How to Apply to Biology at the University of Exeter: Direct Entry to Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Zoology, Marine Biology and Related Degrees With a Typical A-Level Offer of ABB Including an Accepted Science, With Requirements for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The University of Exeter teaches its biology degrees on three campuses: Biological Sciences and Biochemistry on Streatham Campus in Exeter, Neuroscience on Streatham and St Luke’s, and Zoology, Marine Biology, Evolutionary Biology and Conservation Biology and Ecology on Penryn Campus in Cornwall. This article follows Exeter’s official pages for September 2027 entry, for UK applicants, international applicants, applicants studying in China and students hoping to enter the second year.

1. Biology degrees

• BSc Biological Sciences: UCAS code C100, 3 years; with Professional Placement: C101, 4 years; with Study Abroad: C000, 4 years; Streatham Campus. Exeter says you can tailor your modules, potentially ending with a named specialism: Animal Biology, Microbiology and Infectious Disease, or Molecular and Cellular Biology; there are optional residential field courses in the UK and abroad, and a four-year integrated masters, MSci Biological Sciences.
• BSc Biochemistry: C724, 3 years; with Industrial Experience: C737; with Study Abroad: C732 (both 4 years); Streatham Campus; also an MSci Biochemistry. It focuses on the cellular and biochemical level.
• BSc Neuroscience: B140, 3 years; with Professional Placement: B141, 4 years; Streatham / St Luke’s. You can apply to B141 directly, or apply to B140 and transfer onto the placement option at the end of year one.
• BSc Zoology: C300, 3 years; with Professional Placement: C304; with Study Abroad: C301 (both 4 years); Penryn Campus; also an MSci Zoology.
• BSc Marine Biology: CF17, 3 years; with Professional Placement: CF20; with Study Abroad: CF19 (both 4 years); Penryn Campus; the course page links to an MSci Marine Biology.
• BSc Evolutionary Biology: C182, 3 years; with Professional Placement: C186; with Study Abroad: C183 (both 4 years); Penryn Campus; also an MSci Evolutionary Biology.
• BSc Conservation Biology and Ecology: C190, 3 years; with Professional Placement: C152; with Study Abroad: C150 (both 4 years); Penryn Campus; also an MSci Conservation Biology and Ecology.
• UCAS codes and entry requirements for the MSci versions are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the MSci links on each course page.
• Neighbouring degrees, in one line: BSc Biomedical Sciences (B111, St Luke’s Campus) sits on Exeter’s biomedical side, with a typical A-level offer of ABB including a B in Biology and a B in another accepted science. BSc Natural Sciences (CGF0, 3 years, Streatham Campus) studies chemistry, biology, physics and mathematical sciences within one degree; Exeter lists a typical A-level offer of AAA (A in Mathematics, Pure Mathematics or Further Mathematics plus A in Biology, Chemistry or Physics), IB 36/666 and English Profile B1. Medicine (BMBS), nursing, medical imaging and similar degrees are outside this article; see the relevant course pages on Exeter’s website.

2. Prerequisites and entry requirements for 2027

• BSc Biological Sciences: A-level ABB with a B in Biology and a B in another science subject; IB 32/655 with HL5 in Biology and HL5 in another science; BTEC DDM, with an extended diploma applicant also needing A-level B in Biology and B in another science; GCSE: English language C/4, Double Award Science or Chemistry C/4, and Mathematics B/5 (applicants one grade below will be considered and may be invited to complete a Maths Transition Course for a conditional offer); Access to HE: 24 level 3 credits at Distinction and 21 at Merit, including 12 at Merit in Biology and 12 in another science; T-Levels not accepted. Contextual example: A-level BBC, IB 28/554, BTEC DMM. Exeter’s accepted science subjects include Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Design and Technology, Electronics, Economics, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Life and Health Sciences (Double Award only), Marine Science, Maths/Pure Maths/Further Maths (counted as one science), Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Science (applied), Sport Science and Statistics.
• BSc Biochemistry: A-level ABB with a B in Biology and a B in Chemistry; IB 32/655 with HL5 in Biology and HL5 in Chemistry; GCSE: English language C/4, Double Award Science or Chemistry C/4, Mathematics B/5; contextual example BBC, IB 28/554, DMM.
• BSc Neuroscience: A-level ABB with B in two science subjects (Exeter’s list includes Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Psychology and Statistics, with Biology/Human Biology and Maths/Pure Maths/Further Maths each counting as only one science if more than one is taken); IB 32/655 with HL5 in two sciences; GCSE English language C/4; contextual example A-level ABC.
• The four Penryn degrees (Zoology, Marine Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Conservation Biology and Ecology; three-year and placement versions): A-level ABB including a B in an accepted science subject; IB 32/655 with HL5 in a science; BTEC DDM; GCSE: English language C/4 and Mathematics B/5 (applicants one grade below in maths will be considered and may be invited to complete a Maths Transition Course for a conditional offer); Access to HE: 24 level 3 credits at Distinction and 21 at Merit, including 12 at Merit in accepted sciences; T-Level: Distinction in Animal Care and Management (Animal Science pathway) only. Contextual example: A-level BBC, IB 28/554, BTEC DMM. The footnote on the course pages lists these accepted sciences: Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Design and Technology, Economics, Electronics, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geology, Life and Health Sciences (Double Award only), Maths/Pure Maths/Further Maths/Statistics, Marine Science, Nutrition and Food Science, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology and Science (applied). BTEC Extended Diploma or Diploma applicants in Applied Human Biology, Applied Psychology, Applied Science, Animal Management, Agriculture, Countryside Management, Fish Management, Forestry and Arboriculture or Marine Biology are considered without A-level science.
• “With Study Abroad” versions of the four Penryn degrees ask for more: A-level AAB including an A in an accepted science; IB 34/665 with HL6 in a science; BTEC DDD; Access to HE 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at Merit, including at least 15 at Distinction in accepted sciences; contextual example A-level ABC, IB 30/555, BTEC DDM.
• IB maths: Exeter’s international qualifications page says that for Faculty of Health and Life Sciences or Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy programmes listing a science subject, either IB maths course counts as a science.
• Course content: Biological Sciences year one has eight compulsory 15-credit modules (Animals, Biochemistry, Fundamental Principles for Bioscientists, Genetics, Ecology, Microbiology, Plants, Cells) and then free module choice in years two and three, with an independent research project in the final year that may be field-based or lab-based; Biochemistry year one includes Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology, Cells, Structure and Reactivity of Organic Compounds I and General Chemistry (30 credits); Neuroscience year one includes Introduction to Neuroscience, Medical Cell Biology, Chemistry of Life, Methods in Neuroscience (30 credits) and Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience; the Zoology course page lists Ecology and Conservation, Animal Diversity, Evolution and Genetics and Life Processes (30 credits each) in year one, Marine Biology lists Marine Biology, Ecology and Conservation, Evolution and Genetics, Animal Diversity and Life Processes (30 credits each), and Evolutionary Biology and Conservation Biology and Ecology also list Ecology and Conservation, Animal Diversity, Evolution and Genetics and Life Processes (30 credits each). The Penryn course pages stress UK and overseas field courses (for example Scotland and the Isles of Scilly; destinations may change), and say some optional field courses carry travel and personal equipment costs.
• Admissions test and interview: the Neuroscience page says there is no interview; the other course pages do not mention an admissions test or interview, and the “After you apply” page says most courses do not interview, with any interview stated in the course entry requirements.
• Placement and year abroad: a placement year is charged about 20% and a year abroad about 15% of the maximum fee (course pages). Grades needed to take these years: Biological Sciences placement requires a Year 1 average of at least 65%; Biochemistry industrial experience and study abroad, and Zoology, Evolutionary Biology and Conservation Biology and Ecology placements, require a Year 1 average of at least 60%; Marine Biology placement requires an average of at least 60% in both Year 1 and Year 2; study abroad years are generally written as a Year 1 average of at least 60%. Where the website disagrees with itself: the study abroad paragraph on the Biological Sciences page names the Biochemistry degree. Neuroscience placement can be applied for directly as B141 or transferred into at the end of year one.

3. Neighbouring degrees outside this article

• Medicine (BMBS), nursing, medical imaging and other health degrees are not covered here; see the relevant course pages on Exeter’s website. Biomedical Sciences (B111) and Natural Sciences (CGF0) are described in one line in section 1.

4. UK applicants

• Accepted qualifications: A levels, Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers (Exeter recognises both and combinations; it says typical offers are published via UCAS, so check the course page on UCAS), BTEC, Access to HE Diploma, the Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate (counted as an A level), IB and others. The A-level/IB figures on course pages are typical offers and do not mean every applicant who meets them gets an offer. The course pages do not separately set out England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland differences, so check with Exeter and UCAS.
• Home fee: £10,050 per year for 2027 entry (Exeter says it intends to charge this revised standard fee for full-time UK undergraduates starting in 2027/28, with any later changes to the cap). Most UK students have fees paid directly by the Student Loans Company and start repaying only above an earnings threshold; the page quotes £25,000 “subject to confirmation from Government”. Fee status is assessed on Exeter’s fee status page.
• Contextual offers and support: see the assessment section below; Exeter also lists other bursaries and scholarships (including sport and music, regional and partner awards) on its funding pages.

5. International applicants (including Chinese applicants): English, qualifications and funding

• Route: also through UCAS; Exeter suggests getting advice from your local British Council office or an approved representative.
• Qualifications: Exeter recognises a wide range of international qualifications and says you can look up equivalents by country on its international entry requirements page; for doubtful cases contact ECCTIS (formerly NARIC) or the Admissions Office.
• IB: requirements are written as a total or as three Higher Level scores (for example 36 or 666, 34 or 665); A-level subject requirements must be met with HL subjects. For the IB Career-related Programme Exeter needs three HL certificates, or two HL certificates plus a BTEC Diploma.
• English language: Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Neuroscience are Exeter Profile B2: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any section; TOEFL iBT 90 with at least 21 in each of writing, listening, reading and speaking (for tests taken from 21 January 2026 Exeter lists 4.5 overall and no less than 4 in any section); PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all communicative skills; LanguageCert Academic 70 with no less than 65 in any skill. Tests are valid for two years before the start.
• English language: Zoology, Marine Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Conservation Biology and Ecology (and Natural Sciences) are Profile B1: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section; TOEFL iBT 90 with at least 20 in speaking and 18 in writing, listening and reading (for tests taken from 21 January 2026: 4.5 overall and no less than 3.5 in any section); PTE Academic 67 with no less than 59 in all communicative skills; LanguageCert Academic 70 with no less than 60 in any skill. These tests are also valid for two years before the start.
• Exeter also says all undergraduate applicants must meet the standard GCSE English Language requirement (C/4); see its English language page.
• Proof of funds: the exact financial evidence amounts are not published on the pages read for this article; check Exeter’s International Student Support Office and visa pages and the UK government visa pages.
• Visa: offer holders who need a Student visa enter the CAS process in June–August. Exeter notes that UK student visas only permit full-time study.

6. Applicants from China

• Scale: Exeter’s China page says more than 1,750 students from mainland China currently study there. It also lists its authorised representatives in China and says to contact the university if you have concerns about whether an agent is authorised.
• Four ways to enter Year 1 directly (from the China page, whose requirements are written in Chinese):
  1. Complete the first year of a Chinese university degree: assessed case by case; if the programme has A-level or GCSE subject requirements, the matching high-school subjects must meet them. The page gives a comparison: GCSE grade A = 80% in Chinese senior high school, B = 70%, C = 60%.
  2. Gaokao entry: a total gaokao score of at least 75% of the full mark for your region; completion of senior high school with the diploma; if the programme requires A-level Mathematics, gaokao Mathematics of at least 75%; if it requires other A-level subjects, 80% in the matching Year 3 high-school subject or 75% in the matching gaokao subject; if it requires GCSE Mathematics, gaokao Mathematics of at least 60%; plus the standard English requirement for international direct entry. The page states that some programmes do not accept the gaokao for direct entry; the ones it lists are medicine, medical imaging, nursing and English literature programmes, and the science degrees covered here are not on that list.
  3. An approved foundation programme: the INTO Exeter International Foundation (described below) or other foundation programmes Exeter recognises.
  4. Maple Leaf World School Program High School Diploma: with the grades each programme requires; the page gives a range of 70%–85%.
• Matching this to the biology degrees: the China page writes its rules in terms of the A-level / GCSE requirements of the programme and gives no separate thresholds by degree. On the course pages used here, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Zoology, Marine Biology, Evolutionary Biology and Conservation Biology and Ecology list GCSE Mathematics B/5 and B in science subjects (one accepted science for Biological Sciences, Zoology and the others; Biology and Chemistry for Biochemistry), while Neuroscience lists B in two sciences and GCSE English language C/4. How these map onto the gaokao percentages on the China page is not stated, so confirm with the Admissions Office.
• International Foundation: the University of Exeter International Study Centre (on Streatham Campus) runs the Exeter International Foundation for international students who do not meet the academic and/or English requirements for direct Year 1 entry. Successful completion at the specified grades guarantees direct entry to a degree at Exeter. There are standard and fast-track versions (two terms, starting in March), and an Extended Foundation of four terms with a first term of intensive English for those below the English minimum; the minimum English level is IELTS 4.5 (4.5 in writing and 4.0 in all other skills) or equivalent; start dates are January, April, June and September. Progression requirements for each degree (an overall academic average, an English score and set module marks) are in the 2027 progression table on the International Study Centre page. For the biology degrees the table shows (academic % / English %): Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Zoology, Marine Biology, Evolutionary Biology and Conservation Biology and Ecology (three-year versions) 63 / 65; their with Study Abroad / Professional Placement versions and the MSci versions 65 / 65; Neuroscience 63 / 65; Natural Sciences 68 / 65. There are also set module marks, for example 60% in Biology plus 60% in another module group for Biological Sciences, 60% in Biology for Biochemistry together with A-level Chemistry grade B or equivalent before the Foundation, and 60% in one of Biology, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics/Engineering/Applied Mathematics or Psychology for the Penryn degrees (65% for the study abroad / placement versions). Check the official table for how its columns line up. Exeter also accepts NCUK and foundation programmes from providers such as Abbey College, CATs College, EF, Kings Education, Kaplan and Study Group; the accepted list is by subject on the Exeter website.
• AP, Huikao/academic proficiency tests: not stated on the pages read for this article; check Exeter’s international qualifications page or ask the Admissions Office. Ask them too how to submit high-school transcripts and certificates.
• China team: the China page names the university’s regional managers and offers appointment booking; contact details are on that page.

7. Route and timeline for September 2027 entry

• Route: full-time undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Exeter’s UCAS institution code is E84 EXETR and you can choose up to five institutions/courses. Check the UCAS website for UCAS fees and personal statement guidance; this article does not cover them.
• 1 September 2026: UCAS opens for submissions.
• October 2026: Exeter starts making offers; for some courses an interview comes before an offer.
• 13 January 2027 at 18:00 (UK time): the UCAS equal consideration deadline for UK students for most undergraduate courses. Exeter says you can still apply afterwards but consideration is not guaranteed, and programmes may close when full.
• February–March 2027: visit days for offer holders. The timeline page says Exeter aims to send a decision by the end of March if you applied by 13 January.
• Where the website disagrees with itself: the “After you apply” page says Exeter operates a “gathered field” procedure, so applications received between September and January may not get a decision until mid-May, and decisions on applications by the January deadline are normally made by mid-May (sometimes later); a small number of early offers may go to the highest tiers. The timeline page (end of March) and this page (mid-May) give different pictures; rely on the actual email and UCAS Track notices.
• International applicants: Exeter encourages early applications before the UCAS deadline but will keep considering international applications until 30 June if places are available, after which they go through Clearing. If you might be assessed as a Home-fee student, apply by the UCAS deadline.
• 30 June 2027: UCAS standard cycle closes; 2 July: Clearing opens; June–August: the CAS process starts for offer holders who need a visa; August: A-level results; 31 August: all offer conditions must be met.
• Exeter notes that UCAS deadlines are subject to change, so check UCAS. Deferred entry is possible: choose the deferred start date when adding Exeter in UCAS; deferred applicants are considered in the same way.

8. How Exeter assesses applications

• What is considered: achieved Level 2 and 3 results (GCSEs, A and AS levels and equivalents), predicted grades, the personal statement, the reference, and any statement from your school or college about special or extenuating circumstances.
• Tiering: applicants with predicted grades are tiered by their three best predicted A levels or equivalents, from Tier 1 (A*A*A*) to Tier 8 (BBC); those with achieved grades are tiered against the typical offer; those below the advertised level go to a “Grades Low” tier considered only if further offers are possible after everyone else.
• Personal statement and reference: Exeter says the most important element is achieved or predicted academic results and that personal statements “may be considered”. The reference is generally not marked or weighted; it is used to look for background information linked to contextual offer eligibility or extenuating circumstances.
• Interviews: most courses do not require one; where one is part of selection it is stated in the course’s entry requirements.
• Offers: Exeter writes with its decision but the official offer and conditions are communicated through UCAS. Most offers are conditional on three A levels or equivalents plus any subject grades. If there are many applications Exeter may not make an offer to everyone predicted to meet the typical offer, and it may offer an alternative programme or the same programme on a different campus.
• Contextual offers: the listed criteria are mainly built on UK area and school data (for example low-participation areas plus a state school, free school meals, care experience, refugee status); eligible applicants may receive a two- or three-grade reduction. GCSE requirements are not reduced. Whether international applicants can qualify is not stated on that page, so ask the Admissions Office. The contextual grades printed on course pages are examples, and Exeter itself describes them as guidance only.
• Pre-CAS interview for international applicants: Exeter says it may require an interview before issuing a CAS, held over Microsoft Teams, to check genuine intent to study at Exeter rather than academic ability. Attendance is mandatory and no CAS can be issued without it.

9. Fees and scholarships

• International tuition (2027 entry, from the course pages): Biological Sciences and Biochemistry £32,150 a year; Neuroscience, Zoology, Marine Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Conservation Biology and Ecology and Natural Sciences £31,500 a year. Exeter’s general fees table lists subject bands (Biosciences, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology £32,150; Ecology and Conservation, Neuroscience, Natural Sciences and others £31,500) without mapping each degree, so rely on the course page and your offer email. The Home fee is £10,050 a year. A placement year is about 20% and a year abroad about 15% of the maximum fee.
• Other fee points and support: fees are expected to rise modestly each year in line with Consumer Price Inflation measured in March and are confirmed in the offer email. A full year abroad is charged at about 15 per cent of the maximum fee for that year and a full year on work placement at about 20 per cent; a semester abroad is charged the full-year fee. International students in hardship can apply to the Fund for International Student Hardship (FISH).
• Exeter Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships 2027/28: 150 scholarships of £15,000 a year, paid as a reduction of the international tuition fee for each eligible year. The scholarship page lists participating departments including Biosciences, Ecology and Conservation, Natural Sciences and Clinical and Biomedical Sciences; ineligible programmes include BMBS Medicine and BSc Medical Imaging (Diagnostic Radiography). Eligibility: international fee status; an offer (conditional or unconditional) for an eligible undergraduate degree, entering Year 1 directly in September 2027; self-funded; students progressing from the International Study Centre International Foundation are not eligible. Selection is on academic merit from the UCAS application (applicants must show they have achieved or can achieve the equivalent of A-level AAB) and on academic and career ambition, a plan for making the most of the opportunity, and social responsibility. Apply by web form after receiving an offer, with a personal statement of up to 300 words (two questions, up to 150 words each). Round 1 closes on 4 March 2027 (11:59 GMT), with outcomes by 6 April 2027. It cannot be combined with any other University of Exeter scholarship.
• Automatic scholarship for China: the China page says international students from China enrolling on an eligible undergraduate programme in September 2027 receive £3,000 per eligible year of study with no separate application, applied automatically to eligible offers; a limited number of programmes may be excluded. Because the Exeter Excellence terms say it cannot be combined with any other Exeter scholarship, how the two interact is not stated; ask admissions-scholarships@exeter.ac.uk.
• Exeter also offers scholarships for sport, music and other achievements and regional or partner awards, and describes the international scholarship pot as over £8 million; terms and deadlines are on its website.

10. Transfer and second-year entry

• Exeter says some programmes consider applications for second or later years if places are available, and that the programme must be eligible for transfer because of its first-year modules.
• General conditions: you would normally be expected to have a UK 2.1 (or equivalent) in the first year of your current programme; to have studied modules matching the core first-year modules of the programme you apply to (see its “Course content” section); and to hold level 3 qualifications (A levels, IB or equivalent) equivalent to those of current first-year applicants.
• How to apply: through UCAS, also for second or later years. If it is not on your UCAS application you must send Exeter your latest higher-education transcripts or predicted grades, a list of all Level 2 and 3 achievements to date, and details of modules and grades. Exeter says it cannot assess transcripts or say whether you will receive an offer before a formal UCAS application.
• Programmes normally not available for second-year entry include MSci Applied Psychology (Clinical), BSc Psychology, BSc/MSci Natural Sciences, LLB Law, and all Business School “with Industrial Experience” variants (including BSc Economics with Industrial Experience and Economics and Finance with Industrial Experience).Whether the biology degrees (Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Zoology and the others) take second-year entrants is not given on the pages used for this guide; compare your modules with each course’s first-year compulsory modules and contact the relevant department.
• To check whether a specific programme takes second-year entrants, contact the department using the details at the top of the programme page; if unsure, contact the Admissions Office first.

Checklist

UK applicants:

• Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Zoology, Marine Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Conservation Biology and Ecology: typical A-level offer ABB (B in science subjects; Biology plus another science for Biological Sciences, Biology and Chemistry for Biochemistry; AAB for the Penryn “with Study Abroad” versions); for Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers check the UCAS course page
• Apply through UCAS by 13 January 2027 18:00 (UK time); Home fee £10,050 a year; GCSE English C/4, and Mathematics B/5 on most of these courses

International applicants (including China):

• A-level ABB or IB 32/655 (HL5 in a science); for the gaokao see the China page (75% overall, with percentages for related subjects) and ask the Admissions Office how they map to your degree; or the International Foundation (63–65 / 65 for these biology degrees)
• English Profile B2 (Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Neuroscience: IELTS 6.5, 6.0 in each section) or Profile B1 (the four Penryn degrees: IELTS 6.5, 5.5 in each section); tuition £31,500–£32,150 a year; Exeter Excellence £15,000 a year (apply after an offer, Round 1 closes 4 March 2027)

Transfer applicants:

• About UK 2.1 in the first year and modules matching the first-year core; apply through UCAS and contact the relevant department and the Admissions Office first

Sources: University of Exeter, Biological Sciences; Biochemistry; Neuroscience; Zoology; Marine Biology; Evolutionary Biology; Conservation Biology and Ecology; Biomedical Sciences; Natural Sciences; How to apply; Application timeline; After you apply; Transferring and second-year entry; Tuition fees; Entry requirements; International qualifications; UK qualifications; Contextual offers; China page; English language requirements; English Profile B1; English Profile B2; International scholarships; Exeter Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships; International Foundation. Information is for September 2027 entry. Check Exeter for the latest details.