Find out more about the Biology foundation subject on the UPC. Learn about what you will study, teaching methods, assessments and recommended reading.
Subject description
In this subject, you will be introduced to the core principles of biology. It is a part of the Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate for Science and Engineering (UPCSE) pathway.
You will be taught a wide range of topics to give you a broad and in-depth understanding of the subject. You will also study how to interpret data and complete a variety of assessments throughout the international foundation year.
The course focuses on eight main topics:
Molecules and Cells
- Biological Molecules: Water, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Amino Acids
- Nucleic acids
- Replication and protein synthesis
- Enzymes
- Cell structure and cell membrane
- Cell organelles
- Chromosome structure and mitosis
Exchange and Transport
- Movement of molecules
- Gas exchange in plants and simple organisms
- Gas exchange in mammals
- Transport in mammals: blood
- Transport in mammals: vessels
- Transport in mammals: heart
- Transport in plants: Water, Transpiration
- Transport in Plants: Solutes, Translocation
Metabolism, Respiration and Photosynthesis
- The role of ATP in metabolism
- Aerobic respiration
- Anaerobic respiration and energy budgets
- Photosynthesis
- Biochemistry of the light dependent stage
- Biochemistry of the light independent stage
Regulation and Control
- Homeostasis
- The kidney
- Functioning of the kidney
- Plant growth substances
- Effect of light on plant growth
- Nerves
- Synapses
- The central nervous system
- Sensory receptors
- The eye
Microbiology
- Types of microorganisms
- Growth and culture techniques
- Fermentation
- Pathogens and human disease
- Protection against disease
- Immunology
- Applications and contemporary issues
Reproduction and Genetics
- Pollination and fertilisation
- Seed development
- Variation
- Meiosis
- Mendel’s laws
- Deviations from Mendel’s laws and sex linkage
- Mutations
- Recombinant DNA technology
Ecology, Energy and the Environment
- Autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition
- Energy flow in the ecosystem
- Food chains and food webs
- Ecological pyramids
- Recycling of nutrients
- Population growth and dynamics
- Resource management and human influences
Classification, Biodiversity and Evolution
- Principles of taxonomy
- Seven kingdom classification
- Population genetics
- Evolution and selection
- Isolation and speciation
- Biodiversity
The organisms used to illustrate these topic areas will include mammals, flowering plants and microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses.
How we teach biology
You will have a mixture of lectures, tutorials and practical laboratory work. Alongside these sessions, we expect you to complete your own independent investigations.
To support your learning, the subject includes a five-night residential field trip to Somerset, England. You might also have educational visits to other places of interest if there are opportunities. These experiences will allow students to understand the principles of biology first-hand.
Intended learning outcomes
By the end of the subject, you should be able to:
- present your understanding of the principles of biology using a variety of media
- use some sophisticated manual laboratory skills
- interpret data relating to statistical analysis and graphical representations
- evaluate data collection and manipulation processes
- complete a wide range of assessments
- develop excellent technical subject language and terminology
Overview of Summative Assessment
Term | Assessment | Weighting |
---|---|---|
One | Written test (2 hours 10 minutes) | 10% |
Two | Written test (2 hours 10 minutes) | 10% |
Three | Oral Exam (10 mins) Final Written Exam (3 hours 10 minutes) | 50% |
Throughout the year | Coursework | 15% |
Practical Work | 15% | |
100% Total |
Recommended reading
If you want to do some reading on the subject of biology before you arrive, we recommend the following:
- Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) Biology Student Book
ISBN-13 978-0435966881
- OCR AS/A level Biology – A student Book 1 + Active Book
ISBN-13 978-1447990796
- A Dictionary of Biology in English (Penguin)
ISBN 978- 0141013961
Additional costs
- Biology field trip contribution: approximately £100
(the contribution is subject to change based on the cost of the trip)
Please note the information on all the UPC subject pages, including this one, reflects the subject as it was taught in the 2024-25 academic year (unless otherwise stated). The information may change for the next year of entry.