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Contact information
- Prof Richard Milne
- Admissions Tutor
- richard.milne@ucl.ac.uk
- Ms Heather Ormsby
- Admissions Administrator
- h.ormsby@ucl.ac.uk
- + 44 (0)20 7679 6975
Infection and Immunity BSc
This research-informed BSc programme delivers core biomedical science content as far as possible in an infection and immunity research context. Drawing on the world-class research carried out in the UCL Division of Infection & Immunity, it provides students with real insight into how discovery science is carried out at the very highest level.
Covid-19 programme updates
Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.
Key Information
Programme starts
September 2020
- UCAS code
- C550
- Duration
-
Full-time: 3 years
- Application deadline
- 15 January 2020
- Location
- London, Bloomsbury
Entry requirements
A Levels
- Grades
- AAB
- Subjects
- Biology and Chemistry required plus Mathematics preferred.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs
Contextual offer
- Grades
- BBB (more about contextual offers)
- Subjects
- Biology and Chemistry required plus Mathematics preferred.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6. For UK-based students, a grade C or 5 or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs
IB Diploma
- Points
- 36
- Subjects
- A total of 17 points in three higher level subjects including Biology and Chemistry, plus Mathematics preferred with no score below 5.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 32 (more about contextual offers)
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects including Biology and Chemistry, plus Mathematics preferred, with no score below 5.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction to include Distinction in Biology and Chemistry, plus Mathematics preferred.
Pass in Access to HE Diploma, with a minimum of 18-23 credits in Chemistry and Biology awarded with Distinction in the Level 3 units, the remainder of the Level 3 units awarded with Merit. Mathematics units are preferred.
D3,D3,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects. Chemistry and Biology required, plus Mathematics preferred.
A,A,B at Advanced Highers (or A,A at Advanced Higher and B,B,B at Higher), including Chemistry and Biology at Advanced Higher, plus Mathematics preferred.
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A-Levels at grades AAB. Chemistry and Biology required, plus Mathematics preferred.
International applications
In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.
English language requirements
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
The English language level for this programme is: Good
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Degree benefits
You will learn the language and concepts of infection and immunity, be exposed to the latest thinking, gain insight into the scientific method and learn to critically assess scientific literature. You will gain scientific self-confidence and begin to think like a scientific investigator.
You will gain an in-depth understanding of the role of the immune system and infectious agents in health and disease as well as insight into current research in the pathogenesis, prevention and control of infectious diseases, mechanisms of immunity and immune dysfunction.
Infectious agents are fantastic tools for discovery in cell and molecular biology, immunology, human biology and evolution, making this BSc a great way to acquire a broad biomedical science knowledge.
Throughout the programme emphasis will be placed on current research, communication and critical analysis.
Degree structure
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).
Year one mainly covers the function of human organs and systems. Tutorials and two programme-specific modules, Infection and Immunity: Meet the Labs, and Fundamentals of Cellular and Molecular Biology, from a virus's perspective, provide an infection and immunity context.
Year two provides continued training in scientific skills with increasing focus on infection and immunity, particularly on reading and understanding current literature. One optional module is chosen from a selection covering topics in cell and molecular biology.
Year three covers the state-of-the-art in infection and immunity. You will gain critical skills, practice communicating science, improve your scientific self-confidence and start thinking like an investigator.
Modules draw on our current research. Tutorials provide the opportunity to discuss recent papers. The best performing students carry out a laboratory research project, the remainder undertake a literature-based project.
Modules
An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.
Core or compulsory module(s)
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory Function in Health and Disease
- Data Interpretation and Evaluation of Science
- Foundations in Human Physiology and Cellular Biology
- The Gut, Liver and Drug Metabolism
- Infection, Inflammation and Repair
- Kidneys, Hormones and Fluid Balance
- Musculoskeletal Systems in Health and Disease
- Fundamentals of Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Infection and Immunity: Meet the Labs
Optional modules
There are no optional modules in year one.
Core or compulsory module(s)
- Infection
- Immunology
- Infection and Immunity: Journal Club
- Molecular Basis of Disease
- Statistics for Medical Scientists
- Techniques in Molecular Medicine
Optional modules
You will choose one of the following (the list may vary year on year):
- Fundamentals of Molecular Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- General Biochemistry of Health
- The Principles of Cellular Control
- Energy & Evolution
- The Biology of Development
Core or compulsory module(s)
- Immunology in Health and Disease
- Infectious Agents
- Cellular Pathology
- Laboratory-based or literature-based research project
Optional modules
You will choose two of the following:
- Immunodeficiency and Therapeutics
- Autoimmunity and Transplantation
- Viruses and Disease
- Microbial Pathogenesis
- Immune System, Cancer and its Treatment
- Mathematical Modeling in Biomedicine
- Global Eradication of Viruses
- Evolution and Infectious Diseases
- HIV Fronteers from Research to Clinics
Covid-19 module updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be updates to the modules for your chosen programme of study this year. Some modules may not be available or may need to be moved to a later term or year of study.
These updates are relevant for 2020-21 academic year only. The full list of modules will be available in the module catalogue from late August. From the first week of September, you will be invited to complete module selection from Portico, our student record system.
There may need to be additional updates or changes to modules during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available
Your learning
Teaching is delivered through a mix of blended learning, lectures, laboratory work, journal clubs and tutorials.
Most year one and some year two content is delivered through an innovative blended learning system; students learn at their own pace from short online videos followed up by tutorials to discuss content and explore topics in greater depth.
Covid-19 practical component updates
Due to COVID-19, there may be changes to the availability of the practical components for your chosen programme.
Any updates relate only to the 20/21 academic year and may not apply to all students across the programme depending on your year of study.
Your department will keep you updated if the practical component of your programme is able to occur and/or any alternative options available.
There may need to be additional updates or changes to the practical component during the academic year to allow for new guidance from the UK Government and/or Public Health England. Your department shall keep you updated of these changes as they become available.
Covid-19 contact hours on campus
In Term One, while campus will be open, all the learning activity for the core content of your modules will take place online – including lectures, tutorials, seminars and assessments. By “core content” we mean everything you need to learn to complete the module successfully.
In addition to these online contact hours, we will be offering some face-to-face educational activities for students on campus, and we will provide alternative online activities for those students unable to join us on campus. These activities, which will include contact with academic staff, will be relevant to your programme of study may include seminars, academic and employability skills workshops, small-group or individual tutorials, lab and practice-based teaching.
UK Government safety guidelines will limit the amount of ‘in person’ activity we can offer and while it will vary from programme to programme, is likely to be no more than 1-2 hours per week. This will vary across departments, particularly if your programme includes laboratory/practical/studio/workshop sessions. You will be updated with more specific details as they are available and your timetable will indicate which sessions will be on campus and which will be available online.
Communicating further Covid-19 mitigation plans
We are continuing to follow UK Government guidance, as well as the expertise of our researchers, including specialists in health, education, human behaviour and infection prevention, to make sure UCL is as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it becomes necessary to make further changes to your programme as a result of new guidance/regulations, UCL and your department will communicate these as soon as this becomes clear. We will keep you up-to-date with our plans throughout term one, so you have the information you need to be able to take decisions that are right for your circumstances. Please ensure that you keep in touch with your department by regularly checking your UCL emails, Moodle courses, the Coronavirus FAQs for Students page and any UCL online groups or social media you follow.
Assessment
We use a diverse selection of methods for formative and summative assessment: online and written examinations (question formats include: multiple-choice, short-answer, long answer, data analysis); poster presentations; coursework essays and commentaries; oral presentations; practical skills assessment; online participation; oral examination; research project dissertation.
Covid-19 assessment updates
There may be changes to the format of assessments for modules in this programme due to COVID-19. These will be summarised for each module on the module catalogue from 17 August 2020.
If any changes to assessments need to be made during the academic year due to updates in government guidance, these will be communicated to you as soon as possible from your department.
Detailed course descriptions are available on the department website: Infection and Immunity BSc.
Careers
Graduates of this programme will have acquired a robust and transferable skill set: critical analysis, data interpretation, communication skills and independent thinking. They will be well placed to apply to the most competitive postgraduate programmes and well equipped for a career in research, teaching, or associated biomedical professions.
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.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2020/21 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 2020/21 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
- UK/EU students
- £9,250 (2020/21)
- Overseas students
- £26,490 (2020/21)
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
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).
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.
Departmental scholarships
Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme.
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.
Application and next steps
Your application
Beyond the stated entry requirements, we are interested in your motivation for choosing this degree over other biomedical sciences programmes, how your interest in infection and immunity was initiated and what it is that excites you about the idea of scientific research. Work experience in a scientific field will be seen as very positive but it is not a requirement.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Application deadline: 15 January 2020
Selection
The selection process will be based on the entry requirements being met in addition to a personal statement and references which demonstrate an excellent aptitude in the sciences and an interest in the field of Infection and Immunity.
If you receive an offer, you may be invited to an applicant open day. This will include introductory talks about the Division of Infection & Immunity and the BSc programme. You will have a chance to meet divisional staff, ask questions about the programme and take a tour of UCL.
For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students.
Page last modified on 5 August 2020