Careers and Employability

Studying biosciences provides you with an intrinsic understanding of life in all its forms – whether it be relating to the environment or researching organisms and molecules, among others.

The knowledge and key transferable skills developed as part of any of our undergraduate Biosciences degree courses provides an exceptional foundation for numerous careers across a variety of sectors.

Your degree will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of the very latest developments within the consistently evolving field of biosciences, and how they form a central part of global thinking on a wide range of topics.

So whatever your ambitions, you can be confident that a degree from Biosciences at the University of Exeter can provide a gateway to your chosen career aspirations.

Achieve your ambitions

The majority of our Biosciences undergraduate programmes are recognised by the Society of Biology. The Society website provides useful details for students including information about graduate career paths and a Bioscience Career Resource for Undergraduates which signposts multiple sources for further review.

The University of Exeter also has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and our students and graduates compete very successfully in the employment market. Whatever path you wish to follow after graduation, we’re here to help and support you with all your career and employability needs. Further information about the career destinations of recent graduates can be found on the programme pages.

Work placements and Industrial Experience

In today’s competitive job market, employers look much more favourably on graduates with relevant work experience. Yet, as press articles have shown, the best work experience often tends to go to the students with the best contacts. Our aim is to provide all of our students with opportunities to gain high quality work experience during their degrees. We have a Work Placement Officer working with careers, alumni and academic staff on both our Streatham and Cornwall campuses. You will be encouraged to take the opportunity to develop your work-based skills though placements during the course of your degree.

Our BSc Biochemistry and BSc Biological and Medicinal Chemistry both have a 4-year option with Industrial Experience incorporating a year-long placement in industry. In the past students have worked with host organisations such as Shell, Cefas and GlaxoSmithKline.

Biosciences students in Cornwall have undertaken work placements at a variety of organisations including the RSPCA, RSPB, Environment Agency and National Trust.

Enhancing your employability

With an increasingly competitive job market, planning for your future career should begin the moment that you arrive at University.

Here at the University of Exeter, we understand how important it is to not only make the most of your time studying with us, but also make the most of your full potential once you have graduated.

There are a number of opportunities for you to develop your career aspirations, whether you’re based on our campuses in Exeter or Cornwall:

 The CareerZone organises a series of pivotal events throughout the year, including careers fairs, forums and workshops

•  Widen Your Options is a fortnight of events, which takes place during the spring term, to give students access to industry professionals from a range of sectors
•  The Exeter Award is designed to enhance the employability of University of Exeter graduates by providing official recognition and evidence of extra-curricular activities and achievements
•  eX-factor is an intensive two day programme of interactive learning activities aimed at developing and enhancing your interpersonal and employability skills