Experiment in progress showing petri dishes and leaves.

Biology

In the top 10% of the most sustainable universities worldwide (QS World Rankings: Sustainability 2024).

 

On this page:

Find your Biology course

Choose the right course for you

I don't have many regrets, but not studying at Bangor is one of them.

Steve Backshall,  Honorary lecturer and part of Bangor University's teaching team; naturalist, explorer and presenter

[0:04]
And I'm incredibly lucky that very early in life I realised that I had this one thing that could always make me feel better.

[0:08]
Didn't matter how low I was plunging, that I had somewhere that I could take myself, where I could reset,

[0:16]
where I could remind myself of where I come from and what is special to me and the things I'm passionate about.

[0:22]
And it doesn't matter if it's up in the mountain or in a in a lake or in the sea.

[0:28]
Those are the things that just reset me.

[0:32]
And so I would say that, you know, you see yourself getting getting down, take advantage of all of the absolute wonders that we have here.

[0:40]
The people, you know, in the nation will travel hundreds of miles to come and see.

[0:45]
You have them right on your doorstep. You might only be here for three years or four years.

[0:49]
Take take advantage of them because it is so, so special.

[0:55]
And, you know, there is nothing that can compare to being up on the Glyderau or the, you know, the Carneddau as the sun is just starting to rise.

[1:04]
Standing on top of Tryfan and looking at all those mountains and just knowing that this right now is

[1:10]
your home and your place - embrace it. You've all made the best decision of your lives in coming here.

[1:15]
And I just want you all to make the most of it, treasure it, use it as best as you possibly can, you know, on your doorstep.

[1:22]
You have natural wonders that almost nobody else at university in this nation has.

[1:26]
So please, please use them to their full extent. And I promise I'll be back and see you sometime soon while you're here.
 

[0:03] So, so excited! It's so great to meet Steve! It's just such a great opportunity, to even see the

[0:09] Menai Strait in a different way as well.

[0:12] One of the reasons why I chose Bangor initially, was to be in such an area as this

[0:16] There's no better way to spend the afternoon really!

[0:23] We're heading out into the Menai Strait and off to Puffin Island with a group of students of the natural sciences.

[0:28] To get a flavour of the very finest of this area has to offer.

[0:47] Well, so far we've seen kind of all the very best of the wildlife from this part of the world, particularly when it comes to the birds.

[0:53] The ledges are thick, almost every single centimetre is covered with guillemots, a gull...

[0:59] and we've seen gannets and of course puffins as well.

[01:02] I guess this is why I decided to build a relationship with Bangor.

[01:06] What you can see right here. You know, any institution can invest in its infrastructure.

[01:11] Any institution can get bigger buildings or get more teaching.

[01:14] But there's no amount of investing that can get this.

[01:18] Having this on your doorstep is why Bangor is the best place to study natural sciences in the nation.

[01:30] It is fantastic. You know, obviously not just the company with having Steve there, it's seeing the wildlife that we saw the kittiwakes

[01:37] there cormorants the seals and that sort of stuff. Absolutely phenomenal, like once in a lifetime.

[01:41] Steve is such a genuine lovely guy. Yes, absolutely amazing. There's no better place to be.

[01:46] It's been a pretty amazing afternoon. I feel a little bit buffeted and and chilled.

[01:51] But to be able to head out from you know, you can see the University from here.

[01:56] You can see the halls of residence from here. To be a student here and think that you could finish studying,

[02:01] come down and get on a paddleboard or a kayak and head out into the Menai Strait and have this is your way of relieving exam stress.

[02:08] I mean, that just absolutely blows my mind.

Sir David Attenborough

Honorary Graduate Sir David Attenborough

“Bangor University has a superb reputation in the study of environmental science. The world needs people skilled in the expertise needed to play a crucial part in solving the world’s problems.” 

Watch - Study Biological Sciences

Take a look what it is like to study Biological Sciences at Bangor including a glimpse of our own Natural History Museum and lab spaces. Our student talks about studying, field-trips and her aspirations after graduating.

Student Amy Stout

Student Profile Amy Stout

“Studying Zoology with Animal Behaviour has been an incredible experience, with inspiring lecturers delving into many diverse topics, while surrounded by the amazing biodiversity in North Wales."

Student James Szewczyk

Student Profile James Szewczyk

"Zoology with Herpetology provides a wide range of diversity within modules, all of which are really engaging and facilitating."

Marcus Jones

Student Profile Marcus Jones

"The best thing about studying Biology so far has been the opportunity to go abroad for field trips in Year 2. This massively improved my confidence in talking to staff about work... which has helped considerably this year when working on my dissertation."

Our top facilities will bring what you learn on your degree to life

As part of your degree, you may make use of some of our excellent facilities, which include:

  • our own natural history museum 
  • botanic garden 
  • freshwater and marine aquaria 
  • venomous snake collection
  • Europe’s largest underground soil laboratory 
  • aviaries 
  • an ocean-going research vessel  
  • an active research farm
A student wearing a yellow jumper writing in a notebook, surrounded by plants in a greenhouse at Treborth Botanic Garden.
At the greenhouse in Treborth Botanic Gardern.

Do you have a question about life as a Bangor University student? Our ambassadors will be happy to help you find the answer.

They can tell you more about studying here, about the amazing Clubs and Societies we have, and how they made friends and settled in to life at university. 

Chat to current students

If you have any questions about the course, our lecturers are on hand to help. Below are some examples of frequently asked questions. Can you think of any more?

  • What are the qualities of a successful student in this subject at Bangor?
  • How can I prepare myself to study this subject at Bangor?
  • How will I know that this subject at Bangor is the right choice for me?

 

Our Research in Biology

We support a vigorous research base in Biological Sciences, including molecular ecologyBiogeochemistry and Plant ScienceAnimal physiology, behaviour and conservationMicrobiology, parasitology and biotechnology, fisheries genetics, ancient DNA, evolutionary and conservation biology, biogeochemistry, biohydrometallurgy, plant product biochemistry and (plant) stress physiology, wetland biogeochemistry, neurophysiology of crustaceans, animal responses to stress and applied microbiology.

We receive substantial financial support from Research Councils, charities, government departments, the European Commission, and British and overseas industry. Our postdoctoral base is strengthened by individually-sponsored Fellowships from the NERC and the EC (e.g. Marie-Curie). Our diverse interests facilitate a wide exchange of interdisciplinary ideas and techniques and promote collaborations here at Bangor and with colleagues in other institutions and industry, in the UK and overseas.

Related Subject Areas

You may also be interested in these related subject areas.

Related Subject Areas

You may also be interested in these related subject areas.

It looks like you’re visiting from outside the UK, would you like to be redirected to the international page?