How to Apply to Biology at the University of York (UK): Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics, Biochemistry and Neuroscience as Three-Year BSc or Four-Year Integrated Masters, Royal Society of Biology Accredited or Interim Accredited, Mostly Biology Plus a Second Science, and Entry Routes and Prerequisites for Home, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The University of York is in the north of England, and its biological sciences undergraduate degrees are mainly taught by the Department of Biology, on Campus West. In the UK you apply to a specific course through UCAS; York’s institution code is Y50. This guide sets out what York’s website says for September 2027 entry, for UK (home) applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students.

Which undergraduate degrees the department offers

The department’s undergraduate page lists three-year BSc degrees and four-year integrated Masters degrees (with advanced modules and research training aimed at a career as a research scientist). All courses are available with an optional year in industry or year abroad, and all undergraduate courses are “accredited or hold interim accreditation” from the Royal Society of Biology (RSB). The Biology course page says graduates meet in part the academic and experience requirement for membership and chartered biologist (CBiol) status.

• Biology: BSc C100, typical offer AAB; MBiol C105, four years, AAA. It covers biomedicine, biotechnology, genetics, ecology and evolutionary biology.
• Biotechnology: BSc J700, AAB; an MBiol version is also listed.
• Genetics: BSc C400, AAB; an MBiol version is also listed.
• Molecular Cell Biology: BSc C130, AAB; an MBiol version is also listed.
• Ecology and Conservation Biology: BSc C182, AAB; an MSci version is also listed. The course page says accreditation here is interim.
• Neuroscience: BSc B140, AAB; an MSci version is also listed. The course page says accreditation is interim, and the department FAQ says it is run jointly with the Department of Psychology.
• Biochemistry: BSc C700, AAB; MBiochem C706, four years, AAA. The FAQ says it is run jointly by the Chemistry and Biology departments and focuses more on the “chemistry of biology”.
• Immunology and Infectious Disease: BSc C550, AAB; an MSci version is also listed. The course page says it is run with Hull York Medical School and that York is “looking to receive” RSB accreditation; its fee fields show “TBC”.
• Biomedical Sciences: BSc C900, AAB; an MBiomedSci version is also listed. The course page says it is taught across the Department of Biology and Hull York Medical School.
• Apart from Biology MBiol (C105) and Biochemistry MBiochem (C706), the UCAS codes of the integrated Masters are on their own course pages, so check the website.
• Medicine (MBBS), pharmacy, nursing and similar degrees, and biomedical engineering, are outside this guide; see the websites of York and Hull York Medical School.

Prerequisites and course structure

• A-Level: the BSc courses in Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics, Molecular Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Immunology and Infectious Disease and Biomedical Sciences say AAB including Biology and a second science; Biology MBiol says AAA including Biology and a second science. The Biology page lists as second sciences Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Further Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology or Statistics; the Immunology and Biomedical Sciences pages give a shorter list (Chemistry, Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Statistics). The Ecology and Conservation Biology A-Level line accepts Biology or Environmental Science as the main subject; the Neuroscience A-Level line says only Biology, but its contextual-offer line says “Biology or Environmental Science”, so the two disagree; ask the admissions team. Biochemistry BSc asks for AAB including an A in Chemistry plus a second science, and MBiochem AAA including an A in Chemistry.
• IB: BSc 35 points including 5 in Higher Level (HL) Biology plus either 5 in another HL science or mathematics subject or 5 in two Standard Level (SL) science or mathematics subjects; Biology MBiol 36 points; Biochemistry BSc 35 points including 6 in HL Chemistry, and MBiochem 36 points including 6 in HL Chemistry.
• European Baccalaureate (Biology page): 80% overall including 8.5 and 8 in Biology and a second science or mathematics subject. BTEC National Extended Diploma: DDD with all seven mandatory Applied Science (2016) units. Access to Higher Education Diploma (Biology BSc): 36 credits at Distinction and 9 at Merit or higher, including Level 3 modules in Biology and a second science. T Level (Biology BSc): Distinction overall including grade A in the Core, in Science (Laboratory Sciences).
• Scotland: Biology BSc asks for Advanced Highers BB in Biology and a second science or mathematics plus Highers BB; MBiol asks AB plus Highers AB; three Advanced Highers or a mix of Highers and Advanced Highers may be considered, so contact the admissions team.
• International foundation programme: a Foundation Certificate from York’s International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. The department FAQ also says that the department does not offer a foundation year of its own and that it considers foundation programmes but usually cannot judge whether they meet the requirements until you apply.
• Alternative offers (Biology BSc): the contextual offer is BBB including Biology and a second science (ABB for MBiol); widening participation programme completers get BBC. An EPQ at B or higher, an OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability at Distinction or higher, Core Maths at B or higher, or completing York’s online course “Bugs, brains and beasts” can each lower the offer by up to one A-Level grade, but the FAQ says the EPQ, online course and Core Maths cannot be combined for a two-grade reduction. The FAQ says about a third of current students held contextual offers.
• Interviews and admissions tests: the department FAQ says it does not interview applicants, and that Biomedical Sciences does not require BMAT or UCAT. It also says it does not set specific GCSE requirements.
• Deferral: the FAQ says you can defer by one year after receiving an offer without reapplying, by emailing the undergraduate admissions office. The FAQ page shows no update date, so rely on the course pages where they differ.

Moving from BSc to the integrated Masters (department FAQ): if you firmly accept a BSc offer and exceed it on results day (AAA in three A-Levels or equivalent), you can email undergraduate admissions before enrolment to switch, and York says the place is guaranteed. If you only meet the BSc offer, there is a second chance at the end of Year 2, subject to the University’s Year 2 progression criteria, an assessment average of 55%, and space; the page says the department has capacity for about 140 integrated Masters places and usually has space. If you apply for the integrated Masters and miss the entry requirements, you are considered competitively for the BSc and need not apply for both.

Course structure (Biology BSc page): Year 1 core modules are Becoming a Bioscientist: Core Skills, Life on Earth, Genetics, Becoming a Bioscientist: Grand Challenges, Cells to Organisms and Molecules of Life. Year 2 has two core modules plus four options (for example Ecological Solutions for Global Challenges, Cell Biology, Gene Expression in Action, Molecular Microbiology, The Immune System, Neuroscience, Medical Genetics). Year 3 is the BSc Research Project plus four options. Year 1 does not count towards the final degree, which is determined by Year 2 (40%) and Year 3 (60%), and a year abroad or in industry is marked pass/fail. The MBiol Year 4 core is a Research Project, Research Skills and a Research Proposal. Biochemistry’s Year 1 core includes Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry for Biochemists 1.

The FAQ says Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics and Molecular Cell Biology share a common first year, so it is easy to switch between them; switching between those four and Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Neuroscience or Ecology and Conservation Biology may not be possible, depending on your subjects and grades, space, and teaching missed, and very few students can switch between Biology and Biochemistry after starting. You do not have to decide on a year in industry or abroad when you apply: the FAQ says the decision comes towards the end of Year 1, and every student can choose a year in industry, an additional year abroad or a replacement year overseas through the Worldwide Exchange.

Teaching (Biology BSc page, typical first-year week): lectures 2-4 hours, workshops 3-5 hours, practicals 3-6 hours, plus 5 hours of small-group teaching per semester. Skills modules run every semester of the first two years. Some modules include field courses; optional residential field trips may need a financial contribution, and a York-based alternative field course is available at no added cost.

UK (home) applicants

• York lists UK (home) and international fees separately: for 2027/28 the UK (home) fee is £10,050 a year (Biology course pages), which may rise within the government fee cap in later years. The course pages do not give separate fees for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland; use York’s fee status page to confirm which category you fall in.
• Qualifications: A-Level, BTEC, European Baccalaureate, IB and Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers requirements are set out below; T Level acceptance varies by course. Course pages also list alternative offers, such as an EPQ that may lower the offer by one grade.
• Funding for UK students listed on the department page includes the Commuter Award (£250) and the Sanctuary Bursary; UK government loans open in early 2027 according to York. See the website for amounts and conditions.

International applicants

• You also apply through UCAS, and the entry table on the course page applies to all applicants; the department FAQ says international applications are very welcome and that it generally looks for evidence of advanced study in the essential subjects. The Biology course page only says “equivalent qualifications from your country” and does not list country-by-country requirements: this is not given on the pages used for this guide, so check York’s country pages or ask the admissions team.
• IB: BSc 35 points including 5 in HL Biology plus 5 in another HL science or mathematics subject (or 5 in two SL subjects); Biology MBiol 36 points; Biochemistry needs 6 in HL Chemistry.
• Tuition: for 2027/28 the international fee on the course pages for Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics, Molecular Cell Biology, Ecology and Conservation Biology, Neuroscience, Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, and on the Biology MBiol and Biochemistry MBiochem pages, is £33,500 a year; the Immunology and Infectious Disease page shows “TBC”.
• Proof of funds and credential evaluation details are not given on the pages used for this guide; check York’s visa and immigration pages or ask the International Team (international@york.ac.uk).

Students from China

• Gaokao: York’s China page says that students studying the Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate who take the Gaokao are accepted with a minimum 75% overall average for Year 1 entry to courses with no other essential subject requirements, and should also complete the Senior High School Graduation Certificate. The biology courses ask for A-Level Biology (Chemistry for Biochemistry) plus a second science, or an equivalent, and the pages used for this guide do not say whether Gaokao applicants can apply directly or which subjects and scores are needed; email the Department of Biology admissions team (biol-admissions@york.ac.uk).
• Foundation: the entry tables on the course pages accept a Foundation Certificate from York’s International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. The pathway page lists a Foundation Certificate for Sciences and Engineering, applications are handled by partner Kaplan International Pathways, and progression to your chosen course is guaranteed if you complete it at the required level with good attendance. How that certificate maps onto this subject is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the admissions team.
• CSCSE-SQA Advanced Diploma: York accepts these students through its official partnership with the High Achiever Programme (HAP), which the page calls the only approved application route for that diploma.
• Chinese university degrees: degrees from Ecctis-recognised institutions are considered case by case, with 75% to 85% overall required (this concerns applicants who already hold or are studying a degree).
• A-Level or IB: use the typical offers on each course page.
• The China page lists York’s agent partners for China; using an agent is your choice.
• Whether interviews, accreditation bodies or Chinese high school transcripts and exam certificates are required beyond this is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the China page or ask the admissions team.

English language

• The course page sets the minimum IELTS (Academic) at 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (Biology BSc course page).
• York’s undergraduate English page lists accepted tests including IELTS (Academic and Online), PTE Academic (not the online version), TOEFL iBT (MyBest scores not accepted), Trinity ISE, Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced, Duolingo, LanguageCert and the Kaplan Test of English. Scores cannot be combined across attempts or test types, and results must be dated within two years of the course start. See York’s IELTS equivalencies page for exact scores.
• Some school-leaving certificates are accepted if you reach the required grade in an English language subject and completed them within seven years of the start; the International Baccalaureate Diploma is among them.
• You may not need to show English evidence if you are a UK national, a national of a majority-English-speaking country as specified by UK Visas and Immigration, have completed a degree in the UK, Ireland or a listed country (except Canada) or a degree taught in English (within seven years, with official confirmation), or have completed or are completing A-Levels or another Level 3 qualification in the UK over two years (within seven years).
• If you fall short, York’s pre-sessional English courses are an option; the length depends on how far you need to improve.

Transfer students

• York’s entry page says it is sometimes possible to transfer from another university directly into 2nd Year, but not into 3rd or 4th Year.
• The Department of Biology FAQ is more specific: it only considers transfers into the 2nd year of its three-year courses, not the 3rd year. The conditions: your A-Level results should match the typical offer in both grades and subjects; the modules taken in your first year should be broadly similar to York’s first-year syllabus; your overall first-year results should be (or be predicted to be) at least 50%; and you should have reasonable grounds for the request and provide evidence. If you meet all of these, apply through UCAS (you must have an active UCAS profile for that year). Questions go to biol-admissions@york.ac.uk.

International fees and scholarships

• Tuition: the Biology, Biochemistry and related course pages show £33,500 a year for international students and £10,050 for UK students for 2027/28. International fees rise in later years in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), up to a maximum of 10%; the fee in your offer letter is normally for one year. A full year abroad is charged at 15% of the full-time fee and a year in industry or placement year at 20% (15% under the Turing Scheme).
• York International Undergraduate Scholarship: £5,000 for each year of study in 2027/28, open to students from countries including China, the USA, Canada, India, Japan and Singapore; eligible students receive it automatically with no application. Conditions: a conditional or unconditional offer by 1 July 2027, overseas fee status, and a full-time on-campus undergraduate course starting in September 2027. Not eligible: holders of a 100% tuition scholarship or full sponsorship, students on York’s International Pathway College and certain other pathways, students not joining in Year 1, and courses with the same Home and International fee. You must accept the award via the link in your offer email by the deadline given there; deferring forfeits it. The page also says that 2027-entry scholarships are “opening shortly”, so check the page for the current status.
• International Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship: up to £10,000 (first year only), considered automatically for eligible international offer holders with no application; a panel of senior staff selects awardees. Eligibility includes predicted or achieved A-Level ABB, IB 34 points or equivalent. The page says awards will begin “shortly”.
• Combining awards: the York International Undergraduate Scholarship page says it may be combined with other University of York scholarships and external funding, and the Achievement Scholarship page says it may be combined with departmental scholarships and external funding, in each case up to 100% of tuition fees. Whether the two can be held together is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the International Team (international@york.ac.uk).
• Department of Biology funding page: it lists the two international undergraduate scholarships above, awards for UK students (the Commuter Award and the Sanctuary Bursary) and a loan fund for Norwegian students; there is no separate department scholarship for international students.

Timeline (September 2027 entry)

• Applications go through UCAS. York’s application page says you can start your UCAS application from 12 May 2026 and submit it from 1 September 2026. York’s institution code is Y50; you can apply to up to five courses, and you need the course code, grades achieved or predicted, a teacher’s reference and a personal statement.
• 13 January 2027 is the main UCAS deadline for all courses except Medicine (15 October 2026). Applications by that date are treated equally; you can apply until 30 June 2027, but the course may have filled its places.
• For applications by the main deadline York says to expect a decision by 12 May 2027; some courses add extra steps, such as an interview invitation.
• UCAS Extra opens on 25 February 2027; A-Level and BTEC results come out on 12 August 2027; international applicants need a visa in place by September 2027.
• Check UCAS deadlines and course codes on the UCAS website.

Checklist

UK (home) applicants:

• BSc: A-Level AAB including Biology and a second science (Biochemistry needs an A in Chemistry); MBiol: AAA; contextual offer BBB; Scottish Advanced Highers BB plus Highers BB
• Submit via UCAS by 13 January 2027; UK fee £10,050

International applicants:

• IB 35 points (36 for MBiol) with 5 in HL Biology and 5 in another science or mathematics subject; IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each component); fee £33,500 a year
• Look at the York International Undergraduate Scholarship (£5,000 a year, automatic) and the Achievement Scholarship (up to £10,000)

Applicants from China:

• Email first to confirm whether Gaokao applicants can apply directly and which subjects are needed; the department offers no foundation year of its own, and how the International Pathway College certificate maps onto biology should be confirmed with the admissions team

Transfer students:

• Entry is possible only into the second year of a three-year course, with matching grades and subjects, a similar first year and at least 50% in it

Sources: University of York, How to apply; Entry requirements and transfers; English language requirements; Information for students from China; International pathway courses; International tuition fees; International undergraduate scholarships; York International Undergraduate Scholarship; International Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship; Department of Biology undergraduate page; Department of Biology FAQs; Biology BSc; Biology MBiol; Biochemistry BSc; Biochemistry MBiochem; Biotechnology BSc; Genetics BSc; Molecular Cell Biology BSc; Ecology and Conservation Biology BSc; Neuroscience BSc; Immunology and Infectious Disease BSc; Biomedical Sciences BSc; Department of Biology funding. Information is for September 2027 entry; check York and the UCAS website for the latest dates and course codes.