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Biology at University of Edinburgh

University of Edinburgh is ranked 14th of 87 universities for biology on our measures. 87% of students are positive about the course, and graduates earn a median £28k after 15 months, rising to £34.5k after five years.

Typical offer AAA–ABBCentral, Scotland19 courses

#14 of 87 for biology48
Biological Sciences to your shortlist

Will my grades get me in?

We compare your grades with the typical offer above. Offers can change, so always check the university’s course page.

How it compares with other biology courses

  • Student satisfaction87%About average (average 86%)
  • Stay on course95%Above average (average 89%)
  • Graduate-level jobs80%Above average (average 60%)
  • Salary after 15 months£28kAbove average (average £26k)
  • Entry points (median)196More competitive than average (average 112)

The marker shows the typical (median) biology course. How we measure

Who gets in

UCAS points of students who started, with the A-level grades worth the same points. These totals include every qualification students had (a fourth A-level, EPQ, AS levels and so on), so many people here had a lower offer than their total suggests.

  1. Under 96 ptsbelow CCC4%
  2. 96–111 ptsCCC–BCC1%
  3. 112–127 ptsBBC–BBB0%
  4. 128–143 ptsABB–AAB3%
  5. 144–159 ptsAAA–A*AA13%
  6. 160+ ptsA*A*A or more79%

Most students here apply with Highers and Advanced Highers, which earn more UCAS points than A-levels, so these figures look higher than A-level offers usually are.

What graduates earn

  1. 15 months£28k£26k average
  2. 3 years£26k£24k average
  3. 5 years£34.5k£29.8k average

The 15-month figure comes from the Graduate Outcomes survey and covers graduates in full-time work. The 3 and 5-year figures come from tax records and include everyone in work, including part-time, so they can be lower than the 15-month figure.

Compare the 19 biology courses here

Each course has its own satisfaction, drop-out and entry figures where enough students answered. Add your grades above to see your fit for each one.

  • Typical offers range from ABB (Biological Sciences) to AAA (Biological Sciences).
  • Highest student satisfaction: Reproductive Biology (92%).
  • Least competitive entry: Biomedical Sciences. Half of the students who started had more than 182 UCAS points, against 216 on the most competitive course here.
  • Most students stay on: Biological Sciences with Management (100%).
  • Placement year: Biological Sciences (MBiol, 5 years, placement year) offers one.
  • Year abroad: 18 of the 19 courses offer one.
  • Courses last between 4 and 5 years.
  • Degrees awarded: BSc, MBiol.

  • Biological Sciences

    BSc · 4 years

    Optional year abroad

    Typical offerAAA–ABB

    Satisfied
    87%*
    Stay on
    95%
    Entry points
    197
    Graduate jobs
    80%*
    Salary
    £28k*
    Course pageWrong offer?

  • Biological Sciences (Biochemistry)

    BSc · 4 years

    Optional year abroad

    Typical offerAAA–ABB

    Satisfied
    87%*
    Stay on
    95%
    Entry points
    197
    Graduate jobs
    80%*
    Salary
    £28k*
    Course pageWrong offer?

  • Biological Sciences (Biotechnology)

    BSc · 4 years

    Optional year abroad

    Typical offerAAA–ABB

    Satisfied
    87%*
    Stay on
    95%
    Entry points
    197
    Graduate jobs
    80%*
    Salary
    £28k*
    Course pageWrong offer?

  • Biological Sciences (Cell Biology)

    BSc · 4 years

    Optional year abroad

    Typical offerAAA–ABB

    Satisfied
    87%*
    Stay on
    95%
    Entry points
    197
    Graduate jobs
    80%*
    Salary
    £28k*
    Course pageWrong offer?

  • Biological Sciences (Development, Regeneration and Stem Cells)

    BSc · 4 years

    Optional year abroad

    Typical offerAAA–ABB

    Satisfied
    87%*
    Stay on
    95%*
    Entry points
    196*
    Graduate jobs
    80%*
    Salary
    £28k*
    Course pageWrong offer?

  • Biological Sciences (Ecology)

    BSc · 4 years

    Optional year abroad

    Typical offerAAA–ABB

    Satisfied
    87%*
    Stay on
    95%
    Entry points
    197
    Graduate jobs
    80%*
    Salary
    £28k*
    Course pageWrong offer?

  • Biological Sciences (Evolutionary Biology)

    BSc · 4 years

    Optional year abroad

    Typical offerAAA–ABB

    Satisfied
    87%*
    Stay on
    95%
    Entry points
    197
    Graduate jobs
    80%*
    Salary
    £28k*
    Course pageWrong offer?

  • Biological Sciences (Genetics)

    BSc · 4 years

    Optional year abroad

    Typical offerAAA–ABB

    Satisfied
    87%*
    Stay on
    95%
    Entry points
    197
    Graduate jobs
    80%*
    Salary
    £28k*
    Course pageWrong offer?

  • Biological Sciences (Immunology)

    BSc · 4 years

    Optional year abroad

    Typical offerAAA–ABB

    Satisfied
    87%*
    Stay on
    95%
    Entry points
    197
    Graduate jobs
    80%*
    Salary
    £28k*
    Course pageWrong offer?

* When a course is too small to publish its own figure, we show the figure for similar courses at this university. Highlighted figures are the best of this university’s own course figures. Entry points are the middle UCAS score of students who started, counting all their qualifications, so they’re usually higher than the offer.

Typical offers are taken from each university’s own course page (checked October 2026). Offers change each year and some courses ask for specific subjects, so always check the course page before you apply.

Links go to the university’s own course pages, where you’ll find current entry requirements and fees.

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