Infection and Immunity BSc

A Levels

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

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.

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

UCL Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPCs) are intensive one-year foundation courses for international students of high academic potential who are aiming to gain access to undergraduate degree programmes at UCL and other top UK universities.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: www.ucl.ac.uk/upc.

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

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. 

Detailed course descriptions are available on the department website: Infection and Immunity BSc.

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.

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.

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

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.