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Studies & Degrees in Biosciences

Biosciences is the umbrella name for the sciences of living things: biology, biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, ecology, marine biology and their applications in biotechnology and medicine. Some universities use it as the name of a faculty or of a degree; others teach the same content under biology or biological sciences.

Universität Heidelberg, which has a Faculty of Biosciences, describes the field as covering the interactions between organisms and their environment, the diversity of living organisms and their structure, growth and functions, the functions of cells and their components, and the genetic information contained in DNA. Students spend much of their time in laboratories and, in ecology or marine biology, in the field. Chemistry, mathematics, statistics and, increasingly, programming and data analysis support the biological subjects.

Qualifications and levels

The names and lengths of degrees depend on the country.

  • Germany: Heidelberg offers a bachelor's degree in Biosciences, followed by the consecutive master's degree Molecular Biosciences. The master's has a standard period of study of 4 semesters and is taught in English. Students choose a major such as Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Cancer Biology, Infectious Diseases or Systems Biology.
  • Chile: at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, the Biología programme lasts 10 semesters and leads to the academic degree of Licenciado/a en Ciencias Biológicas and the professional title of Biólogo/Bióloga. Its Faculty of Biological Sciences also runs programmes in Bioquímica and Biología Marina. The Universidad de Concepción offers Bioingeniería, a five-year programme leading to the professional title of Bioingeniero/a.
  • United States: the first degree is a Bachelor of Science. At Drexel University the Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences has six concentrations and can include periods of work experience through the Drexel Co-op programme. Tennessee Tech University offers a Biology B.S. and a Wildlife and Fisheries Science B.S.
  • Japan: Kyoto University has a Graduate School of Biostudies, with a Division of Integrated Life Science and a Division of Systemic Life Science, for study at master's and doctoral level.

A doctorate is the usual requirement for independent research. Short courses also exist: ASU Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) runs courses and internships in marine science for university students from around the world.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 14 active schools for this subject. Five are in Brazil, among them federal and state universities such as the Universidade Federal de Goiás, the Universidade Federal de Viçosa and the Universidade Estadual de Maringá. Two are in the United States and two in Chile. Bermuda, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany have one each.

The language of instruction follows the country at undergraduate level: Portuguese in Brazil, Spanish in Chile and Argentina, English in the United States and the United Kingdom. At master's level English is more common, as in Heidelberg's Molecular Biosciences.

Costs differ greatly. Heidelberg lists fees and contributions of €189.80 per semester for the Molecular Biosciences master's. The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile publishes an annual fee (arancel) of $5.600.000 Chilean pesos for Biología in 2026. Check each university's own page for the current amount and for any separate fees for international students.

When comparing programmes, look at how broad the first years are, which specialisations follow, how many laboratory and field hours are included, and whether a research project or work placement is part of the degree.

Careers

Bioscience graduates work in research institutes and universities, in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and food industries, in clinical and testing laboratories, in environmental agencies and in conservation. Heidelberg notes that its bachelor's degree qualifies graduates to enter the job market, also in roles such as patenting or science journalism, while molecular biologists with a master's typically go on to research institutes, the chemical and pharmaceutical industry or environmental agencies.

The level of degree matters. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), microbiologists typically need at least a bachelor's degree; they held about 20,100 jobs in the United States in 2025, and employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035. For biochemists and biophysicists the typical entry-level education is a doctoral or professional degree; they held about 35,200 jobs in 2025, 61% of them in scientific research and development services, with projected growth of 12 percent over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

Is biosciences the same as biology?

Largely, yes. Biosciences is a broader label that also takes in biochemistry, biotechnology and related fields. Heidelberg, for example, describes its Biosciences subject in terms of biology.

How long does a biosciences degree take?

It varies by country. The Biología programme at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile lasts 10 semesters, Bioingeniería at the Universidad de Concepción five years, and Heidelberg's Molecular Biosciences master's 4 semesters after a bachelor's degree.

Can I study biosciences in English outside English-speaking countries?

Yes, mainly at master's level. Heidelberg teaches its Molecular Biosciences master's in English.

Do I need a doctorate to work in biosciences?

Not for every job. In the United States microbiologists typically need at least a bachelor's degree, while the typical entry-level education for biochemists and biophysicists is a doctoral or professional degree, according to the BLS.