You'll need:

• knowledge of biology
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• maths knowledge
• excellent written communication skills
• analytical thinking skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• persistence and determination
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

You'll usually need a relevant degree and often a postgraduate master's qualification in a life science subject like:

• biology
• biological science
• ecology
• marine biology

Employers may also want you to have experience in your area of interest and possibly a PhD.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You could begin by doing a degree apprenticeship.

For example:

• Laboratory Scientist Level 6
• Research Scientist Level 7
• Bioinformatics Scientist Level 7

The Level 6 apprenticeship takes around 5 years to complete.

The Level 7 apprenticeships are likely to have a higher entry criteria and typically take 2 to 3 years.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You could start as a laboratory technician and train as a biologist by working and studying for a relevant qualification at the same time.

Career tips

You can learn more about the latest biological research projects from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

This can be useful to talk about when it comes to course and job interviews.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Royal Society of Biology for your professional development.

Further information

You can find more details about careers, courses and training in biology from the Royal Society of Biology.

Your tasks will depend on your specialism but you could:

• plan trials and analyse data, for example in crop production or medicine research
• study and protect endangered land and marine plants and animals
• develop new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat disease
• make observations, write reports and publish scientific papers
• teach students at a university or in a teaching hospital

Possible green job

This job could help the environment.

For a biologist to be a green job, you could:

• find new ways to clean up soil, air and water pollution
• research sustainable food production methods
• develop biofuels from non-food crops and waste biomass materials

Find out more about green careers

You could work in a laboratory, at a research facility or at a university.

Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.

You may need to wear protective clothing.