Message from the Head of School
Bristol has a well-deserved reputation for the highest quality of teaching in the Biological Sciences. For the national and international recognition of its research excellence, Bristol is ranked amongst the top universities in the U.K., and grants and contracts awarded to support its biological research exceed £5 million. The School of Biological Sciences is distinctive in maintaining a series of world-class specializations across a relatively broad base, with a major commitment to research in three main areas: Behaviour, Sensory & Neurobiology; Ecology; and Plant & Pathogen Biology. The School is particularly strong in studies at the whole organism level; at the same time, modern molecular techniques are applied across diverse fields from microbiology and plant biology to animal behaviour and ecology.
Biological Sciences at Bristol is also distinctive amongst research universities for the major emphasis it places on undergraduate teaching. Our commitment is reflected in our tutorial system which encourages regular informal discussions between small groups of students and academic staff, and provides a friendly environment for student development. The same personal and intensive training is seen in our field course programme: students choose from around 7 field courses and laboratory workshops, each of which is attended by groups of around 15 students, supervised by two or three members of staff, and, usually, two postgraduates. Reflecting the diversity of modern biology, these courses include not only fieldwork (in a range of environments), but also small group laboratory training in the techniques of molecular biology. The links between our teaching and our research come together in the final year, when students carry out a major research project under the close supervision of a member of staff. We are convinced that - together with the high level of resources we devote to teaching - this close instruction provides the best training for top-class science graduates.
Within this tradition established at Bristol for excellence in teaching and research, we have been pleased to welcome undergraduates of high quality into the School, and we have been proud to see the graduates we have trained proceed to a variety of successful careers. You will see a richness and depth in the activities outlined in our prospectus which will excite the imaginations of all those interested in modern biology.
Professor I.C. Cuthill
Head of School of Biological Sciences