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 minimum 5.5 in each of the 4 components or equivalent.
Focus on the cutting-edge science that underpins modern medicine, fostering new discoveries and technologies which improve healthcare
Learn how our bodies work, how disease is treated and how new technology is evolving in this field
Choose one of two possible pathways: Medical Science or Psychology-focused Medical Science - you can choose to concentrate on a broad approach or focus on the specific role of psychology in medical science
Spend a minimum 30-weeks in a practical setting in industry in your third year, ensuring you graduate with demonstrable scientific skills and the ability to disseminate them
Develop the ability to undertake your own original research for the benefit of medical science
We have recently invested in new state-of-the-art laboratory facilities so that you will have the best possible learning environment for developing the necessary practical skills for a career in medical science and the various opportunities it brings.
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: B100
With foundation year: B101
More info: Click here
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:
Introduction to Medical Sciences: This unit will provide you with a firm grounding and understanding of the multi-disciplinary nature of medical sciences. It will consider biomedical, psychological, engineering and other approaches to medical sciences as well as allowing you to discuss contemporary issues in medical sciences, developing your own interests in the subject which might influence future study.
Medical Science Skills: The core skills needed for a career in medical science include the ability to evaluate reports, analyse data and be familiar with the ethical issues pertaining to medical science research to be able to present your research findings in a professional manner.
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. It 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.
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.
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.
Biological & Cognitive Psychology: Examines the relationship between the biology of the brain and how we process information, think and make decisions.
Year 2
Pathways 1 (General) and 2 (Psychology) have 6 pathway core units.
Programme core units:
Advanced Skills in Medical Science: To succeed in your field you must be able to conduct successful independent research. During this unit, you will develop a 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.
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.
Introduction to Pharmacology: An introduction to the concepts, practices and research of pharmacology. This will lead to an understanding of how pharmacological agents are administered, distributed throughout the body, metabolised and excreted.
Biochemistry: Providing the fundamental basics of biochemistry, this unit will give you a broad overview of macromolecules (structure and function) and their metabolism. You’ll also have an appreciation of systems biology.
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.
Pathway core units:
Osteomechanics (Pathway 1 core): An introduction to the form and function of the human skeleton from the viewpoints of biomedical science, biomechanical engineering and digital visualisation.
Biological Psychology (Pathway 2 core): the study of the neural correlates of various core brain functions and impairment associated with brain damages. This unit will develop your analytical thinking, synthetic thinking and your ability to search for, recognise and critically evaluate information.
Optional placement year
Final Year Pathway 1
Pathway 1: four core units and an option choice of two from three
Core units:
Neuroimaging: You will acquire in-depth technical knowledge and understanding of various neuroimaging and neuroscientific techniques, including practice. This unit will explore how these techniques work, their limitations, and what they have been used to demonstrate in psychology, focusing on current research and practice, including data analysis.
Medical Science Project: Researching an aspect of medical science that suits your career aims and aspirations, you will produce a report in a specified style for external publication.
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.
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.
Option units (choose two units from these three):
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.
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.
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.
Final Year Pathway 2
Pathway 2: one 20 credit core and one 40 credit core with an option choice of three out of seven.
Core units:
Neuroimaging: You will acquire in-depth technical knowledge and understanding of various neuroimaging and neuroscientific techniques, including practice. This unit will explore how these techniques work, their limitations, and what they have been used to demonstrate in psychology, focusing on current research and practice, including data analysis.
Psychology Project: You will produce an academically-rigorous final year project/dissertation based upon a piece of independent research conducted under the supervision of a member of academic staff from the Department of Psychology.
Option unit choice (choose three from these seven):
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Current Trends in Cognitive & Clinical Neuroscience: This unit is aimed at students who are interested in clinical neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience and who might what to have a career in research or clinical settings. You will acquire comprehensive knowledge about current trends in clinical and cognitive neuroscience research and related methodologies in order to be able to critically evaluate models and evidence in the research field.
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. We expect our graduates will find work in scientific, technical or research fields relating to their chosen pathway, for example
Developing augmented reality to transform surgical procedures
Biomedical engineering - developing tools for the next generation
Bioinformatics
Biopsychosocial - further research into the understanding of the human condition
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
