About us
Our aim is to make a positive impact on the challenges the world faces, through educating the next generations of biological scientists and carrying out outstanding bioscience research.
We are consistently ranked among the top 10 institutions for biological sciences in the UK for both our teaching and our research.
Our vision
We are a broad-spectrum bioscience department bringing together expertise from ecology to biomedical sciences. We value outstanding fundamental science that underpins solutions for the major global challenges pertinent to the life sciences.
We work with no internal divisions to create a critical mass of activity in the following areas:
Research for a sustainable green future
This ranges from our interdisciplinary strength and includes:
- addressing the impact of human activity and climate change on biodiversity
- engineering plants, microbes and insects to produce sustainable, bio-based technologies to replace fossil fuel-based modes of production
- reverse greenhouse gas production.
Research for better health
Our microbiologists, biomedical scientists, geneticists and biochemists are addressing the underlying mechanisms leading to disease. We're developing new therapeutic approaches and tackling drug resistance in vector-borne infections and chronic diseases (including neurodegenerative diseases and blood-borne and solid cancers).
Teaching the next generation of bioscientists
Our educational aim is to provide inclusive and inspiring curricula, informed by our interests and the context of the global challenges we face. We have a suite of undergraduate courses that provide opportunities for students to explore areas according to their growing and developing interests. We place emphasis on the skills required to be an effective citizen of the world, using experience-led teaching and learning to develop our students’ perspectives as bioscientists in a complex and changing world. Our postgraduate taught and research courses give students the opportunity to focus on and contribute to the very latest research findings.
Related links
in the Russell Group for 'Academic Support'
of institutions included in the National Student Survey 2024 for molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry.
in the UK for Biology
in the Complete University Guide 2025.
Our facilities
York is an excellent location to study any aspect of the biological sciences. Our department has received considerable investment in infrastructure to support our teaching and research.
Our facilities include student study spaces, teaching laboratories, computer classrooms and flexible learning spaces for workshop teaching.
Culture of inclusivity
We're committed to working towards gender equality in STEM through the Athena Swan charter and have held a Gold award since 2014.
We are proud of our reputation for providing a supportive culture and strive to ensure that there are no barriers to our staff and students reaching their goals.
