This course requires 104–120 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent. We are happy to consider a combination of qualifications and grades to meet the overall tariff, for example A-levels A*CC, ABC, BBB or BCC, BTECs DDM or DMM. You can use the UCAS calculator to see how your qualifications equate to UCAS tariff points.
If you do not meet these you may want to consider our Foundation Year, a one-year course that will prepare you for degree-level study.
If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.
Study strategies of research, new discoveries and principles of new technologies for more effective analysis and precise interpretations of health and disease
Understand the theories, concepts and principles relevant to different disciplines in biomedical sciences as well as the wider application of these to address societal needs
Develop skills to evaluate scientific literature to understand how evidence-based decisions are made in biomedical sciences and how to conduct your own biomedical science research
Complete a 30-week placement in year three to experience some essential and fascinating insights for your future career
Explore different techniques for developing medicine and how they are used to treat illness in the human body in our new state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.
Foundation Year: We have a Foundation Year option for UK students who do not meet the entry requirements for the degree course. This additional year of study will give you a grounding in the scientific skills required for this course, building your confidence, knowledge and skills for further study. After successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will progress to the full degree.
UCAS Code: B940
With foundation year: B941
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Foundation Year
Core units:
Academic Study Skills: You will gain the fundamental academic and research skills required for degree level study. The unit will introduce you to a broad grounding in literature searching, literature review, data collection, methodological approach, data analysis and interpretation and ethical practice. It will also support you to begin to develop a critical and analytical approach to your work and identify areas for personal development.
Applied Sciences: You'll gain a basic understanding of some fundamental aspects of science underpinning more specific disciplines, and an appreciation of how various scientific disciplines impact human life. You'll understand the differences between pure and applied science, as well as the roles of different ways applied science can be funded, and implications of these funding mechanisms.
Introduction to Biology: Biology is the study of life and hence knowledge of plant and animal cell biology is fundamental to understanding wider concepts in biology. This unit also introduces key themes in human, environmental and ecological sciences to provide a sound underpinning in knowledge for future studies.
Introduction to Psychology: This unit is designed to prepare you for advanced coursework in psychology. You will complete the unit with a good understanding of the various areas of psychology and how they seek to explain behaviour.
Mathematics in Science: You will build your confidence in mathematics, in order to perform calculations on a range of scientific data from biology, chemistry and psychology and to be able to represent the findings in an appropriate format, including graphs. In order to carry this out it is essential to be able to convert the data between systems of units and to understand how to present very large and very small numbers in standard form. Basic statistical analysis of tabulated data will be carried out to introduce the concept of confidence limits and familiarisation of statistical testing.
Foundation Year Project: You will carry out a research task on scientific topics chosen by the unit leader which you will be able to conduct a scientific investigation on. You will devise your own investigation and produce a literature review as a final scientific report.
Year 1
Core units:
Biomedical Research Skills: Providing you with the necessary skills to conduct independent research in the biomedical sciences, during this unit you will formulate and communicate reasoned scientific principles in tutorial group settings.
Introduction to Immunology: This unit will develop your knowledge of the cellular and molecular basis of innate and acquired immunity in a mix of practical lab sessions and lectures.
Introduction to Molecular Genetics: The unit will introduce the role of genes and their expression in the formation of proteins and macromolecules that support cellular life processes, and explore basic concepts of 'the central dogma'; the gene as a unit of heritability; the mechanisms of transcription and translation.
Cell Biology: Cells are the basic unit of life and hence knowledge of cell biology is fundamental to understanding wider concepts in biology. This unit introduces key themes in cell biology to provide a sound underpinning knowledge of cells and the way they function. The unit will equip you with an understanding of cell structure, function, control, basic molecular biology, the interaction of cells with viruses and the basic experimental techniques used to investigate cells.
Human Anatomy & Physiology: Giving you an overview of the structure and function of the human body, you will be introduced to the principal concepts underlying pathophysiological processes that disturb health. Key biological and physiological practical techniques relevant to measuring human health and disease are covered, together with the skills you will need for the analysis and presentation of the resulting data.
Chemistry: You will be provided with an understanding of some aspects and processes within fundamental chemistry and analytical chemistry and develop your laboratory skills. The unit will predominately be delivered through lectures and practical laboratory sessions. The laboratory sessions will enable reinforcement of the theoretical concepts by dealing with experimentally generated data and will allow for one-to-one and small group discussions.
Year 2
Core units:
Advanced Immunology: Building on the introduction to immunology, you will develop a greater appreciation of the molecular and genetic basis of innate and adaptive immune responses. You will also gain an understanding of medically important immune conditions, their detection and treatment.
Introduction to Pharmacology: An introduction to the concepts, practices and research of pharmacology, leading you to understand how pharmacological agents are administered, distributed throughout the body, metabolised and excreted.
Advanced Skills for Biomedical Science: To succeed in your field you must be able to conduct successful independent research. During this unit, you will develop a rational hypothesis, plan successful research and write a compelling, well-justified research proposal. These transferable skills will include the ability to test hypotheses, analyse and interpret data.
Biochemistry: Providing a foundation for your final year of study in Biomolecules and Advanced Topics in Genetics by covering the fundamental basics of biochemistry, the unit will give you a broad overview of macromolecules (structure and function) and their metabolism. You’ll also have an appreciation of systems biology through the introduction of metabolism interconnectedness.
Introduction to Toxicology: The basic principles of toxicology will be explored in this unit, designed to offer foundation knowledge for those intending to study toxicology at higher levels or for those intending to study subjects peripheral to toxicology or where a basic understanding of toxicology will be relevant.
Advanced Cell Biology: This unit will examine the operation of cells and the control, development and modification of cells to fulfil highly specialised roles in multicellular organisms. The unit aims to equip students with a detailed understanding of cell structure and function, control and regulation of cellular processes and the development of multicellular organisms.
Optional placement year
You may choose to complete an optional minimum 30-week work placement which can be carried out anywhere in the world. The placement year offers a chance to gain experience and make contacts for the future.
Final year
Students are required to complete 2 core units (including 40 credit Biomedical Research Project), and 3 optional units.
Core units:
Biomedical Research Project: Provides you with an opportunity to gain experience of research in a topic of your choice relevant to your degree and to demonstrate your ability to report that research. Such experience is considered essential for those students interested in pursuing academic and/or professional research at a higher level of responsibility and achievement.
Pathophysiology: The detailed study of the molecular bases of a number of important clinical states will be a major component of the unit. We aim to develop your knowledge and understanding of the principal biological mechanisms involved in a range of pathological processes, inherited, malignant, infectious and degenerative diseases including cancer, inherited disease, heart disease, diabetes, infectious diseases, immunological conditions and organ-specific disorders. The transmission of infections, the role of the scientist in control and prevention of disease will be discussed, together with the social and political issues raised by such measures such as vaccination, hygiene and sanitation.
Option units (choose 3):
Advanced Topics in Genetics: You will consider how this modern discipline underpins all aspects of biology. You will be actively involved in discussions about the ethical issues of genetics and introduced to bioinformatics analysis of data. We will consider the roles pharmacogenomics, epigenetics, endophenotypes and optogenetics play in current research outputs as well as the classical model.
Advanced Systems Biology: This unit teaches you to manage and analyse big data, understand and apply computer modelling processes to test hypotheses relevant to biomedical science research.
Advanced Pharmacology & Toxicology: Understand how different drugs affect humans, and gain insights into the mechanism of how drugs cause cell death at the molecular level; how exposure to drugs and toxins result in adverse effects, such as the mechanisms of cell-death; and how toxic substances damage organs and body systems
Biomolecules: By the end of this unit you will be conversant with the concepts and approaches of holism compared with reductionism in modern biological sciences. It will review the principles of biology and modern biotechnologies from molecular levels to systems biology, such as DNA analysis, DNA profiling, functional genomics, gene expression and complementary DNA (cDNA) microarray, proteomics and protein interactions, epigenetics, bioinformatics, recombinant DNA, and biotechnology.
Epidemiology and Infection: You will learn to assess and identify health risk factors, appraise epidemiological data and monitor the policies and procedures of health services in order to evaluate effective professional practices.
Your degree will be centred around developing the skills you need to work in professional practice, as well as equipping you with a variety of transferable skills that will give you a range of career options, such as working "behind the scenes" in a medical environment, for example in a path lab in a hospital.
Alternatively you may want to progress your particular area of interest, either by making an original contribution to knowledge in your field by undertaking Doctoral study (PhD), or by working in a research organisation as a research scientist.
Our staff have a wealth of research, educational and professional practice experience and are therefore well-placed to ensure you are ready for the world of work once you graduate.
OSHC: 624 ($) GBP per year
