Explore UCD

UCD Home >

BSc Biological Science (BGS3)

Prof Olaf Schmidt, Programme Director,
Biological Sciences

Professor Schmidt has an undergraduate degree from the University of Halle-Wittenberg (Germany), a Master's degree from the University of Aberdeen (Scotland, UK) and a PhD from University College Dublin (Ireland). He knows from his own educational path and experience as an academic teacher how transformative, enriching and valuable an international university education can be.

This programme focuses on living organisms, their biology, their interactions with each other and the environment, and their importance for and use by humans.  The programme covers all scales of biological systems, from molecules, cells, whole organisms, to ecosystems and the global biosphere.  Your studies will first cover the basic sciences (including chemistry, mathematics, genetics, molecular biology) essential for understanding biological structures, functions and processes.  Then, you will learn about the evolution, classification and biology of micro-organisms, plants and animals, and the techniques used to classify, culture, study and use these organisms.  Finally, you will learn how biological sciences are applied in biotechnology and molecular sciences, plant and animal production, nature conservation and ecosystem management. The programme provides in its graduates a professional body of biological, biotechnological and ecological knowledge and technical skills, as well as interpersonal skills and a capacity for critical thinking that are necessary to tackle major challenges society faces today.