Medical Sciences
If you want to become a medical doctor, this medical sciences degree is the perfect starting point. We’re one of the only feeder courses for Cardiff’s graduate-entry medicine course, and you’ll have already developed clinical skills through our theoretical and practical teaching approach.
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Key Course Details
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UCAS Code
B901
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Start Date
September
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Location
Pontypridd
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Campus Code
A
Fees
Home students
£9,790*
International students
£17,200*
- Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
This degree is the perfect foundation for proceeding into graduate-entry medicine, developing clinical skills alongside biomedical theory and health policy.
Designed For
Our aim is to widen access to Medicine. Aspiring doctors get the perfect foundation in this top-ranked course, gain a strong start on the skills and knowledge needed to study Graduate Entry Medicine, or to consider other clinical professions.
Accredited by
- Royal Society of Biology
Career paths
- Graduate Entry Medicine
- Physician Associate
- Graduate Entry Dentistry
- NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP)
- Further study at MSc and PhD level
Skills taught
- Medical history taking
- Clinical examination techniques
- Scientific research
- Teamwork
- Digital literacy
Course Highlights
Module Overview
Convert theory into practical experience with a clever blended approach to learning. You’ll apply scientific knowledge to clinical scenarios, taking advantage of our simulated ward and high-tech facilities plus extensive placements to hone your medical potential.
Year One:
Skills and Professional Development 1*
Diversity of Cellular Life
Genetics and Evolution
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Human Growth and Development
Clinical and Professional Practice 1
Year Two:
Cellular Pathology and Disease Processes
Microorganisms and disease
Human Molecular Genetics
Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology
Clinical and Professional Practice 2
Year Three:
Research Project and Career Development *
Human Structure
Global Health Challenges
Modern Molecular Advances
Regenerative Medicine
Human Variation
Bench to Bedside
*These modules can be studied 25% through the medium of Welsh
Make a start on real-world scenarios with case-based learning. Meet Barry, our manikin who responds just like a real patient and treat people in our on-campus simulated ward. Build on your core skills with deeper insight into disease, diagnosis and treatment.
Skills and Professional Development 1*
An introduction to scientific reading and writing skills, referencing, critical analysis of published work, and statistical principles.
Diversity of Cellular Life
Learn about life at the cellular level and how different cellular components in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms contribute to function. Understand basic microbiology lab techniques.
Genetics and Evolution
Principles of genetics and evolutionary theory. Molecular genetics, including structure and organisation of DNA and DNA replication, inheritance and factors driving evolution.
*This module can be studied 25% through the medium of Welsh
Human Anatomy and Physiology
‘Build a Human’ whilst discovering the organisational structure and function of the human organ systems.
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.
Clinical and Professional Practice 1
Students gain an understanding of key themes in clinical practice and are exposed to a real-world clinical environment in a 1-week nursing placement.
Make a start on real-world scenarios with case-based learning. Meet Barry, our manikin who responds just like a real patient and treat people in our on-campus simulated ward. Build on your core skills with deeper insight into disease, diagnosis and treatment.
Cellular Pathology and Disease Processes
Delve into pathological changes in disease processes at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels using a case-based approach and clinical examples.
Microorganisms and disease
Explore beneficial and harmful human interactions with microorganisms, microbial pathogenesis and responses to infection, inc. safe working and core analytical skills.
Human Molecular Genetics
Covering molecular genetics and the genetic basis of inherited disorders. Theoretical and practical applications of key molecular biology techniques and their use.
Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology
Case-based learning, centred around real clinical scenarios, providing an advanced understanding of pathological anatomy and physiology, and treatment options.
Clinical and Professional Practice 2
Featuring a one-week placement, develop skills for taking patient histories, learn clinical examination techniques and how multi-disciplinary teams operate.
Study core modules in global health, modern research techniques, and regenerative medicine, and choose optional areas like bench to bedside translation or anthropology. You’ll complete a capstone research project or cadaveric dissection if you’re applying for graduate-entry medicine.
Research Project and Career Development*
A dissertation module. Gain experience in project planning, scientific research, ethics, health and safety, data handling, and critical thinking.
Human Structure
A dissertation module. Delve into three-dimensional anatomy and variation in both normal and pathological conditions. Experience human cadaveric dissection at Cardiff University.
Global Health Challenges
Explore inequality’s impact on health and wellbeing. Study biological, environmental, economic, and political factors as drivers of public health inequality.
Modern Molecular Advances
Learn about current and cutting-edge therapeutic and technological advances developed for clinical practice, diagnosis and disease management.
*This module can be studied 25% through the medium of Welsh
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.
Human Variation
Study human biological variation inc. evolutionary foundations. Cover historical views including “race” science and biological determinism, contrasting with contemporary approaches.
Bench to Bedside
Consider how novel therapeutic strategies and technologies are translated from experimental models into marketable products (translational research).
Course Highlights
How you'll learn
The curriculum is designed to build your skills from the ground up, giving you practical and clinical opportunities alongside deep theoretical knowledge. There’s space for independent research in your final year and you’ll learn through a combination of lectures, tutorials, workshops, practical laboratory sessions and self-directed study.
Case-based learning, a technique used in many medical schools, presents you with realistic examples of cases to which you can apply your knowledge and skills. You’ll be assessed in various ways, from exams to lab reports, and presentations to objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs).
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Teaching staff
All the medical sciences teaching team are active academic researchers with a diverse range of interests between them.
Our lecturers are subject experts, who teach in their specialist area across a number of modules and courses. We bring in external experts to teach some specialist skills and modules, meaning you’ll be learning from people with real-life experience in that topic.
Not only do the team 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 Medical Sciences, you’ll complete professional placements from the first year, building your confidence to speak with patients, operate in a clinical environment and apply your knowledge.
You’re offered a range of placements, from acute health care to primary care. In your first year, you’ll undertake an intensive nursing placement, with a medical placement in your second year. This gives you first-hand experience of medicine and healthcare in a range of departments and disciplines.
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Facilities
Our Glyntaff campus boasts a range of modern laboratory facilities, part of a £15m investment. These include a bespoke Clinical Skills lab equipped with high-end clinical simulation manikins and associated equipment, Category II microbiology labs for growing and analysing micro-organisms, and molecular analysis labs for advanced DNA analysis and sequencing. We also have tissue culture facilities for cell growth, biology labs with various anatomical models, specimens, and microscopes, and a coagulation laboratory for analysing blood clotting.
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Accreditations and Partnerships
WHY USW?
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WHY USW?
TOP IN UK
Medical Science at USW is top in the UK for teaching quality.
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
UCAS Points: 118 (or above)
Typical qualification requirements:
- A Level: BBB or ABC to include Biology but to exclude General Studies.
- Welsh BACC: Grade B and BB at A Level to include Biology but to exclude General Studies
- BTEC: Extended Diploma Distinction Distinction Merit in a relevant subject which must include Biology modules
- Access to HE: Science Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits equating to 24 Distinctions (18 from Science) from Science units, 18 Merits and 3 Passes. Other combinations equating to 118 UCAS tariff points are acceptable
- T Level: Pass (C and above)
- Students studying BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science (Including Foundation Year) may transfer to BSc (Hons) Medicals Sciences, provided they achieve an average mark of 70% or higher in their foundation year, with no module grade below 60%
- Offers are subject to successful interview
Please note:
- Please note that A Level Chemistry is also required if you are considering applying to Cardiff Medical School after studying at USW.
- BTEC qualifications are no longer accepted by Cardiff University Medical School.
- Access to Higher Education courses are no longer accepted by Cardiff University Medical School.
Additional requirements include:
For entry to this course 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.
However, if looking to progress to graduate entry medicine at university after completing your degree with us, we would advise you to check their entry criteria as the GCSE/IELTS requirement could be higher and you would be expected to meet these requirements irrespective of your degree or any level 3 qualifications/results you have achieved.
An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on the Child & Adult Workforce and Child & Adult Barring List and subscription to the DBS Update Service is required. (Overseas equivalent required for non-uk applicants).
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 4 overall and a minimum of 4 in each component 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
£9,790
per year*£17,200
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.
*Obligatory
An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on the Child & Adult Workforce and Child and Adult Barring Lists and subscription to the DBS Update Service. (Overseas equivalent required for non-UK applicants).
This fee includes £49.50 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee, and the online administration fee.
Cost: £64.74
Some General Practitioners will give a Hepatitis B vaccination free of charge, though you may be charged e.g., by a local pharmacy.
Cost: £120
Subscription required for each year of the course for a yearly fee of £16. Please note the service has to be joined within 30 days of receipt of your enhanced DBS certificate.
Cost: £16
Placements will take place in a local NHS hospital in the two adjacent Health Boards to USW. Students are expected to pay their own travelling costs to and from the venue. The cost of this will of course vary depending on the distance between term time accommodation and the placement location.
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.
Applicants accepted through advanced entry may study a different combination of modules to those advertised, as they will be joining a course already in progress. You will be contacted and advised about these modules once your application has been processed and an offer made.
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.
