THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2026/2027

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

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

Year 1 Academic year: 2026/27, 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
Biological Chemistry 1A
CHEM08022 20 credits
Biological Chemistry 1B
CHEM08023 20 credits
AND

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

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

Year 2 Academic year: 2026/27, 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.

Note that it is NOT possible for students to take Biomedical Sciences 2 alongside the compulsory Biological Sciences Year 2 courses.

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:
Recommended optional courses for Ecology Honours are: Principles of Ecology; Field Ecology; Animal Biology 2; The Green Planet 2; Soil, Water and Atmospheric Processes.
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 8 courses in Schedules A to T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 8 courses in Schedules A to T, W and Y
Notes:
Recommended optional courses for Ecology Honours are: Principles of Ecology; Field Ecology; Animal Biology 2; The Green Planet 2; Soil, Water and Atmospheric Processes.
AND

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

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

Year 3 Academic year: 2026/27, 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.

Note that the Field Zoology 3 course, which is compulsory for Ecology Honours, includes a field trip (residential course lasting one week). There is a cost associated with attending the field course (up to £300).

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Population and Community Ecology 3

Must be passed

BILG09009 20 credits
Field Zoology 3

Must be passed

BILG09017 20 credits
Animal Diversity and Evolution 3

Must be passed

BILG09019 20 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 60 credits in this group.

Biological Sciences Year 3 Specific Courses - FZ

Select between 20 and 60 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Recommended courses for Ecology Honours are: Behavioural Ecology 3, Evolution and Ecology of Plants 3, Evolutionary and Ecological Genetics 3.
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
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 R, T and W

Select between 0 and 40 credits from Level 9 courses in Schedules A to R, T and W
Notes:
Exceptionally, a level 10 course make be taken, if being selected from a School that does not offer level 9 courses.

Year 4 Academic year: 2026/27, 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 Ecology Field Course (ECLG10007) Ecology trip takes place prior to Semester 1 starting. There is a cost associated with attending the field course (up to £300).

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Ecology Synoptic Paper

Must be taken during Full Year

ECLG10006 10 credits
Biological Sciences (Ecology) Field Course
ECLG10007 10 credits
Ecology Research Project

Must be taken during Full Year

ECLG10008 60 credits

Course options

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

Biological Sciences (Ecology) recommended list

Select between 0 and 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
These courses are recommended for the Ecology Honours programme. Students must take at least TWO courses based in Biological Sciences.
Refer to the Senior Honours Guide provided by the School, which gives details of course options, including restrictions and recommendations.
Conservation and Management of Natural Populations
ECLG10009 10 credits
Conservation Science
ECSC10036 20 credits
Applied Ecology and Evolution
EVBI10011 10 credits
Molecular Ecology
ZLGY10007 10 credits
Evolution of Sex & Breeding Systems
ZLGY10013 10 credits
Evolution of Parental Care
ZLGY10022 10 credits
Evolution and Climate Change
ZLGY10023 10 credits
Evolution of Social Behaviour
ZLGY10025 10 credits
Ecology & Evolution of Infectious Disease
ZLGY10030 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 R, T and W

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 10 courses in Schedules A to R, T and W
Notes:
Refer to the Senior Honours Guide provided by the School, which gives details of course options, including restrictions and recommendations.
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