MScAdvanced Biological Sciences and Business

Source: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/biosciences/biologicalsciencesbusiness/ Parent: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/

MSc Advanced Biological Sciences and Business

MSc Advanced Biological Sciences and Business

Why study MSc Advanced Biological Sciences and Business at Exeter?

• Explore the full spectrum of biological sciences while gaining unique and in-demand entrepreneurial skills to set you apart in the sector.
• Benefit from the combined expertise and teaching strengths of our Biosciences department and the award-winning University of Exeter Business School.
• Boost your employability with advanced laboratory skills and data processing training.

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Select date of entry Sept 2026

Select programme Full time Part time

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Contact

Programme Director: Dr Alison Hill

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

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Top 20 in the UK for world-leading research in Biological Sciences

REF 2021, based on 4-star research

Triple accredited Business School

AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS

Advance laboratory skills with specialist techniques training

Substantial research project within one of our world-leading research groups

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 in a relevant science subject.

Relevant subjects include: Biological Sciences, Cell Biology, Ecology, Ecology and Conservation, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Marine Biology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Plant Science, Zoology.

A degree achieving 55% - 60% in a relevant science subject, will also be considered by our programme director.

Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.

Entry requirements for international students

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course.

The required IELTS test scores for this course fall under Profile B2.

Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course content

MSc Advanced Biological Science and Business draws upon the combined research expertise and teaching strengths of Biosciences and our world-leading Business School. This carefully designed programme equips you with the sought-after skills demanded by the industry, setting you up for success in the job market. You'll develop practical and theoretical biosciences skills while also gaining insights into international business and entrepreneurship. Our faculty comprises academics at the forefront of their field, with strong industry connections.

The programme offers a dynamic blend of Biology and Business modules. The Advanced Laboratory Skills and Professional Skills modules will provide you with the knowledge required to undertake a biosciences research project. Within the Business School, you will delve into the Principles of International Business module to prepare for the capstone project. Customise the programme to suit your needs with a selection of optional modules from both the Business School and Biosciences.

The modules below provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

Modules

Please note that the module information displayed here is from a previous year and is subject to change.

Stage 1: 120 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules

Compulsory modules

Optional modules

You must choose 30 credits from the modules listed in the table below (starting with BIOM, CSC, GEOM, HPDM, NSCM or PSYM).

Students may instead choose to take 45 credits from the list of BIOM, CSC, GEOM, HPDM, NSCM or PSYM options, and 15 credits from the Business School options (BEMM options).  Students who take this pathway will be awarded a degree title of ‘MSc Advanced Biological Sciences with Business’.

* You cannot choose this module if you have already taken the undergraduate version, BIO3058 Beyond the Frontiers of Medical Mycology.

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Fees

2026/27 entry

UK fees per year:

£15,000 full-time; £7,500 part-time**

International fees per year:

£31,200 full-time; £15,600 part-time

Scholarships

The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships *. We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship

We are pleased to offer University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship towards the cost of your tuition fees. Full details can be found here.

*Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply. See our website for details..

Find out more about tuition fees and funding »

Teaching and research

How will I learn?

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Laboratory work
• Group discussion
• Independent study
• Research project

The programme consists of core modules that provide you with a theoretical and applied learning framework for directed student-centred learning where you’ll develop in-demand skills of synthesis, critical analysis, and interpretation. You’ll also receive professional skills training tailored to the areas most relevant to your academic and professional development. 

Research project

You will carry out your independent supervised research project in one of our world-leading research laboratories. Research projects are individual and can be based on laboratory work, field work or in silico (e.g. bioinformatics).

The research project will give you first-hand experience in many aspects of research work including data generation, analysis, and interpretation as well as science communication in written, poster and oral presentations. 

During your research project, you will be supported by your research supervisor and other members of the research group to ensure you produce your best work.  

Facilities

Depending on your chosen modules and research project topic, you may have access to the following facilities:

• Aquatic Resources Centre
• Bioimaging Centre
• Exeter Sequencing Facility
• Mass Spectrometry Facility
• MRC Centre for Medical Mycology
• Living Systems Institute
• Exeter Cytomics Facility

Tutorial support

You will be allocated a personal tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies. There is also a postgraduate tutor available to help with further guidance and advice, and our programme director will offer every student a meeting each term to review academic progress.

Assessment

Taught modules are assessed through essay examinations, individual and group-based coursework assignments, oral presentations, in-module tests and reports or essays. A significant proportion of the marks are based on the Biosciences Research Project and the International Business Plan.

Read more

Dr Alison Hill

Programme Director and Associate Professor (Chemistry and Biochemistry)

Dr Mike Allen

Associate Professor of Single Cell Genomics

Dr Alex Thompson

Senior Lecturer in Marketing

Professor Andrew Shaw

Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry

Dr Alison Hill

Programme Director and Associate Professor (Chemistry and Biochemistry)

Dr Hill specialises in secondary metabolism and teaches chemistry and biochemistry. She carries out pedagogical research into incorporating mathematics into the curriculum. Alison is an Exeter Incubator Fellow and Senior Fellow of the HEA. She is the Senior Tutor for Masters students and is module lead for the Professional Skills and Research Project modules. Alison was awarded the RSC Excellence in Higher Education Prize in 2022.

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Dr Alison Hill

Programme Director and Associate Professor (Chemistry and Biochemistry)

Dr Hill specialises in secondary metabolism and teaches chemistry and biochemistry. She carries out pedagogical research into incorporating mathematics into the curriculum. Alison is an Exeter Incubator Fellow and Senior Fellow of the HEA. She is the Senior Tutor for Masters students and is module lead for the Professional Skills and Research Project modules. Alison was awarded the RSC Excellence in Higher Education Prize in 2022.

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Dr Mike Allen

Associate Professor of Single Cell Genomics

Mike is a marine biotechnologist with two decades of research experience working with and valorising algae. The author of >100 research articles, Mike has published cutting edge research on topics including bioremediation, water sanitation, high throughput liquid processing, novel technology development and biorefineries. Mike is Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of Seaweed Generation - pioneers in marine robotics working with, rather than against, nature to protect ecosystems and harness ocean potential. Mike is also a scientific founder of Neptunus Biotech which creates sustainable and revolutionary solutions based on microalgae in the agriculture, animal nutrition and cosmetic domains.

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Dr Alex Thompson

Senior Lecturer in Marketing

Dr Alex Thompson is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing within the University of Exeter Business School. His research explores how businesses have adapted ethnographic market research methods in their quest to better understand customer needs.

In addition to his academic experience, Alex has worked on a number of commercial research projects where he applies ethnographic approaches to understanding marketplace dynamics. His clients include GlaxoSmithKline, Roche, the LaBelle Entrepreneurial Centre, the Imperial College Business School, Novartis, Water Regulatory Advisory Scheme (WRAS), and the Public Broadcast System (PBS).

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Professor Andrew Shaw

Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry

Prof Shaw is an Associate Professor of physical chemistry at the University of Exeter and founder of two spin-out companies. Following Cambridge and Stanford in particular, academic entrepreneurship is important to Prof Shaw so that science can deliver the impact it promises. His first spin-out company was in the field of counter terrorism and was sold for $8m. His second company Attomarker has raised £3m in seed and a COVID19 Triple Antibody Test was ready for sales in November 2020. A COVID19-Flu20 Triple Antibody test can detect antibodies to the flu strain present in the current flu vaccination. A further saliva test is in development to measure viral antigen proteins and antibodies.

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Careers

Employability focused

Employability is a central focus of the MSc Advanced Biological Sciences and Business programme. The course has been meticulously designed to not only cultivate your practical and theoretical biosciences skills but also impart a comprehensive understanding of international business and entrepreneurship. This unique blend equips you with the skills and attributes that employers value most in today’s competitive job market such as problem solving, data analysis and an entrepreneurial mindset. Furthermore, you have the flexibility to customise the programme to align with your career aspirations through our projects and optional modules.

Industry connections

You will benefit from the collective expertise of our Biosciences department and award-winning Business School. Our academics have deep industry connections, ensuring that your learning is not only academically rigorous but also practical and relevant to today’s challenges. Your teaching will also be enriched by guest speakers, providing you with exposure to industry leaders and enhancing your understanding of real-world challenges and opportunities.

Career support

The Career Zone can help guide you through a wealth of information to match your skills and interests to a career that will suit you. Our staff work with regional, national and international employers to develop new work placement, project and graduate opportunities.

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