want to do a biology degree but dont want to work in a lab
is it silly to go into a bio degree already deciding i dont want a career in a lab/technician/research?
i dont know what i wanna be tbh, im gonna be 20 when i start uni and i just want to get on with a degree atp, I've never known what i wanted to do and i dont see it happening unless i just throw myself into something properly
i just think it's a good degree with transferable skills
i dont know what i wanna be tbh, im gonna be 20 when i start uni and i just want to get on with a degree atp, I've never known what i wanted to do and i dont see it happening unless i just throw myself into something properly
i just think it's a good degree with transferable skills
(edited 3 years ago)
Reply 1
21
not silly at all 
my bio teacher actually had an offer for medicine and decided she didn't want to take it on results day, she went through clearing although her parents were very mad at her for not taking it, and ended up going to Bath for Biology. She didn't really know what she was going to do after but she enjoyed Biology at A level and ended up becoming an A level bio teacher. So you never really know where life is going to take you 😂 and a lot of people who get a biology degree DONT end up working in a lab, there are lots and lots of career options with a biology degree !!!!
my bio teacher actually had an offer for medicine and decided she didn't want to take it on results day, she went through clearing although her parents were very mad at her for not taking it, and ended up going to Bath for Biology. She didn't really know what she was going to do after but she enjoyed Biology at A level and ended up becoming an A level bio teacher. So you never really know where life is going to take you 😂 and a lot of people who get a biology degree DONT end up working in a lab, there are lots and lots of career options with a biology degree !!!!Reply 2
9
Original post
by aliaa03not silly at all my bio teacher actually had an offer for medicine and decided she didn't want to take it on results day, she went through clearing although her parents were very mad at her for not taking it, and ended up going to Bath for Biology. She didn't really know what she was going to do after but she enjoyed Biology at A level and ended up becoming an A level bio teacher. So you never really know where life is going to take you 😂 and a lot of people who get a biology degree DONT end up working in a lab, there are lots and lots of career options with a biology degree !!!!
my bio teacher actually had an offer for medicine and decided she didn't want to take it on results day, she went through clearing although her parents were very mad at her for not taking it, and ended up going to Bath for Biology. She didn't really know what she was going to do after but she enjoyed Biology at A level and ended up becoming an A level bio teacher. So you never really know where life is going to take you 😂 and a lot of people who get a biology degree DONT end up working in a lab, there are lots and lots of career options with a biology degree !!!!thank you so much. this made me feel so much better
Reply 3
13
If you're thinking in terms of transferable skills rather than a specific degree I would look for a different STEM degree. Something like Chemistry/Computer Science/Engineering will give you more transferable skills than Biology will.
However, if you're interested in Biology just not in being in the lab then there are a lot of other things you can do with a Biology degree: teaching, medical sales, medicine, physician associate etc.
However, if you're interested in Biology just not in being in the lab then there are a lot of other things you can do with a Biology degree: teaching, medical sales, medicine, physician associate etc.
Reply 4
Original post
by cheribebeis it silly to go into a bio degree already deciding i dont want a career in a lab/technician/research?
No - a degree is supposed to be an academic endeavour, not vocational training. An apprenticeship is for that.
If you like biology from an academic viewpoint, and want to study it further, then do that. It's the best reason to study a particular subject, and you'll always do better (academically) in a subject you're genuinely interested in.
As above you can go into lots of non-lab roles with a biology degree. I know of someone who did a PhD in molecular biophysics and is now head of health and safety for a major UK university - so while not a lab role, it is a role where some of his biological and lab background may come in as useful knowledge! Likewise I work with some public health managers/officers now who mostly came from a bioscience background, but are not lab based themselves (mainly working on issues of policy and data recording/analysis). So certainly possible, and even possibly to have a non-lab based role which involves some of your bioscience knowledge base.
All degrees will develop transferable skills more or less by design now, the idea being they are no longer just "academic apprenticeships" for a prospective career as a research academic (although I'm not sure I necessarily agree with that approach, but I digress). Of course the onus is on you to "spin" that when applying for other roles - and no matter what you'll need relevant work experience for any kind of graduate job (lab based or not) so again the onus is on you to pursue that in order to make yourself employable.
All degrees will develop transferable skills more or less by design now, the idea being they are no longer just "academic apprenticeships" for a prospective career as a research academic (although I'm not sure I necessarily agree with that approach, but I digress). Of course the onus is on you to "spin" that when applying for other roles - and no matter what you'll need relevant work experience for any kind of graduate job (lab based or not) so again the onus is on you to pursue that in order to make yourself employable.
Reply 6
9
Original post
by Reality CheckNo - a degree is supposed to be an academic endeavour, not vocational training. An apprenticeship is for that.
If you like biology from an academic viewpoint, and want to study it further, then do that. It's the best reason to study a particular subject, and you'll always do better (academically) in a subject you're genuinely interested in.
If you like biology from an academic viewpoint, and want to study it further, then do that. It's the best reason to study a particular subject, and you'll always do better (academically) in a subject you're genuinely interested in.
thank you so much
Reply 7
9
Original post
by Reality CheckNo - a degree is supposed to be an academic endeavour, not vocational training. An apprenticeship is for that.
If you like biology from an academic viewpoint, and want to study it further, then do that. It's the best reason to study a particular subject, and you'll always do better (academically) in a subject you're genuinely interested in.
If you like biology from an academic viewpoint, and want to study it further, then do that. It's the best reason to study a particular subject, and you'll always do better (academically) in a subject you're genuinely interested in.
do you know if apprenticeships are still possible after completing an undergrad degree?
Reply 8
Original post
by cheribebethank you so much
No problem. Biology is a fascinating subject and develops lots of key skills, such as being able to understand complex systems, learn large amounts of technical detail, be numerate... It's a great choice
Reply 9
Original post
by cheribebedo you know if apprenticeships are still possible after completing an undergrad degree?
Yes, definitely.
Reply 10
9
Original post
by Reality CheckNo problem. Biology is a fascinating subject and develops lots of key skills, such as being able to understand complex systems, learn large amounts of technical detail, be numerate... It's a great choice
thank you
i find it so interesting, just not sure about careers directly related, but i cant think of any degree atp that has a career directly relating to anything i may want to doReply 11
Original post
by cheribebethank you i find it so interesting, just not sure about careers directly related, but i cant think of any degree atp that has a career directly relating to anything i may want to do
i find it so interesting, just not sure about careers directly related, but i cant think of any degree atp that has a career directly relating to anything i may want to doIn that case, doing a degree which you're genuinely interested in is the very best option.
Reply 12
8
Original post
by cheribebeis it silly to go into a bio degree already deciding i dont want a career in a lab/technician/research?
i dont know what i wanna be tbh, im gonna be 20 when i start uni and i just want to get on with a degree atp, I've never known what i wanted to do and i dont see it happening unless i just throw myself into something properly
i just think it's a good degree with transferable skills
i dont know what i wanna be tbh, im gonna be 20 when i start uni and i just want to get on with a degree atp, I've never known what i wanted to do and i dont see it happening unless i just throw myself into something properly
i just think it's a good degree with transferable skills
what uni are you going to do it at
Reply 13
10
I did a Biomedical Sciences degree which opens similar doors to a Biology degree. I managed to get onto a graduate scheme after uni and now train in vascular ultrasound which I really enjoy (thankfully!). I couldn't ever work in a typical lab either.
There is a huge range of jobs that you can apply to with a Biology degree but that almost makes it harder for two reasons:
1. Choice (ie where do you start to look)
2. Competition
Personally, I think there is a huge pressure to just start a degree - it's the conventional choice after A-levels and experienced-based opportunities are looked down on. Perhaps give yourself time to figure out what you'd like to do by gaining practical experience first (I know this is really difficult but it's so valuable).
There is a huge range of jobs that you can apply to with a Biology degree but that almost makes it harder for two reasons:
1. Choice (ie where do you start to look)
2. Competition
Personally, I think there is a huge pressure to just start a degree - it's the conventional choice after A-levels and experienced-based opportunities are looked down on. Perhaps give yourself time to figure out what you'd like to do by gaining practical experience first (I know this is really difficult but it's so valuable).
Reply 14
Original post
by cheribebeis it silly to go into a bio degree already deciding i dont want a career in a lab/technician/research?
i dont know what i wanna be tbh, im gonna be 20 when i start uni and i just want to get on with a degree atp, I've never known what i wanted to do and i dont see it happening unless i just throw myself into something properly
i just think it's a good degree with transferable skills
i dont know what i wanna be tbh, im gonna be 20 when i start uni and i just want to get on with a degree atp, I've never known what i wanted to do and i dont see it happening unless i just throw myself into something properly
i just think it's a good degree with transferable skills
Hi @cheribebe [br] [br] It is not silly at all! Actually, it's great you already know what you don't want to do.
I am a Biology student and I don't want to work in a lab and knew this before joining university. There are lots of different careers you can get with a biology degree due to the skills you acquire such as medical writing, science communication, pharmaceutical industry (e.g. clinical trials, consulting, sales, marketing), finance, teaching, ecologist ... there are many more too!
It is important to take a subject you know you will enjoy as you will be spending 3 years studying it.
What is your favourite part of biology?
Lauren
(Student Ambassador - BSc Biology with Year in Employment)
Reply 15
Original post
by cheribebeis it silly to go into a bio degree already deciding i dont want a career in a lab/technician/research?
i dont know what i wanna be tbh, im gonna be 20 when i start uni and i just want to get on with a degree atp, I've never known what i wanted to do and i dont see it happening unless i just throw myself into something properly
i just think it's a good degree with transferable skills
i dont know what i wanna be tbh, im gonna be 20 when i start uni and i just want to get on with a degree atp, I've never known what i wanted to do and i dont see it happening unless i just throw myself into something properly
i just think it's a good degree with transferable skills
Exact same situation. It's so hard
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