Build the scientific foundation every life-science career begins with. A Level Biology (AQA) is the same qualification your school sat, accepted by every UK university, earning UCAS points, and essential for medicine, nursing, biomedical science, and veterinary study. Studied 100% online with UK tutor support; exams sat at an approved centre.
✓Want to apply to UK universities through UCAS using A level grades
✓Are aged 16 or over (most learners are 19+)
✓Need flexible, online, self-paced study around work or family
✓Want a regulated, externally-examined qualification recognised UK-wide
✓Are confident sitting an exam at an approved exam centre
✓Want a recognised academic qualification on your CV
Your career after this course
✓You need a face-to-face classroom environment to learn
✓You need an alternative to written exams (consider vocational diplomas instead)
✓You cannot commit 6 to 12 hours of study per week
✓You need to qualify in less than the typical course duration
✓You do not have GCSEs (or equivalent) in the same or related subject
About this qualification
What you'll learn
Picture the moment a research question becomes a treatment, a discovery made at a lab bench that eventually changes how a disease is managed. A Level Biology is the qualification at the base of that chain. It is the prerequisite for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, biomedical research, nursing degrees, and most life-science programmes at UK universities. This is the same A Level your school sat, redesigned for adults who are ready to study seriously.
This is a full A Level qualification awarded by AQA, one of the UK's three main awarding bodies, whose qualifications are accepted by every UK university, recognised by UCAS, and awarded the same points (up to 56 at A*) as an A Level sat in a school or college. The specification covers cell biology and biochemistry, genetics and inheritance, physiology and systems biology, ecology and ecosystems, and the principles of scientific investigation, including practical skills assessed through written questions in the final examinations.
The course is studied 100% online at your own pace, with 12 months of full course access and specialist UK tutor support throughout. Your tutor provides feedback on submitted work within 2 working days and guides you through the specification topic by topic. When you are ready, A Level examinations are sat in May or June at an approved exam centre, we help you find a centre near you when you enrol. Most learners complete in 12 to 18 months.
A Level Biology is the single most widely required A Level for entry to pre-registration nursing degrees, graduate-entry medicine, biomedical science, biological sciences, and allied health programmes. A grade B or above opens applications to research-intensive universities including Russell Group institutions. Combined with A Level Chemistry, it satisfies the two-science requirement for medical school. Graduates in life sciences earn starting salaries from £28,000 rising to £60,000 and above in clinical or research careers.
Adults who study A Level Biology online consistently report that the material is more engaging when approached with the context that only life experience provides, questions about genetics, physiology, and disease make more sense when you have lived with health, illness, and the complexities of a human body. Tutor-led online study allows you to spend more time on challenging topics and move faster through material you already understand. AQA Biology is the most commonly studied science A Level in the UK.
The course is available with interest-free monthly payments, spread the cost at 0%, start any day of the year. This qualification suits adults preparing for university applications in life sciences, career changers entering healthcare or research, and anyone who left school before completing the A Levels that the degree or role they want requires. Biology is demanding, but it is learnable, and the goal on the other side is worth it.
AQARQF Level 3100% Online9 to 12 months4 unitsSelf-paced
Curriculum
What you'll study
4 units across 1 level of study. Portfolio-assessed — no exams.
What you'll need
Entry requirements
You need to be aged 18 or over to enrol.
GCSE in the same or a related subject at grade 4 (C) or above is recommended but not always required. Some subjects (e.g. A level Maths, A level Sciences) strongly assume GCSE grade 6+.
A reliable internet connection, computer or tablet, and basic word-processing skills.
There is no minimum study commitment. As a guide, most learners spend around 6 to 12 hours a week, but you can study more or less based on your own pace and how you feel at the time. The course flexes around your life.
Willingness to attend an approved exam centre for written exams.
Not sure if you qualify?
Our admissions team can talk you through your options.
A levels are 100% externally examined. You sit two or three written papers in May or June at an approved exam centre. A level Sciences also include the CPAC practical endorsement, awarded separately by your exam centre.
Throughout the course your tutor reviews essays, problems, and practice papers, providing feedback within 2 working days. You complete mock exams under timed conditions and a final readiness review before booking your real exam.
Grades range from A* to E. UCAS points are awarded from 56 (A*) down to 16 (E). Your certificate is issued by AQA and recognised by every UK university and employer.
01
Portfolio-based
Coursework and a written portfolio. No traditional written exams.
02
Submit online
All assignments submitted through your learner dashboard.
03
Tutor feedback
Detailed feedback in 3 to 5 working days. Refine and resubmit until you reach the grade you want.
04
Graded across units
Pass, Merit or Distinction on each unit. Top grades stack to the highest UCAS point total.
Careers
Where this can take you
Typical roles and salary ranges this qualification opens up.
Medicine, Dentistry, Vet Science (Degree)
Typical salary range
£35,000 to £100,000+ (qualified)
A level Biology is a core requirement for medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science degrees in the UK.
Biomedical / Pharmacology Degree
Typical salary range
£28,000 to £60,000 (qualified)
Biology A level is the foundation for biomedical science, pharmacology, and biotechnology BSc programmes.
Nursing, Midwifery, AHP Degrees
Typical salary range
£28,407 to £42,618 (qualified)
Many nursing and AHP programmes prefer Biology A level, though Access to HE Diplomas are also accepted.
Forensic / Environmental Sciences
Typical salary range
£25,000 to £50,000
Biology underpins forensic biology, ecology, and environmental science careers.
NHS Trainee / Apprenticeship
Typical salary range
£23,000 to £30,000
NHS science trainee schemes (STP) typically require Biology A level for entry.
Career Returner Pathway
Typical salary range
N/A
Adult returners can use A level Biology to pivot into healthcare and life-science degrees.
✓Talk to our support team by phone, email or live chat
✓See your progress and next steps on your dashboard
✓Join the learner community forum when you want to chat to others
Funding and finance
✓Pay monthly to spread the cost with no interest
✓Pay in full and save versus monthly
✓No credit checks and no contract. Pause or cancel anytime
✓We can send funding paperwork to your employer if they sponsor you
✓Our enrolment team will talk you through every option
✓14 day money back guarantee on every enrolment
Accreditation and recognition
✓Awarded by a recognised UK awarding body
✓Regulated by Ofqual, the same standard as college courses
✓Accepted by UK universities, employers and professional bodies
✓You get a certificate when you finish
✓Listed on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications
✓Independently quality checked through IQA and EQA
How it works
✓Start any time. There are no set term dates or cohorts
✓Study at your own pace around work and family
✓No exams. You complete coursework, a portfolio and assignments
✓Resubmit your work at no extra cost to reach the grade you want
✓Use the optional study planner if you like a bit of structure
✓How long you study is entirely up to you. Most learners spend a few hours each week, but you can do more or less based on your own pace
What learners say
Trusted by thousands of learners
Real feedback from learners studying with Lift College.
The flexibility was a game changer for me. I studied around my shifts and my tutor was incredibly supportive throughout.
I was nervous about going back to study after 15 years, but the platform is so easy to use and the feedback I got on assignments was genuinely useful.
Got into my first-choice university with a place on a Nursing BSc. The Access to HE Diploma gave me exactly what I needed.
Good value and well structured. I appreciated that I could resubmit work without extra cost — really helped me improve.
Customer service was excellent. Any time I had a question it was answered within hours. Highly recommend.
I needed a qualification that actually meant something to employers. Ofqual regulation was the deciding factor, and it delivered.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Our A levels are awarded by AQA, OCR, or Pearson Edexcel and are identical to those taught in UK schools and colleges. Every UK university accepts them, and they earn the same UCAS points (up to 56 per A level at A*).
