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
Course key facts
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Qualification
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BSc
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Duration
3 years
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Start date
October 2025
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UCAS course code
C180
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£9,535 per year Home
£43,300 per year Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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South Kensington
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Applications: places
8 : 1 (2023)
Minimum entry standard
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AAA (A-level)
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38 points (International Baccalaureate)
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
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Laboratory
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Lectures
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Tutorials
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Seminars
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Site visits
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Group project
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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
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Coursework
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Essays
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Individual research
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Laboratory write-ups
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Presentations
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Reports
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Written examinations
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
You can now submit your application via UCAS Hub. There you can add this course as one of your choices and track your application.
UCAS institution code: I50
Application deadlines – 29 January 2025 at 18.00 (UK time)
This department does not use a test as part of its selection process.
Predicted grades and scores in your application are important, but it’s not the only thing that drives the decision.
Our selectors will also consider things like your personal statement and your references to understand whether there is a good match between you and your chosen subject and department at Imperial.
You can read more about our selection process, including tips on writing a personal statement, in our How to apply section.
Assessing your application
Admissions Tutors consider all the evidence available during our rigorous selection process and the College flags key information providing assessors with a more complete picture of the educational and social circumstances relevant to the applicant. Some applicants may be set lower offers and some more challenging ones.
Generally, the department does not hold interviews.
Applications from school leavers who wish to take a gap year are welcome. Applicants must state in their UCAS personal statement how they propose to spend their time.
For Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, we sometimes accept transfers from other institutions into the second year. Students should provide us with a transcript of their first year grades and details of their Pre-University Qualifications and the grades attained in them.
Offers are based on the number of places available (if any), the relevance of the modules covered in the first year elsewhere and the grades achieved. If we feel direct entry to the second year wouldn't be possible we may offer you first year entry instead.
We do not accept any transfers into the third year of any of our courses.
Applicants who are unsuccessful cannot be reconsidered for entry within the same cycle but may reapply the following year without prejudice with a new application. We consider resit students in open competition with all other applicants.
We do not accept Access courses, Foundation years or OU courses.
General studies will not be accepted at any level. Other qualifications, such as Key Skills or Critical Thinking, while useful, will not count towards an offer.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
The structure of the Department's courses means that transfer between different Biotechnology and Biochemistry degrees is usually possible up until the end of the second year.
- Transfer onto Language for Science courses must be completed at the very start of the first year.
- Transfer onto Year in Industry/Research courses should be completed at the start of the second year to allow time to arrange a suitable placement.
- It is not possible to transfer onto one of the Biological Sciences degrees from a Biochemistry or Biotechnology degree.
- Transfer onto the Management Year is subject to approval from the Imperial College Business School; and academic performance in the first two years of the degree (students should be working to a 2:1 standard by the end of their second year).
If you are an international student, transferring to a different course could have an impact on your student visa.
Please visit our International Student Support webpage for further information.
Language requirement
Teaching is in the language of your host country, so you will need to reach an acceptable proficiency in the relevant language before you go. Free language classes are available at the College to help you prepare.
Availability
There are limited places available on the Year Abroad programme, which means that competition for selection is strong and a placement cannot be guaranteed.
Normally, only students with marks of 60% or above will be eligible for placements in France and Germany. Only students with marks of 70% or above will be eligible for placements in the USA.
Please note the list of universities located abroad that the Department currently has partnerships with is illustrative.
Partnerships with universities are subject to continuous review and individual partnerships may or may not be renewed.
Read more about how our language for science degrees are taught on the Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication website.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2025 entry
£9,535 per year
Important update for 2025 entry
The UK government has announced that, starting in April 2025, maximum tuition fees for Home undergraduate students in England will increase from £9,250 per year to £9,535. Find out more.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a Home student, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the UK government to cover the entire cost of tuition for every year of your course.
The loan is paid directly to the university.
You will start repaying it only after you leave your course, have a job, and are earning above a certain amount.
Once the repayments start, the amount you pay each month depends on how much you earn, not on how much you owe in total.
Home students can apply for a means-tested Maintenance Loan to help with their living costs.
In November 2024, the UK government announced a 3.1% increase in English Maintenance Loans for 2025-26.
How you apply for student finance depends on whether you have studied before and where you’re from or normally live. Find out more on the UK government's website.
The Imperial Bursary is available to all Home undergraduate students with a household income below £70,000 per year.
The amount awarded is based on your household income, with up to £5,000/year available for students from the lowest income households.
It's money which you don't need to pay back, and it's paid on top of any government funding you may also receive.
It is available for each year of your course, as long as your annual household income remains below £70,000.
Overseas fee
2025 entry
£43,300 per year
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
94% Of Imperial Life Sciences graduates in work or further study*
- 94% Of Imperial Life Sciences graduates in work or further study*
- 6%
83% Of Imperial Life Sciences graduates in highly skilled work or further study*
- 83% Of Imperial Life Sciences graduates in highly skilled work or further study*
- 17%
*2021-22 graduate outcomes data, published by HESA in 2024
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Gain transferable skills relevant to a career in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and biomedical science.
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
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Many Life Sciences graduates study at the Master's or PhD level before entering academia or industry.
Education, the medical industry, and the media are also potential avenues open to you.
Other potential career paths include software engineers, research associates, genomics and genetics research, and scientific officers in government.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 7594 5398
- Email: lifesciences.admissions@imperial.ac.uk
Visit the Department of Life Sciences website
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Request info
Learn more about studying at Imperial. Receive useful information about our life in our undergraduate community and download our latest Study Guide.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Course data
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.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications