biology degree at uni

is a biology degree useless? i'm considering applying to study biology bsc or mbiol at uni and being a clinical researcher seems really interesting. but at the same time i see a lot of people saying that a biology degree is not worth it, the jobs are bad and low salary etc. does anyone agree or disagree?
also is it important to study a masters degree after, to go into research or no?

Reply 1

Kingston Annabel

Official Rep

Original post by zosss

Hey there!

There’s a lot of noise out there about biology degrees being “useless,” but honestly, that hasn’t been my experience at all. I did my undergraduate degree in microbiology before moving into a completely different field for my master’s (I’m now doing MSc Adult Nursing). Looking back, that biology background was far from wasted. It gave me a solid grounding in scientific thinking, lab skills, data analysis, and critical evaluation, all of which I still use in healthcare today. So even if I didn’t stick with biology directly, the degree opened up so many possibilities and made me adaptable.

If you’re interested in becoming a clinical researcher, a biology degree can actually be a great stepping stone. Research roles, especially in the NHS, pharma companies, or academic institutions, often value people who’ve had lab experience and understand biological systems. While some positions might need a master’s or even a PhD down the line, you can still get your foot in the door with a BSc, especially if you get some relevant experience through placements, internships, or working as a lab tech.
One thing I’d really recommend (based on hindsight) is looking for universities that offer placement years or have strong links to research institutes or hospitals. That hands-on experience can make a big difference when applying for jobs or deciding if research is really for you.

So, biology isn’t useless. But it’s what you make of it. If you’re proactive, open to exploring related roles (like clinical trials, biotech, diagnostics), and get experience while studying, the degree can be very worthwhile.
Hope that helps a bit.

– Annabel (official rep)