This is the 4 year course which includes a Professional Placement Year. <br/><br/>BSc (Hons) Biology at Bath Spa University is a contemporary skills based course producing highly employable professional biologists. This course covers all the core - aspects of biology, while allowing you to develop expertise in specialist areas. Biology has a strong practical element and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to study plants and animals in the wild as well as in our laboratories. There is also a strong human biology thread in our degree programme. There is an optional sandwich year between your second and final year, giving you the opportunity to put your knowledge and skills into practice and experience a relevant job.<br/>This programme has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology following an independent and rigorous assessment. Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of employers.<br/><br/>The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.<br/><br/><br/>- Flexible structure which gives students the breadth to explore and specialise in an area of choice. <br/><br/><br/>- Practical Course using contemporary learning methods. <br/><br/><br/>- Attend scheduled practical sessions, day trips and residential field trips provide the opportunity to study topics in greater depth.<br/><br/><br/>- High Employability of graduates. <br/><br/><br/>**More about the Professional Placement Year** <br/>A Professional Placement Year (PPY), traditionally known as a sandwich year, is where you undertake a period of work with an external organisation for between 9-13 months. The placement occurs between your second and final years of undergraduate study. You can engage in multiple placements to make up the total time and are required to source the placement(s) yourself, with support from the Careers team. The PPY Bursary can make work experience more accessible, with students undertaking a PPY able to receive between £500 and £1,500 to be used towards placement costs such as travel, food, workwear or accommodation.