In Biological Sciences the most exciting advances are at both ends of the spectrum, from genes at one end to whole ecosystems at the other. The advances and application in biological sciences range from genetic engineering to conservation of simple species and, ultimately, the management of whole ecosystems. Some of the most significant results from the study of Biological Sciences are being applied to areas such as human health, unravelling the human genome, novel pharmaceutical products derived from plants and animals, the problems of conserving very rare species (biodiversity), finding out who is related to who in the natural world (with spin-offs to forensic science), and managing ecosystem services which supply us with fresh water, clean air, and fertile soil. A major in Biological Sciences gives you the opportunity to take a multidisciplinary overview of this important and fast-moving field of science and its applications.

Graduates with a Biological Sciences major find jobs and careers in a wide variety of situations and industries, depending on their specialisation within the major. Employers such as regional and district councils are always looking for people with a broad-based degree with a specialisation, with environmental science and ecology being two good examples. Processing industries associated with primary production (such as dairy companies) employ similarly broad-based graduates with a specialisation in the molecular aspects of biological science. Crown Research Institutes and universities also seek out programme graduates at the technical level. In both areas, students who continue to postgraduate study can move on to careers as professional scientists. A Biological Sciences major is also very appropriate for a career as a secondary teacher.