the statement is about you and why the university wants you.


Oxford - the best university in the world	Cambridge - good runners up

When writing your personal statement keep in mind the following points;

Why have you chosen the course? What is special about it? Why do you want to do it? Do you have a specific job in mind / future plans?

What experience do you have that supports your course choice? Work experience (team skills etc)? Classroom experience (project work?) Extra reading?

What qualities do you have? Why should the university give you a place? Try and persuade them!

What do you do in your free time? What do you find interesting? Why do you value these things and what have you learned through doing them that puts you in a better position / more able to do the course?

Remember, you are writing a personal statement, so make it unique. Make it personal to you. Tell the reader about you in your own style. There is no right or wrong way to write a personal statement; but remember, the best statements are the ones that stick in the reader's head.

Finally, the better your statement, the more chance you have of getting a place and a lower offer!