The BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology involves an introduction to the foundations of molecular and cellular biology and then focuses on topics such as chromosome structure and function, molecular genetics, molecular cell biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, molecular virology and gene expression.

Molecular Biology at St Andrews incorporates substantial practical laboratory training and development of quantitative skills. Students have the opportunity to engage with a number of specialist topics that reflect the research interests of the Biomedical Sciences Research Complex including, for example, molecular microbiology, molecular virology, genome editing, chromosome replication, computational genomics, genome stability, and chromatin structure and function.

Course details

The BSc in Molecular Biology is a four-year course run by the School of Biology. Molecular Biology at St Andrews provides students with high-tech equipment, laboratories and expertise to facilitate learning and to develop the skillset of a modern molecular biologist.

In first and second year, modules introduce you to core subject material relevant to all biology degree programmes in areas such as animal and plant biology, molecular biology, cell biology and genetics.

Alongside biology, in the first year of your studies you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two.

Careers

Graduates from the School of Biology have a wide range of skills sought by employers:

• laboratory and field data collection
• data handling and presentation
• problem-solving
• teamwork
• planning
• organisation and communication skills.