Biology careers for IGCSE / AS & A students : top 5 picks

Does a career in biology and life sciences excite you? In this post, we dig deeper into how learners can build a solid foundation in the subject as part of their IGCSE / AS & A levels and pursue exciting careers in the field.

Biology is a natural science that includes different topics that connect together to give rise to a coherent theme - life. This is why it is also known as life science. As a biology student, you learn about the tiniest of organisms such as amoeba and paramoecium and also about giants such as whales and mammoths. During the course of studying biology, one learns about evolution, anatomy, organ systems, plants, animals and the ecosystem.

Step into the exciting world of business

Bio-entrepreneurship is the pursuit of finding opportunities that require a biology-based solution. The invention of powdered sanitizer, apps for consulting with doctors and selling non-prescription drugs online are some examples that show the value of bio-entrepreneurship. A career in this field is highly rewarding in the 21st century where empowering the customer is the idea behind any business venture. Using your knowledge of biology, you could very well create the next multi billion company that Fortune 500 is waiting for. In 2020, 8% of the Fortune 500 companies were operating in the healthcare domain, the essence of which is biology.

To sum it up, the field of medicine is immensely rewarding because you get new challenges and insights on a frequent basis. After school, you could opt for a course in nursing or MBBS to dive headfirst into your chosen field. After MBBS, doctors who plan to specialise go ahead for their MD. For nursing, there too is a postgraduate degree which teaches management and research besides imparting field specific knowledge. In India, for every 1456 patients, we have one doctor. As per WHO’s healthcare standards, we should have one doctor for every thousand patients. More surprising is the fact that we have half the number of veterinary doctors our country needs. By having a career in healthcare, you could extend your services to take the nation to greater heights.

Conclusion

To advance your career in biology in your chosen field, having a keen interest in living beings is a must. Applying academic knowledge with multidisciplinary and experiential learning, you’ll come out ahead with a firm grasp over the subject. Look for the right facilitators who understand your vision and study at a place where there’s equal emphasis on classroom and practical knowledge. You’ll end up with a good grasp over the subject and have clarity over your career goals. We are waiting to hear your experiences!

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