The University of Manchester
Biological Sciences MSc
The University of Manchester

Key Course Facts

Salary

Salary of all UK Graduates of

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £33109 £34159 £35700
25-75 percentile range £30122 - £40073 £20370 - £39639 £22368 - £42249
Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
All courses in the UK

Course Description

Our MSc Biological Sciences course offers a unique opportunity to experience research projects across a broad range of disciplines and laboratory environments before you start your career in research.

Rather than attending traditional lectures on your chosen subject, you will learn through an interactive approach involving seminars, workshops and small group tutorials preparing you for relevant aspects of a science-based career. As this is a research-focused master's course, you will also undertake your own research project in the laboratory of a leading researchers.

You will gain research experience and professional skills - perhaps in a different area to your first degree - before deciding on a future career in industry or academic research. This will allow you to make an informed choice about the research area you want to go into.

You choose the laboratory placement from a list provided by your programme director. Projects on this list come from any of our areas of research within the biological and biomedical sciences. As we have over 200 research-active labs, we can offer a wide range of projects to choose from. For an idea of the breadth of available projects, browse our research pages.

Our course will also help you to develop transferable skills in essential areas such as experimental design, statistics, bioethics and science communication.

PhD with integrated master's

If you're planning to undertake a PhD after your master's, our Integrated PhD programme will enable you to combine your postgraduate taught course with a related PhD project in biology, medicine or health.

Accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in order to progress to pharmacist pre-registration training and then to register as a pharmacist. Please note, the 5-year integrated MPharm degree programme includes pre-registration training.

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

chart data
Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023
This particular course

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • All other courses
    • 6.5
    • Manchester Business School East - Undergraduate Degrees
    • 6.5
    • Manchester Business School - Graduate Degrees
    • 7.0
    • Graduate Degrees
    • (no subscore less than 6.0)
    • 7.0
    • Undergraduate Degrees
    • (no subscore less than 6.0)
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Biological Sciences, MSc, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

We require an honours degree (minimum Upper Second) or overseas equivalent : biological sciences, medical sciences.

With sufficient evidence of the relevant units taken

We may also consider exceptional applicants with a Lower Second who also have research experience or equivalent.

Costs

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

Source: Own research based on surveys and university data

University Rankings

Positions of The University of Manchester in top UK and global rankings.

See all 40 university rankings of The University of Manchester

About The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a publicly funded research university with a mission to advance education, knowledge and wisdom for the good of society. University of Manchester’s main site is home to the majority of its faculties and is referred to by its students as ‘the campus’, although in reality Manchester does not have a campus but is instead interspersed throughout the city of Manchester.

List of 622 Bachelor and Master Courses from The University of Manchester - Course Catalogue

Student composition of The University of Manchester

Total number of students enrolled at The University of Manchester by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
undergraduates:
30130
postgraduates:
12730
Total:
42860
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Biological Sciences”: Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
Source: Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
  • What makes Manchester special?
  • International students | Aranzazu Carmona Orbezo
  • Chendrawaty Indah Jopoetro: international student profile - The Indonesian Society
  • Fiona’s story: Equity and Merit Scholarships at The University of Manchester
  • The University of Manchester welcomes our new students

Where is this programme taught

Main Site
map marker Show on map

Similar courses

Program University Student satis­faction Unem­ployed Drop­out Tuition (UK) Tuition (Inter­national) UCAS Tariff City
Biological Sciences with Professional Studies Msci (Hons) Queen's University of Belfast 56% 5% 5% £9250 £25300 147 Belfast On campus Full-time
Biological Sciences Msci (Hons) Loughborough University of Technology - - - £9250 £27250 - Loughborough On campus Full-time
Biological Sciences MBiolSci The University of Sheffield - - - £9250 £29110 - Sheffield On campus Full-time
Biological Sciences Msci (Hons) University of Exeter 89% 0% 0% £9250 £29700 193 Exeter On campus Full-time
Biology MSc University of Bristol - - - £9250 £29300 - Bristol On campus Full-time
Biological Sciences with Professional Training year MBiol Cardiff University 77% 3% 2% £9000 £25450 £28200 163 Cardiff On campus Full-time
Biological Sciences Msci (Hons) Queen's University of Belfast 56% 5% 5% £9250 £25300 147 Belfast On campus Full-time
Biological Sciences (with placement year) Msci (Hons) Loughborough University of Technology - - - £9250 £27250 - Loughborough On campus Full-time
Biosciences MBiol Durham University - - - £9250 £29500 - Durham On campus Full-time
Biological Sciences MBiol Cardiff University 77% 3% 0% £9000 £25450 £28200 163 Cardiff On campus Full-time
Admission advice for international students