Top Life Sciences Courses in the World: Universities, Fees

Pursuing top life sciences courses at renowned universities like Harvard, MIT, and Oxford opens doors to opportunities. Courses in Biotechnology, Genetics, and Microbiology offer cutting-edge knowledge. It is important that students have the required academic qualifications and meet other admission requirements.

The study of living things and how they function is covered in the field of life sciences. This branch of science can involve researching microbes, plants, animals, and people. Universities like Harvard, MIT, and Cambridge offer popular courses related to life science. In this article, we will cover the most popular life science courses offered by reputed universities with their ranking. 

Life Science Course Details

Students may choose to pursue BSc Life Sciences, MSc Life Sciences, and PhD Life Sciences degrees as part of their academics. However, before deciding whether to choose Life Sciences as a course or not, the students must know about various Life Science course details and the Life Science subjects list. The following section provides the Life Science subjects lists for BSc Life Sciences and MSc Life Sciences.

Life Science Courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels have been mentioned in the table below:

Note: Since Life Sciences is a multidisciplinary branch, students are advised to visit the official university website to know the exact course details.

Life Science Subjects List

The table given below provides the list of subjects taught in BSc Life Sciences.

The table given below provides the list of subjects taught in MSc Life Sciences.

Best Universities for Life Sciences in 2025

Students are often concerned with the university rankings when it comes to university selection. The table given below provides a list of the best universities for life sciences. While the specific rankings vary depending on the source and year, all of these universities consistently appear in the top rankings. It is important to note that many other top universities for life sciences may not be listed here. An ideal institution for an individual student relies on various criteria like their interests, career aspirations, geographical preferences, and availability of resources.

The following table has been sourced from the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2025 and QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Life Sciences & Medicine :

Life Sciences Courses Abroad Fees

In order to pursue BSc, MSc, and PhD Life Sciences abroad, students need to pay for their tuition fees, living costs, travelling costs, university-related costs, etc. BSc Life Sciences fees abroad can range from Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 36 lakhs per annum. At the same time, MSc Life Sciences fees abroad can range from INR 3 lakhs to INR 54 lakhs per annum.

Students must note that the tuition fee would vary depending on the specific program and location. Additionally, some programs may offer financial aid or scholarships to help cover the cost of tuition and fees.

Life Sciences Courses Abroad Requirements

The eligibility criteria for pursuing Life Sciences courses abroad depend on a variety of factors. An overview of the eligibility criteria is given in the points below:

• Class 12th exams with certain subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, etc. (may vary according to the university).
• SAT or ACT scores (for pursuing a BSc in Life Sciences abroad).
• GRE or GMAT scores (for pursuing MSc in Life Sciences abroad).
• English language proficiency test scores: IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo score.
• Latest resume.
• Statement of Purpose (SOP).
• LORs (Letters of recommendation).
• Essay.

Life Sciences Scope

When we talk about the scope of Life Sciences, we need to consider the syllabus, subjects, research areas, and job opportunities. When it comes to the syllabus and life sciences subjects, the study of living things is covered by the large, interdisciplinary discipline of life sciences, which also includes (but is not limited to) the fields of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, physiology, and ecology. The scope of life sciences (vis-à-vis syllabus and subjects) can therefore include the study of biological systems at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecosystem levels.

When it comes to research in the field of life sciences, some of the best universities for PhD in Life Sciences include Harvard University, University of Oxford, John Hopkins University, MIT, Imperial College London, Stanford University, etc. A PhD in Life Sciences revolves around the topic chosen by a student. Some of the topics of PhD Life Sciences include Research Methodology, Ethics in Research, Research in Biological Sciences, etc.

Now that we have covered the scope of Life Science with respect to the syllabus and subjects, we must look at the career options. The following points will help you gauge the career options after BSc and MSc in Life Sciences:

1. BSc in Life Sciences Scope: After pursuing BSc in Life Sciences, students may work as epidemiologists, biomedical engineers, genetic counsellors, biochemists, microbiologists, wildlife biologists, etc. Moreover, students may go on to pursue MSc in Life Sciences for further improvement in their career outcome.
2. MSc in Life Sciences Scope: After pursuing MSc in Life Sciences, students may move on to pursue a PhD and other research-related work, which can open the doors of teaching and academia for them. Moreover, students may work as biotechnologists, wildlife biologists, biochemists, genetic counsellors, clinical scientists, clinical research associates, computational biologists, etc.

Life Sciences Course Top Recruiters

Some of the top companies where the students of BSc, MSc, and PhD in Life Sciences may get placed are included in the table given below:

After reading the article, students must be in a good position to make a well-informed decision. It is advised that the students understand the study abroad intakes, course structure, and know more about the top universities for Life Sciences, ongoing research, etc. before making a final decision.

Students looking to study abroad can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for assistance with university applications. Students may write to us in the comments section below.