Discover Biology and Biosciences
Congratulations on your offer
We’re pleased to offer you a place on one of our Biology and Biosciences courses. As part of the Department of Biology, you’ll be prepared for a range of roles where you can make a real impact. You’ll be immersed in a rich research environment that’ll give you the skills and opportunities to advance human knowledge and understanding today, to make a difference to tomorrow’s world.
With a range of practical experiences and all field trips paid for by us, it’s easy to see why we’re 1st in the North West and Top 10 in the UK for ‘teaching on my course’ (National Student Survey 2025 – Biosciences).
Facilities available to you
Our two buildings incorporate impressive, modern laboratories, offering exciting and highly relevant practice experience from across the biological sciences. You’ll also get to benefit from our new £17.4m Life Sciences building, featuring dedicated student research labs. Other laboratories include fluorescence and scanning electron microscopes, DNA extraction and analysis equipment, climate-controlled insectaries and more.
Biotechnology
The department is fitted with state-of-the-art labs and equipment which include dedicated facilities for:
- microbiology
- molecular biology
- cell and tissue culture
- microscopy and vector biology
Available equipment and techniques include anaerobic microbiology chambers, gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), laboratory-size parallel bioreactor system for plant and mammalian applications including drug development, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), several types of microscopy, DNA extraction and sequencing, qPCR and PCR facilities and mosquito-rearing facilities.
Plus, 100% of students are employed in highly skilled occupations 15 months after graduating.
Biomedical Science
Access our state-of-the-art cell culture facility dedicated to undergraduate student teaching and research. This facility encompasses:
- class-II safety cabinets
- various humidified incubators
- a fully automated inverted fluorescence microscope to monitor cell growth
- study of advanced cell culture experiments
You’ll have access to modern biomedical research equipment, including cooled centrifuges for small and large tubes, fine-scales, pH-meters, water-bathes, hot-plates, various shakers, consumables and material for Western-blotting, toxicity and hormone level analyses.
Biology
Biology facilities are wide-ranging with access to equipment such as a Scanning Electron Microscope, biotechnology labs and insectaries where we rear the world’s most deadly organism, the mosquito.
Ecology and Conservation
Our ecology teaching and research take advantage of the outstanding countryside in the vicinity. This includes one of the best coastlines in Europe, ancient woodlands and distinctive rare habitats. The department has the use of a private local woodland for research. We also have excellent lab facilities, including soil labs and microscopy facilities, dedicated labs for invertebrate ecology and plant science, including reference collections and bookable labs open to all students.
Prepare for your degree
Before you start your studies, you could:
- Read around your subject. Go to newscientist.com
- Try some activities on stem.org.uk
- Start a journal to practise keeping a lab book
Supporting you
When you become a student here, you’ll be allocated a Personal Tutor. They will be your main source of support in your academic department. They’ll be with you as you progress throughout your degree, supporting you in three areas: professional/career-related support, pastoral support and signposting you to information you need. But they aren’t just there when you need support. They are also there to celebrate your successes, help with planning your progress and much more.
Hear from our students
When you study one of our biology and bioscience degrees, you’ll combine technical, analytical and communication skills that will enhance your employability prospects. The Department of Biology has an active research culture and an extensive network of relationships with organisations and other universities in the UK and overseas.
Find out more about what our students have to say about their course, work placements available and their experiences as Edge Hill students.
Chat to our students
Got any questions about studying biology at Edge Hill? Want to know more about student life? Or just want to chat about Edge Hill in general?
Biology and Biosciences news
Take a look at our Virtual Open Day
Immerse yourself in our campus with our virtual tour. Explore the buildings from your own home and get a feel for our learning, living and leisure spaces. Roam the halls of our iconic buildings. Start your virtual open day.