The School of Biosciences has achieved excellent results for student satisfaction in the National Student Surveys.

Biosciences scored the maximum possible mark in the last teaching quality assessment (an external review of our courses by the Higher Education Quality Assurance Agency).

In the summer of 2006 we completely refurbished our teaching laboratories (£1 000 000 project) in order to provide a state-of-the-art environment for undergraduate practical work. Our research labs are also extremely well-equipped and many undergraduate students get the opportunity to use the more specialised equipment that they contain whilst working on their final year research projects.

About 10% of our students spend a year out working in industry (sandwich placement), and they have worked in places like Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, the Genome Centre in Cambridge, or Roche in Switzerland. Industrial links are important to us as they inform our research activities and enable us to provide an industrial perspective to the teaching we do.

All our students who achieve A level grades of AAB (or equivalent) and continue to work at this level in the first two years are guaranteed an eight-week paid research project in one of the School's research labs during the summer vacation of year 2. These studentships are optional and do not contribute to your final degree result, but they do provide an ideal opportunity to experience the excitement of research first-hand and to gain valuable skills that will be useful when seeking employment or further study at the end of your degree. We also apply to a range of funding bodies to provide summer studentship opportunities for good students without AAB grades at A level.

A degree in Biosciences teaches many skills that are highly desirable in the work place. A science graduate is numerate as well as having good communication skills. As part of your degree you will learn about science communication, problem solving, working in groups, time management and IT. The university careers advisory service also contributes to a skills module on personal development plans and writing CVs, etc.

In the final year students carry out an 8-week project which allows them to contribute directly to the work of the school. The majority choose a Research Project where they will work closely with one of our research teams pushing forward an aspect of their scientific work, or a Dissertation Project where their research will be literature-based. Alternatively, they may choose a science communication project where they will research a controversial or poorly-understood area of science and learn how to communicate their work effectively to a non-scientific audience. This last area of work helps the school fulfill its commitment to outreach and the public understanding of science.

We are a comparatively small school that takes the welfare of its students seriously. Each undergraduate is assigned a personal tutor (a member of academic staff) who will monitor their academic progress through the course. Your tutor will be able to advise you on academic matters such as module choices and will be available to offer guidance and advice should you experience any difficulties whilst at University. Personal tutors act as referees when you apply for work or a further study at the end of your course.

The University is situated on a 300 acre hillside campus overlooking the town. It received its Royal Charter in 1965 and since then has revitalised the City's tradition of scholarship and learning which goes back to the eighth century. Canterbury is surrounded by orchards and villages yet is only one hour from London by train and is ideally situated for travel to Europe using the channel tunnel or ferry services. The university is a 20 minute walk from the city. There is a frequent bus service or students can make use of the off-road cycle paths to that connect the university to the city centre and to the historic port of Whitstable on the north Kent coast.