The University of Dundee received its Royal Charter in 1965 when it separated from St. Andrew's. The first Biological Sciences and Chemistry Department was housed in these converted stables and then the Biological Sciences Institute until the Medical Sciences Institute was completed.

The Medical Sciences Institute (MSI) was built in the early 1970s to deal with the expansion of the Medical School intake following Dundee’s separation from St Andrews. 

In October 1997 the Wellcome Trust Biocentre (WTB) was completed. It is linked to the MSI and was built and equipped with donations totalling over £13 million, including £10 million from The Wellcome Trust.

The School of Life Sciences was formed in October 2000 from the Departments of Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences and Chemistry. These Departments were replaced by Research Divisions and a Teaching Unit.

In July 2005 the £21m Sir James Black Centre (JBC) was completed. The JBC houses 180 scientists and is physically joined to the WTB.

In August 2006 the School of Life Sciences became the College of Life Sciences with two Schools, the School of Research and the School of Learning and Teaching.

• Over 900 students are enrolled in Life Sciences undergraduate degree courses.
• The College coordinates postgraduate training for approximately 200 postgraduate students.
• The College is housed in number of buildings on the University Campus, namely the Sir James Black Centre, Wellcome Trust Biocentre, the Medical Sciences Institute, the Biological Sciences Institute, the Old Medical School and the Carnelley Building.
• The College has over 1000 staff from 58 different countries.
• The School comprises 80 Research Groups headed by Principal Investigators (PIs) that include citizens of Austria, Britain, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Portugal, Russia, Spain and the USA.
• The highest rating of “Excellent” was achieved for all aspects of our biology teaching in the most recent assessment by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.
• The College has the largest ever research collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and a UK Research Institution, termed the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy. The collaboration will help in the development of drugs to treat global diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
• In November 2005 the University was awarded the Queens Anniversary Prize for the work of the Division of Signal Transduction.
• Life Sciences and Biotechnology accounts for 16% of Dundee’s economy.
• In March 2011 the College of Life Sciences received 3 of the 7 BBSRC Awards for Excellence with Impact: Winner, Greatest Impact; Innovator of the Year, Overall Winner and Social Innovator 2011.