Careers Guidance

• Discover Uni: This lets you compare official information on student satisfaction, graduate destinations and average salaries for undergraduate courses in the UK. 
• National Careers Service job profiles: This database contains information on over 800 jobs, including typical work and salary, entry requirements, progression and background information on the sector. 
• Which? University: This allows you to explore degrees by subject and university, and lets you compare course content, how you will be assessed, and how your time will be divided between independent study, lectures, tutorials, and practical work.

• Where do you want to study? You will be living where you study for at least three years, so location might be a factor when deciding which university you want to attend. Think about whether you want to live on a campus university, or in a big city? 
• How long you will study for? Most full-time bachelors degrees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland usually take 3 years. Full-time degrees in Scotland traditionally last four years, typically offering a broad range of subjects in the first two years, and the chance to specialise in your final two years. Studies can take longer if you decide to do a year in industry, combine it with a masters year, study abroad, or undertake a joint honours programme. 
• What skills and experience you will gain? Think about whether you need specialised knowledge or training that will enable you to enter a certain career; does your degree need to be accredited or recognised by a relevant professional body? If you're already thinking of a career in research, then our Advanced Degree Accreditation is one way to help find courses that will give the opportunity to gain research skills and experience. 
• Course content and delivery? Choosing a degree subject isn't the same as choosing a degree course; the subject is a umbrella term, but the content delivered can vary greatly from university to university. Many bioscience and biology degrees will offer a broad choice of modules in the first year, with the chance to specialise and focus on one area in the second and third years. Attending one of the UCAS Higher Education Conventions will give you an opportunity to speak to representatives from a wide variety of universities, while attending an open day will give you in-depth information about the course, university and location.

Applications to undergraduate degrees in the UK are made online through UCAS. You can apply to up to five courses per year, and you can only make one application per year.

Although the deadline for most UK courses is in January, most schools and colleges will encourage you to complete you application by November, to allow them enough time to review your choices, make grade predictions and supply references.

• UK universities decide how much they want to charge for different courses. Most students from the UK and EU are eligible to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, if it's their first degree. In addition to the Tuition Fee Loan, there are Maintenance Loans and Grants to help with your living costs, if you're a full-time UK student. These loans and grants are managed by the Student Loans Company, but applications are made depending on whether you are applying from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales.
• Additional funding for individual needs is available, either through your local authority for care leavers, or your regional funding body for students with disabilities.
• Money Saving Expert gives you loads of impartial advice on student loans, managing your finances and debt, and myth-busting the changes to tuition fees.
• Comparethemarket has a comprehensive guide on how student loans work, and links to student loan calculators.

Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) is the key that unlocks the door towards a successful job application. Some useful resources for creating your CV can be found below:

• How to write a CV (National Careers Service)
• How to write a CV (Prospects)
• How to write a CV (CV Library) 
• CV Templates (Future Learn)

Covering letters are necessary to make links between the job description and your CV. They give you a chance to show that you possess the skills for the job. Some useful resources for creating your CV can be found below:

• How to write a cover letter (National Careers Service)
• Cover letters (Prospects)
• Cover letters (CV Library)

Not only are interviews a chance for the employer to find out more about you and whether they think you will suit the job, they are also a chance for you to find out more about the job and organisation that you have applied to. Some useful resources for interviews can be found below:

• Interview advice (National Careers Service)
• Interview tips (Prospects)

Most universities have a careers centre, some offer a graduate service to students who have already graduated. Services vary but they offer basic careers guidance and have general information and resources that are available for use.

Careers fairs are useful events that will offer a chance to explore many different areas of work and meet different employers. To find out more about careers fairs in your area look at your university careers website or visit your local careers centre.

Here are selection of websites which have information on current job vacancies within biology and in science-related areas:

• Royal Society of Biology vacancies
• Biomedical Science Jobs
• Environmental Jobs
• Jobs in Science
• Naturejobs
• New Scientist Jobs
• Science Careers — worldwide

• Guardian Jobs
• Target Jobs
• Milkround
• Prospects
• Jooble
• LinkedIn

Jobs that are in areas that are very competitive are often never advertised, instead the companies rely on speculative applications, when an application letter is sent to a company that is not advertising vacancies.

Work experience can be gained at any time; during school or college, whilst you are studying, in summer breaks, or after graduation.

Tips for finding work experience

• Be pro-active and make the most of what you know and who you know.
• Ask your school or university careers advisors, teachers, and lecturers.
• Reach out to local businesses that employ biologists and scientists.
• Reach out to family or friends who work in biology and might be able to help you find experience.
• Remember that biologists may work in laboratories, schools, food production, offices, schools, museums, conservation organisations, zoos, clinical environments, veterinary practices, and many other places — be prepared to search very broadly.
• Be enthusiastic when given opportunities.

Whilst work experience in biology is very valuable, don't discount any work/voluntary experience you have that is not directly related to the career you want. If you have other experience, like a part time job or some volunteering, think about the transferable skills you can talk about in applications and interviews. Some of these skills will also be developed through your studying, for example group projects (teamwork & communication), or meeting your deadlines (organisation).

Examples of transferable skills

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Teamwork
• Time management and organisation
• Leadership
• Decision making

There are some science organisations that offer work experience specially for A level students. Here are some examples: 

• The Nuffield Foundation offers bursaries to support A-level students on work experience placements
• University College London offers lab based workshops and work experience via its Zebrafish group
• The MRC Clinical Sciences Centre in London runs a summer studentship 
• GlaxoSmithKline offer experience in labs in institutions in London, Essex and Hertfordshire
• STFC offer students lab work experience at Chilbolton Observatory, Daresbury Laboratory, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and The UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UKATC)

Placements should be valuable to both the individual and the organisation. They may be integrated into your degree course as industrial placements, or you may do them outside of your studies as summer placements (see below).

In some cases you can receive bursaries and grants in order to support your placement. The Society no longer offers Undergraduate Research Bursaries, but many of our Member Organisations offer support for research based placements as undergraduate studentships. They can also offer support in the form of bursaries and awards to attend conferences related to their discipline.

Some universities have year long industrial placements built into their bioscience degree courses. Under the watch of an assigned supervisor they allow students to build upon skills learnt through their degree as well as learn new ones which can help them in the future.

Universities may help their students look for industrial placements, especially when they are built into their course.

• AstraZeneca offer an industrial placement also known as a ‘sandwich’.
• Merck, Sharp and Dohme offer a number of industrial placements for undergraduates looking to gain experience of working in the pharmaceutical industry.
• The Game and Wildlife Trusts placements in ecology and conservation.

Even if work placements are not integrated into your degree you can still apply for summer internships which can range in length from 1-12 weeks over the summer.

Some summer placements are unpaid, others offer to repay travel expenses whilst a few are paid. It depends on how big the organisation is, how long the placement is for and what type of work you will be doing. Unpaid placements are still good opportunities for students to gain new skills, network and show future employers that they are dedicated and committed to their degree subject and (more importantly) have the relevant work experience to back up their claims.

Your university careers service should be able to provide you with more details of companies which offer internships over the summer. Some Member Organisations of the Royal Society of Biology also offer placements and information about them can be found below.

• The Royal Society of Biology (RSB), in partnership with Defra, runs the Plant Health Undergraduate Studentship Scheme, which allows students to undertake a 8-10 week paid summer studentship in plant health.
• IAESTE is a scheme backed by the British Council which arranges paid international work experience placements. These normally last for 12 weeks over the summer with initial registration for the scheme open from September to December of the academic year.
• The Wellcome Trust runs a series of paid summer internships for undergraduate students in areas such as science funding, policy and public engagement.
• Queen’s University Marine Laboratory run placements for undergraduates and recent graduates who are interested in gaining more experience in marine science.
• Unilever offer summer placements in Supply Chain, Research & Development, Customer Development, and Human Resources. It is for undergraduates in the penultimate year of their degree.
• Labs at the John Innes Centre offer undergraduates the opportunity to work on research projects during the summer for around 8 weeks. It is particularly useful for undergraduates who may be considering taking up a PhD studentship.
• Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan runs a funded summer placement scheme for undergraduates on big data, human health and statistics.
• Step provides paid work experience for undergraduates and recent graduates, generally in smaller businesses across the UK, giving you the opportunity to gain practical experience and develop work related skills all companies, large and small, are looking for in their graduate recruits.
• The British Society for Research on Ageing provides grants for undergraduate students to get hands-on research experience during the summer, related to the biology of ageing. The BSRA welcome applications from supervisors (and/or directly from students who have found a suitable supervisor) in UK universities who are already working on these kinds of projects and are willing to share their experiences with undergraduate students for skill and career development. 

• Prospects
• Rate My Placement
• Target Jobs

There are two types of Master's available: taught Master's and Master's by research. UCAS has information on these and other postgraduate qualifications. Find A Masters is a directory of courses at academic institutions both in the UK and around the world, and also has useful advice on funding.

Taught Master's programmes

A taught Master's course is similar to an undergraduate degree — you attend lectures, perform practicals, and have either the option of exams or producing a thesis at the end to gain an MSc (Master's of Science). They normally last between one to two years full time or up to three years part time.

Master's by research

Students interested in research can advance into a Master's of research (MRes). A research Master's includes a small proportion of lectures but the majority of your time is spent on your independent research project(s). Instead of exams you prepare a thesis on your independent research which is then submitted at the end of your course. These courses last one to two years full time or two to four years part time and they are often seen as a preparatory course for a PhD. At the end you gain an MRes (Master's of Research).

Some students go straight from an undergraduate degree into a PhD. A lot of PhDs are partially or fully funded by research councils associated with the UK Research Council who award grants to university departments. The departments then advertise these funded places to students as studentships on a competitive basis.

These are useful as they coordinate research projects across the UK and can be a source of further information and possibly funding. The home of the research councils can be found online at Research Councils UK. Other Research Councils include:

• Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council
• Economic and Social Research Council
• Engineering and Physical Science Research Council
• Medical Research Council
• Natural Environment Research Council
• Science and Technology Facilities Council