The main reason students must pursue life science courses is if they are interested in understanding the complexities of nature in the form of plants, animals and microorganisms. Students who want to pursue a career in life sciences can do so by specialising in our country's various life science courses.
The life sciences are the study of living things. Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, and Ecology are all branches of life sciences. Candidates interested in Natural sciences can start their careers by studying life science courses. Life science courses help students understand and examine different plants and animals on land and water. Students who study life science courses get to study plants, animals, microorganisms and their constituent biochemistry. Students also study how to conserve flora and fauna and the steps to preserve them.
What is Life Science Courses?
Life science is a branch of study that deals with the scientific study of living organisms such as microorganisms, plants, animals, and humans. Life sciences is a broad category that focuses on specific types of organisms. Some of the different branches of Life sciences courses students can pursue.
| Anatomy | Biological anthropology | Ecology | Immunology | Parasitology | Structural Biology |
| Astrobiology | Biological oceanography | Enzymology | Marine Biology | Pathology | Synthetic Biology |
| Bacteriology | Biomechanics | Ethology | Microbiology | Pharmacology | Systems Biology |
| Biotechnology | Biophysics | Evolutionary biology | Molecular biology | Phycology | Theoretical Biology |
| Biochemistry | Botany | Evolutionary developmental biology | Mycology | Physiology | Toxicology |
| Bioinformatics | Cell biology (cytology) | Genetics | Neuroscience | Population Biology | Virology |
| Biolinguistics | Developmental biology | Histology | Palaeontology | Quantum Biology | Zoology |
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Life Science Courses List for Bachelor's Degree
BSc. Life Sciences is a 3-year degree offered in India in the fields of botany, zoology, microbiology and biotechnology. Students get equipped with laboratory training and practical experience in their research analysis. The table below shows the life sciences courses list:
| Degree Name | Duration |
| BSc Zoology | 3 years course |
| BSc Botany | 3 years course |
| BSc Microbiology | 3 years course |
| BSc Biochemistry | 3 years course |
| BSc Biotechnology | 3 years course |
| BSc Genetics | 3 years course |
| BSc Marine sciences | 3 years course |
| BSc Dairy science | 3 years course |
| BSc Bioinformatics | 3 years course |
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Life Science Courses Scope After Bachelor's Degree
Life science courses scope after an undergraduate degree are low in the private sector but there are government-level recruitments for Life Science graduates. The best alternative to working a job would be to pursue higher studies such as M.Sc and PhD. These courses also open many options professionally. Some sectors that offer jobs to life sciences students are as follows:
- Agriculture sector
- Chemical sector
- Beverage sector
- Health sector
- Medicine and Pharmaceutical Industries
- Food Processing Industries
- Laboratories
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Life Science Courses List for Master's Degree
Students who desire to advance their careers in the life sciences pursue a master's degree in science. Students who choose an MSc typically want to pursue a PhD. An MSc in a particular subject is offered based on a specialised study area. The list of life sciences courses is displayed in the table below:
| Degree Name | Duration |
| Msc Zoology | 2 years course |
| Msc Botany | 2 years course |
| Msc Biostatistics | 2 years course |
| Msc Microbiology | 2 years course |
| Msc Biotechnology | 2 years course |
| Msc Molecular Biology | 2 years course |
| Msc Biochemistry | 2 years course |
| Msc Industrial Microbiology | 2 years course |
| Msc Bioinformatics | 2 years course |
| Msc Biotechnology | 2 years course |
| Msc Genetics | 2 years course |
| Msc Biodiversity and Conservation | 2 years course |
| Msc Dairy Science | 2 years course |
| Msc Marine Science | 2 years course |
| Msc Forensic Science | 2 years course |
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Life Science Courses Scope After Master's Degree
Several employment opportunities exist for students who complete their master's degree in life sciences. Research and development firms, government agencies and industries hire life science students based on their agency's requirements.Some career prospects after an MSc in Life science are as follows:
- Biomedical Engineer
- Researcher
- Biochemist
- Food scientist
- Nutritionist
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Eligibility Criteria (UG and PG) for Life Sciences
Similar to other Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses, there are some specific requirements for the eligibility criteria for different courses in Life Science. The eligibility criteria are given below:
For Undergraduate Life Science Courses
- The candidate must have cleared their 12th standard, with a minimum aggregate of 50%.
- To qualify for BSc Life Sciences, students must opt for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology during Higher Secondary Education.
For Postgraduate Life Science Courses
- The applicant must have completed a B.Sc Degree in a subject relevant to Life Science with a minimum aggregate of 50%.
- Some colleges conduct entrance exams, along with a personal interview to evaluate the candidates performance.
- IIT JAM, GS (TIFR), and ICAR AIEEA-PG are some of the national-level entrance exams given by students every year to pursue a Master's in life sciences from reputed institutes in India.
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Entrance Exam for Life Sciences
Most universities follow merit-based selection criteria, with weightage given to the marks of 12th along with counselling. An entrance exam is only the first step of the selection process as the applicants are asked to attend a personal interview, where the social skills of the candidate as well as their aptitude for the course are evaluated. The selection criteria usually vary from one institute to another.Some of the nation's top-tier institutions choose based on entrance exams. Such as
- ICAR AIEEA: An entrance exam was organised by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for enrolling students in Agriculture and agriculture-related sciences in the central agricultural universities.
- IIT JAM: Joint Admission test for Masters is one of the most prestigious entrance exams conducted nationwide to check students' eligibility for various courses offered by IITs nationwide.
- CSIR-UGC NET: This exam is conducted by the UGC and is used as a selection criterion for choosing PhD aspirants with a higher aptitude for learning; it is said to be one of the toughest exams in the country with a very low clearance rate.
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Course Fees for Life Sciences
| Name of Degree | Maximum Fees | Maximum Fees |
| Private | Government | |
| UG | 7.00 Lakhs | 2.33 Lakhs |
| PG | 15.50 Lakhs | 3.00 Lakhs |
| DOCTORAL | 8.94 Lakhs | 1.23 Lakhs |
| DIPLOMA | 92.00 K | --- |
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Online Life Science Courses
There are several reputable online life science courses available in India. Here are some of the best options:
- Coursera: Coursera is a popular online learning platform that offers a wide range of life science courses from top universities and institutions. Some notable courses include "Introduction to Genetics and Evolution" from Duke University and "Introduction to Biology: The Secret of Life" from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
- edX: Another well-known platform, edX offers a variety of life science courses in collaboration with renowned institutions such as Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley. Courses like "Introduction to Biochemistry" and "Introduction to Biology - The Secret of Life" are highly recommended.
- NPTEL: The National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) offers free online courses in various disciplines, including life sciences. NPTEL courses are developed and conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). You can find courses on molecular biology, bioinformatics, and biotechnology.
- BioTecNika: BioTecNika is an online platform for life sciences and biotechnology education. They offer a range of certification courses and specialised programs covering topics like cell biology, immunology, and clinical research.
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