Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology and Chemistry

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology and Chemistry

Course Title

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology and Chemistry

MQF Level

6

Duration and Credits

4 Years

240 ECTS

Mode of Study

Full-time

Information for International applicants

Biology

A pass at Advanced Level at Grade C or better in Biology and a pass at Intermediate Level at Grade C or better in Chemistry.


Chemistry

A pass at Advanced Level at Grade C or better in Chemistry and a pass at Intermediate Level at Grade C or better in either Physics or Pure Mathematics.


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Applications for our February and October intakes have been officially open since the third week in November. You can submit your application online. The deadlines for submission of applications vary according to the intake and courses. We encourage all international applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible. This is especially important if you require a visa to travel and eventually stay in Malta.

You can compare your national qualifications to the local requirements by visiting our qualifications comparability webpage. Access more information about our admission process and English language requirements.

The University of Malta has student accommodation on campus called Campus Hub. Campus Hub is just a 2-minute walk from the main campus. For more information, visit the accommodation website.

Our dedicated team at the student recruitment office is here to support you every step of the way. From the moment you start your application to the moment when you receive your decision letter, we're here to assist you. If you have any questions or need further information, don't hesitate to reach out to us. You can contact us at info@um.edu.mt, and our team will be more than happy to help.

After you receive an offer from us, our International Office will assist you with visas, accommodation and other related issues.

Biology

The Department provides you with the best possible teaching programmes in Biology by imparting a sound theoretical and practical background to the subject, enabling you to contribute effectively to Malta's changing needs and requirements. Moreover, through its research programmes, the Department makes a direct contribution to the knowledge of the natural resources of the nation, their sustainable management, and to national economic development. You will have many opportunities to contribute directly to such research endeavours.


Chemistry

The main aims of this programme are to help you develop a broad and balanced appreciation of the core areas of chemistry: inorganic, organic, physical and analytical chemistry, as well as basic knowledge in macromolecular chemistry, colloids, solid-fluid and fluid-fluid interfaces, environmental chemistry, photochemistry and radiochemistry. You will possess knowledge and skills from which you can proceed to graduate employment or to further studies in chemistry or multi-disciplinary areas involving chemistry.


Biology

The Course shall consist of two parts, namely, Part One comprising the first three years and Part Two comprising the fourth year.

  1. Part One shall consist of study-units to which 180 credits are assigned and indicated in the programme of study and divided as follows:
  2. First Year: in addition to the compulsory and elective study-units outlined in the programme of studies of the chosen areas (not less than 26 credits in each of the two areas), students are required to register for optional study-units to bring their total for the year to 60 credits,

    Second Year: 30 credits in each of the two areas of study,

    Third Year: 30 credits in each of the two areas of study.

    At the end of Part One, students who obtain 180 credits as specified in paragraph (1) but who either opt not to proceed with the Course leading to the Honours Degree, or having proceeded, do not successfully complete the Course, shall be eligible for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.).

  3. Part Two shall consist of study-units to which 60 credits are assigned divided as follows:
    1. 40 credits in one area of study, of which 18 credits are assigned to a dissertation, and
    2. 20 credits in the other area of study,

provided that in the case of Mathematics, the dissertation may be substituted by one or more additional taught study-units.


Chemistry

The Course shall consist of two parts, namely, Part One comprising the first three years and Part Two comprising the fourth year.

  1. Part One shall consist of study-units to which 180 credits are assigned and indicated in the programme of study and divided as follows:
  2. First Year: in addition to the compulsory and elective study-units outlined in the programme of studies of the chosen areas (not less than 26 credits in each of the two areas), students are required to register for optional study-units to bring their total for the year to 60 credits,

    Second Year: 30 credits in each of the two areas of study,

    Third Year: 30 credits in each of the two areas of study.

    At the end of Part One, students who obtain 180 credits as specified in paragraph (1) but who either opt not to proceed with the Course leading to the Honours Degree, or having proceeded, do not successfully complete the Course, shall be eligible for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.).

  3. Part Two shall consist of study-units to which 60 credits are assigned divided as follows:
    1. 40 credits in one area of study, of which 18 credits are assigned to a dissertation, and
    2. 20 credits in the other area of study,

provided that in the case of Mathematics, the dissertation may be substituted by one or more additional taught study-units.


Communication and Academic Skills Programme

The communication and academic skills programme complements students’ main course of study. It introduces them to writing and presenting as situated within academic contexts sensitive to specific disciplines and develops their competences for future careers.

Biology

Students following the Programme of Studies in Biology (B.Sc. Hons) are required to take a number of study-units other than in biology. Such study-units are designed to provide additional skills and knowledge required within the training of a general biologist.Furthermore, most study-units in Biology take the form of a number of lectures (sometimes supplemented by seminars) as well as practical laboratory or field work. The practical work component is considered as essential.Students are informed that regular lecture attendance is obligatory. A grade may be awarded to a particular study-unit only if the student’s attendance to lectures and practical sessions has been regular, and all other course requirements as indicated in the detailed study-unit descriptions have been satisfied.

In addition to the compulsory study-units, students taking Biology and Chemistry are required to choose study-units to the value of 2 ECTS credits from the elective study-units on offer during the year.
 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
BIO1010 Cellular and Biochemical Basis of Life 5 ECTS   (NC)  
BIO1020 Diversity of Life: Animals 5 ECTS   (NC)  
GSC1000 Introduction to Earth Science 2 ECTS    
 
Students taking Biology and Chemistry are required to register for the this unit:
 
SOR0210 Data Treatment and Probability 2 ECTS    
 
Elective Units (Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints)
 
GSC1200 Introduction to Physical Oceanography 2 ECTS    
GSC1300 Introduction to Science of the Atmosphere 2 ECTS    

 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
BIO1030 Diversity of Life: Non-Animals 5 ECTS   (NC)  
BIO1070 Perspectives and Research Methods in Biology 2 ECTS    
BIO1080 Microbial Diversity 5 ECTS   (NC)  
BIO1090 Introduction to Conservation Biology 2 ECTS    
 
Students taking Biology and Mathematics, Biology and Physics, or Biology and Statistics and Operations Research are required to register for this study-unit:
 
CHE1015 Environmental Chemistry for Scientists 4 ECTS    

 
Requirement for regular progression to Year 2:
30 ECTS credits in this area
30 ECTS credits in the other area

Total credits for this year: 60 ECTS credits

 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
BIO2040 Ecology and Ethology 1 8 ECTS   (NC)  
BIO2070 Biochemical Strategies of Life 5 ECTS   (NC)  

 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
BIO2020 Plant Biology 7 ECTS   (NC)  
BIO2030 Animal Form and Function 1 6 ECTS   (NC)  
BIO3030 Evolution, Phylogeny and Adaptation 4 ECTS   (NC)  

 
Requirement for regular progression to Year 3:
30 ECTS credits in this area
30 ECTS credits in the other area

Total credits for this year: 60 ECTS credits

 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
BIO3022 Parasitology 2 ECTS    
BIO3050 Animal Form and Function 2 5 ECTS    
BIO3060* Field Biology - Coastal and Marine Habitats 4 ECTS   (NC)  
BIO3130 Genetics and Developmental Biology 6 ECTS   (NC)  

* Study-unit BIO3060 is an intensive, week-long study-unit which is scheduled for the last week of September and prior to the beginning of the academic year.
 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
BIO2050 Science, Society and Ethics 2 ECTS    
BIO3023 Microbiology and Immunology 5 ECTS   (NC)  
BIO3040 Biotechnology 1 6 ECTS   (NC)  

 
Requirement for regular progression to Year 4:
30 ECTS credits in this area
30 ECTS credits in the other area

Total credits for this year: 60 ECTS credits

In addition to the compulsory study-units, final year Biology students are required to follow one of two elective blocks. The first elective block focuses on Industrial Biology (including Biotechnology) whilst the second elective block focuses on Environmental Biology. Each elective block consists of 8 ECTS credits.
 
Year   (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2)
 
For students taking Biology as the main area of study:
Compulsory Units (All students must register for these units)
 
BIO3110 Final Year Project in Biology 18 ECTS   (NC)  
SCI3502 Professional and Technical Skills for Scientists 6 ECTS    

 
 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
BIO3080 Introduction to agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and other biological Resources 4 ECTS    
SCI3501* Academic Writing and Statistical Techniques for Scientific Research 4 ECTS    
 
Industrial Biology Track
Elective Units(Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints)
 
BIO3300 Biotechnology 2 6 ECTS    
 
Environmental Biology Track
Elective Units(Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints)
 
BIO3090 Environmental Applications, Informatics and Management 4 ECTS    

* Study-unit SCI3501 is for students taking Biology as the other area of study only.
 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
BIO3070 Studies in Conservation Biology 4 ECTS    
 
Industrial Biology Track
Elective Units(Elective units are offered subject to availability, a minimum number of student registrations and time-table constraints)
 
BIO3100 Marine Biology 4 ECTS    
CPH4500 Introduction to Pharmacology for Biology and Chemistry Students 2 ECTS    

 
Requirement for successful completion of Year 4:
40/20 ECTS credits in this area
40/20 ECTS credits in the other area

Total credits for this year: 60 ECTS credits

Requirement for the award of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology and another area: 240 ECTS credits

Chemistry

 
Year   (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2)
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
CHE1215* Methods of Chemical Calculations 6 ECTS    
CHE1360 Principles of Organic Chemistry 6 ECTS   (NC)  
CHE1700 Chemistry Practical 1 4 ECTS   (NC)  

* Study-unit CHE1215 is for students taking Chemistry and Biology, or Chemistry and Mathematics, or Chemistry and Statistics and Operations Research only.
 
 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
CHE1340 Principles of Inorganic Chemistry 4 ECTS   (NC)  
CHE1350 Principles of Analytical Chemistry 4 ECTS   (NC)  
LIN1063** Academic Reading and Writing in English 2 ECTS    
MAT1091*** Mathematical Methods 4 ECTS    
SOR0210*** Data Treatment and Probability 2 ECTS    

** Study-unit LIN1063 is for students taking Chemistry and Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics, or Chemistry and Statistics and Operations Research only.
*** MAT1091 and SOR0210 are for students taking Chemistry and Physics only.
 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
CHE1330 Principles of Physical Chemistry 4 ECTS   (NC)  
SOR0220**** Elementary Statistical Theory 2 ECTS    

**** Study-unit SOR0220 is for students taking Chemistry and Biology only.
 

 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
CHE1356 Principles and Industrial Applications of Chemical Metrology 5 ECTS    
CHE2365 Organic Chemistry 2 5 ECTS   (NC)  
CHE2375 Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics 5 ECTS   (NC)  

 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
CHE2075 Introductory Environmental Chemistry 5 ECTS   (NC)  
CHE2364 Organic Spectroscopy 5 ECTS   (NC)  
CHE2385 Chemistry of Co-ordination Compounds 5 ECTS   (NC)  

 

 
Semester 1
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
CHE3091 Organic Photochemistry 2 ECTS    
CHE3155 Chemistry of Main Group Elements 5 ECTS   (NC)  
CHE3245 Separation Techniques and Analytical Chemistry 5 ECTS   (NC)  
SCI3503 Public Speaking and Presentations Skills for Scientists 2 ECTS    

 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
CHE3100 Statistical Mechanics and Molecular Modelling 5 ECTS    
CHE3135 Physical Chemistry of Liquids and Solutions 6 ECTS   (NC)  
CHE3255 Organic Chemistry 3 5 ECTS   (NC)  

 

If students opt to do the Project in Chemistry, they are required to register for 22 ECTS from the list of compulsory study-units and 18 ECTS assigned to the Project study-unit to a total of 40 ECTS.

If Biology is chosen as the other area of study, students are required to register for SCI3501 and 16 ECTS from the list of compulsory study-units.

If Physics or Mathematics or Statistics and Operations Research is chosen as the other area of study, students are required to register for CHE3285 and 16 ECTS from the list of compulsory study-units.
 
Year   (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2)
 
Compulsory Units

Chemistry and Physics, or Chemistry and Mathematics, or Chemistry and Statistics and Operations Research students who do not register for CHE3900 are to register for CHE3285.
 
CHE3285 Selected Topics in Chemistry 4 ECTS    
 
If students opt to do the Project in Chemistry they are to register for CHE3900.
 
CHE3900 Dissertation in Chemistry 18 ECTS   (NC)  
 
Chemistry and Biology students who register for CHE3900 are to register for SCI3502.
 
SCI3502 Professional and Technical Skills for Scientists 6 ECTS    

 
 
Semester 1
 

Chemistry and Physics, or Chemistry and Mathematics, or Chemistry and Statistics and Operations Research students who register for CHE3900 are to register for CHE3390
 
CHE3390 Synthetic Organic Chemistry 6 ECTS    
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
CHE3412 Chemistry of Polymers 4 ECTS    
CHE3470 Environmental Chemistry 4 ECTS    
 
Chemistry and Biology students who do not register for CHE3900 are to register for SCI3501.
 
SCI3501 Academic Writing and Statistical Techniques for Scientific Research 4 ECTS    

 
 
Semester 2
 
Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s)
 
CHE3461 Organometallic Chemistry and Structural Determination of Inorganic Materials 4 ECTS    
CHE3480 Natural Products 4 ECTS    

 

This programme of study is governed by the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2019 and by the Bye-Laws for the award of Bachelor of Science - B.Sc. and Bachelor of Science (Honours) - B.Sc.(Hons.) under the auspices of the Faculty of Science.

Biology

By the end of the course, you will:

  • Critically understand the basic theoretical concepts of biology.
  • Perceive and appreciate the various cross-links and interactions of biology with other basic and applied fields of scientific endeavour as well as its economic, social and cultural dimensions.
  • Willingly apply biological concepts to analyse and solve real-life problems in a multidisciplinary approach.
  • recall and explain of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to the subject areas as identified above
  • apply such knowledge and understanding to the solution of both qualitative and quantitative problems in chemistry
  • recognise and analyse problems and plan strategies for their solution

Chemistry

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

  • recall and explain of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to the subject areas as identified above.
  • apply such knowledge and understanding to the solution of both qualitative and quantitative problems in chemistry.
  • document laboratory procedures involved in experimental work in organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry.

Non EU Applicants:

Fee per academic year: Eur 10,800

You are viewing the fees for non EU nationals. Switch to EU nationals if you are a national of any country from within the EU/EEA.

Biology

As a biology graduate, you will have a wide range of jobs and professions. These include professions related to the following:

  • Food, pharmaceutics and other industries
  • Fish farming and fisheries
  • Agricultural sciences
  • Professions ancillary to medicine
  • Environmental planning and management (Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Malta Resources Authority, etc.)
  • Science teaching
  • Science administration
  • Consultancy work

On the basis of world-wide recognition of University of Malta degrees, our alumni have been accepted to continue their studies in a wide range of overseas institutions in Europe, the United States of America and elsewhere.

A growing number of international students are following courses in the Department of Biology, especially postgraduate courses leading to the M.Sc., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees. These overseas students are attracted by the Department's track record as well as by the facilities and expertise we are able to offer in a wide range of fields of study.

The course also provides you the necessary academic background for a chemistry career in industrial and teaching environments and fulfils the requirements for postgraduate studies at Masters or Doctoral level in chemistry and related subjects.


Chemistry

The course provides you with the necessary academic background for a chemistry career in industrial and teaching environments and fulfils the requirements for postgraduate studies at Masters or Doctoral level in chemistry and related subjects.


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