Science Degree Courses in Southampton, UK

University of Southampton - Centre for Biological Sciences:
The Centre for Biological Sciences at The University of Southampton provides an excellent environment for study and research. Our BSc programmes in Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology and Zoology cover the spectrum of the biological sciences. In addition, we offer a range of masters degree courses. Southampton is located in Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is conveniently located only 75 miles south-west of London and 19 miles north-west of Portsmouth.

Bological Sciences Undergraduate & Graduate Degree Courses:

BSc Biochemistry
From DNA to proteins, from single molecules to cells, biochemistry answers the ultimate questions about how living organisms work. Modern biochemistry uses chemical and molecular approaches to address biological questions and to solve biomedical problems. It provides the foundation for many techniques that are used in a wide range of biological subjects including pathology, pharmacology, physiology and genetics. Advances in biotechnology and medicine, new drug discoveries and modern techniques in forensic science – biochemistry, the study of the fundamental components of biological systems, helps to make these possible and is an integral part of scientific research today.

Our BSc Biochemistry degree programme provides in depth training in biochemistry, with core subjects in your first and second year and opportunities to specialise in year three. Our flexible course system offers a wide range of options, with a year out in industry for those who want to gain experience in an industrial setting. Our teaching staff are actively engaged in research into the molecular basis of disease, genetics and the control of gene transcription,  structural biology, oncology, DNA recognition and cell signalling.

BSc Biochemistry/Biomedical/Pharmacology with Foundation Year
This 4 year course starts with a foundation year, sometimes called ‘Year 0’. Students can choose during this first year to progress to three years of further specialist study in Biochemistry, Biomedical Science or Pharmacology. Successful completion may also enable entry to degree courses in Biology, Zoology or other related science disciplines at the University of Southampton.

This is an ideal opportunity if you have been out of education for some years, or if you have A Levels or equivalent in non-science subjects. In the foundation year, you will concentrate on Biology, Chemistry and Maths, plus IT and study skills. You will be taught through a combination of lectures, group discussions and laboratory practicals on 3 days per week, mainly between the hours of 9.30am and 4.30pm. Some practicals and lectures will be delivered at the University.

BNatSci Biological Sciences and Chemistry
As many modern sciences are developing at the boundaries of traditional disciplines, this Natural Science programme should provide you with the qualifications and skills to contribute to this development. The objective is to offer an undergraduate programme which allows you to pursue a combination of two science subjects, with both subjects being studied in each year of the degree. These combinations are collectively known as Natural Sciences. Maintaining learning in two key sciences in all levels of your degree provides you with an interdisciplinary training that will reflect the multifaceted nature of many aspects of modern science, both in terms of research and industrial application.

At the start of the degree you choose two topics. At the end of year 1 you decide which of these you wish to focus on - this becomes subject 1 whilst the other becomes subject 2. You must take at least two experimental subjects (subject 1 and subject 2). All the modules chosen for this degree will be selected from subjects offered by the Academic Units in the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

MNatSci Natural Sciences Biological Sciences and Chemistry
The objective is to offer an undergraduate programme which allows you to pursue a combination of two science subjects, with both subjects being studied in each year of the degree. These combinations are collectively known as Natural Sciences. Maintaining learning in two key sciences in all levels of your degree provides you with an interdisciplinary training that will reflect the multifaceted nature of many aspects of modern science, both in terms of research and industrial application. 

As many modern sciences are developing at the boundaries of traditional disciplines, this Natural Science programme should provide you with the qualifications and skills to contribute to this development. At the start of the degree you choose two topics. At the end of year 1 you decide which of these you wish to focus on - this becomes subject 1 whilst the other becomes subject 2. You must take at least two experimental subjects (subject 1 and subject 2). All the modules chosen for this degree will be selected from subjects offered by the Academic Units in the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

MNatSci Biological Sciences and Ocean & Earth Science
As many modern sciences are developing at the boundaries of traditional disciplines, this Natural Science programme should provide you with the qualifications and skills to contribute to this development. At the start of the degree you choose two topics. At the end of year 1 you decide which of these you wish to focus on - this becomes subject 1 whilst the other becomes subject 2.

The objective is to offer an undergraduate programme which allows you to pursue a combination of two science subjects, with both subjects being studied in each year of the degree. These combinations are collectively known as Natural Sciences. Maintaining learning in two key sciences in all levels of your degree provides you with an interdisciplinary training that will reflect the multifaceted nature of many aspects of modern science, both in terms of research and industrial application. You must take at least two experimental subjects (subject 1 and subject 2). All the modules chosen for this degree will be selected from subjects offered by the Academic Units in the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

BNatSci Biological Sciences and Ocean & Earth Science
The objective is to offer an undergraduate programme which allows you to pursue a combination of two science subjects, with both subjects being studied in each year of the degree. These combinations are collectively known as Natural Sciences. Maintaining learning in two key sciences in all levels of your degree provides you with an interdisciplinary training that will reflect the multifaceted nature of many aspects of modern science, both in terms of research and industrial application. 

As many modern sciences are developing at the boundaries of traditional disciplines, this Natural Science programme should provide you with the qualifications and skills to contribute to this development. At the start of the degree you choose two topics. At the end of year 1 you decide which of these you wish to focus on - this becomes subject 1 whilst the other becomes subject 2. You must take at least two experimental subjects (subject 1 and subject 2). All the modules chosen for this degree will be selected from subjects offered by the Academic Units in the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences.

BSc Biology
Biology is the science of living matter, a broad and diverse discipline. You will study Biology not only as a pure science, but also discover how to apply your biological knowledge to today’s challenges. Predicting the effects of climate change, investigating how animals and plants depend upon each other, understanding the impact of biofuels on food supply – biologists are essential to the world we live in and the environmental challenges we face.

Our BSc Biology degree programme starts with a broad study of the biosciences, to include microbes, plants and animals, giving you a fuller understanding of living matter. You will also study life at several different levels, from molecules and cells to whole organisms and species, right up to communities and ecosystems. Teaching you and helping you to become a biologist will be lecturers who are world experts in their research areas. Our scientists are actively working at the cutting edge of a broad range of fields within biological science, from neuroscience to ecological and evolutionary theory to the adaptations of plants and animals under global environmental changes and the development of strategies to combat the detrimental effects of these changes.

BSc Biology/Zoology with Foundation Year
This 4 year course starts with a foundation year, sometimes called ‘Year 0’. Students can choose during this first year to progress to three years of further specialist study in Biology or Zoology. Successful completion may also enable entry to degree courses in Biochemistry, Biomedical Science, Pharmacology or other related science disciplines at the University of Southampton.

This is an ideal opportunity if you have been out of education for some years, or if you have A Levels or equivalent in non-science subjects. In the foundation year, you will concentrate on  Biology, Chemistry and Maths, plus IT and study skills. You will be taught through a combination of lectures, group discussions and laboratory practicals. Some practicals and lectures will be delivered at the University.

BSc Biomedical Sciences
Biomedical scientists study the mechanisms of life and the underlying causes of disease, and seek to develop and improve treatments for populations of patients. Investigating potential treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, finding the causes of cystic fibrosis, improving our understanding of cancer – just a few of the vital areas where biomedical science is making a difference today.

Our Biomedical Sciences degree is one of our most flexible programmes, allowing you to combine interests in biochemistry, physiology, neuroscience, cell biology, genetics and pharmacology. Human disease is studied at all levels, from genetic mutations through organ degeneration, such as the brain in Alzheimer’s disease, up to whole-body metabolic disorders like diabetes. The programme offers an ideal preparation for a graduate career in medicine, clinically related professions or a career in clinical or medical research. The emphasis is on the science that underpins and advances clinical practice, rather than the technical basis of routine laboratory tests. 

Our staff are involved in research in the molecular basis of disease, oncology, developmental biology, neurophysiology, epilepsy, brain damage and recovery relating to stroke, and we have exceptionally good research facilities which you will be able to access during your third year project.

MBioSci Master of Biomedical Sciences
Biomedical Sciences is the study of the biological basis of human disease. Our integrated Master of biomedical sciences degree programme allows you to focus on selected aspects of physiology and/or biochemistry to a research level.  Graduates in biomedical science are in considerable demand in a variety of areas of employment.  In Southampton you will undertake a balanced programme where you will gain the relevant skills and knowledge required for a career in this subject area.

This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if s/he takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if s/he takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.

BSc Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the study of the action of drugs on living tissues and their components, with an emphasis on how drugs work. Recent advances in pharmacology have resulted in improved treatments for diseases such as AIDS, depression, heart failure and malaria. Pharmacology is the science of how drugs work. Evaluating new generation antibiotics, solving the problems of drug toxicity, finding out how drugs can best be used in the treatment of disease in humans and animals – these are all challenges faced by pharmacologists in an age of higher demands for an improved quality of life. Our teaching staff are actively involved in pharmacological research into brain damage and recovery, developmental biology, oncology, the development of new antibiotics and the mechanisms underlying alcoholism.

Our degree programme has a strong emphasis on the molecular aspects of how pharmacological agents work, with particular interests in neuroscience and neuropharmacology. Through core topics, you will be introduced to the major concepts and principles of pharmacology in years one and two, and in year three you will complete a research project in your area of choice. Students who want to gain more experience also have the opportunity to take a year out working in the pharmaceutical industry.

BSc Zoology
Zoology is the study of animal life, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of animals. Here at Southampton, Zoology is a specialist degree programme embedded within the broader Biology degree.The effects of global warming on animal life, the ecological impact of populations and animals, the development of mammals and their human parallels - these are all challenges that occupy our zoologists and affect the planet today. Our lecturers are world experts in their areas, researching subjects such as invasive or endangered species, embryonic development in mammals and ageing in social insects. 

To obtain an in-depth understanding of animals, you will start with a general study of the biosciences, from cell biology and the study of insects, to whole organisms and species, communities and ecosystems. In your third year you will be able to choose a laboratory based or field project, with fieldwork undertaken in the UK or abroad.

MSci Geophysics with study abroad
Geophysics degrees explore how physical principles can be applied to study processes operating in, on and around our planet, such as motion within its core tectonic movements, dynamics of the oceans and atmosphere, and the interactions in space between the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetic field.
At a practical level, engineers employ geophysical methods to explore below the Earth’s surface in the search for oil, gas and other natural resources as well as for scientific investigation. Increasingly, geophysicists are involved in monitoring the environment and assessing natural hazards,whether globally or connected with specific engineering projects.

This geophysics degree programme could see you spending your third year at a top US university, such as Pennsylvania State, at one of the powerhouse Earth science departments. You will undertake the usual MSci Geophysics programme in years one and two, then following your summer geophysics field course, you will enrol at an overseas university to take an exciting variety of advanced modules. This will also provide you with an opportunity to study in a continent with a very difficult geological history to the UK.

Your final year will be spent back at Southampton, following a slightly modified form of the MSci Geophysics year four. There may also be opportunities for a summer research collaboration with new colleagues from your overseas university.

Postgraduate Courses
Biomedical Sciences
Neuroscience research spans molecular through to whole organism and systems- based investigations to inform insight into fundamental aspects of the nervous system in health and disease. Cross-disciplinary collaborations involving medicine and engineering focus on three interleaved themes; synaptic function, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Neuroscience: The commonality of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of nervous system function across the animal phyla has become ever more evident, and neuroscience projects in the School investigate the properties of excitable tissues from nematodes, insects and mammals. Research on each of these organisms is directed towards understanding nervous system function in health and disease, and utilises information from the genome mapping of key species such asC. elegans, Drosophila and mouse.

The central themes of neuroscience research are in the areas of neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation and an integrative analysis of neural/synaptic function underpinning behavioural plasticity. Our multidisciplinary approaches allow investigations of basic mechanisms to inform novel insights into diseases associated with protein misfolding and aggregation such as Alzheimer's and disease states such as Multiple Sclerosis and addiction. Interests in the impact of the environment on neural function and in the remodelling of neurons during development and in adult disease  overlaps with interests in the Developmental Biology Group .

An important aspect of all our research is that it is carried out under the umbrella of the Southampton Neuroscience Group (SoNG) an organisation which cuts across  faculties in the University to bring together neurobiologists, clinical neuroscientists, psychologists and health care practitioners, who have a shared interest in understanding the nervous system in health and disease. Cross-disciplinary collaborations with engineers, chemists and computational neuroscientists also provide an excellent opportunity to develop and implement new tools and technologies in this fast-moving field.

Developmental Biology: Our research concerns both basic processes in reproductive and developmental biology, notably oocyte meiotic maturation and preimplantation development, but focuses predominantly in mechanistic studies using animal models underpinning the University-wide Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) programme and related translational biomedical directions with extensive collaborations with Medicine. We have rodent models to investigate effects of maternal diet and sickness on adult offspring health including facilities for epigenetic, molecular, cellular and physiological research.  Our work makes use of transgenic models with ready availability of embryonic stem cell culture and differentiation. Areas of specialism include the extracellular matrix in development and disease and in vitro models for bone development and endothelial-osteoblast cell communication.

Environmental
The central theme of this group is to understand the interaction of organisms with the environment at the molecular, cellular, whole organism and population levels. Our combined skills in ecology, genetics, evolutionary and molecular biology give us the capacity to address current and future problems of worldwide significance such as impact and mitigation of climate change, GMOs in the wider environment, food security, the sustainable use of natural resources and species conservation. Our research exploits a range of plant, insect and microbial model systems. We have a strong grouping in molecular and cellular plant biology that addresses the functioning of plants in relation to the environment. This includes the use of plants for renewable energy and important crop science priorities such as plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses and improved nutrition.

Our research on insects focuses on a variety of issues including resistance to parasites and pathogens and the biology of ageing. The theme also includes the Environmental Healthcare Unit and research focusing on microbial ecology, particularly in high species diversity biofilms. Thus we are able to address a range of RCUK cross-cutting research programmes such as Living with Environmental Change, Energy and Food Security as well as Healthy Living and Ageing.

Molecular and Cellular
Our research seeks to understand the fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms that underpin basic biological processes. The Cellular and Molecular Biosciences staff pursue a range of externally-funded projects within five broad research themes: the molecular organisation of proteins and nucleic acids; developmental biology and its influence on adult health and disease; cell signalling pathways controlling gene expression, cell growth and cell division; plant growth and environmental interactions; membrane proteins and cellular function.

Within the School of Biological Sciences, we have a wealth of modern facilities. We are now housed within the new, purpose-built Life Sciences Building on the University’s Highfield campus and upon the Southampton General Hospital campus. We are well equipped for structural (X-ray and NMR) and biophysical studies of proteins and nucleic acids and have a superb Proteomics facility which includes with a range of state-of-the-art mass spectrometers. The Bioimaging Facility comprises a range of modern microscopes including confocal and multiphoton instruments, allowing the use of Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy techniques.

We collaborate closely with researchers across the University and with investigators around the world. For example, we work with physical scientists and engineers to investigate biomolecules as substrates for the production of novel materials and our joint projects with staff in Medicine aim to understand the origins of disease.