Biomedical Science
You’ll be prepared for a wide range of careers with this highly practical degree course. Combining theory with hands-on application, you’ll explore human disease processes, how they can be investigated, how treatments work and how novel treatments can be researched and developed.
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Key Course Details
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UCAS Code
B902
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Start Date
September
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Location
Pontypridd
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Campus Code
A
Fees
Home students
£9,535*
International students
£16,200*
- Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
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UCAS Code
B904
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Start Date
September
-
Location
Pontypridd
-
Campus Code
A
Fees
Home students
£9,535*
International students
£16,200*
- Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
Explore the remarkable human body, from different organ systems to biochemistry, genetics, and cellular biology.
DESIGNED FOR
Curious about the human body? Follow your interests and develop expertise with modules spanning genetics, disease, health inequalities and evolution. Combine theory and practical skills to enhance your learning, applying concepts to deepen your understanding.
Accredited by
- Royal Society of Biology
Career paths
- Research in universities
- Research institutes
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Clinical Scientist
- Medical laboratory scientific officers
- Further study at MSc and PhD level
- Public health or Forensic labs
- Medical writing and publishing
Skills taught
- Data collection and analysis
- Safe working practice in laboratories
- Scientific research skills
- Use of laboratory analytical equipment and data interpretation
- Critical evaluation of scientific information and research
Course Highlights
Module Overview
Explore the scientific basis of how the human body normally functions, how pathological changes can result in disease and how diseases can be treated. Develop laboratory skills in biomedical science and learn to critically evaluate information and to communicate to a range of audiences.
Year One
Skills and Professional Development 1 *
Human Growth and Development
Biomedical Science in Practice
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Diversity of Cellular Life
Genetics and Evolution
Year Two
Skills for biomedical scientists in practice 2
Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology
Microorganisms and disease
Cellular Pathology and Disease Processes
Human Molecular Genetics
Professional Practice and Placement
Professional Practice and Placement
Year Three
Research Project and Career Development *
Human Variation
Global Health Challenges
Modern Molecular Advances
Bench to Bedside
Regenerative Medicine
*Modules can be studied 100% through the medium of Welsh
The first year will introduce you to basic laboratory techniques fundamental to a career in biomedical science, including genetics, microbiology, cell biology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and human development.
Skills and Professional Development 1 *
Develop fundamental reading, writing, and referencing skills. As well as critical analysis of published work, statistical principles, and further academic skills.
Human Growth and Development
Study normal patterns of human growth and development and the factors that influence this process, through every stage from conception to ageing.
Biomedical Science in Practice
Learn key biomedical techniques and analytical skills with hands on experience, including data and information handling and safe laboratory practice.
*This module can be studied 100% through the medium of Welsh
Human Anatomy and Physiology
“Build a Human” whilst discovering the organisational structure and function of human organ systems
Diversity of Cellular Life
Learn how different cellular components in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms contribute to function. Learn basic microbiology and cell biology lab techniques.
Genetics and Evolution
Learn the principles of genetics and evolutionary theory. Gain understanding of molecular genetics, including structure, organisation and replication of DNA, and inheritance.
In your second year, you will build on your knowledge and skills to develop insight into disease processes and how the human body responds to disease and treatment.
Skills for biomedical scientists in practice 2
Develop further specialised Biomedical Science techniques, including a molecular day, in vitro, in vivo, haematology and diagnostic panels.
Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology
Case-based learning, centred around real clinical scenarios, providing an advanced understanding of pathological anatomy and physiology, and treatment options.
Microorganisms and disease
Explore beneficial and harmful human interactions with microorganisms, microbial pathogenesis and responses to infection, inc. safe working and core analytical skills.
Cellular Pathology and Disease Processes
Delve into pathological changes of disease processes at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels using a case-based approach and clinical examples.
Human Molecular Genetics
Cover molecular genetics and the genetic basis of inherited disorders. Learn theoretical and practical applications of key molecular biology techniques and their use.
Professional Practice and Placement
An opportunity to complete a relevant summer work placement with a public, private or voluntary sector employer.
Professional Practice and Placement
An opportunity to complete a one-year placement, extending your degree to four years while helping you build critical skills and networks.
Your final year is your opportunity to pursue a supervised research project combining all your acquired knowledge and laboratory skills. Follow your interests by choosing a module that takes your education in a specialised or emerging path of biomedical or anthropological emphasis.
Research Project and Career Development *
Gain experience in project planning, scientific research, ethics, health and safety, data handling, and critical thinking.
Human Variation
Study human biological variation from its evolutionary foundations. Cover historical views including “race” science and biological determinism, contrasting with contemporary approaches.
Global Health Challenges
Explore inequality’s impact on health and wellbeing. Biological, environmental, economic, and political factors as drivers of public health inequality.
*This module can be studied 100% through the medium of Welsh
Modern Molecular Advances
Learn about current and cutting edge therapeutic and technological advances developed for clinical practice, diagnosis and disease management.
Bench to Bedside
Explore how novel therapeutic strategies and technologies are translated from experimental models into marketable products (translational research).
Regenerative Medicine
Apply genetic and tissue engineering approaches for medical application and drug discovery and learn how novel approaches to diagnosis and treatment can manage human diseases.
Course Highlights
How you’ll learn
We strive to combine the theoretical with the practical, so you’ll learn through a combination of lectures, tutorials and practical classes, typically spending 15 - 20 hours a week in scheduled classes. Several modules use student-driven, teamwork sessions to explore clinical and scientific content to understand pathological changes, laboratory diagnostics and treatment.
There’s a strong emphasis on applied, practical learning throughout the course, which culminates in an extensive research project in the final year. Choose from a wide range of projects, spanning microbiology, immunology, cancer biology, reproductive biology and genetics.
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Teaching staff
All the biomedical sciences team are academic researchers, many with links to industry. Our lecturers are subject experts, who teach in their specialist area across a number of modules and courses, meaning you’ll be learning from people with real-life experience in that topic. Not only do researchers bring their knowledge and passion into their classroom teaching, but students can work on real, current problems with active research scientists in their final year project.
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Placements and work experience
Studying BSc Biomedical Science, you’ll have professional practice and placement options.
There’s the opportunity for a summer placement at the end of your second year, between June and September. You may work or volunteer with an employer, organisation, community group or research active teaching staff.
Or you can choose to take an optional sandwich year placement at the end of the second year, working with an employer to gain experience and contacts.
We will support you with looking for placements, but you are encouraged to proactively seek out opportunities that interest you.
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Facilities
Our Glyntaff campus provides a range of modern laboratory facilities. The George Knox laboratories are part of a £15m investment, so you will be taught in new and well-equipped spaces including:
- Category II microbiology labs for growing and analysing micro-organisms
- Molecular analysis labs for advanced DNA analysis and sequencing
- Tissue culture facilities for the growth of eukaryotic cells
- Biology labs with a wide range of anatomical models and microscopes
- Clinical Skills room with simulation mannequins for applied physiology teaching
- Coagulation laboratory analysing blood clotting
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Why USW?
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Why USW?
Biology
at USW is top in Wales for Student Satisfaction. (National Student Survey 2024)
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
UCAS points: 96 (or above)
Typical qualification requirements:
- A Level: CCC to include Biology and one other Science such as Chemistry or Physics but to exclude General Studies.
- Welsh BACC: Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Grade C and CC at A Level to include Biology and one other Science such as Chemistry or Physics but to exclude General Studies (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
- Science Requirement: Applicants taking Science A levels in England will need to pass the practical element alongside achieving the requested grade(s)
- BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Merit Merit Merit in a relevant subject which must include Biology modules
- Access to HE: Pass an Access to HE Diploma in Science and obtain a minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points
- T Level: Pass (C and above)
Additional requirements include:
The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
International applications welcomed:
We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.
English language requirements
International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.
Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.
If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.
If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
We're here to help
Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.
Fees and Funding
£9,535
per year*£16,200
per year*£16,200
per year*Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Students are encouraged to equip themselves with a suitable cotton laboratory coat, suitable for working in a chemical laboratory, and a pair of personal protective laboratory goggles, although the School does provide these items.
Cost: Variable
Students who successfully secure a placement in industry to complete their project would be expected to pay their own travel costs to and from the venue during the period of placement. The cost of this will of course vary and some students have also paid for accommodation close to their place of work for the duration of their placement.
Cost: Variable
University Quality Assurance
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
Life at USW
Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus, there are great transport links to keep you connected.
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How to apply
All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS. You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time.)
Advanced entry
If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.
International admissions
International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
