Program Description

This course gives students an in-depth insight into fundamental plant biology. They will explore photosynthesis, the genetics of disease resistance and the conservation of plant diversity. Students will study these topics while considering how to harness plant technology to solve global food and energy shortages, mitigate the effects of the climate crisis, and develop sustainable and green technologies.

Students will cover two main themes at Sheffield: 

• plant physiology - how plants harvest light energy, acquire nutrients from the soil and convert this to sustain growth
• plant ecology - how plants interact with each other and their non-living environment, and disease resistance and biodiversity.

This course is designed for students who have a passion for understanding the role of plants in sustainability and the science and technology of food production. Sheffield is home to the Institute for Sustainable Food, which brings together the faculty's expertise in this area in order to find dynamic solutions to the challenges of food security and sustainability. Students will be able to get involved in research like this throughout their studies.

Alongside their specialist plant science modules, students will have the freedom to study topics across the breadth of biology to complement their knowledge. Topics range from molecular genetics, developmental biology and biochemistry, to evolution, zoology and physiology. This flexibility allows students to study plant sciences in greater depth from a range of perspectives, broaden their interests or even switch to another biosciences degree.