THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2025/2026

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.
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Degree Programme Table: Biological Sciences (Plant Science) (BSc Hons) (UTBSPLS)

Jump to: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4

Year 1 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Notes:
Guidance giving details of required and recommended courses will be available for students to facilitate planning. Students must take 120 credits in total for Year 1. This includes 80 credits of compulsory Biological Sciences courses that MUST be taken and passed.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Biology 1A: Variation

Must be passed

BILG08020 20 credits
Biology 1B: Life

Must be passed

BILG08021 20 credits
Biology 1C: Discovery

Must be passed

BILG08022 20 credits
Biology 1D: Environment

Must be passed

BILG08023 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Biological Chemistry Courses - Level 8

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Biological Chemistry 1A and Biological Chemistry 1B may be replaced with any other courses at levels 7 and 8 chosen in schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y.
Biological Chemistry 1A
CHEM08022 20 credits
Biological Chemistry 1B
CHEM08023 20 credits
AND

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Year 2 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Guidance giving details of required and recommended courses will be available for students to facilitate planning. Students must take 120 credits in total for Year 2. This includes 60 credits of compulsory Biological Sciences courses that MUST be taken and passed.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Biology 2A: Data Exploration in Biology

Must be passed

BILG08024 20 credits
Biology 2B: Genetics and Evolution

Must be passed

BILG08025 20 credits
Biology 2C: Systems and Regulation

Must be passed

BILG08026 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 60 credits in this group.

Biological Sciences Year 2 courses (20) - Level 8

Select between 0 and 60 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Plant Science students are strongly advised to take The Green Planet 2.
Animal Biology 2
BILG08011 20 credits
The Green Planet 2
BILG08016 20 credits
The Microbial World 2
BILG08018 20 credits
Cells to Organisms 2
BIME08011 20 credits
Microorganisms, Infection and Immunity 2
BIME08012 20 credits
Biological Chemistry 2
CHEM08030 20 credits
Principles of Ecology
ECSC08012 20 credits
AND

Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 7 and 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y
AND

Level 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Year 3 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Guidance giving details of required and recommended courses will be available for students to facilitate planning. Students should ensure that they choose 60 credits for each semester. Occasionally a course will be suspended or cancelled.

Students must take 120 credits in total for Year 3. This must include 60 credits of Biological Sciences-owned courses, plus a further 20 credits of either Biological Sciences-owned courses or specific courses from other Schools.

For Plant Science students in Year 3, either MSPB3 or EEP3 MUST be taken as a compulsory course, along with at least one further course from a specific selection indicated in the DPT or study guide provided by the School. Taking both MSPB3 and EEP3 will maximise the amount of Plant Science coverage during Year 3.

There are no compulsory courses in this year of this programme.

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 120 credits in this group.

Biological Sciences (Plant Science) Year 3 compulsory courses

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Selected courses must be passed 1st time
Evolution and Ecology of Plants 3
BILG09011 20 credits
Molecular and Synthetic Plant Biology 3
BILG09021 20 credits
AND

Plant Science Year 3 additional courses for those who have taken EEP3 as compulsory course

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Molecular Cell Biology 3
BILG09001 20 credits
Molecular Genetics 3
BILG09002 20 credits
Developmental Biology 3
BILG09010 20 credits
Molecular and Synthetic Plant Biology 3
BILG09021 20 credits
OR

Plant Science Year 3 additional courses for those who have taken MSPB3 as compulsory course

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Evolutionary and Ecological Genetics 3
BILG09004 20 credits
Population and Community Ecology 3
BILG09009 20 credits
Evolution and Ecology of Plants 3
BILG09011 20 credits
Biotechnology 3
BILG09014 20 credits
Field Zoology 3
BILG09017 20 credits
AND

Biological Sciences Year 3 courses

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Molecular Cell Biology 3
BILG09001 20 credits
Molecular Genetics 3
BILG09002 20 credits
Evolutionary and Ecological Genetics 3
BILG09004 20 credits
Genomes and Genomics 3
BILG09005 20 credits
Behavioural Ecology 3
BILG09006 20 credits
Immunology 3
BILG09007 20 credits
Population and Community Ecology 3
BILG09009 20 credits
Developmental Biology 3
BILG09010 20 credits
Evolution and Ecology of Plants 3
BILG09011 20 credits
Molecular Microbiology 3
BILG09013 20 credits
Biotechnology 3
BILG09014 20 credits
Structures and Functions of Proteins 3
BILG09015 20 credits
Field Zoology 3
BILG09017 20 credits
Animal Diversity and Evolution 3
BILG09019 20 credits
Molecular and Synthetic Plant Biology 3
BILG09021 20 credits
Pathogen Biology 3
BILG09022 20 credits
Infection and Immunity 3
BILG09023 20 credits
AND

Biological Sciences Year 3 Specific Courses

Select between 20 and 60 credits of the following courses
Molecular Cell Biology 3
BILG09001 20 credits
Molecular Genetics 3
BILG09002 20 credits
Evolutionary and Ecological Genetics 3
BILG09004 20 credits
Genomes and Genomics 3
BILG09005 20 credits
Behavioural Ecology 3
BILG09006 20 credits
Immunology 3
BILG09007 20 credits
Population and Community Ecology 3
BILG09009 20 credits
Developmental Biology 3
BILG09010 20 credits
Evolution and Ecology of Plants 3
BILG09011 20 credits
Molecular Microbiology 3
BILG09013 20 credits
Biotechnology 3
BILG09014 20 credits
Structures and Functions of Proteins 3
BILG09015 20 credits
Field Zoology 3
BILG09017 20 credits
Animal Diversity and Evolution 3
BILG09019 20 credits
Molecular and Synthetic Plant Biology 3
BILG09021 20 credits
Pathogen Biology 3
BILG09022 20 credits
Infection and Immunity 3
BILG09023 20 credits
Medical Microbiology 3
BIME09002 20 credits
Reproductive Biology 3
BIME09006 20 credits
AND

Level 9 courses in Schedules A to Q, T and W

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 9 courses in Schedules A to Q, T and W

Year 4 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Guidance giving details of required and recommended courses will be available for students to facilitate planning. Occasionally electives may be suspended or cancelled.
Note that the Plant Science Field Course (PLSC10002) trip takes place in the summer prior to joining Year 4.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Plant Science Field Course

Must be taken during Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond

PLSC10002 10 credits
Plant Science Synoptic Examination

Must be taken during Semester 2

PLSC10006 10 credits
Plant Science Research Project

Must be taken during Full Year

PLSC10026 60 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Biological Sciences (Plant Science) recommended list

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
These courses are recommended for the Plant Science Honours programme. Students must take at least 20 credits based in Biological Sciences. Refer to the Senior Honours Guide provided by the School, which gives details of course options, including restrictions and recommendations.
Fungi and Plant Pathology
PLSC10004 10 credits
Plant Geography
PLSC10018 10 credits
Plant Evolution
PLSC10020 10 credits
Plant Biotechnology
PLSC10023 10 credits
Plant Growth and Development
PLSC10024 10 credits
AND

Level 10 courses in the School of Biological Sciences

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 10 courses in the School of Biological Sciences
Notes:
Refer to the Senior Honours Guide provided by the School, which gives details of course options, including restrictions and recommendations.
AND

Level 10 courses in Schedules A to Q, T and W

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 10 courses in Schedules A to Q, T and W
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