How to Apply to Queen Mary University of London for a Biology Bachelor’s Degree: Direct Entry to Biology, Biochemistry, Zoology, Neuroscience and More, With Optional Industry or Abroad Years and Foundation Entry – Admissions for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) teaches its biology-related degrees in the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences on the Mile End campus in east London. This guide uses the September 2027 course pages for Biology, Biochemistry, Zoology, Neuroscience, Medical Genetics and Biomedical Sciences, plus the university’s pages on undergraduate applications, transfers, English requirements, China, the International Foundation Year, fees and scholarships. It is for UK applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and students who want to transfer into year two. The same school has related degrees such as Pharmacology, while Medicine (MBBS) and Dentistry belong to a different school; these are outside this guide, so check the course pages. Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry are taught in the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences and are not covered here.

1. Degrees and how you are admitted

• Apply through UCAS with institution code Q50, directly to the specific degree; you can make up to five choices a year. The codes below are from the 2027 entry pages.
• Biology: BSc (Hons) three years C100; with Year Abroad (four years) C10Y.
• Biochemistry: BSc three years C700; with Year in Industry/Research 3W45; with Year Abroad C70Y; MSci (four years) C701; MSci with Year Abroad (five years) C71Y.
• Zoology: BSc three years C300; with Year Abroad C30Y.
• Neuroscience: BSc three years B140; with Year Abroad B14Y. The course page says it is taught by the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences together with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
• Medical Genetics: BSc three years C431; with Year Abroad C43Y.
• Biomedical Sciences: BSc three years B990; with Year Abroad B99Y.
• Biological Sciences with Foundation: four years, code CCX2, a shared entry route into these degrees. Year 0 is the foundation year, with modules on the course pages including Science and Engineering Success, Foundations of Chemical, Physical, Engineering and Biological Science, Mathematics A and Communication in Science and Technology.
• Industry year: the Biology, Zoology, Medical Genetics, Neuroscience and Biomedical Sciences pages describe a Year in Industry that you transfer onto after a satisfactory result in year 1, spent in a professional experience position in the penultimate year; you look for the placement during year 2 with one-to-one support. Places are competitive, and if you do not get one you return to the standard BSc and finish year 3 at Queen Mary. Neuroscience and Biomedical Sciences add further academic conditions; the Neuroscience page requires a year-2 average of at least 60% with no failed modules in years 1 and 2. Biochemistry instead has its own application code for the industry/research year (3W45). A year abroad and an industry year cannot be combined.
• The course pages do not state professional accreditation for these degrees.

2. Entry requirements (September 2027 start)

• Biology, Zoology, Medical Genetics (including year-abroad versions): A level ABB, which must include A-level Biology; IB Diploma with at least 32 points, 6, 5, 5 at Higher Level, with Biology at Higher Level.
• Biochemistry (BSc and year abroad): A level ABB including A-level Chemistry; IB 32 with 6, 5, 5 at HL and Chemistry HL. The industry/research-year BSc and the MSci versions need AAB including Chemistry; IB 34 with 6, 6, 5 at HL and Chemistry HL.
• Neuroscience: A level ABB including Biology or Chemistry, plus a second science from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics; IB 32 with 6, 5, 5 at HL, where the page says “this must include Biology and Chemistry at Higher Level”. The A-level and IB wording on this page differs (A level: biology or chemistry; IB: biology and chemistry), so confirm with admissions.
• Biomedical Sciences: A level AAB including Biology, plus a second science from Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics or Psychology; IB 34 with 6, 6, 5 at HL, including Biology HL and a second science at HL.
• Entry with Foundation (CCX2): A level CCC including Biology or Chemistry, plus a second science from Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics or Psychology; IB at least 26 points with 4, 4, 4 at HL, including Biology or Chemistry HL and a second science at HL.
• Most course pages say “see our detailed subject and grade requirements” for BTEC (the Biochemistry industry-year and MSci pages say BTEC is not considered); the details were not read for this guide, so check the website. The course pages require GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or an acceptable equivalent.
• Contextual offers (Biology page): standard BBC including a B in A-level Biology and enhanced BCC including a B in Biology; Biochemistry uses the same pattern with a B in Chemistry. Eligibility is checked through the university’s Contextual Admissions Eligibility Checker.
• The course pages do not mention an admissions test or interview. Whether applicants are interviewed is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask admissions.

3. What you study

• Biology year 1: Basic Biochemistry, Cells, Ecology, Essential Skills for Biologists, Evolution, Molecular Genetics, Physiology, Practical Biology and Practical Molecular and Cellular Biology. Year 2 core: Diversity of Life, Research Methods and Communication, Techniques in Biological Sciences and Infectious Disease Biology, plus three options from modules such as Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, Urban Ecology, Ecological Interactions I/II (with a field trip to Croatia), Comparative and Integrative Physiology, Genes and Bioinformatics, Enzymes and Metabolism, Microbial Physiology and Growth, Marine Biodiversity (with a field trip to Scotland) and Integrated Human Physiology (taught at the Malta campus). Year 3: compulsory Professional Skills and Development for Biologists and Reproductive and Development Biology; one project (Biological Sciences Research Project, Engaging the Public with Science, or Structured Research Project); and four options such as Climate Change and Conservation Challenges, Coding Skills and Data Science, Endocrine Physiology and Biochemistry, Functional Genomics and Epigenetics, Mammals and Evolution, Behavioural Ecology, Molecular Basis of Disease, Neuroscience, and Savannah Ecology and Conservation (with a field trip to the African savannas).
• Zoology: year 1 is the same as Biology; year 2 core is Diversity of Life, Ecological Interactions I, Research Methods and Communication and Urban Ecology, plus four options; year 3 core is Professional Skills and Development, Climate Change and Conservation Challenges, Behavioural Ecology and Mammals and Evolution, one project, and two options (such as Endocrine Physiology, Functional Genomics, Neuroscience, Population and Chromosome Genetics, Reproductive and Development Biology, Savannah Ecology and Conservation).
• Biochemistry: year 1 covers Communicating Biochemistry, Practical Molecular and Cellular Biology, Physical and Organic Chemistry for Biochemists, Cells, Molecular Genetics, Practical Biochemistry, Basic Biochemistry and Physiology; year 2 core includes Advanced Experimental and Analytical Techniques, Research Methodology and Ethics, Enzymes and Metabolism, Genes and Bioinformatics and Membrane and Cellular Biochemistry, plus four options (such as Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Comparative and Integrative Physiology, Microbial Physiology, Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics); year 3 core includes Biochemistry in Action, Molecular Basis of Disease and Protein Structure, Folding and Assemblies, one project, and one option from each of two groups. MSci year 4: Advanced Biochemical Research Methods and a Biochemical Research Project.
• Neuroscience: year 1 covers Biomedical Physiology I, Biomolecules of Life, Cells, Exploring Neuroscience, Functional Neuroanatomy, Human Anatomy, Genetics and Tissue Biology; year 2 includes Biomedical Pharmacology, Neurodevelopment and Cell Signalling, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience and Systems Neuroscience; year 3 has a project (including a Research Project in Neuroscience) and four options such as Advanced Human Genetic Disorders, Advanced Immunology, Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience, Drug Design, Molecular Basis of Disease and Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine.
• The modules of Medical Genetics and Biomedical Sciences were not read in detail for this guide; check the course pages. The website says all modules are subject to change.
• Field trips: the Biology and Zoology pages say compulsory fieldwork costs nothing extra, while for optional fieldwork you cover your own flight and contribute to accommodation and food; destinations named include Croatia, Scotland and South Africa (some are optional modules).

4. UK applicants

• Besides A levels, the course pages accept the IB. How Scottish Highers and other UK qualifications translate into these grades is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask admissions.
• Fees: the September 2027 course pages give Home fees of £10,050 a year. The university’s fees page instead says “From September 2026: £9,790” for UK undergraduates; the two figures differ, so check the course page and the fees page when you apply. For Home students the fees page gives £1,955 for a sandwich placement year and £1,465 for a year abroad.
• UK students can apply for government tuition and maintenance loans. The scholarships page also lists means-tested bursaries for east London residents; see the scholarships search page.

5. International applicants

• English: the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences is in English Band 3 for undergraduates: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each component. The university lists other accepted tests and offers pre-sessional English courses if you fall below the standard. Jointly run degrees follow the home department’s band.
• Fees: the course pages give international fees of £34,750 a year (£26,750 for the foundation entry). The fees page says international fees may rise each year and that the 2026-27 inflationary increase will be no more than 10%; for 2026-27 it also gives £25,500 for international students on the integrated foundation or the International Foundation Year. International students on a Year in Industry pay £4,300. The increase for 2027/28 is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the website.
• Global Talent Scholarship (undergraduate, September 2027): up to £20,000, awarded automatically with no application, to international-fee students holding an offer for an eligible programme who exceed their offer (for example, a standard ABB offer needs AAB, AAB needs AAA and BBB needs ABB; the page also gives IB equivalents, such as 36 with HL 666 for an AAB offer). It is worth £5,000 per year, up to £20,000 over a standard four-year degree, and renewal needs an average of 65% or above. Applicants for second-year entry transferring from another university are not eligible. Which programmes count as eligible is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the scholarship page.
• International Foundation Year: a one-year programme for international applicants who need extra preparation; the Science and Engineering pathway leads to degrees including Biological and Chemical Sciences, and students who meet the progression requirements are guaranteed access to undergraduate degrees at Queen Mary. Its entry requirements page was not read for this guide; check the website.

6. Applicants from China

• The China entry-requirements page says students who have completed A levels or the International Baccalaureate can apply directly to bachelor’s degrees (recognised foundation-programme results are also accepted), and holders of the Chinese high school diploma can apply for the undergraduate foundation programme.
• Gaokao: the page says some programmes now accept gaokao applicants, and names the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences (all programmes), the School of Mathematical Sciences (all programmes), the School of Engineering and Materials Science (Materials Science only) and the School of Economics and Finance. The School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences is not on the list, so whether biology degrees can be applied for with gaokao results is not given on the pages used for this guide; email admissions@qmul.ac.uk, the address the page gives. The conditions the page lists (for the named schools) are a high school diploma average of 85% with 80% in physics, chemistry or biology, and a gaokao total average of at least 80% with 80% in mathematics; do not treat them as the requirement for biology degrees.
• The China page does not describe biology-specific requirements for Chinese high school results; the course pages’ subject requirements (biology or chemistry as stated) still apply. How the two fit together is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask admissions.

7. How to apply and the timeline

• The application page says all applications go through UCAS: use the course’s UCAS code with institution code Q50, and do not send original certificates or transcripts by post.
• Deadline: the application page gives 13 January 2027 as the equal consideration deadline for most Queen Mary courses and encourages early applications; international applicants have “more flexible deadlines”, which are not given on the pages used for this guide. The key dates page still shows the previous cycle (for example 14 January 2026), so check the dates for 2027 entry.
• The personal statement length, UCAS fee and reference requirements are not given on these pages; check the UCAS website.

8. Transfers and joining year two

• The transfer page says that, depending on the course, you may be able to join at the start of year 2 of a standard three-year degree; it is not possible to transfer into the final year.
• Apply through UCAS and choose point of entry 2; direct applications are not accepted. The university normally expects you to have achieved or be on track for a 2.1 (60%) in your current degree, to meet the programme’s subject requirements (through A levels, level 3 qualifications or modules in your degree) and to have a syllabus similar to Queen Mary’s, as assessed by academic selectors.
• You need evidence of your studies (an interim transcript if unfinished) and module descriptors or a course handbook. Offers depend on school policy, available places and suitability; transferring can affect your funding, visa and accommodation. Transfer students entering year two are not eligible for the Global Talent Scholarship.

This guide is based on Queen Mary University of London’s course pages for September 2027 entry and related admissions pages. Fees, deadlines and English scores can change, so check the website again before you apply.