How to Apply to Biology at the University of Southampton: Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Microbiology, Zoology and Marine Biology BScs at ABB, a Biology MSci, and Admissions and Prerequisites for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Biology degrees at the University of Southampton are mainly at the Highfield campus and listed under “Biological sciences” and related subject areas; most course pages list accreditation by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB). This guide sets out the key points for September 2027 entry from the course pages, for UK applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and applicants seeking entry to year two. A course page header may still show an older year, but the entry requirements tab states academic year 2027/28.

Scope: Medicine, Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy and other clinical or regulated courses, and the biomedical and pharmacy-oriented degrees such as Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacology, are outside this guide; see the course pages on the website. The chemistry degrees (Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry and so on) are also not covered here.

1. The biology degrees listed

• Three-year BSc degrees: Biology (UCAS C100), Biochemistry (C700), Neuroscience (B141), Microbiology (C500), Zoology (C300) and Marine Biology (F713, based at the Waterfront campus (National Oceanography Centre Southampton) and Highfield), each with a typical offer of ABB.
• Four-year MSci: Biology MSci (C101, Integrated Masters degree in Science), typical offer AAB. The course list shows MSci versions of other subjects too; their pages are not covered here, so check the website. Related degrees such as Biology with Marine Biology, Marine Biology with Oceanography and Oceanography are also listed but not covered here.
• Accreditation: the pages list the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) for Biology, Biochemistry and Zoology; RSB Advanced for the Biology MSci; interim RSB accreditation for Neuroscience, a new programme, with full accreditation for all students who complete it once the first cohort graduates; and accreditation by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) for Marine Biology. The Microbiology page shows no accreditation statement; check the website.
• Placements and time abroad: the Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience and Zoology pages say you can apply for a year in employment in the UK or abroad and in any sector (the pages say 100% of students who took part recommend it); the Microbiology page says a year in employment can be taken during the second year; the Biochemistry page mentions study at partner universities abroad; the Neuroscience page offers a year working in the pharmaceutical industry between years 2 and 3, or a semester at a partner university abroad in year 2. The Marine Biology page shows no placement year; check the website. How placements are found and whether they are guaranteed are not stated.
• The Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience and Zoology pages note that practicals using animals or their tissues are an important part of the course; they follow ethical policies and adjustments are made for students with valid concerns.

2. Direct entry to the course or choosing later

• You apply through UCAS directly to a specific course (C100, C700, B141, C500, C300, F713, C101). Most pages say you do not need to select modules when you apply; your academic tutor helps you customise your course.
• The Neuroscience page says its first year has similarities with the Biomedical, Biochemistry and Pharmacology programmes, giving flexibility to change programme at the end of the year; any grade condition is not stated. For switching between the other courses after starting, ask enquiries@southampton.ac.uk.
• Year one and beyond: Biology covers microbes, plants and animals with biodiversity, organisms and their environment, global challenges such as climate change and food security, biochemistry and cell biology; year two has compulsory evolution, plant development and function and quantitative methods, with options including animal behaviour, microbiology, genetics, pharmacology and neuroscience and a New Forest conservation field course; year three is an independent research project (laboratory, field, in-silico, bioscience business or science communication). Biochemistry year one covers the human genome, cell biology, physiology and biomolecular techniques, and the year-three independent research project is a key feature. Neuroscience year one has compulsory modules in the fundamentals of biochemistry, the human genome, cell biology and physiology, with an individual project in year three. Zoology year one covers physiology, molecular biology, cell biology, ecology and evolution and genetics, with a UK residential field trip (the page also names field trips to places such as Spain, Belize and the New Forest), and an independent project in year three. Marine Biology year one is all compulsory, covering marine animals and plants (ecology, taxonomy, physiology) and physical and chemical oceanography, with field skills such as safe boat work, sampling, data logging and basic navigation. Microbiology uses teaching laboratories in the Life Sciences building and ends with an independent project including laboratory research. The Biology MSci year one resembles Biology, with a UK residential field trip, and independent research projects in years three and four.

3. Prerequisites and entry grades (2027/28)

• A Level (BSc): ABB, with these subject requirements: Biology, Microbiology and Zoology including Biology and one further science; Biochemistry including Chemistry and one further science; Neuroscience including Biology or Chemistry and one further science; Marine Biology ABB including Biology (minimum B) and one further science (minimum B). The further sciences considered include Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Electronics, Computer Science, Psychology, Statistics, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geography and Geology (the Biochemistry and Neuroscience lists also include Biology, and the subject already required does not count twice); General Studies and Critical Thinking are typically excluded; where Biology, Chemistry or Physics is used, a pass in the practical science assessment is additionally required.
• EPQ: the Biology page gives, with an EPQ alongside three A Levels, BBB including Biology and one further science plus an A in the EPQ; check the other course pages for their EPQ wording.
• A Level (Biology MSci): AAB including Biology and one further science.
• IB: Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Microbiology and Zoology ask for a pass with 32 points overall and 16 at Higher Level, with the pages’ wording “5 and 6 points” at Higher Level in the two required subjects (Biology and one further science; Chemistry and one further science for Biochemistry; Biology or Chemistry and one further science for Neuroscience), without saying which subject needs which score; Marine Biology asks for 32 points with 16 at Higher Level, including 5 in Higher Level Biology and one further Higher Level science; the Biology MSci asks for 34 points with 17 at Higher Level, including 6 in HL Biology and one further science.
• GCSE: the biology BSc and MSci pages list GCSE English, Mathematics and Science at minimum grade 4/C.
• Other qualifications: BTEC Extended Certificate at D plus two A Levels (AB for the BSc courses, AA for Neuroscience and the MSci, in the same subjects as the A Level requirement); the Marine Biology page also says it does not accept the BTEC National Diploma or Extended Diploma without two AB grades in A Level Biology and one further science; Irish Leaving Certificate H2 plus five H3s including the required subjects for the BSc courses (six H2s for the Biology MSci); Welsh Baccalaureate ABB from three A Levels including the required subjects, or AB from two A Levels plus a B in the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (higher for Neuroscience and the MSci); T Levels: the Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Microbiology, Zoology and Marine Biology pages accept the Science T Level at an overall Distinction with an A in the core element and a Merit in the Occupational Specialism (the Biology MSci page gives an overall Distinction with an A in the core element).
• Admissions tests or interviews: the biology course pages do not list one.

4. Fees and funding

• The course pages list annual fees of £10,050 for UK students; for EU and international students £33,900 for Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Microbiology, Zoology, Marine Biology and the Biology MSci. The pages do not state the academic year, so check that it is the 2027/28 figure. Fees cover tuition and standard exams; accommodation and living costs are extra.
• The scholarship for international applicants is the 75th Anniversary scholarship in the international section below. The pages used for this guide list no biology-specific scholarship.

5. How and when to apply

• All first-year full-time undergraduate applications go through UCAS, institution code S27, directly to a specific course (codes above). Southampton’s application page says you can apply before you have your final results or English test score and the university may still consider you.
• Applications are assessed on predicted grades, academic achievements, the personal statement and the academic reference, with a target of 2 to 6 weeks; applications made in January, particularly near the UCAS equal consideration deadline, may take substantially longer.
• Deadline: Southampton only tells you to check the UCAS timeline and does not print a 2027-entry date; check UCAS.
• The application page notes that many applicants use education agents and lists university-approved agents; using one is your own decision.
• After an offer, applicants are invited to an Offer Holder Visit Day or an online event (the page says usually January to April); students who are not British or Irish citizens may need a visa, which Southampton says you can apply for once you hold an unconditional offer.

6. UK applicants

• Fee status: the university has two categories, “UK (home)” and “International (overseas)”, decided by the Admissions Team under the fees regulations, and it may ask you to complete a Fee Status Questionnaire (feesclassification@soton.ac.uk). The course pages give a single “UK students” fee and do not separate England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; check with the university.
• Bursary: the course pages say UK or EU students with household income under £36,200 a year may get a University of Southampton bursary towards living costs, with specific bursaries for care leavers and estranged students.
• Qualifications: A Levels, the IB, BTEC, the Irish Leaving Certificate, the Welsh Baccalaureate and T Levels are in section 3; for Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers the pages say offers are based on exams at the end of S6 with S5 results reviewed, and refer to the university’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement; contact the relevant Faculty Admissions Office.
• Contextual offers: Southampton says it uses background information such as where you live or the school you attended to make reduced offers to eligible applicants without extra documents; how much lower is not stated on these course pages, so ask Admissions.

7. International applicants

• Qualification equivalencies: Southampton has country pages of entry qualification equivalencies and country information pages; use them to see how your qualifications map to the A Level requirements on the course pages. The IB Diploma can be used directly (section 3).
• English: the biology course pages ask for IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. You can apply before you have the score, and if you do not meet it you may be able to take a pre-sessional English course before starting. For other accepted tests see the university’s English language pages.
• Transcripts and proof of funds: the document lists for these are not published on the course pages used for this guide; check the university’s International pages or international@southampton.ac.uk.
• 75th Anniversary Undergraduate Excellence Scholarships: for new international undergraduates from listed countries and regions (the list includes China, Hong Kong, India and the USA among 12): £3,000 off tuition each year for up to four years, up to £12,000. You must be self-funded and pay overseas fees and hold a conditional or unconditional offer for a full-time on-campus undergraduate course (except Medicine); there is no separate application and no deadline; eligible students are told by email. Permanent residency means where you lived for three or more years before the course, not counting places lived only to study. If you qualify for more than one Southampton scholarship, the highest-value award is applied.

8. Applicants from China

• Southampton has a dedicated page for students from China: for undergraduate degrees it says you can apply with UK A Levels studied in China, the IB (the page says between 28 and 38 points; follow each course page) or the Gaokao; your grades must reach the level equivalent to the A Level requirements of the course, and you must also meet the English requirements and any subject requirements on the course page.
• Gaokao: Southampton accepts the Gaokao for many degrees but gives examples of degrees that do not accept it: degrees requiring a specific A Level subject other than mathematics (such as music, a language or a science), all Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences undergraduate degrees, and its three undergraduate medicine degrees. The biology courses require A Level Biology or Chemistry; the China page does not name them, and there is no explicit statement on whether they can be applied for with the Gaokao. Ask the International Office in writing, and prepare an A Level, IB or OnCampus foundation route in parallel.
• Gaokao conversion (country page): convert your score to a percentage of your province’s maximum (for example 600 out of 750 is 80%); overall equivalents are A*AA and AAA 80%, AAB 75%, ABB 70%, and BBB, BBC, BCC and CCC 70%; for single subjects A* 85%, A 80%, B 75% and C 70%.
• Foundation routes: the country page lists OnCampus undergraduate foundation programmes including a “Life sciences” route, requiring completed senior secondary education and IELTS 4.0 (no element below 4.5), including English study, and securing a place on your chosen degree if completed. Which biology degrees it leads to and the foundation fees are not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask the university. The Foundation year for engineering, maths or physics leads to 19 degrees in those subjects, not to biology degrees.
• Interviews, recognised bodies, transcripts and school-leaving (huikao) documents: the China page covers equivalencies and the foundation requirements above only; the document lists for transcripts and school-leaving certificates are not published on the pages used for this guide, so contact international@southampton.ac.uk (+44 (0)23 8059 9699, 9am to 5pm UK time). Southampton also has a WeChat Official Account, 南安普顿大学 (UofSouthampton).

9. Direct entry to year two and transfers

• The course, application and UCAS pages used for this guide do not give conditions for transferring from another university into year two or for credit recognition; this is not published on those pages. Contact enquiries@southampton.ac.uk (+44 (0)23 8059 5000).
• Southampton also says it recognises skills gained through work or life experience (recognition of prior learning), and treats students aged 21 or over at the start of the course as mature applicants, assessing academic ability and commitment and possibly arranging a meeting with an Admissions Tutor.

Checklist

UK applicants:

• BSc: A Level ABB including biology (or chemistry, by course) and a further science, practical pass, GCSE English, mathematics and science grade 4; Biology MSci is AAB
• UCAS code S27 and course codes such as C100, C700, B141, C500, C300, F713 and C101; check the deadline on UCAS

International applicants:

• IB 32 points (16 at HL) with the required subjects, Biology MSci 34 points (17 at HL); IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each component)
• The 75th Anniversary scholarship (£3,000 a year) is automatic if you are eligible

Applicants from China:

• Ask the International Office in writing whether the Gaokao can be used for the biology courses; keep an A Level, IB or OnCampus life sciences route ready
• Ask international@southampton.ac.uk about transcript and school-leaving documents

Year-two entry:

• No published conditions; email Admissions first

Sources: University of Southampton, Biology BSc; Biology MSci; Biochemistry BSc; Neuroscience BSc; Microbiology BSc; Zoology BSc; Marine Biology BSc; Entry equivalencies: China; Undergraduate application page; Applying through UCAS; 75th Anniversary Undergraduate Excellence Scholarships. Information is for September 2027 entry (check that any undated figures apply to 2027 entry). Check Southampton and UCAS for the latest details.