About us

The Department of Biological Sciences has been a leader in teaching and research since 1928.

Our first head was Sir Alistair Hardy, chief zoologist on Captain Scott’s ship, The Discovery. He was one of the first marine biologists to explore tropical and Antarctic oceans and became world famous for his work in oceanography.

More recently, we’ve developed an international reputation in:

• Biomedical science
• Evolutionary biology
• Functional ecology
• Fisheries management
• Estuarine and coastal studies

Why choose us?

We’re not just about tradition. The department is a thriving, modern place to study with some of the best research aquaria in Europe. Since 2004 we’ve invested more than £3m in our facilities and completely refurbished our teaching and main research laboratories.

We achieved excellent results in the 2011 National Student Survey, with 91% of full-time Biology students and 100% of Biomedical Science students saying they were happy with our courses.

We’re also proud of our research, which has put us at the forefront of many exciting fields and ensures our teaching is research-driven.