BSc Life Science is a 3-year undergraduate course involving the study of various life processes in plants, animals and organisms. The course, incorporating both practical and theoretical knowledge, was introduced in the academic year 2005-2006. Principal subjects included in this course are Plant Biology, Biochemistry, Food Science, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Agricultural Science, Molecular Biology, Botany, Zoology, and Chemistry.
The program also offers choices for various electives and skill-enhancement courses (SECs) under Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS) provided by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Average fee charged for the course ranges from INR 10,000 – INR 1.5 Lakh in different colleges.
Aspiring candidates can proceed with their studies after BSc Life Science by pursuing a master's in the same and then going for MPhil or PhD. Contenders may also enroll for an MBA program or MSc in Biotechnology, or may even take up Clinical Research. Otherwise, graduates could work in industries and laboratories in private and public sectors as a Pathologist, Nutritionist, Horticulturist, Biomedical Engineer, or a Food Scientist. They may also enter the profession of teaching and/or further research.
Average initial salary proffered to a life science degree holder is 1.2-4 LPA, which increases with the number of years of work experience and knowledge in the field.
BSc Life Science is all about studying the life of every living being and organism. The course leads the curious minds to a career full of secrets and things unknown to human beings. Here is a tabulate where more of it is explained.
| Course Level | Graduation |
| Full Form | BSc Life Science |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Examination Type | Semester-based |
| Eligibility | 10+2 schooling or equivalent with PCB subjects and with a minimum score of 50% |
| Admission Process | Merit-based |
| Average Course Fee | INR 10,000-1.5 Lakhs |
| Average Salary Package | INR 1.2 LPA - INR 4 LPA |
| Top Recruiting Companies | AIIMS, Tata Memorial Centre, Cactus, Bcs-Insilico Biology, Vee Technology, Indian Society of Cell Biology, Amazon, HCL |
| Job Position | Researcher, Nutritionist, Epidemiologist, Professor, Biomedical Engineer, Conservation Scientist, Biophysicist, Pathologist, Immunologist, Agronomist, Palaeontology, Horticulturist, Food Scientist |
BSc Life Science is an undergraduate course, where a student may focus on the biochemical processes taking place in a variety of aquatic and terrestrial organisms, plants and animals, including human beings.
- Having many branches of chemistry and biology as the subjects taught, BSc Life Science is a multidisciplinary course, and is also categorized as an Aqua Science course due to the intensive study of marine life.
- Its curriculum includes classroom learning and practical exercises such as lab experiments, especially in the area of molecular biology.
- Enrolling students may require computational, speaking and writing skills, ability to handle microscopes and other equipment, and a critical, analytical and observant nature to acquire maximum understanding of the discipline during the course.
Why BSc Life Science?
Since a lot of microscopes and other equipment are used for experimenting during the course, students can learn new techniques which are used for research analysis in advanced research laboratories and industries.
- The program involves the processes of change from molecular to cellular life in various organisms, and hence, students may get the opportunity to experiment on many diverse species of plants and animals.
- Students tend to acquire and become better at skills like computation, speaking and writing, critical and analytical thinking, microscopic and inferential skills, as well as the capability to work for long hours.
- The course paves the right path for higher studies in Life Sciences I.e., MSc., M.Phil., and PhD, or MSc. in Biotechnology or even an MBA.
- Graduates may also pursue Master's or research in any of the specializations of Life Sciences like Biotechnology and Fish Genetics.
- Graduates have better chances of employment especially in the sectors of scientific writing, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing of fish products.
What is the BSc Life Science Admission Process?
BSc Life Science admission is granted either based on the student’s 10+2 merit or through entrance tests. Here is all you need to know about the direct admission and entrance based admission.
Direct Entrance -
- Candidates are selected on the basis of merit. They must make sure that they fit into the eligibility criteria before applying.
- Students can apply for colleges managing merit-based entrances through online or offline applications, where the mode of payment is the same as that of application respectively.
Exam-Based Entrance -
- Only a few institutions conduct an entrance exam for a candidate to be enrolled in BSc Life Sciences.
- Entrance examinations are also conducted for the eligibility for admission into courses related to agriculture and forestry.
- Some of the most common entrance exams accepted nationally are GSAT and ICAR AIEEA.
- In order to appear for exams, students have to register and make payments through the online mode.
- Institutes accepting entrance exam scores follow a common selection procedure, though the cut-off mark set depends on the institutions.
- Relaxation of a fixed percentile is allowed to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), differently abled, and other categories.
- Selection procedure consists mainly of three steps-
- Candidates are shortlisted depending on their GSAT/ICAR/other accepted entrance exam score and by their academic records.
What is the BSc Life Science Eligibility Criteria?
Candidates who have completed their 10+2 schooling or equivalent, with an aggregate of 50% marks are eligible to enroll for this program. Apart from that:
- Compulsory subjects taken during higher secondary schooling must include Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
- Institutions requiring an entrance exam for admission may take into account both the entrance exam score as well as previous academic records. The cut-off mark for the examination is decided by each institution.
- Candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), differently abled, and other categories shall get a relaxation of 5% of marks.
- Letters of recommendation can also be favorable to the candidate.
| BSc Agriculture Eligibility | BSc Computer Science Eligibility | BSc Biotechnology Eligibility |
| BSc Psychology Eligibility | BSc Microbiology Eligibility | BSc IT Eligibility |
Which are the Popular BSc Life Science Entrance Exams?
The entrance exams differ based on the university. Some of the most exams commonly accepted by most of the leading Indian universities are JEE Advanced, GSAT, etc. Here is all you need to know about time.
| Name of the Exams | Registration Dates (Tentative) | Exam Dates (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| NPAT | December 2023 – May 21, 2024 |
January 2024 – May 2024 |
| CUET | February 2024 – April 2024 | May 15 - 31, 2024 |
| CUCET | November 28, 2023 - May 29, 2024 | May 2024 |
| SET | January 2024 |
May 2024 |
How to Prepare for Entrance Exams?
Each entrance exam is held between 1 hour and 3 hours, and their maximum marks are different. Nonetheless, their pattern is similar and students may prepare for any of the exams with some common methods.
- Tests the candidates' knowledge in the PCB subjects.
- Questions are objective type
- There is negative marking for wrong answers.
- Medium of Examination: English & Hindi.
- Candidates must have sufficient knowledge in the PCB subjects, Mathematics and Agriculture.
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 50 | 200 |
| Chemistry | 50 | 200 |
| Biology/Agriculture | 50 | 200 |
| Total | 150 | 600 |
| Top BSc Colleges in Kolkata | Top BSc Colleges in Bangalore | Top BSc Colleges in Delhi |
| Top BSc Colleges in Chennai | Top BSc Colleges in Bhubaneswar | Top BSc Colleges in Mumbai |
How to get admission in a good college?
Since most colleges enroll students on the basis of merit, candidates are advised to procure high percentages in the PCB subjects in their higher secondary schooling.
Admission to institutions taking entrance exams into account comprises of two main steps:
Exam Score:
- Scoring a percentile more than the required cut-off can help in being shortlisted right away. Students must take note of the cut-off mark decided by each college and work hard enough to achieve that score in the entrance exams.
- Practice for an entrance exam must not stop just because one has tackled some mock question papers. There is still room for improvement and candidates must keep practicing consistently.
Personal Interview (PI):
- Students must upgrade their communication skills, critical thinking and current awareness, as these are some of the criteria being tested during this round.
- Participation and certification in various extra-curricular activities such as clubs, sports, and NGO volunteering can be an addendum to the list of merits.
- Be updated about the dates of registration and examination, and apply before the deadline.
- Prepare well and in advance for the entrance exams.
- Always be aware about current affairs.
- Make sure to practice the necessary skills for the interview/group discussion held during selection.
BSc Life Science Syllabus
The following table gives a year-wise syllabus followed in the curriculum for a BSc Life Science:
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Applied Biology | Biostatistics |
| Bioinformatics | Biodiversity- Plants |
| Biotechnology | Development Biology |
| Cell Biology | Biodiversity- Animals |
| Development Physiology | -- |
| Second Year | |
| Ecology | Evolution |
| Genetic Engineering | Environment Management |
| Environmental Science | Plant Tissue Culture |
| Diversity of Cryptogams | Food, Nutrition and Health |
| Animal Tissue Culture | -- |
| Third Year | |
| Inorganic Chemistry | Genetics and Genomics |
| Physics | Organic and Physical Chemistry |
| Molecular Biology | Introduction to Medical Diagnostics |
| Introduction to Computers and Information Systems | Mathematics for Life Sciences |
| Taxonomy and Anatomy | -- |
Which are the Top BSc Life Science Books to Follow?
| Name of Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Handbook of Agriculture | Indian Council of Agricultural Research |
| Fundamentals of Food Engineering | Rao D G |
| Irrigation Engineering | N N Basak |
| Gene Cloning | T A Brown |
| BSc Agriculture for ICAR AIEEA | Dr. Lalita Gaur |
| Molecular Biology | Watson |
| Physics for NEET | C P Singh |
| Fundamentals of Physics | Halliday, Resnick and Walker |
| Concepts of Physics | H C Verma |
| Organic Chemistry | Morrison |
| Physical Chemistry | O P Tandan |
| Concise Inorganic Chemistry | J D Lee |
| Objective Biology | Dinesh |
Which are the Top BSc Life Science Colleges in India?
There are numerous colleges offering BSc Life Science. Below is a tabulate where some of the top colleges offering BSc Life Science and are approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC):
| Name of College | Average Course Fee (INR) |
|---|---|
| Miranda House, Delhi | INR 58, 470 |
| Presidency College, Chennai | INR 3,795 |
| Loyola College, Chennai | INR 18,000 |
| Hans Raj College, Delhi | INR 73,545 |
| PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore | INR 2,482 |
| Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi | INR 39,530 |
| Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, Delhi | INR 59,235 |
| Gargi College, Delhi | INR 42,135 |
| Madras Christian College, Chennai | INR 57,957 |
| Acharya Narendra Dev College, Delhi | INR 23,895 |
College Comparison
Choosing a good college is a big dilemmatic situation for the students. The table below shows the top three BSc Life Science colleges that has been compared based on multiple parameters:
| Parameter | Loyola College, Chennai | Hans Raj College, Delhi | Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | Founded in 1925, this autonomous institution provides various UG and PG programs in science and arts with the help of state-of-the-art infrastructure, laboratories and other facilities. | Established in 1948 and affiliated to Delhi University, the college provides various courses in science, arts and commerce, and many clubs and societies for extracurricular activities. | Instituted in 1961 and affiliated to Delhi University, the college offers many programs in science, humanities and commerce, and various add-on and vocational courses along with an excellent placement cell. |
| NIRF Ranking 2021 | 6 | 9 | 14 |
| Average Course Fee (INR) | 18,000 | 73,545 | 39,530 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | MRF, Nalanda Vidyanikethan, ILM, C. S. Corporation | Glenmark, McKinsey & Company, Bain Capability Network, | Grant Thornton, ABP News, GoLingo, Zomata, BYJU's, Oberoi, |
| Average Placement Package (INR) | INR 1.4 - 4.2 LPA | INR 4-5 LPA | INR 5 LPA |
Students can procure admission through online application provided that they fit the usual eligibility criteria.
Aspirants should keep in mind that a distance BSc Life Science education is considered lower than a regular Life Science program due to the extensive experimenting required. However, the quality of distance learning depends on the institution that you apply for.
Sometimes, the institutions may demand that the student be present in the case of practical examinations.
BSc Life Science vs BSc Biotechnology Course Comparison
BSc Life Science deals with the different prospects of life. It helps you to learn about the various facts of life. On the other hand, biotechnology will help you to invent something with the data gathered from facts. Here are the key differences between the courses that you need to know.
| Parameter | BSc Life Science | BSc Biotechnology |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | BSc Life Science | BSc in Biotechnology |
| Duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| Eligibility | 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects with an aggregate of 50% marks | 10+2 or equivalent with PCB subjects with an aggregate of 50% marks |
| Course Objective | Focuses on various life processes involved in plants, animals and organisms, and having many specializations including biotechnology. | Focused on the advanced study of cellular and molecular processes in humans to develop and I the health of humanity. |
| Average Course Fee | INR 50,000-1.5 Lakh | INR 2-3 Lakh |
| Average Placement Package | INR 1.2 - 4 LPA | INR 2.5 - 8 LPA |
| Job Positions | Researcher, Nutritionist, Epidemiologist, Professor, Biomedical Engineer, Conservation Scientist, Biophysicist, Pathologist | Medical Coder, Quality Control Analyst, Data Analyst, Research Analyst, Research Scientist, Clinical Research Associate (CRA) |
BSc Life Science Dual Degree
Some colleges offer a dual degree in Life Sciences, where a student can complete both bachelor's and master's at once. Most dual degrees take 5 years for its completion.
Here are few of the institutions offering a BS-MS dual degree program in Life Sciences along with their relevant data:
| Name of Institution | Place | Admission Process | Average Course Fee (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIT, Madras | Chennai | JEE Advanced | ** |
| IISER, Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh | JEE Advanced/ Merit-based/ KVPY Fellowship | 4,35,500 |
| IISER, Kolkata | West Bengal | JEE Advanced/ Merit-based/ KVPY Fellowship | 3,59,400 |
| IISER, Mohali | Punjab | JEE Advanced/ Merit-based/ KVPY Fellowship | 3,61,445 |
| IISER, Tirupati | Andhra Pradesh | JEE Advanced/ Merit-based/ KVPY Fellowship | 2,74,910 |
| IISER, Berhampur | Odisha | JEE Advanced/ Merit-based/ KVPY Fellowship | 3,92,000 |
What are the BSc Life Science Job Prospects and Career Options?
A wide range of careers awaits for BSc Life Science graduates. Jobs in both private and public sectors can be obtained after graduation, though candidates who have finished higher studies find it easier to get a job.
Bsc Life Science Job Profiles
Here are some of the most promising job roles available for the BSc Life Science graduates.
| Job Position | Description | Average Salary Package |
|---|---|---|
| Biochemist | Studies the biochemical processes upto the molecular level and brings solutions to the standing problems in the food processing and agricultural industries. | INR 3,05,000 |
| Pathologist | Studies bodies and body tissues and examines the causes and effects of disease or injury, and advises on the appropriate patient care. | INR 10,00,000 |
| Food Scientist | Studies the techniques and principles behind food processing and manufacturing, to develop and improve the efficiency and safety of food processing. | INR 7,50,000 |
| Scientific/Journal Writer | Writes and edits scientific articles or journals by understanding complex scientific theories and processes. | INR 4,22,000 |
| Veterinarian | Medical professional who provides healthcare service, including medicine and surgery, to all kinds of animals. | INR 5,04,000 |
BSc Life Science Future Scope
Students can either opt for a job or continue higher studies in this field. Students can pursue MSc and then PhD in this field. Here are a few out of the multitude of options available to the students.
- Graduates interested in gaining more knowledge in Life Sciences can do so by pursuing a master's in Life Sciences or any of its specializations, and then proceeding to M.Phil. and PhD in Life Sciences.
- Graduates can also enter the academic profession and/or contribute to the vast expanse of knowledge of Life Science through research in a relevant aspect.
- Students who want to proceed in a different route can take up an MBA and build a career in Management.
- Candidates may even go for master's in Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, and Biology depending on some universities.
- Though, jobs are not guaranteed after a BSc Life Science, hard work and determination can ensure anyone a job in both the private and public sectors.
- Candidates can take up additional specialization courses in subjects which were given in the BSc. Life Science curriculum, as electives and skill-enhancement courses, by the UGC. Some of these courses include Molecular Modelling and Drug Design, Immunology, Ethnobotany, Cheminformatics, Fuel Chemistry, Instrumental Methods of Analysis, Medical Diagnostics, and Apiculture.
BSc Life Science FAQs
Ques. Is the admission to BSc Life Science entrance-based?
Ans. Admission to most colleges is merit-based but some institutions may look into entrance scores.
Ques. Can one become a doctor after a BSc Life Science?
Ans. No. One needs to graduate in MBBS in order to become a doctor, which can be taken after BSc Life Science given that they clear the NEET entrance exam.
Ques. Is BSc Life Science a good course?
Ans. BSc Life Science is a good course, but candidates have to make sure that they are ready to work for long hours and have the necessary skills to complete it with perfection.
Ques. What are the highest paying jobs for someone pursuing life sciences?
Ans. Biochemist, Biophysicist, Medical Scientist, Hydrologist, Materials Scientist are some of the high-earning jobs one can procure with a life science degree.
Ques. Is a specialisation in Life Sciences better than a normal Life Science degree.
Ans. Undoubtedly, a degree in a specialisation of Life Science is better, but aspirants have to make sure that they are thoroughly interested in the particular field of Life Science that they choose.
Ques. Is a BSc Life Science better than an MBBS?
Ans. In some cases, a BSc Life Science may be better than an MBBS. MBBS students have to work extremely hard for a long time in order to become a doctor with a basic salary. Here, Life Science is better as it is cost-effective and less time-consuming.
But a Life Sciences degree holder does not become a doctor, but may have a career being a medical scientist.
Ques. Which specialization of Life Science is the best?
Ans. Biotechnology is considered as one of the best specializations of Life Science as it focuses on improving one's health with the help of technology, and the demand for biotechnology in everyday life is increasing day by day.
Ques. Which are the best books to refer while doing a Life Sciences degree?
Ans. A few reference books are:
- CSIR-UGC NET/JRF/SET Life Sciences by Pushkar Kumar
- Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments by Gerald Karp and Nancy L Pruitt
- Immunology by Barbara A. Osborne and Janis Kuby
- Principles of Genetics by D. Peter Snustad and Michael J. Simmons
Ques. Is BSc Life Science the same as BSc in Applied Life Science?
Ans. While Life Sciences is the study of biological and chemical processes in plants, animals and organisms, a degree in applied life science studies these processes in order to apply and invent various methods to make human life easier.
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