This programme is full time and in person. It does not include any distance learning elements.
Your course
This course enables you to develop knowledge and skills through an exploration of the science and philosophy of living things, as well as a historical understanding of how these fields of study have evolved over time.
You’ll combine practical lab work with classroom-based learning, developing a broad set of biological knowledge and skills, whilst exploring the history of scientific thought and the nature of scientific knowledge.
At level 1, students will be exposed to core topics in each discipline through both compulsory and optional modules. This will allow them to begin to identify areas of personal interest which they may wish to pursue at higher levels. At higher levels, the programme is designed to provide the opportunity to acquire knowledge of and competence in a range of core topics and generic skills in each discipline, and progressively specialise in a disciplinary sub-field (such as history of science, philosophy of science, ecology, genetics, animal behaviour, plant development, conservation, evolution and adaptation). They may undertake a final year project in either of the disciplines. This enables students to build a personalised portfolio of knowledge and competencies in each discipline, which can be adjusted according to an individual student’s intellectual ambitions, needs, and interests.
The programme showcases the distinctive areas of research strength in History and Philosophy of Science and Biology at Leeds. Modules at higher levels will offer the opportunity to engage with current research of academics in each of the Schools, especially at level 3.
At each level, students may study Discovery modules to expand their knowledge and/or skills beyond their programme of study, which provides a further opportunity to shape their study to their ambitions, interests and needs.
The programme has an international variant, which includes a study abroad year at Level 3, and an industrial variant, which includes a work placement year at Level 3.
Your future
Students will gain a suite of transferrable skills valued by employers, such as good organisational skills (gained through developing a personal path through their programme, engagement with study-related activities, and meeting assessment deadlines), independent research skills including how to conduct scientific research, the ability to analyse and interpret texts, information and data, the ability to analyse complex information from multiple sources, ability to construct arguments and to effectively communicate their views, and awareness of how cultural or historical context influences scholarship in the disciplines and issues in contemporary science. These skills will help our students either transition into an employment environment after leaving us, or into further education if that is the route they choose.
Our world
Science has an important role to play in shaping our world for the better. But we live at a time when the value and authority of scientific enquiry is called into question by some people or feared because of the new techniques and real-world applications it develops. This course will provide you with a developed and informed understanding of the value of science in general and biological science in particular, and how to address scepticism about them. It equips you to make a personal contribution to society as an advocate for the value of scientific enquiry but to also understand its limits.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates must study 120 credits which may include up to 20 credits of Discovery modules.
Candidates must pass at least 100 credits, including any PFP modules and a minimum of 60 credits in Biology (BLGY) and 40 credits in History and Philosophy of Science (HPS or PHIL), to be eligible for an honours degree.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLGY1124 | The Diversity of Life | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
| BLGY1141 | Introduction to Cell Biology | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
| BLGY1237 | Introduction to Genetics | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| BLGY1239 | Exploring Whole Organism Biology | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| BLGY1308 | Unlocking Scientific Success | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| HPSC1046 | Introduction to the History of Science | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL1109 | How Science Works | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates will be required to study at least 10 credits from the following History of Science optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPSC1015 | Magic, Science and Religion | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| HPSC1030 | History of Psychology | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| HPSC1050 | Darwin, Germs and the Bomb | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| HPSC1070 | Living with Technology | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| HPSC1080 | History of Modern Medicine | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates will be required to study at least 10 credits from the following Philosophy optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL1005 | The Mind | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL1015 | Thinking About Race | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Candidates may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates must study 120 credits which may include up to 20 credits of Discovery modules.
Candidates must pass at least 100 credits, including any PFP modules and a minimum of 40 credits in Biology (BLGY) and 40 credits in History and Philosophy of Science (HPSC or PHIL), to progress to the next year of the programme.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLGY2305 | Developing Scientific Excellence | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| HPSC2120 | Research in History and Philosophy of Science | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates will be required to study 20-40 credits from the following HPS optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPSC2121 | Contested Solutions: Science and Global Challenges | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| HPSC2400 | History of Psychiatry and Mental Illness | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL2605 | Why Trust Science? Topics in Philosophy of Science | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates will be required to study 20-40 credits from the following Biology optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLGY2155 | Population, Community and Conservation Ecology | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| BLGY2164 | How Plants Live | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| BLGY2220 | Evolution, Adaptation and Behaviour | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following Biology optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLGY2265 | Urban Ecology and Conservation Field Course | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| BLGY2266 | Human Populations and Disease | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Candidates may study the following optional module or 20 credits of Discovery modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOAH2020 | Towards the Future: Skills in Context | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates must study 120 credits which may include up to 20 credits of Discovery modules.
Candidates must pass at least 100 credits, including any PFP modules and a minimum of 40 credits in Biology (BLGY) and 40 credits in History and Philosophy of Science (HPSC, PHIL, or PRHS).
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL3320 | Philosophy of Biology | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates are required to select ONE of the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLGY3346 | Biology Research Projects | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PRHS3000 | Independent Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PRHS3001 | Integrated Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PRHS3700 | External Placement: Beyond the University | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates studying BLGY3346 MUST study at least 20 credits of History and Philosophy of Science optional modules (Min 20/Max 40). They may select from any of the baskets.
Candidates studying PRHS3000, PRHS3001 or PRHS3700 may study 20 credits of History and Philosophy of Science optional modules (Min 0/Max 20). They may select from any of the baskets.
History and Philosophy of Science optional modules:
BASKET A: Generalist:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPSC3200 | Science Communication: History & Theory | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| HPSC3450 | Mind, Brain & Society | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3421 | Philosophy of Mind | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
BASKET B: Specialist:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPSC3315 | History of the Body | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3852 | Philosophy of Modern Physics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3865 | Philosophy of the Social Sciences | 20 | Not running in 202627 |
BASKET C: Applied:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPSC3113 | History and Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3013 | Bioethics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3310 | Philosophy of Sex and Relationships | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3855 | Philosophical Issues in Technology | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates studying PRHS3000, PRHS3001 or PRHS3700 MUST study at least 40 credits of Biology optional modules (Min 40/Max 60).
Candidates studying BLGY3346 may study up to 40 credits of Biology optional modules (Min 0/Max 40).
Biology optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLGY3111 | Advanced Genetic Techniques and Applications | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| BLGY3133 | Advanced Topics in Ecology | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| BLGY3135 | Advanced Topics in Behaviour: from sex to death | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| BLGY3153 | Advanced Topics in Human Genetics and Epigenetics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| BLGY3245 | Advanced Topics in Evolution | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| BLGY3247 | Advanced Topics in Conservation Science | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| BLGY3334 | Advanced Topics in Plant Science and Food Security | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Candidates may choose to study up to 20 credits of Discovery modules.
Last updated: 08/05/2026 14:58:52
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