Pursuing Bioscience in the U.K.

Global Ed


If you are thinking about applying knowledge to develop biological solutions that sustain, restore, and improve the quality of life for humans, plants, and animals in our world, then you are entering the realm of biosciences. From genetics to zoology, a bioscientist gains an entry into understanding life at all forms.

So, in this article, we will be looking at:

  • Bioscience versus biology
  • The core sectors in bioscience
  • Key areas of employment
  • Bioscience in the U.K.
  • Top universities in the U.K. for bioscience

Biosciences versus biology


Biology is something most of us get introduced to at the school level. How is bioscience different? Biology deals with organisms, how they function, how they interact with each other, and their environments. Biosciences deals with organisms at a deeper, molecular, and cellular level.

By studying organisms at the molecular or genetic level, developments in biosciences can result in life-saving therapies, procedures, pharmacological advancements, healthier foods, hybrids to solve food crises, and a better quality of life on the whole.


Core sectors in biosciences


  • Biotechnology and all its associated specialisations (Agricultural Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biomedical, Biochemistry to name a few)
  • Medical and Testing Labs
  • Medical device and equipment
  • Medial Product Distribution
  • Pharmaceuticals & Therapeutics
  • IT for Life Sciences

Key areas of employment


What can you do after a Bioscience degree? The number of science-related careers where you can find opportunities is simply staggering. Of course, there is postgraduate education and research degrees. Some of the R and D jobs might even need you to have a Master’s. That said, what are some of the sectors you can find employment in?

  • Public and Private healthcare
  • Clinical Research
  • Pharmaceutics
  • Biotech research fields (Vaccinology, Biomedical research, Genetics, etc)
  • Environment and Agriculture (Sustainability and Conservation based organisations)
  • Education, Teaching
  • Technical media, research publication, and journalism

Biosciences in the U.K.


The U.K. Visas and Immigration Office has listed Bioscientist as one of the areas in which the nation is facing a shortage. Skilled individuals from across the world can apply for a Skilled Worker Visa and carve a life for themselves in the U.K.

The bioscience sector in the U.K. is growing with foreign investors putting in over £1.56 billion during the previous quarter. In a sector that is this fast-growing, it is natural to also have an emerging skills gap. It is expected that by 2030, this domain has the potential to create 133,000 jobs in the country.

Besides the pandemic and Brexit, the bioscience industry is facing a generational shift with regard to skills, caused by the tectonic advancements in available technology. “There is a big push in Europe to ensure greater resilience of supply (in all things, not just medicines) … Add in the digital transition, you have companies scrambling to bring in this new generation of scientists and engineers. The movement of people is critical for this. No country has a full supply of talent in a frontier sector such as biotech, which is always evolving, and countries need to both develop and attract the right skills at sufficient scale to make their industries competitive globally,” says Claire Skentelbery, director-general of pan-European industry association EuropaBio.

Top Universities in the U.K. to pursue Biosciences

U.K. Rank World Rank University
1 3 University of Cambridge
2 5 University of Oxford
3 13 Imperial College London
4 15 UCL
5 20 University of Edinburgh
6 53 University of Manchester
7 57 King’s College, London
8 62 University of Glasgow
9 84 University of Bristol
10 104 University of Dundee

Source: QS Rankings



Date added
03.03.2022

Filed under:

Global Ed

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