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Why choose a postgraduate degree from UC Biology? 

If you desire a career that is curiosity driven and has a real impact on the world by working with industry and communities to solve problems, then UC’s Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora |School of Biological Sciences is the right place for you. We support education that is equitable and accessible to all. We pride ourselves on providing flexible, research-led degrees, preparing our students to be enquiring and enabling them to create and contribute knowledge for a better society.

Join us and you will be part of a supportive, international community that thrives on working together to build knowledge to help solve some of the world's big problems, and the little ones too.

A postgraduate degree in Biological Sciences helps prepare you for a career across a wide range of fields. You will obtain in-depth knowledge and transferable skills that industries are seeking, from biotech development to modelling the effects of climate change on life From Genetics and Ecology to Bioinformatics and Plant Science, you will find our courses exciting, challenging, and innovative.  

Our staff are active researchers, ensuring your projects are relevant and using the latest methods.  

Courses and degree structures – choose your pathway

Postgraduate study in Biological Sciences is organised into a number of subject majors, and you should identify one of these (and discuss your choice with the Biology Fourth-Year Coordinator) before you enrol.  

Postgraduate majors

Some majors are quite flexible regarding course choice, while others have distinct requirements. 

cover a wide range of biological topics including behaviour, biochemistry, ecology, microbiology, molecular biology, physiology, and plant sciences. 

To ensure you have an appropriate combination of courses, you should discuss your choices with the Biology Fourth Year Coordinator.

These courses are taken as part of a Postgraduate Diploma of Science (PGDipSc), Bachelor of Science with Honours, BSc(Hons) and Master of Science (MSc)

Choosing a research topic

Research is key to the postgraduate experience. It is rewarding but also requires good time management skills and a high level of engagement. If you are planning to enrol in BSc (Hons), MSc or PhD, your degree will involve a significant research component.  

Choosing a topic requires careful thought, so begin the process as soon as you can.

The most important action is to approach staff members who have interests that overlap your own. All academic staff members welcome such approaches, either face-to-face, or via email.����

Staff members often have research ideas that can be developed into proposals by students, so it is a good idea to ask them what they are currently working on. Alternatively, research projects may develop from discussions with staff around a research topic of mutual interest: do not be afraid to take your ideas to them. 

Research projects are not guaranteed, and you may be competing with your fellow students for available topics and your choice of supervisor.����

Once you have teamed up with a supervisor you will have regular meetings and will work together to evolve your project and develop approaches to tackle your research. Your supervisor and committee are there to help, answer questions and provide advice.

What we can offer you

Support and representation

We have many ways to help you when and how you need it. From equity and diversity to student representation and bicultural support.

Staff can discuss with you how we can best support you academically during difficult times. You are also very welcome to seek help from the Biology Student Advisors or the Faculty of Science Student Advisors.  

The School runs a postgraduate student committee with representatives from among the fourth-year, MSc and PhD students, a postdoctoral scientist and a member of academic staff. The committee reports back to students regarding important decisions and ensures student issues are heard at staff meetings.  

(UCSA) also has a postgraduate student association which ensures representation of postgraduates within the wider university community.

Scholarships

Scholarships and prizes may be available to support you to study. These are administered by the Scholarships Office.

Small grants and scholarships are offered to ongoing postgraduates to help with research costs or travelling to conferences.

If your supervisors are from different departments or institutions, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships from those departments/institutions.

Some societies, such as the , provide grants to conferences. Also, conferences themselves often offer travel grants to students who are presenting. 

 offer grants for New ���سԹ�graduate students to study or research in the US.

Financial support for MSc and PhD students can sometimes be obtained from sources outside the University, including government agency contracts and not-for-profit organisations.

You can discuss this possibility with your supervisor or the Head of School.

Laboratory demonstrating

MSc and PhD students are strongly encouraged to demonstrate and instruct in undergraduate laboratory classes for which they receive payment and gain valuable experience, from explaining scientific concepts to working as part of a teaching team.

Application details are sent to enrolled postgraduate students before each semester.

Applying for postgraduate study

• See UC's postgraduate advice and forms page for detailed information how to enrol. 
• Monitor your email as the course advisor may need to contact you.
• Once you have been approved for entry you will receive a letter of offer and fees invoice.