How to Apply for Biology at the University of Liverpool: A Common First Year in the School of Biosciences with Switching Until the End of Year One, Covering Biological Sciences (C100), Biochemistry (C700), Zoology and More as BSc and MBiol, with Entry Routes and Prerequisites for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The University of Liverpool is in Liverpool, England, and biology degrees are mainly taught in the School of Biosciences. You apply to a named course through UCAS. This guide sets out the main points for 2027 entry for UK applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and students seeking entry to year two. Medicine (MBChB), dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and similar degrees are taught elsewhere and are outside this guide; see the relevant school pages on the website.

Key points

• Biological Sciences C100, Biochemistry C700, Zoology C300, Microbiology and Infection C500 and Biomedical Sciences C130: A level ABB for all (Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences need both Biology and Chemistry; the others need Biology plus another science, preferably Chemistry).
• 2027/28 tuition fee: £10,050 a year for UK students and £33,000 a year for international students.
• International English requirement: IELTS 6.5 with no component below 5.5.
• Applicants from China: the China page says students who completed senior high school, including those who took the Gaokao, must first complete a foundation programme or obtain A levels (or equivalent) before entering an undergraduate degree.
• UCAS: the usual deadline is 30 June for international applicants and 14 January for UK applicants (the page prints no year; check it applies to 2027 entry).

1. Degrees and routes

• The school's description: the undergraduate page says the school offers three-year BSc and four-year integrated MBiol degrees, from Anatomy and Human Biology to Zoology. All students share a common first year, and provided you meet the prerequisites (for example chemistry for Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences) you can switch degree within the school up to the end of Year 1; you can also transfer from a BSc to an MBiol.
• General programmes: Biomedical Sciences (BSc C130, MBiol C133) suits students interested in human biology or molecular sciences and can lead into most other programmes in the school (normally except Anatomy and Human Biology) or be kept through to graduation; Biological Sciences (BSc C100, MBiol C103) suits students interested in broader biology, particularly whole-organism biology, and you may specialise later or stay broad.
• Specialist programmes: Anatomy and Human Biology (BSc B110, MBiol B113), Biochemistry (BSc C700, MBiol C703), Bioveterinary Science (BSc D900, MBiol D903), Microbiology and Infection (BSc C500, MBiol C503), Pharmacology (BSc B210, MBiol B213) and Zoology (BSc C300, MBiol C303).
• Foundation year: with nearby Carmel College the school runs a one-year foundation: Biological Sciences (with a Foundation Year) leading to BSc, UCAS code C108. The course page says it is not a programme in itself but a springboard to other biosciences degrees, with year zero at Carmel College in St Helens and years one to three at Liverpool.
• Pages read in full: the BSc pages for Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Zoology, Microbiology and Infection and Biomedical Sciences, and the foundation-year page. The MBiol pages and the pages for Anatomy and Human Biology, Bioveterinary Science and Pharmacology were not read; check them for their requirements.

2. Course structure (using BSc Biological Sciences as the example)

• Year 1 is all compulsory: Biology Core Concepts; Origins, Specialisations, Challenges and Therapeutics; Introductory Practical Skills in Biosciences 1 and 2; From Individuals to Ecosystem; and Study and Communication Skills Tutorials, covering immunity, infection and therapy, how organisms develop and function, ecology and the global environment, with practical skills and field studies. The Biochemistry page lists the same first-year compulsory modules and its description also mentions bioinformatics.
• Year 2 compulsory: Genetics and Immunology for Biosciences, Intermediary Practical Skills, Academic and Professional Skills Tutorials, Animal Behaviour and Cellular Basis of Health and Disease; options include Cellular and Systems Physiology, Metabolism, Drug Discovery and Development, Molecular Microbiology and Therapeutics, Animal Anatomy, Physiology and Husbandry, Animal Ecophysiology, Global Fieldwork and Marine Ecophysiology.
• Year 3 compulsory: the Research Project (BIOS301, 30 credits), Introduction to the World of Work, Research Methods and Applied Biological Sciences; options include Molecular, Clinical and Translational Cancer, Molecular Systems Biology, Emerging Therapeutic Modalities, Genomics and Evolution of Microbes, Veterinary Infection Biology, Ecology for a Sustainable Future, Evolutionary Biology, a Zoology Field Course, Immunology and Veterinary Pathology and Conserving the Marine Environment. The page says a physical or virtual placement is available in year 3.
• Time abroad and industry year: the course page lists a year at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in Suzhou; a year at a partner university after year two (Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, USA); a semester in year two; or a summer at a partner (Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea). The fee section lists a year-in-industry fee of £2,010, but the course page's change log (16 December 2024) says an official Year in Industry option is not currently available. The two statements conflict; ask admissions.
• Accreditation: the biology course pages used for this guide do not mention professional-body accreditation (not given on the pages used; check with the school's admissions team).

3. Entry requirements and prerequisites (UK qualifications version on the course pages)

• BSc Biological Sciences (C100): A level ABB, Biology plus a second science, preferably Chemistry; with an EPQ the offer is BBB plus an A in the EPQ. Accepted science subjects include Applied ICT, Biology (and Human Biology), Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Electronics, Environmental Science, Further Mathematics, Geography, Geology, ICT, Life and Health Sciences, Mathematics, Psychology, Physics and Statistics. IB: 32 points with no score below 4, including Higher Level Biology 6 and Higher Level Chemistry (or a second science) 5.
• BSc Biochemistry (C700): ABB, Biology and Chemistry required; IB 32 points including Higher Level Biology 6 and Higher Level Chemistry 5. BSc Biomedical Sciences (C130): ABB, Biology and Chemistry required; IB as for Biochemistry.
• BSc Zoology (C300) and BSc Microbiology and Infection (C500): ABB including Biology and a second science, preferably Chemistry; IB 32 points including Higher Level Biology 6 and Higher Level Chemistry (or a second science) 5.
• Practical endorsement: for A levels in Biology, Chemistry or Physics taken in England, a pass in the practical endorsement is required. GCSE: grade 4/C in English and in Mathematics.
• Contextual offers: you may automatically receive up to a two-grade reduction; no separate application is needed.
• BTEC: National Extended Diploma D*DD in Applied Science with a selection of preferred units in Biology and Chemistry, including a Distinction in Unit 1 or 5 (Principles and Applications of Science I and II); BTECs in other subjects are not acceptable.
• Other qualifications: Irish Leaving Certificate H1, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3 (the Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Zoology pages add a required H2 in the relevant subjects); Scottish qualifications are not accepted without Advanced Highers (ABB); Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced B plus A levels AB (Biological Sciences: including Biology and another science); Access to HE Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits, 33 at Distinction and 12 at Merit (Biological Sciences: 15 Distinctions in each of Biology and Chemistry).
• T Levels: the Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Zoology pages accept Health and Science (Science pathway) with an overall Distinction including a B in the core, and ask applicants to contact the university through the website enquiry form about the core components and occupational specialism. The Microbiology and Infection and Biomedical Sciences pages show no T Level line in the content used for this guide; check the course pages.
• The general entry page adds that A* is not normally used in offers, AS results are not used formally, and Core Maths cannot replace A level Maths where Maths is required.
• Tests and interviews: the biology course pages used for this guide do not list an admissions test or interview (not given on the pages used; ask the school's admissions team at biosci@liverpool.ac.uk or +44 (0) 151 794 5927).
• Foundation Year (Carmel College): a typical offer is CDD at A level in related subjects; T Levels are considered in a relevant subject and specialism (contact the university); GCSEs: at least five at grade C/4 including English Language, Mathematics and two sciences including Biology. The page says there is no direct Foundation Certificate route to this course for international qualifications; ask the university. Applicants over 21 can be considered on GCSEs alone. The foundation-year fee is £10,050.

4. How admission works

• Apply to a named course: choose C100, C700, C300 and so on on UCAS; with a common first year you can switch, if you meet the prerequisites, before the end of Year 1.
• EPQ: the course pages say EPQ applicants can receive a lower A level offer; the general page says it is counted only alongside three A levels, and is not accepted for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science or Allied Health and Nursing.
• If you miss the requirements: consider the Carmel College foundation route above; international applicants see the pathway routes below.

UK applicants

• Accepted qualifications: the general entry page says most school leavers from England, Wales and Northern Ireland apply with three or more A levels, and BTEC, EPQ, Scottish Advanced Highers, the Welsh Baccalaureate, Access to HE Diplomas, Cambridge Pre-U and the Irish Leaving Certificate are also considered; course pages give the exact requirements (biology above).
• How A levels are used: reformed and unreformed A levels are both accepted; A* is not normally used in offers but may be used to separate candidates at confirmation, and exceptionally an offer may require an A*.
• Fees: the course pages give £10,050 a year for 2027/28 (stated to apply to the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland). The website says fees may rise each year, with increases for UK students subject to government limits. The pages do not give separate fees for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; ask admissions to confirm your fee status.
• Funding: the course pages list bursaries for UK students, for example the Liverpool Bursary (household income below £35,000, up to £2,000 a year), the Bloomberg Scholarship for Liverpool City Region residents (4 a year, £5,000 a year for 3 years) and the Genesys Life Sciences Scholarship for UK students joining a School of Biosciences degree with household income below £25,000 (£4,500 a year for three years). Conditions differ; check the scholarships pages.

International applicants

• Qualifications: country-specific requirements appear on the course pages once you choose your country; that section loads dynamically and was not available for this guide. The website says the IB Diploma is accepted for all undergraduate programmes. For non-UK qualifications you must send copies or scans of certificates and transcripts and show the originals at registration; Liverpool wants proof of every qualification listed on the UCAS form, not just those in an offer.
• English language: the Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Zoology, Microbiology and Infection and Biomedical Sciences pages all ask for IELTS Academic 6.5 with no component below 5.5; TOEFL iBT 88 overall (listening 17, writing 17, reading 17, speaking 19) for tests on or before 20 January 2026, or 4.5 overall with 4 or above in each component for tests from 21 January 2026 (Home Edition not accepted); Duolingo 115 (speaking, reading and writing at least 105, listening at least 100); PTE Academic 59 (no component below 59); LanguageCert Academic 65 (no skill below 60). Applicants from majority English-speaking countries need not prove English; see the website's English requirements page for the list.
• Pre-sessional English: if you fall short, you can take a Pre-sessional English course whose length depends on your latest IELTS score, for example 6 weeks for 5.5 overall with no component below 5.5, 12 weeks for 5.0 overall with none below 5.0, and 40 weeks for 4.0 overall with none below 4.0 (online or on campus depending on the score).
• Tuition fees: the course pages give £33,000 a year for 2027/28, a year-in-industry fee of £2,010 (see the conflict noted above) and £16,500 for the year in China; the website says fees may rise each year. Undergraduate fees can be paid in full each year or in two instalments (60% and 40%).
• Scholarships: the international page says Liverpool Scholarships are worth up to £7,500 for undergraduates; the pages used for this guide do not give the conditions or say whether they are automatic, so check the scholarships pages. Students progressing from a University of Liverpool International College Foundation Certificate are automatically allocated the Excellence Scholarship or First Class Scholarship if eligible.
• Visas and funds: the international section has visa pages that were not read for this guide; check them and the UK government website. The UCAS page says that, because of UK government limits on certain visa routes, Liverpool cannot currently provide Student visa sponsorship for applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar or Sudan.
• International pathway: applicants with good school grades who miss the entry requirements can take a one-year Foundation Certificate at the University of Liverpool International College (with Kaplan International Pathways), in Business, Law and Social Sciences or in Science and Engineering. Completing it at the required level with good attendance guarantees a place on the chosen degree; the website points to Kaplan's progression-route page for which certificate leads to which degree.
• The school's international links: the school's international recruitment page says it welcomes students from XJTLU every year as well as from around the world, and lists direct entry (applying to Liverpool for a full undergraduate degree).

Applicants from China

• Is the Gaokao enough? The China (mainland) page says students who completed 12 years of education (senior high school) in China must complete a Foundation Programme or GCE A Levels (or equivalent) and show English proficiency before an undergraduate degree, and that students who took the Gaokao also need a Foundation Pathway programme. The page gives no way of converting Gaokao scores into direct entry and no Gaokao cut-off.
• Pathway in China: the Xi'an Jiaotong University - University of Liverpool International Undergraduate Foundation Programme (one year, launched June 2025), whose successful completers are guaranteed admission; and the XJTLU 2+2 route, where students transfer to Liverpool for the final two years and receive degrees from both universities. The Biological Sciences and Biochemistry course pages have an XJTLU 2+2 section: the Biological Sciences page says XJTLU Biological Sciences BSc students can take the course through 2+2, and the Biochemistry page lists the XJTLU courses that lead to it; see the course pages.
• Pathway in the UK: the University of Liverpool International College Foundation Certificate (above).
• Other recognised routes: Aptitude Scholastic Tests (at least 200/300 in two relevant subject tests; where a course needs a specific A level subject, the AST in that subject is compulsory), NCUK pathway programmes and the Bellerbys foundation programme. Students who completed the first year at a recognised Chinese university may be considered for year 1 of some courses, and those with more than two years for year 2; the website advises checking with the programme's admissions team first.
• Transcripts, verification, interviews: the China page does not describe transcript or certificate verification requirements or an interview. The biology course pages give no Gaokao or Chinese high-school requirement of their own (not given on the pages used for this guide); ask admissions.
• Applying: the China page says undergraduate applications go through UCAS, or through an approved education agent; it lists approved agents and a WeChat account (英国利物浦大学).

Transfer students and entry to year two

• The UCAS page says Liverpool considers direct entry to year 2 of an undergraduate course; mark it on the UCAS form and apply by the main UCAS deadlines. Year 2 applications cannot be considered in Clearing.
• The grades, credit transfer rules and available places for year-2 entry to the biology degrees are not given on the pages used for this guide; contact admissions (+44 (0) 151 794 5927 on the course pages, or the website enquiry form).
• For students at Chinese universities see the China section above.

How to apply, deadlines and fee

• Route: all full-time undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Liverpool's UCAS institution code is LVRPL L41; the course code is on each course page. Check forms and process on the UCAS website. You can submit from the beginning of September in the year before entry.
• Deadlines: the UCAS page says the normal closing date for UK applications is 14 January, after which you can use UCAS Extra; the normal closing date for international/EU applications is 30 June; and if your choices include Oxford or Cambridge, or professional programmes in Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science, the date is 15 October in the year before entry. The page prints no year; check the dates for 2027 entry on UCAS and the course page.
• Application fee: the page says the UCAS fee for 2026 entry is £28.95 for up to five choices; check the 2027 figure on the UCAS website.
• Personal statement: Liverpool has personal statement guidance (not read here); check format and length on the UCAS website. UCAS scans statements for plagiarism and Liverpool may require a new statement. The pages do not describe reference requirements; check UCAS.
• Deferred entry: you can ask to defer for one year, on the application or in writing to admissions by 31 July at the latest; requests are decided case by case, places may be limited, and offer conditions must be met by the end of the application cycle.

All of the above comes from the university's 2027 entry pages; fees, deadlines and course requirements may change, so check the University of Liverpool and UCAS websites before applying.

Sources: University of Liverpool, School of Biosciences undergraduate study; Biological Sciences BSc; Biochemistry BSc; Zoology BSc; Microbiology and Infection BSc; Biomedical Sciences BSc; Biological Sciences with a Foundation Year; School of Biosciences international recruitment; Applying through UCAS; Entry requirements and qualifications; Applicants from China (mainland); Foundation Certificates; International students; Tuition fees. Information is for 2027 entry and the 2027/28 academic year. Check the University of Liverpool website for the latest details.