Studies & Degrees in Biology
Biology Study Programs
Biology is the science of living things. A degree covers life at every scale, from molecules and cells to organisms, populations and whole ecosystems. Students learn how cells work, how genes are inherited and expressed, how plants, animals and microorganisms are built and how they function, and how species evolve and interact with their environment.
The first years usually combine cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, physiology, ecology and evolution with supporting courses in chemistry, physics, mathematics and statistics. Practical work is central: students carry out experiments in the laboratory, study organisms in the field and analyse data with specialised software. Most degrees end with a research project of the student's own.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree. In Spain the bachelor's degree (grado) in Biología has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years, the standard length set by Royal Decree 822/2021. The Universidad de Navarra, for example, teaches its official grado in Pamplona in Spanish and English. In Scotland, the BSc in Biology at the University of Aberdeen lasts 48 months. In the United States biology is studied as a major within a bachelor's degree; Stanford University describes its major as a stepping-stone to medical, dental or veterinary school or to a graduate programme in the biological and applied sciences.
- Master's degree. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. A master's is the usual way to specialise, for example in molecular biology, microbiology, ecology, marine biology, neuroscience or bioinformatics. Zoologists and wildlife biologists typically need at least a master's degree for higher-level positions, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Doctorate. A PhD is the route to independent research and to most university posts.
- Health specialisation in Spain. Graduates in biology can apply for residency training in several multidisciplinary health specialties, among them clinical laboratory, immunology, and microbiology and parasitology (Royal Decree 183/2008). This is the route usually known as BIR.
Some degrees carry an external quality label. In the United Kingdom the Royal Society of Biology accredits bioscience degrees, including programmes outside the country; the BSc in Biology at Aberdeen is one of the accredited degrees. Accreditation of this kind is a quality label and is not the same as official recognition of the degree, so ask each school what recognition its qualification has in the country where you plan to work.
Where to study biology
SpainExchange lists 489 active schools for biology. The United States has by far the most (222), followed by the United Kingdom (43), Spain (33), Canada (21), France (13) and Germany (12). Brazil, China, Argentina, Australia, Algeria and Colombia each have between five and seven.
The list includes large research universities such as Stanford University, the University of Michigan, The University of Texas at Austin and The Ohio State University in the United States, the University of Aberdeen and London Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, Ghent University in Belgium and the Université d'Avignon in France. It also includes small liberal arts colleges such as Lawrence University in Wisconsin. In Spain, the Universidad de Navarra is one example.
Teaching is normally in the language of the country. Because most biological research is published in English, many universities in non-English-speaking countries teach part of the degree in English, as the Universidad de Navarra does.
Careers
Biology graduates work in research, health, the environment, industry and education. The Universidad de Navarra groups the options for its graduates into three areas: the environment (environmental management and advice, pollution control), health (clinical analysis, clinical biochemistry, microbiology and parasitology) and industry (waste management, research and development, control of biological processes, biotechnology). Teaching, science communication and work for public bodies are other common paths.
Official US figures give an idea of demand in three typical occupations. According to the BLS, employment is projected to grow between 2025 and 2035 by 7 percent for biological technicians (74,400 jobs in 2025), by 6 percent for microbiologists and by 4 percent for zoologists and wildlife biologists. All three occupations typically require a bachelor's degree to start. Prospects in other countries depend on public research funding and on the size of the local pharmaceutical, food and environmental sectors.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a biology degree take?
In Spain the grado has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years. A BSc in Scotland also takes four years (48 months at the University of Aberdeen). In the United States biology is a major within a bachelor's degree, so the length is that of the degree as a whole.
Do I need a master's degree or a PhD to work as a biologist?
Not always. Jobs such as biological technician or microbiologist typically require a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS. Higher-level positions often ask for a master's degree, and independent research requires a PhD.
Can biology graduates work in hospitals in Spain?
Yes, through specialised health training. Royal Decree 183/2008 opens several residency specialties to biology graduates, including clinical laboratory, immunology, and microbiology and parasitology.
Is biology a good route into medicine?
In countries where medicine is a graduate degree, such as the United States, a biology major is a common preparation; Stanford describes its major as a stepping-stone to medical school. In Spain medicine is a separate degree with its own admission, so biology is not a shortcut.