how important is accreditation on biology degrees?
i've seen that some biology/other science degrees are accredited and some aren't, does this make much difference to grad careers or how good the degree is and what does it mean?
Reply 1
Hi there,
Great question! In short, accreditation is a quality mark from a professional body that confirms a degree meets certain standards set by the industry. For some subjects (namely architecture, engineering, healthcare and psychology) it’s essential for certain career paths or further training. For others, including biology, it's not mandatory but can still be a strong advantage.
In STEM subjects, choosing an accredited degree is often recommended. It shows that the course offers a solid academic foundation, develops key skills, and is designed with input from employers to help prepare you for the workplace.
For example, the Royal Society of Biology explains that accredited degrees include core knowledge and skills that meet employer expectations and support graduate careers. You can read more about the benefits here: https://www.rsb.org.uk/images/accreditation_home/Benefits_of_Degree_Accreditation.pdf
Hope that helps!
Megan (LJMU Rep)
Great question! In short, accreditation is a quality mark from a professional body that confirms a degree meets certain standards set by the industry. For some subjects (namely architecture, engineering, healthcare and psychology) it’s essential for certain career paths or further training. For others, including biology, it's not mandatory but can still be a strong advantage.
In STEM subjects, choosing an accredited degree is often recommended. It shows that the course offers a solid academic foundation, develops key skills, and is designed with input from employers to help prepare you for the workplace.
For example, the Royal Society of Biology explains that accredited degrees include core knowledge and skills that meet employer expectations and support graduate careers. You can read more about the benefits here: https://www.rsb.org.uk/images/accreditation_home/Benefits_of_Degree_Accreditation.pdf
Hope that helps!
Megan (LJMU Rep)
Reply 2
Original post
by evsurferi've seen that some biology/other science degrees are accredited and some aren't, does this make much difference to grad careers or how good the degree is and what does it mean?
Hi @evsurfer
In some cases degree accreditation is important, and in others it doesn't really matter. Regarding biological science degrees (biology, biochemistry, biomedicine, etc) the only situation where accreditation matters is in the case of IBMS-accredited Biomedical Science degrees. This accreditation shows that the course covers the academic requirements needed to become a HCPC registered biomedical scientist. However, if you don't want to work as a Biomedical Scientist in the NHS it's not needed. Aside from this, other accreditations will have no effect on applying for further study and graduate roles; I have never seen any roles that request or favour an accredited degree.
Rebecca (Lancaster Student Ambassador)
(edited 9 months ago)
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