Ecology and Environmental Biology BSc
  • Undergraduate
  • BSc

Ecology and Environmental Biology

Focus on important ecological and environmental topics such as climate change, biodiversity and conservation.

Discover the behaviour of living systems from cells to ecosystems and explore issues relating to climate change, biodiversity and conservation

Understand ecosystems in depth and understand the impact of plants, animals and microbes

Undertake and analyse experiments in the field, lab and through computational analysis

Showing course information for 2024 View 2025 course information

Course key facts

  • Qualification

    • BSc

  • Duration

    3 years

  • Start date

    October 2024

  • UCAS course code

    C180

  • Study mode

    Full-time

  • Fees

    • £9,250 Home

    • £41,650 Overseas

  • Delivered by

  • Location

    • South Kensington

  • Applications: places

    9 : 1 (2022)

Minimum entry standard

  • AAA (A-level)

  • 38 points (International Baccalaureate)

View full entry requirements

Course overview

Understand the behaviour of living systems from the level of cells up to whole organisms and ecosystems.

This specialist course focuses on the interaction between living organisms and species and their environment. You will learn to assess the impact plants, animals and microbes have on their ecosystem.

You will study the diversity of the living world, how we make sense of this diversity and how the planet's biological diversity is organised by ecological processes into ecosystems, communities, and populations.

Through laboratory, computational and field work you will learn the skills you need to design, carry out and analyse the data from biological experiments.

After receiving a solid grounding in fundamental topics you will be prepared for advanced study. As you progress, you will study more advanced topics while being able to tailor your modules to suit your interest from a wide range of choices, including field-based work.

Our Department's internationally leading research programme means you'll be learning at the very cutting edge of the subject. You will also benefit from access to our outstanding facilities, including for genomic and cell biology studies, tissue culture suites and the most modern microscopes.

When you graduate, you'll be prepared for a range of exciting careers. This course will provide the grounding required to pursue further education, or a career in areas such as pharmaceuticals, biomedical science, and food technology.

Similar opportunities exist for life scientists in government and independent laboratories. Your transferable skills will even prepare you for other careers as well, with some graduates working in medicine and the media.

Structure

This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.

Find out more about potential course changes.

Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.

You will study all core modules in your first year.



Core modules

  • Biological Chemistry and Microbiology
  • Evolution and Diversity
  • Cell Biology and Genetics
  • Ecology and Evolution

You will study all core modules alongside a I-Explore module, allowing you to study an area beyond your core discipline.

You’ll also choose three optional modules in total, one from each of Groups A, B and C.

Core modules

  • Applied Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Bioinformatics, Statistics and Programming (BS)
  • Tutored Dissertation
  • I-Explore

Optional modules – Group A

  • Essentials of Ecology

Optional modules – Group B

  • Behavioural Ecology

Optional modules – Group C

  • Vertebrate Form and Evolution
  • Ecological Field Skills

All year 3 modules are optional modules. You choose three optional modules in total, one from each of Groups A, B and C.

You will also undertake a research project option from Group D.



 

Optional modules – Group A

  • African Biology Field Course
  • Evolutionary Applications

Optional modules – Group B

  • Symbiosis, Plant Immunity and Disease
  • Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
  • Disease Ecology and Epidemiology

Optional modules – Group C

  • The Microbiome
  • Biodiversity Genomics
  • Global Change Biology

Optional modules – Group D

  • Practical Research Project (Lab, Computational, Field) or
  • Science Communication plus Literature Research Project (Research Proposal)

Teaching and assessment

Balance of teaching and learning

Key

  • Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
  • Independent study

Years 1 and 2

  • 30% Lectures, laboratory work and seminars
  • 70% Independent study

Teaching and learning methods

  • Laboratory
  • Person at lectern giving speech
    Lectures
  • Four students sitting in a tutorial
    Tutorials
  • Person giving seminar
    Seminars
  • ID badge for site visit or facility tour
    Site visits
  • A group of people interacting
    Group project
  • Individual research project
    Research project

Balance of assessment

Key

  • Examination
  • Coursework

Year 1

  • 60% Examination
  • 40% Coursework

Year 2

  • 48% Examination
  • 52% Coursework

Year 3

  • 56% Examination
  • 44% Coursework

Assessment methods

  • Person completing coursework
    Coursework
  • Essays
  • Individual research
  • Laboratory write-ups
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • A person completing a written exam
    Written examinations

Entry requirements

We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.

How to apply

Applications for 2024 entry are now closed

Applications are closed for 2024 entry.

Tuition fees

Home fee

2024 entry

£9,250 per year

Overseas fee

2024 entry

£41,650 per year

Your future career

Person in a bubble surrounded by 4 skills

Gain transferable skills relevant to a career in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and biomedical science.

Lightbulb with graduate cap inside

With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.

Graduate Cap above rolled Degree

Many Life Sciences graduates study at the Master's or PhD level before entering academia or industry.

Teacher in front of classroom

Education, the medical industry, and the media are also potential avenues open to you.

Man standing under a sign pointing different directions

Other potential career paths include software engineers, research associates, genomics and genetics research, and scientific officers in government.

Course data

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Terms and conditions

There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.

Read our terms and conditions

You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.

Programme specifications