Biology ? A Level / Degree help'

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AIBU to ask if you did / know anyone who did a Biology degree and to ask what you did afterwards.
DS stuck between Law or Biology and put off by being told only option with Biology is to work in a lab. However he likes Biology more. AIBU to think Biology is broader and you can also work in the city with it ( management consultancy ?) Just chosen A Level options too! Thanks

Just an fyi, science at university is usually a lot more laboratory-based than at school. If he doesn't like labs he might hate it, labs probably made up about a third of my overall marks. Even the lectures are more heavily weighted in learning about experiments that were done and how science is done rather than straight facts. And if he wants to do a PhD, while some might be more computer-based now, for the vast majority that is 3-4 years working in a lab full-time. I don't know much about patent law but I would imagine from what they do that practical science skills would be very highly valued.

The highest paid person I know from my biology uni days is an accountant.

I did BSc in the Biological Sciences field, plus several related internships. Struggled to get a job in the field I studied in. I now write training programmes/courses for workplaces. Looking at doing a masters in Educational Leadership.

I gained many transferable skills in my BSc. I have never been out of work and employers are always interested in my degree and associated work experience, even though it isn't directly relevant.

Better to go for a subject you enjoy as in my experience it means you’re more likely to work hard and do well.

My degree was in biological sciences and I now work in IT.

There are lots of options with a biological sciences degree including grad schemes that accept a numerate/science degree including management consultancies, pharma sales, academic research, biotech companies, data sciences/analysis.

Of my cohort, some went into PhDs, some did medical degrees, some into banking, some management consultancy, some are in clinical trials, one went into pharmacy, one is an accountant, there’s also a couple in technology. Very few are working in a lab.

Law is also still an option with a biology degree.

I did a biology related degree but knew I didn’t want to go into lab work. I now work in clinical research on the data side. Currently in the NHS so salary isn’t amazing but i’ve had the opportunity to progress into management. I’m about to make the move across to industry as pay is much better for similar roles. Biology definitely doesn’t just mean lab work though, people from my course have gone on to do lots of different things, including law conversion.

I'm bias but tell him to look at a Biomedical degree (prefer co-termulus if they still do them as end up fully registered at end). Look at Insitute of Biomedical Sciences for.more info

Has your DS thought about which areas of biology he likes? There are lots of biology degrees with different names, I changed to Biochemistry and Physiology.
I’ve since worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years in clinical research - running /monitoring clinical trials. Then as a manager - project manager, programme manager, line manager. It’s a huge industry covering lab work to find/design the molecules to trials on patients. There are teams dealing with regulatory documentation, pharmacovigilence (safety), data management, statistics, medical writing, QA. Plus trying to incorporate new technology. So many roles needing educated and driven people with an aim to get new medicine onto the market to help patients.
There’s also sales and marketing if you’re not an R&D type of person.

Also my brother did medical writing and training/education.
Not a lab in sight for either of us!

I did a biology degree. I did then carry on as a lab-based scientist for some years (PhD and post-doctoral research) but then switched into medical communications, which I find both interesting and well paid

Off the top of my head, others from my degree course are now patent attorneys, medical writers, academics, teachers, medics, librarians, work in consultancies, various roles in biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and one runs a pub

I'd say maybe don't do pure biology, something like biomedical science, biochemistry, biology with computing science etc. Adds some options and strings to your bow.

I did biochemistry, now work travelling the UK as a quality type inspector for a specific government regulation (probably giving myself away here!) and although I started in a lab I'm not working in one anymore and my current salary is 3x what my starting lab salary once was.

If choosing Biology based, a year in industry would be a wise option too. I work in a biotech company, have become less lab based as I have moved up. Quality and regulatory is a good field to get into if you like science but not lab work, also clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, medical writing as previously mentioned.

To add, I have worked in academia and the NHS but my industry time has given me the most varied experience

Sister did biology degree became a forensic scientist. Did v well. Not sure I'd recommend it now given the changes in the indust6in the past few years.
Other sister did law degree and worked in banking. Retiring this year. She is 56.
Almost everyone I know who works in law hate it.

Went out with a bunch of lawyers before Christmas and all those who'd done a law degree regretted it. They felt they'd have been better studying a subject they loved, and then trained as a lawyer afterwards. They felt that the academic study of law is quite far removed from the everyday practical law. Some people love it. Most people don't. With a biology degree you could pursue law or accountancy or management, civil service fast track or teaching or anything else which needs a degree but is unspecified as to which.

Funnily enough, on a university open day, we got chatting to another parent who happened to be a lawyer and she said she wished she’d studied a degree subject that interested her then converted to law after.

Teaching though back in the day did 3 years Teacher's Certificate and then B'Ed in Biology and Education
Family member did Biology degree and has very good job which doesn't have very much to do with Biology but the skills learnt have been useful.

Human biology A level and many years later ended up as director of a medical research charity in which my ability to understand basic science and write science into English was invaluable.