Biomedical Sciences BSc

• UCL is a long-standing centre of excellence for biomedical science subjects. It is internationally recognised for its strength within the field of biomedical research.

• You will have the opportunity to transfer to one of nine specific degree programmes from the second year, or alternatively to continue with the general Biomedical Sciences programme.

• You will be taught by experts in the different subjects offered, but will also be encouraged to discover how the subjects overlap and interact. This will give your studies both breadth and depth.

• Our excellent facilities include laboratories, library collections and computer cluster rooms. You can become involved with the activities of the student-run Life Sciences Society, which organises seminars, careers evenings and other social events.

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

In the first year all modules are mandatory and are designed to give you a firm foundation on the basis of which you can make an informed choice for later years. The modules cover topics in, e.g., anatomy, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, genetics, pharmacology and physiology.

If you find that your interest becomes focused on one specific subject area after your first year, then you can transfer to a specialist degree programme.

If you wish to remain with the general Biomedical Sciences programme, the second year offers five streams of study.

In your third year, you will undertake a research project under the supervision of a staff member in conjunction with a research group in one of the faculty's departments or within UCL's biomedical institutes. You will also select from an extensive range of options in your chosen stream of study.

Specialist degree programmes

You can transfer to any of the following specialist degree programmes after year one:

Cell Biology
Genetics
Human Genetics
Immunology and Infection
Molecular Biology
Neuroscience
Pharmacology
Physiology
Physiology and Pharmacology

Modules

An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.

Your learning

Teaching across the UCL Faculty of Life Sciences involves a mixture of lectures, practical classes, seminars, tutorials and computer-based exercises. The small-group settings for practical and tutorial work provide opportunities for informal discussion. The first year is predominantly taught through lectures and laboratory classes.

Assessment

Modules will be assessed through a combination of coursework, practical reports, web-based exercises, tests and oral presentations. Written examinations will take place at the end of each academic year. Your success in your first-year examination results will be used to assess your eligibility for entry into the specialist degree programmes.

Further Information

Detailed course descriptions are available on the department website: Biomedical Sciences BSc.

You will develop the critical and analytical skills necessary to confront complex problems, equipping you for further study, research, or for a wide variety of careers such as those associated with medical research. The training in skills such as logical thinking and decision-making will be valuable in many fields.

A degree in biomedical sciences opens doors to many career possibilities. Graduates may enter the broad biomedical science field - such as within healthcare or the pharmaceutical industry - or use their skills in careers like scientific journalism or management. The degree also provides an excellent preparation for postgraduate research.

Destinations

First career destinations of recent graduates (2013-2015) of this programme include:

• Pharmaceutical Industry Analyst, Visiongain
• Full-time student, Medicine MBBS (Graduate Entry Programme) at the University of Oxford
• Graduate Management Trainee, Lymington and New Forest Hospital (NHS)
• Full-time student, London Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme at UCL
• Full-time student, Medicine MBBS at UCL

Data taken from the 'Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education' survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013-2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.

UCL is commited to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship.

Tuition fees

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2019/20 academic year. The UK/EU fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2019/20 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

UK/EU students

£9,250 (2019/20)

Overseas students

£24,760 (2019/20)

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Funding

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

Additional costs

If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Departmental scholarships

The scholarships listed below are for 2018 entry. Funding opportunities for students applying for 2019 entry will be published when they are available.

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.