How to Apply for Life Sciences and Medicine-Related Degrees at the University of Stirling: Four Biology BScs and Adult Nursing, Highers ABBB for Year 1 with a Science Subject Required, for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The University of Stirling is in Scotland. This guide covers its life science and medicine-related undergraduate degrees: the four biology BScs on the subject page (Biology, Animal Biology, Cell and Molecular Bioscience, and Marine and Freshwater Biology), plus Nursing (Adult and Mental Health) and Paramedic Science. The Health and Allied Subjects and Nursing pages read for this guide list no undergraduate medicine (MBChB) degree. It follows the Stirling website for 2027 entry and covers UK applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students.

1. Which degrees you can apply for

• BSc (Hons) Biology: UCAS code C100, starting January 2027, September 2027 and January 2028, 48 months. The website describes cell biology, genetics, physiology, ecology and biodiversity; in Years 3 and 4 you can stay on the general pathway or take one of four specialisms (Biodiversity and Sustainability, Data Analysis and Biostatistics, Ecological and Evolutionary, Physiology and Molecular), which needs three prescribed modules and a relevant dissertation project.
• BSc (Hons) Animal Biology: UCAS code C300, starting January 2027, September 2027 and January 2028, 48 months; it covers animal behaviour, ecology, evolution, cell biology and physiology, and applied conservation and management, with the same four specialisms.
• BSc (Hons) Cell and Molecular Bioscience: UCAS code C130, starting September 2027, 48 months; physiology, microbiology, evolution and genetics, and molecular techniques such as PCR, genomics, proteomics, cloning and gene editing.
• BSc (Hons) Marine and Freshwater Biology: UCAS code C160, starting September 2027, 48 months; coordinated by the Institute of Aquaculture, covering aquatic ecology, fisheries science, oceanography, biodiversity and conservation.
• BSc / BSc (Hons) Nursing – Adult: UCAS codes B740 (BSc, 36 months) and B750 (BSc (Hons), 48 months), starting September 2027, full time; the website says all nursing courses are approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). BSc / BSc (Hons) Nursing – Mental Health is also listed on the subject page (September 2027); its course page was not read for this guide, so check it on the website.
• BSc Paramedic Science: UCAS code B780, 36 months, approved by the HCPC; the course page says it is currently only available to students domiciled in Scotland (Scottish fee status), so the international sections below do not apply to it.
• Joint degrees: Biology can be combined with Mathematics (UCAS code CG11, with its own line in the fee data page); check the website for other combinations. Biomedical engineering is not listed on the subject pages read.
• You apply to a specific degree, not to a general intake sorted later. What first-year students study alongside biology is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the course pages.

2. Course structure and placements

• Biology: training in laboratory and field skills from cell biology and physiology to ecology, with optional programming, data science and R statistics modules. There are two optional residential field courses: southern France (7 days) at the Merops Field Station (field ecology and animal biology, designing and analysing your own project) or South Africa (10 days) (field research skills and conservation management). Travel, accommodation and subsistence on residential field courses are not included in the fees. An optional professional placement with an outside organisation is available (past students have worked with environmental charities, government agencies and companies).
• Animal Biology: the same two optional field courses and optional placement, plus an independent research project.
• Cell and Molecular Bioscience: an optional lab-based placement (past placements include E&O Laboratories, Scottish Water and Merck); assessment mirrors scientific work (research proposals, data analysis, presentations and full reports).
• Marine and Freshwater Biology: a compulsory seashore and inshore field trip, an optional residential marine mammal field course at Millport, an optional summer placement and an independent project in the final year (overseas projects are encouraged); time overseas in Year 3.
• Nursing: clinical placements across NHS Forth Valley with varied shifts including days and nights. In the fourth year of the BSc (Hons) there are no formal clinical placements, apart from the NMC-required final placement. Year 1 is shared with Mental Health Nursing and Paramedic Science students.
• Limits for international students: the biology course pages state no cap for international students; the nursing page lists international fees, scholarships and English requirements and does not say international students are excluded. Whether any limit applies is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask Admissions.

3. Entry requirements and prerequisites (2027 entry)

• The four biology degrees, Year 1 entry (four-year Honours): Highers ABBB; A-levels BBB; IB 28 points; BTEC Level 3 DDM. Essential subject: one of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics, taken within the last five years.
• The four biology degrees, Year 2 entry (three-year Honours): Advanced Highers ABB; A-levels ABB; IB 32 points; essential: Biology and one of Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology or Physics (Marine and Freshwater Biology: Biology and one of Environmental Science, Geography or Geology).
• Nursing (Adult): BSc (B740) Highers BBC, A-levels CCC, IB 28 points, BTEC MMM; BSc (Hons) (B750) Highers BBBB, A-levels BBC, IB 28 points, BTEC DMM. Essential: one Higher or A-level (or equivalent) in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics; preference goes to those with a science or health care background. The personal statement should show knowledge of and interest in adult nursing, voluntary or paid care experience is welcomed, and an academic reference (or an employer’s reference; not a friend) is required.
• Extra nursing conditions: all applicants must pass a Disclosure Scotland check and be passed fit by occupational health (normally after an offer is made), and all convictions must be declared. A Fast Track to Nursing course with Forth Valley College (18 weeks) gives guaranteed entry to Year 1 of Adult or Mental Health Nursing on completion, subject to PVG and occupational health clearance.
• Nursing English: IELTS Academic or UKVI 7.0 overall with 6.5 in writing and 7.0 in speaking, listening and reading; PTE Academic 67 overall (62 in writing, 67 in the others); TOEFL iBT 95 overall (reading 22, writing 23, listening 22, speaking 24) for tests before 21 January 2026, or 5 overall with at least 4.5 in writing and 5 in the others from that date. The other degrees here need IELTS 6.0.
• Admissions tests and interviews: the biology course pages mention no admissions test or interview, and the nursing page mentions no interview (Paramedic Science requires one but is open only to Scottish-domiciled students).

UK applicants (Highers, Advanced Highers, A-levels, IB, BTEC)

• Scottish structure: Honours degrees at Stirling are four years from Year 1 entry. The course pages also list Year 2 entry (three-year Honours), which asks for higher results in Advanced Highers, A-levels or the IB (figures for each course are given above).
• Highers first: Stirling’s UK qualifications page says it generally makes offers on Highers, and only occasionally on Advanced Highers. Highers may be taken over two sittings, though repeated or upgraded exams may bring a higher grade request. Advanced Highers may be considered only if you cannot meet the requirements with Highers alone, and this is not guaranteed because preference goes to Highers; if considered, an Advanced Higher at grade C or above counts as a Higher at A, and a D counts as a Higher at B. Offers are made on grades, not UCAS tariff points.
• A-levels: offers are based on predicted grades and normally on three A-levels, although every application is considered individually. A pass in the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is taken into account for applicants who narrowly miss their conditions. BTEC Level 3 is typically DDM (check each course page), T-levels generally Merit, the Welsh Advanced Skills Baccalaureate counts as one A-level, and the Irish Leaving Certificate asks for up to five Higher Level subjects at H2 or H3 for most courses.
• How recent subjects must be: the course pages say essential subjects must have been taken within the last five years; recent work experience can be considered in place of a formal qualification.
• Applicants from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are in the RUK fee category. The course pages list £10,050 for 2027/28 (and say it may change with UK Government guidance). The Stirling Success Scholarship page says eligible students from these places receive a £5,000 package: £2,500 in cash in Year 1, a £500 sports centre and campus food credit, and a further £2,000 at the start of the Honours year (Year 4); a place in University-managed accommodation is guaranteed in first year if you apply by 31 August.
• Scottish applicants: the course pages list £1,820 for 2027/28, paid by the Scottish Government through SAAS (you apply each year).
• Contextual offers: widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer, and care-experienced applicants are guaranteed an offer if they meet the minimum entry requirements; eligibility is set out on the University’s widening participation pages.
• Nursing: the nursing Highers lines differ from the biology degrees; see the Nursing (Adult) entry lines above.

International applicants

• Qualifications: country-by-country requirements are on the University’s International entry requirements page, which also tells you to check the course page for specific grades and essential subjects. If your country or qualification is not listed, the page says to email international@stir.ac.uk.
• English: if English is not your first language you need proof. The course pages (the same for every degree in this guide) accept IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each skill; PTE Academic 60 overall with at least 59 in each skill; and TOEFL iBT 80 overall (reading 18, writing 17, listening 17, speaking 20) for tests taken before 21 January 2026, or 4 overall with no band below 4 for tests taken from 21 January 2026. The English language page lists further accepted tests (such as LanguageCert, Cambridge C1 Advanced, Trinity ISE and Oxford ELLT), normally taken within two years of the course start; check its table for the exact 6.0-equivalent scores. Nursing asks for more (see below).
• Exemptions: the English page says you need no proof if you are from, or have a UK-degree-equivalent qualification from the last five years in, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the UK or the USA, or if you are a national of Canada. Other qualifications (for example A-level or GCSE English, IB English at grade 4 or above, Scottish Higher English at grade C or above) can waive the test; see the undergraduate waiver page. That page does not list a Chinese qualification.
• Language and pathway courses: if you do not meet the academic or English requirements, the International Study Centre (INTO Stirling) runs pathway and English programmes; its iCAS programmes combine a pathway and the degree in one study plan with one visa.
• Fees: The fee data page lists the four biology degrees and Nursing (Adult) at £23,700 a year for international (including EU) students in both 2026/27 and 2027/28 (full time); Biology and Mathematics is also £23,700. Extra or resit modules cost extra, and travel, accommodation and subsistence on residential field courses are not included in the fees.
• Funds for the visa: the international funding page says that for a successful visa application you need funding covering the full cost of the first year of study, and the scholarship page says students who need a visa still pay the International Tuition Fee Deposit. The exact amounts are not given on the course pages; check the University’s visa page and the UKVI website.
• Scholarships: the course pages say eligible international students automatically receive a scholarship worth between £10,000 and £20,000 over the duration of the course. On the scholarship pages, the International Undergraduate Scholarship (open to all international students) takes £2,500 off the annual fee each year (£10,000 over four years), is assessed automatically with no separate application, and cannot be combined with other University scholarships (except the Sports Scholarship); separate undergraduate awards of £5,000 a year (£20,000 over four years) exist for students from places such as the USA, Canada and the UAE. The pages used for this guide list no undergraduate scholarship specific to China.

Applicants from China

• Direct entry to Year 1 on the China page: the 3-year Chinese Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate with 70% overall; or the 2-year Huikao result with 75% overall (in provinces without Huikao, 75% overall from six modules); or the Gaokao with 420 of 750 in most of China, 370 of 660 in Shanghai or 504 of 900 in Hainan. A foundation qualification from a pathway provider or university is also considered for Year 1.
• Direct entry to Year 2 on the China page: the Gaokao with 495 of 750 (435 of 660 in Shanghai, 594 of 900 in Hainan), or a foundation qualification from a pathway provider or university. The page says Year 2 entry is not available on every course and tells you to contact the country representative; the “Advanced entry” section of each course page is what shows whether a given course accepts Year 2 entry (see each degree above; the Economics page words this inconsistently).
• Course grades and essential subjects: the China page reminds you to check the course page for specific grades and essential subjects. How Chinese high school subjects map to the course page’s mathematics or biology requirement, and whether the Gaokao thresholds apply in the same way to every course, is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask Admissions (international@stir.ac.uk).
• Documents: the China page gives no checklist of transcripts or verification agencies. The University’s “after you apply” page says that results not sent automatically through UCAS (for example non-UK qualifications) must be sent to Admissions directly, and that if they are not received by 31 August the University is under no obligation to accept you.
• Contacts: the China page lists the international recruitment team, two International Officers for China and a set of approved agents in China, and links a Chinese-language microsite (stirlinguni.cn); you can also email international@stir.ac.uk.
• Pathway: if you fall short of the academic or English requirements, INTO Stirling’s International Foundation (3–4 terms) is the pathway listed. The website says it prepares students for Year 2 of a Scottish degree, and its iCAS option combines the pathway and the degree in one study plan with one visa; for its own entry requirements and fees, check the INTO Stirling website.

Routes, deadlines and documents (2027 entry)

• September entry is through UCAS: the website says full-time undergraduate September entry goes through UCAS, for all students wherever they are based. Stirling’s UCAS name is STIRL and its institution code is S75; course codes are on each course page (above). You can apply for up to five courses, including several at the same university, and universities do not see your other choices.
• A second statement: the “after you apply” page also says that international students who applied directly or through the Common Application receive decisions by email and in My Portal, and reply to offers there. Taken together, the two pages do not make clear whether international applicants can bypass UCAS for September entry; confirm with international@stir.ac.uk.
• January entry: some courses start in January for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and abroad, and these applications go directly to the University, not through UCAS. The 2027 and 2028 January list includes Economics, Biology and Animal Biology; Mathematics and Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence are not on it.
• Deadlines: the application and “after you apply” pages do not give a UCAS deadline date; they say only that applications received after the relevant deadlines may not be considered. Check the UCAS website for the 2027 deadline.
• Personal statement and references: the personal statement should explain why you chose the course and why Stirling should offer you a place; the nursing pages ask for an academic reference (an employer’s reference if that is not possible; friends are not accepted). The course pages read have no separate supplementary essay.
• Interviews and tests: some courses have a second-stage process such as an interview or an extra piece of written work, set out on the course page. The Mathematics, Economics and Biology course pages read for this guide mention no admissions test or interview. Nursing applicants face a Disclosure Scotland check and an occupational health check.
• Deferred entry: the website says it will consider deferred entry, applied for through UCAS.
• Sending results: results from Highers, Advanced Highers, A-levels (at a UK school or college), the IB and BTEC normally reach Stirling automatically through UCAS; if you studied outside the UK, send official results to Admissions through My Portal or by email.
• Decision dates: no date for decisions is given beyond “as quickly as possible” through UCAS Hub; check the website.

Transfer and direct entry to second year

• Year 2 entry: The Biology, Animal Biology, Cell and Molecular Bioscience and Marine and Freshwater Biology pages give Year 2 entry (three-year Honours) as Advanced Highers ABB, A-levels ABB or IB 32, with Biology plus one of Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology or Physics essential (for Marine and Freshwater Biology, Biology plus one of Environmental Science, Geography or Geology). Their “Advanced entry” boxes say that on Biology, entry to Year 2 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course and other qualifications may also qualify, and on the other three that advanced entry may be possible depending on your qualifications; contact Admissions. For nursing, the Nursing (Adult) page says advanced entry is only to Year 2 through RPL.
• HNC/HND: the UK qualifications page says that on some related courses an HNC can lead to Year 2 and an HND to Year 3; HNDs from England, Wales and Northern Ireland need Merits and at least two Distinctions in all units, and Year 3 entry needs 50% Merits/Distinctions in second-year subjects, case by case.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): the University’s RPL policy lets you ask for credit when you apply, either for entry to a later year or for module exemptions. RPL is considered only at the point of application, needs a separate RPL form and evidence, and the University does not normally charge a fee for considering it. At least one-third of the credits for a Stirling award must be earned at (or validated by) Stirling, and a module exemption does not reduce the tuition fee. You submit an RPL application together with the standard course application.
• Three Advanced Highers: the UK qualifications page says students with three Advanced Highers may be offered Year 2 entry; contact Admissions.
• Moving from another university: the pages read for this guide have no dedicated undergraduate transfer page, so a GPA threshold, number of transferable credits and a transfer deadline are not given; contact admissions@stir.ac.uk and read the “Advanced entry” section of the course page.

Fees and scholarships at a glance

• International: the four biology degrees and Nursing (Adult) are £23,700 a year in both 2026/27 and 2027/28; the nursing page also says eligible international students automatically receive a scholarship worth between £10,000 and £20,000.
• RUK: £10,050 for 2027/28 (£9,790 for 2026/27); the nursing page says the University covers occupational health consultations, criminal record checks and compulsory uniforms, plus inoculations for undergraduate nursing students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, a saving it puts at around £430.
• Scotland: £1,820, paid by the Scottish Government through SAAS; SAAS-eligible Scottish nursing and paramedic students receive a £10,000 bursary a year for the first three years, plus £7,500 if they complete an Honours year (the website cites SAAS).

Checklist

UK applicants:

• Choose C100, C300, C130, C160 or the nursing code and copy it correctly; check you have Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics at Higher, A-level or IB
• Nursing needs a personal statement, an academic reference and pre-entry background and health checks; check the UCAS website for the September deadline

International applicants (including China):

• Check your qualification on the International entry requirements page; a Gaokao score of 420/750 (most provinces) is listed for Year 1, but ask Admissions how the essential subject (biology, chemistry, mathematics or physics) is judged
• English: IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each skill) for the biology degrees, IELTS 7.0 (6.5 in writing, 7.0 elsewhere) for nursing
• Biology and Animal Biology can start in January (direct application); the two pages describe UCAS and direct/Common App routes differently, so confirm with international@stir.ac.uk

Transfer students:

• With three Advanced Highers or an HNC/HND, contact admissions@stir.ac.uk first; submit an RPL application together with the admissions application

Sources: University of Stirling: Biology subject page; Health and Allied Subjects; Nursing subject page; BSc (Hons) Biology; BSc (Hons) Animal Biology; BSc (Hons) Cell and Molecular Bioscience; BSc (Hons) Marine and Freshwater Biology; Nursing - Adult; BSc Paramedic Science; How to apply; After you apply; January entry; Entry requirements; UK and Republic of Ireland qualifications; Recognition of prior learning; International entry requirements; International students - China; English language requirements; English language waiver (undergraduate); Pathway programmes; International funding; Undergraduate tuition fees; Course fee data; International Undergraduate Scholarship; Stirling Success Scholarship. Information is for 2027 entry; where a page prints no year, check that the date applies to 2027 entry. Check the University for the latest details.