How to Apply to Biology at the University of Manchester: BSc Biology (C100) and a Dozen Other Biosciences Degrees Share a Common First Year, Two Core Sciences at A-level, for Home Applicants, International Applicants (Including China) and Transfer Students

At The University of Manchester, biology degrees are taught in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. This guide follows the official 2027 course pages and the Faculty's undergraduate biosciences pages. It centres on BSc Biology and mentions the other biosciences degrees in the same Faculty. Where the website does not say, we write "not given on the pages used for this guide" and point to where to check.

1. Which biology degrees are offered

• Three-year BSc degrees (12 on the Faculty's biosciences page): Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology, Genetics, Life Sciences, Medical Biochemistry, Medical Physiology, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Zoology. BSc Biology has UCAS course code C100; BSc Biochemistry is C700; Manchester's UCAS institution code is M20.
• Four-year options listed by the Faculty: with a foundation year, with an integrated master's (MSci), with a modern language, with industrial/professional experience, with entrepreneurship, and with international study. The Biology page says the degree can be extended by a year for an integrated master's, industrial/professional experience, entrepreneurship or a modern language.
• Foundation year: Biosciences with a Foundation Year (UCAS code C900), described below.
• The Faculty describes more than 60 undergraduate biosciences options. It also teaches medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry and other professional programmes, which are outside the scope of this guide; see the website.

2. How admission works: apply to a degree, share the first year, switch later

• You apply through UCAS. The Faculty describes a universal biosciences first year that makes it easy to switch between most of its 60-plus undergraduate options before the second year starts. The Biology page says you can transfer between most bioscience courses at the end of the first year or, in some cases, later.
• Moving from a three-year course to a four-year one (MSci, with Industrial/Professional Experience, or with International Study) is possible at the start of the second year. The Biology page requires a first-year average of at least 60%, and says the process is competitive.
• The Faculty advises that you should not usually apply for more than one bioscience course at Manchester; contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk if you plan to.
• Selection: applications are scrutinised by the admissions team and often reviewed by a senior admissions panel. Decisions are largely made on the UCAS form; some candidates may be interviewed online or by telephone, or asked to complete an alternative admissions statement. The website states there is no standard offer; the offer combines the UCAS form, predicted performance and interview performance where applicable. Factors listed include past and predicted academic performance, enthusiasm for and a realistic grasp of the chosen degree, interpersonal skills and non-academic interests or achievements, and an appreciation of student life in Manchester.

3. Prerequisites and course structure

• A-level (Biology): AAB including two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics (the "Core Sciences"). If you take only one Core Science and also take at least one of Geography, Psychology, Environmental Studies or Physical Education, you can be considered for an AAA offer. The course page headline reads "Typical A-level offer: AAA-AAB including specific subjects". If predicted grades are one grade below the minimum, an "aspirational" offer may still be made when you meet the contextual criteria.
• Biochemistry (C700): A-level AAB including grades AB in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics and Mathematics. The international-applicants page adds that applications to Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Medical Biochemistry must include Chemistry as one of the sciences.
• Subjects with overlapping content are not normally counted separately (for example Further Mathematics alongside Mathematics, or Human Biology alongside Biology). Offers are normally based on three A-levels. The practical element of science A-levels must be passed.
• IB: 35 points overall with 6, 6, 5 at Higher Level, including two science subjects, normally Biology and Chemistry. If you take only one Core Science at Higher Level, Geography, Psychology or Sports, Exercise and Health Science can stand in for the second; the offer then rises to 36 points with 6, 6, 6.
• GCSE/IGCSE: English Language and Mathematics at grade 4/C or above; English Literature is not accepted in place of English Language.
• Scotland: three Advanced Highers at ABB including two sciences (normally Biology and Chemistry), or two Advanced Highers at AB in two sciences plus two Highers at AB. Welsh Baccalaureate, BTEC, OCR Cambridge Technicals, Access to HE and T Level routes each have their own notes on the course page; check the website.
• Contextual offers: the Biology page lists a contextual A-level offer of AAB-ABC and a care-experienced/sanctuary/carer offer of ABB-ABC, both including specific subjects. Eligibility is described in terms of UK applicants (postcode criteria, free school meals); ask the admissions team whether it applies to you if you are an international applicant.
• First year (Biology): a broad introduction covering biodiversity and evolution, biochemistry and cell biology, and genetics and molecular biology, plus laboratory and data-handling skills. Mandatory units include Academic Tutorials, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, From Molecules to Cells, Introduction to Laboratory Science, Biodiversity, and Genes, Evolution and Development. Optional units include Introduction to Microbiology and Immunology, Body Systems, several field courses (for example marine biology, Mediterranean biodiversity and conservation, and animal behaviour) and Chemistry for Bioscientists. The page says 26 units are available in year 1 and displays 10 of them.
• Years 2 and 3: you begin to specialise in year 2, with a Science Communication unit and a choice between a Research Skills unit and a field course; enrolment in the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning is encouraged. In the final year you do an independent research project, which may be laboratory work or e-learning, education, data analysis, bioinformatics or enterprise topics. The Biology page says field courses can be in Europe, Africa or Central America.
• Credits and weighting: 120 credits a year; year 1 contributes 10% of the overall degree mark, year 2 30% and the final year 60%.
• Weekly pattern: the Faculty says undergraduates have around 17 hours of contact time a week and are expected to spend at least as much time in private study. Teaching includes lectures, tutorials, peer-assisted study sessions (PASS), a data handling clinic and practicals.
• Extra costs: field courses may involve a contribution to travel costs, which are subsidised; free UK-based field options are available.

4. Timeline for September 2027 entry

• You can apply through UCAS for 2027 autumn entry from 1 September 2026 (the page also says applications open for starting in the UCAS hub from 12 May 2026).
• Equal-consideration deadline: 13 January 2027, 6pm (GMT). After that you can still apply if courses have vacancies, up to 30 June 2027; later applications go into Clearing.
• The 15 October 2026 deadline applies to Oxford, Cambridge and courses leading to professional qualifications in medicine or dentistry, not to the biosciences degrees in this guide.
• Deferred entry is at the discretion of the admissions teams; for September 2027 entry, offer conditions must be met by 31 August 2027.
• Application fee, personal statement and reference requirements: not given on the pages used for this guide; check UCAS and the course page.
• Resits and re-applications: the biosciences page says individual module resits are considered, while a full resit is considered only in exceptional circumstances and normally needs at least an A in the resit subject; talk to the admissions team first.

5. Home (UK) applicants

• A-level, Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers, BTEC and other UK routes are in section 3, and contextual offers are available as described there.
• Tuition fee for home students starting in September 2027 is 10,050 pounds a year. The page says "home students" and does not break the fee down by England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland; confirm with the university.
• Scholarships and bursaries for home students: not listed on the course pages used for this guide; check the University's undergraduate finance pages.

6. International applicants

• English: IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.5 in any component, or GCSE/IGCSE English Language 4/C, or an accepted equivalent. UK Visas and Immigration requires at least CEFR B2, and the School may require more.
• Tuition: 38,000 pounds a year for international students starting in September 2027 (Biology page; the Biochemistry and Foundation Year pages show the same).
• Country requirements: the biosciences international page lists qualifications country by country, and is labelled September 2026 entry, so it may change for the next cycle. Examples: United States, three AP subjects at grades 554 including two sciences; Canada, high school diploma average 83-85% in five or six Grade 12 subjects including 85% in two sciences (contact the Faculty because provinces differ); Singapore, A-levels or IB, with polytechnic diploma holders possibly considered for second-year entry; Australia, ATAR 94 including two science subjects; Hong Kong, HKDSE 555-554 with two sciences.
• Scholarships: Global Futures Scholarships (2027 entry; more than 350 partial merit-based awards, more than 6 million pounds in total) are open to residents of the countries listed on the page (including the United States, Canada, India and Singapore) who hold an offer for a full-time, on-campus course. Mainland China is not on the list.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the China (mainland) page says the University does not accept the Gaokao for direct entry to degree courses. Applicants who have completed senior high school are expected to complete a University-recognised foundation programme, because of differences between the education systems.
• Direct entry to year 1: A-levels or the IB. The China page adds that students who have completed at least one year of undergraduate study at a recognised Chinese university may be considered for direct entry to some first-year programmes, and strongly advises checking with the programme's admissions team. The biosciences international page also says such applicants would be considered.
• Foundation: the biosciences international page says applicants with a Senior High / Middle School Graduation Diploma (Science Stream) with an 85% average in the final year would normally be considered for the Foundation Programme. The general China page instead says the University's Integrated Foundation Years look for an overall 80% or higher, with at least 90% where a specific subject is required. The two pages differ (85% average versus 80%/90%); confirm which applies with the admissions team.
• Partner foundation routes: for the biosciences course pages, INTO Manchester International Foundation Programme requires AAB with AA in two sciences (preferably Biology and Chemistry), B in a third subject (excluding EAP) and B in every EAP component; the NCUK International Foundation Year requires AAB or 75% overall, AA or 75% in two sciences, B or 65% in a third subject and B or 65% in every EAP component. The China page says NCUK runs its IFY at centres in Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Kunming, Lanzhou, Qingdao, Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuhan and Xi'an.
• The University's own Biosciences foundation year is described in the next section.
• Interviews and credential-verification bodies for Chinese applicants: not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the admissions team.

8. Biosciences with a Foundation Year (C900)

• For applicants without the right qualifications for direct entry. It is one year within a 4/5-year integrated degree, and successful completion allows direct entry to any of the three- or four-year biosciences degrees.
• It is taught mainly at Xaverian College near the campus, with sessions on the University campus; it runs from mid-September to June and totals 120 credits (110 delivered by Xaverian College, 10 at the University). The common core is biology, chemistry and mathematics, with some options. You are a full University student with a guaranteed place in a hall of residence.
• Entry: each application is considered individually. For A-level applicants whose subjects are not suitable for direct entry (grades ABB or above), a good standard of GCSE or equivalent in science and mathematics is required. Students with science A-levels below AAB may still be considered if they receive a widening-participation contextual flag. The contextual offer is BBB-BBC. Applicants with Scottish Highers only at AABBB or above may also be considered. International tuition on the page is 38,000 pounds a year.

9. Transfer students (direct entry to year 2)

• The University's how-to-apply page says it will consider applications for entry to the second year. You should normally meet the course's standard A-level requirements (or equivalent) and show you have successfully completed a programme of study equivalent to the first year of the course. The University decides whether the study is equivalent and may ask for syllabuses.
• The page also says some Schools/Departments do not accept transfers into year 2. Whether biosciences does: not given on the pages used for this guide; contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk. The international page also says Singapore polytechnic diploma holders may contact this address about second-year entry.
• For students already at Manchester, see section 2 for switching between bioscience degrees and to four-year courses.

10. Careers and contact

• The Biology page says around one-third of graduates work in scientific research and development, which may require postgraduate study, usually a PhD. Others go into science teaching or communication, conservation and ecological consultancy, biotechnology and biomedical companies, or management, finance, marketing and the civil service.
• Admissions office: ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk, +44 (0)161 529 4539. Campus tours can be booked through this address at least two weeks ahead.

Sources: The University of Manchester, BSc Biology (2027 entry); BSc Biochemistry; Biosciences with a Foundation Year; Biosciences undergraduate overview; Application process; International entry requirements; Teaching and learning; China (mainland) country information; How to apply; Global Futures Scholarships. Information is for September 2027 entry (the country-by-country page for international applicants is labelled September 2026 entry). Check Manchester for the latest details.