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Life Sciences

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Building a healthy, fair, and sustainable world

Our world is facing huge challenges. But biology provides reasons to be optimistic about our future.

In the School of Life Sciences we’re working to tackle the global challenges of the 21st century. By uncovering the causes of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases we can help create novel therapies and medications. In showing the public the impact of pollution on marine ecosystems we can tackle climate change. Through our work on crop genetics we can reduce global food insecurity.

In our School we focus on a One-Health approach to the life sciences. From genes to ecosystems, we teach and research the connections between all aspects of life on earth, from microbes, plants and animals to human and planetary health.

Our research covers the spectrum of biology. Whether you want to learn how to conserve our natural resources, discover new ways to treat disease, or learn about the fundamentals of living organisms, you will be taught by inspirational lecturers who bring their knowledge straight from the research laboratory into the classroom.

We will nurture your skills, knowledge, and understanding, to help you shape the future and improve human and planetary health.

Ready to join us?


Explore our undergraduate courses View our Masters courses Browse our research degrees
Life Sciences at Essex means...
7th in UK for biology (The Guardian University Guide 2025) 86% of our graduates are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2024) 1st in the UK for Biology (The Mail University Guide 2025)
7th in UK for biology (The Guardian University Guide 2025)

Undergraduate

Life Sciences undergraduate courses Undergraduate study in our School

Masters

Life Sciences Masters courses Masters study in our School

Postgraduate Research

Research degrees in Life Sciences Research degree study in our School

Our offer

Facilities Careers development Field trips Scholarships and funding Our environment

Our Alumni

The Zookeeper The Science Communicator The Healthcare Scientist The PhD Student
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“The goal of our friendly and supportive School is to make a healthier, fairer and more sustainable world. You will learn from inspirational lecturers, performing cutting-edge research across the spectrum of biology, from genes to ecosystems, to improve human and planetary health. We will share the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to help you to shape the future.”
Professor Terence McGenity Head of School

Tackling global challenges

Non-transmissable diseases

Essex Biomedical Sciences Centre Research group: Genomics and Computational Biology Development of an in-vitro model for Parkinson's disease Genes may show why Black men are at high risk of prostate cancer Research offers new hope for lung and bladder cancer patients

Food insecurity

Essex Plant Innovation Centre Research group: Plant Productivity RuBP Regeneration Fight to create climate change resistant rice secures £2m New £3m climate crop lab will create food for ‘tomorrow’s atmosphere today’

Pollution and biodiversity loss

Centre for Environment and Society Research group: Ecology and Environmental Microbiology North Sea Oil and Gas spikes pollution by 10,000% Top scientists meet to discuss impact of climate change on fish and their habitats New project to monitor river health in developing countries

Infectious diseases

Essex Biomedical Sciences Centre Research group: Protein Structure and Mechanisms of Disease Research shows best models to test possible COVID-19 therapies Two existing common drugs could help treat COVID-19

Healthy world

Lets Talk About Genes and Society University of Essex Biomedical Science course accredited by IBMS Essex schoolchildren to play role in major air pollution study Transforming our education and research in genomics

Fair world

Fostering equality diversity and inclusion in environmental science Scientist named on BBC 100 Women 2023 list Inequality in science

Sustainable world

Two minutes with a coral reef expert Good Bugs Bad Bugs A World of Data Essex is first English university to join marine alliance
Latest news
Christmas dinners saved by climate change resistant roasties
18 Dec 2024
Sealed with a kiss - mistletoe could be used as a surgical glue
09 Dec 2024
Climate change biologist is one of world's best researchers
19 Nov 2024
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Contact our School of Life Sciences
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Maz Brook General Enquiries
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