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Plant Biology

BSc (NFQ Level 8)
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This course is available through the following application route(s)

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Plant Biology is the scientific study of plants, fungi and algae. Plants are vital for supporting and maintaining the atmospheric and environmental conditions required for all life on earth. They are the mainstay of human and animal diets, while also providing pharmaceuticals, timber, paper and clothing.

Plants are being exploited as sources of renewable energy and biofuels and make an important contribution to measures aimed at reducing the effects of climate change. A key to the further development of plants for practical or economic use is an improved understanding of metabolic and developmental processes and their interactions with environmental factors.

About This Course

Plant Biology is the scientific study of plants, fungi and algae. Plants are vital for supporting and maintaining the atmospheric and environmental conditions required for all life on earth. They are the mainstay of human and animal diets, while also providing pharmaceuticals, timber, paper and clothing.

Plants are being exploited as sources of renewable energy and biofuels and make an important contribution to measures aimed at reducing the effects of climate change. A key to the further development of plants for practical or economic use is an improved understanding of metabolic and developmental processes and their interactions with environmental factors.

Information on all our courses including pathways, internships and careers information is available in the UCD Science Undergraduate Courses Entry 2025 Brochure (PDF).

Plant Biology is one of the degree subjects available through the Biological, Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences stream in the common entry Science course. Students study similar modules for all degree subjects in the Biological, Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences stream in first year and will study modules for a minimum of two degree subjects in second year. At the end of second year, students choose their degree subject. As we offer a number of degree subjects in each stream, students have a number of similar degree subjects to choose from and if a degree subject is oversubscribed, places are allocated on a competitive basis. For more information on choosing a degree subject at the end of Second Year, visit the Biological, Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences stream page.

This is a sample set of modules that a Plant Biology student could study each year in UCD.

First Year
Scientific Enquiry • Cell Biology & Genetics • Basis of Organic and Biological Chemistry • Biomedical Sciences • Biology in Action • Life on Earth • Linear Algebra for Science • Calculus for Science • Optional Science Modules • Elective Module

Second Year
Biomolecular Lab Skills • Scientific Communication • Principles of Plant Biology • Chemistry for Biologists • + modules for 2 other Science Subjects • Elective Modules

Third Year
Plant Diseases: Biology • Plant Cell Biology • Genetics & Recombinant DNA • Working with Biological Data • Diversity of Plant Form & Function • Plant Biotechnology & Entrepreneurship • Experimental Plant Physiology • Optional Modules • Elective Modules

Fourth Year
Research Project • Biology & Ecology of Coastal Wetlands • Plant Biology Field Course • Developmental Plant Genetics • Environmental Impact Assessment • Plant Phenotyping • Programmed Cell Death in Plants • Biological Invasions

Timetables & Assessment
Each student will have their own timetable based on their individual module selection. This is a full-time course and classes may include lectures, practicals and tutorials, depending on the subjects. Students will also be expected to study independently (autonomous student learning). Assessment varies with each module but may comprise continuous assessment of practicals, written exams and online learning activities.

Plant Biology graduates have obtained positions as plant and environmental scientists, pollution biologists, molecular geneticists and cell biologists, agronomists, horticulturists, foresters, park rangers, environmental consultants and heritage officers. Graduates are also eligible to pursue MSc programmes in UCD in Applied Environmental Science and Biotechnology, in addition to PhD programmes both in Ireland and abroad.

Students have the opportunity to complete a Professional Placement module worth 5 credits. This module provides students with an opportunity to undertake a placement in industry (6-10 weeks) in the summer following Third Year.

Students in recent years have also completed research bursaries in UCD Research labs.



More information about the internship module and application process.


UCD Science Office

You can contact the UCD Science Office in the following ways:




  • Submit your query using our dedicated Contact Form.

  • Drop into the office in the UCD O'Brien Centre for Science, Science East, Room E1.09. Our office opening hours are 10am to 4pm (during term time).


Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 2 Core Modules
 BMOL20060 Biomolecular Lab Skills 1 Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 BIOL20060 Scientific Communication Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 BOTN20050 Principles of Plant Biology and Biotechnology Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
CHEM20090 is a CORE MODULE for students who wish to progress with any subject in the BBB stream. Students registered to, or who have taken, both CHEM20080 and CHEM20100, are not required to take CHEM20090. Students who are unable to register to CHEM20090 should contact the Science Office.
CHEM20090 Chemistry for Biology Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 BIOL30010 Plant Diseases: Biology and Control Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 BIOL30040 Scientific Writing for Biology Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 CELB30110 Plant Cell Biology Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 GENE30010 Genetics and Recombinant DNA Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 BIOL30030 Working with Biological Data Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 BOTN30050 Diversity of Plant Form & Function Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 BOTN30130 Plant Biotechnology & Entrepreneurship Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
 BOTN30140 Experimental Plant Physiology Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must select two options from the list below. Students cannot take both STAT20070 and FOR20100. Students who wish to obtain recognition of the Structured Elective in Statistics and Data Analytics on their degree transcript should register to STAT20070 as an elective.
AESC30110 Diversity in the Rural Landscape Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must select two options from the list below. Students cannot take both STAT20070 and FOR20100. Students who wish to obtain recognition of the Structured Elective in Statistics and Data Analytics on their degree transcript should register to STAT20070 as an elective.
AESC30220 Soil Science Applications Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must select two options from the list below. Students cannot take both STAT20070 and FOR20100. Students who wish to obtain recognition of the Structured Elective in Statistics and Data Analytics on their degree transcript should register to STAT20070 as an elective.
ENVB30010 Systems Ecology Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must select two options from the list below. Students cannot take both STAT20070 and FOR20100. Students who wish to obtain recognition of the Structured Elective in Statistics and Data Analytics on their degree transcript should register to STAT20070 as an elective.
FOR20100 Applied Biostatistics Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must select two options from the list below. Students cannot take both STAT20070 and FOR20100. Students who wish to obtain recognition of the Structured Elective in Statistics and Data Analytics on their degree transcript should register to STAT20070 as an elective.
STAT20070 Data Modelling for Science Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must select two options from the list below. Students cannot take both STAT20070 and FOR20100. Students who wish to obtain recognition of the Structured Elective in Statistics and Data Analytics on their degree transcript should register to STAT20070 as an elective.
ZOOL30030 Evolutionary Biology Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must select two options from the list below. Students cannot take both STAT20070 and FOR20100. Students who wish to obtain recognition of the Structured Elective in Statistics and Data Analytics on their degree transcript should register to STAT20070 as an elective.
CELB30090 Advanced Cell Biology Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must select two options from the list below. Students cannot take both STAT20070 and FOR20100. Students who wish to obtain recognition of the Structured Elective in Statistics and Data Analytics on their degree transcript should register to STAT20070 as an elective.
CELB30100 Developmental Biology Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must select two options from the list below. Students cannot take both STAT20070 and FOR20100. Students who wish to obtain recognition of the Structured Elective in Statistics and Data Analytics on their degree transcript should register to STAT20070 as an elective.
CELB30120 Hot Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must select two options from the list below. Students cannot take both STAT20070 and FOR20100. Students who wish to obtain recognition of the Structured Elective in Statistics and Data Analytics on their degree transcript should register to STAT20070 as an elective.
ENVB30100 Ecological and Environmental Microbiology Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must select two options from the list below. Students cannot take both STAT20070 and FOR20100. Students who wish to obtain recognition of the Structured Elective in Statistics and Data Analytics on their degree transcript should register to STAT20070 as an elective.
GENE30020 Genome Structure and Evolution Spring  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
 BIOL40360 Research Project 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  20
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 BIOL40560 Biological Imaging Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 BOTN40270 Biology and Ecology of Coastal Wetlands Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 BOTN40290 Current Dev. Plant Bio. 1 Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 BOTN40300 Plant Biology Field Course Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 CELB40040 Cell Signalling in Plants Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 ENVB40040 Environmental Impact Assessment Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 ENVB40310 Peatlands and Environmental Change Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 ENVB40540 Introduction to Ecological Mapping with open source software (QGIS) Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 SCI30080 Professional Placement-Science Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 ZOOL40040 Molecular Phylogenetics - Powers and Pitfalls Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 BOTN40260 Plant Phenotyping: from Basics to Robotics Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 BOTN40280 Current Dev. Plant Bio. 2 Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 CELB40030 Programmed Cell Death in Plants Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 ENVB40290 Ecological Modelling Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 ENVB40480 Applied Microbial Ecology Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 ZOOL40280 Biological Invasions Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 8 of:
Students must select eight options from the list below. Please note that students who successfully completed SCI30080 will be registered by the School to the module.
 ZOOL40490 Wildlife Habitat Modelling for Ecology and Conservation Spring  5

"To me, no area holds greater merit for study than plant science. Its implications infiltrate all aspects of modern society from global food security to phytopharmaceuticals. I was Vice-Auditor of the UCD Biological Society. Being involved in a society allowed me to meet other people from various stages and degrees in UCD, as well as encounter some incredible scientists. The UCD O’Brien Centre for Science is home to unparalleled plant science labs and teaching facilities including the Bloom gold medal-winning UCD Evolution Garden, which are invaluable resources as I now pursue my PhD in plant genetics in UCD."

Caroline Dowling, Graduate

Placing UCD Science at the top of my CAO was an easy choice as I could explore all subject areas before making an informed decision on my degree. To me, no area holds greater merit for study than plant science- its implications infiltrate all aspects of modern society from global food security to phytopharmaceuticals. I was Vice-Auditor of the UCD Biological Society. Being involved in a society allowed me to meet other people from various stages and degrees in UCD, as well as encounter some incredible scientists. The UCD O’Brien Centre for Science is home to unparalleled plant science labs and teaching facilities including the Bloom gold medal-winning UCD Evolution Garden, which are invaluable resources as I now pursue my PhD in plant genetics in UCD.
Caroline Dowling, Graduate

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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Plant Biology:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceInt BLS1
Science: Biological, Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
 Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates		 Closed
showAudience-audienceInt SCU1
Science
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
 Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates		 Closed
showAudience-audienceInt BLS1
Science: Biological, Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
 Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates		 Apply
showAudience-audienceInt SCU1
Science
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
 Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates		 Apply
showAudience-audienceEU DN200
Science: Biological, Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
 Application through CAO Apply via CAO
showAudience-audienceEU DN200
Science
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
 Application through CAO Apply via CAO
* you can change options at the top of the page

Additional special entry route(s) to Plant Biology:

These options have additional eligibility requirements to cater for specific applicant cohorts. You should not apply via these routes before consulting the requirements or contacting the responsible UCD office.

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt SCU1
Science
Bachelor of Science		 Full-Time

Commencing September 2025		 Access Progression Pathway
Access Progression Pathway
Application to this Non-EU Access Progression Pathway is by invitation only. If you are not currently enrolled on an Access programme at UCD, your application will be marked as invalid.
If you are not a current Access student, but you are a non-EU applicant seeking admission to an undergraduate degree, please submit an application via the "Undergraduate Degree (Non-EU)" course type.		 Apply
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