Bioscience degrees at the University of Manchester, the University of York and the Royal Veterinary College have been accredited by the Society of Biology in the first wave of accreditations since the programme’s pilot in 2012. These degrees have been acknowledged for their academic excellence and commitment to developing graduate employability skills.

Mark Downs, chief executive of the Society of Biology, says: “Employability has been pushed to the forefront of graduates’ minds in recent years, yet employers consistently report a skills gap. These courses have been accredited because they are producing research-ready graduates with the skills and experience needed to enter the competitive job market.”

The accreditation programme has been recently developed in response to consultations with the bioscience industry, in which 45% of respondents revealed they couldn’t recruit candidates who met the needs of all their graduate-entry level jobs. Accreditation provides employers searching for research-ready graduates with a simple way of identifying suitable candidates with the necessary experience.

Four degrees have already been accredited under the pilot scheme, and the awards ceremony takes the total to seven. The universities were praised by the accreditation assessment panels for their excellent provision of practical experience and strong links with industry and placement providers. A full list of all degree programmes accredited by the Society of Biology can be found on our website.

The Degree Accreditation Programme has received co-investment from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills though the Growth and Innovation Fund.