Plant and Soil Science

University of Aberdeen
Undergraduate BSc (Hons) Full-time 4 Years BiologyEnvironmental and earth sciences

A-Level Entry

BBC

Avg. Graduate Salary

£24,000

About this course

Are you interested in the complexity, fragility and potential of plants and soil? Together, plants and soil provide an essential resource for all terrestrial life. This is the only degree programme in the UK that focuses on this important and fascinating world.

Doing a Plant and Soil Science degree at the University of Aberdeen will provide you with both core and advanced understanding of this exciting subject area. The knowledge and skills that you gain could open up a world of career opportunities for you, for instance in playing a vital role in informing the debate on climate change and global food security.

The Plant and Soil Science degree provides many opportunities:

  • Fundamental understanding of biology, how organisms work

  • Specialist training in plant science, soil science and its applications

  • Examining the interactions and interface

  • Multi-disciplinary working

  • Role of plants in the ecosystem

  • Applications of plant biology

  • Manipulating plant genomes relates to tolerance and pollutants

  • Studying soils across agricultural systems

    This degree combines the disciplines of plants and soils, with opportunities to specialise in plant biology at different levels from genes to ecosystems, and in soils from chemistry, microbes to global geography. The University of Aberdeen has a long and, in many ways, unique tradition for teaching and research in Plant and Soil Science, and is home to a large and active group of award-winning staff in this subject.

    The degree is taught by a wide range of staff who are active in plant and soil research from the tropics to the Arctic; our teaching is research-led, relevant and exciting. You will have opportunity to collaborate with groups at the James Hutton Institute and SFSA who undertake applied research and policy development work informing national priorities.

    Plant and soil students attend at least two residential field courses selected from our range of courses in the Cairngorms and Spain. You will have the opportunity to get involved in our research through summer research assistantships, project work and a compulsory final year research project

  • Entry Requirements

    A-Level Grades BBC
    Scottish Higher BBBB
    Scottish Advanced Higher ABB
    BTEC DDM

    Career Prospects

    Graduates from this course typically go into the following occupations:

    3111 Laboratory technicians
    3119 Science, engineering and production technicians
    2113 Biochemists and biomedical scientists
    1211 Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture
    2114 Physical scientists
    9112 Forestry and related workers

    Course Details

    Qualification
    Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
    Study Mode
    Full-time
    Duration
    4 Years
    Start Date
    2025
    Academic Year
    2025
    Campus / Location
    Aberdeen
    Scheme
    Undergraduate
    Subjects
    Biology, Environmental and earth sciences
    Avg. Graduate Salary
    £24,000