Biomedical Science (Including Professional Training Year)
Cardiff University
Program description
Biomedical Science (Including Professional Training Year)
Our research-led Biological Sciences degree provides the greatest possible choice and flexibility, allowing you to choose modules across virtually the whole range of subjects on offer at the School.
We offer a wide choice of subjects across the biological sciences including: animal and plant biology; microbiology; genetics; systems biology; ecology; disease; behaviour; neuroscience; zoology; developmental and stem cell biology; and evolution. As part of our Ecology and Conservation module, we also run a range of subsidised field courses both within the UK and overseas, including River Ecology in Wales, Tropical Marine Ecology in Tobago, and Rainforest Biodiversity in Malaysia.
As part of this course you will spend your third year on placement at a field centre, zoological or botanical institute, museum, industrial research laboratory, or other approved establishment of your choice. This offers a great opportunity to gain first-hand professional research experience, and it has been shown to greatly enhance your degree and subsequent employment prospects.
Many placements are in the UK, but in recent years we have had an increasing number of students taking up placements in international locations, including Southeast Asia, South Africa, Germany, Italy, Australia, Madagascar, and the USA.
Your degree title remains flexible up until your final year, when you can either continue with BSc Biological Sciences, or switch to another of our BSc bioscience degrees. You can also choose to graduate with a more specialist degree title, including BSc Biological Sciences (Genetics) and BSc Biological Sciences (Zoology).
Your final degree title will depend on your module selection and your Personal Tutor will guide you through the options available to you. You may also have the option of switching to our MBiol integrated master's degree, which forms an excellent basis for a future career in scientific research.
Our Biological Sciences course provides an excellent foundation for careers within all areas of biological sciences, and offers strong training for research scientists. Our graduates have gone on to a range of exciting and fulfilling careers in both scientific and non-scientific related fields, including marine biology, ecology and conservation, scientific publishing, pharmaceutical industries, molecular biology, journalism, teaching and veterinary science. Many also choose to further their studies by pursuing a master’s degree or PhD.
Admission requirements
Typical A level offer
AAB-ABB. Must include Biology (or Human Biology) or Chemistry. You will need to pass the science practical element of the A-level if this is part of your programme of study.
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard A level offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.
TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with minimum scores of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading and 20 for speaking.
PTE Academic
At least 62 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.
For more information about admission requirements, please visit the university website.
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Program content
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2022/23 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2022.
Year One
Core Modules
- Skills for Science
- Structure and Function of Living Organisms
- Organisms and Environment
- The Dynamic Cell
- Biological Chemistry
- Genetics and Evolution
Year Two
Optional Modules
- Animal Diversity and Adaptation
- Genetics and its Applications
- Ecology and Conservation - Part A
- Ecology and Conservation - Part B
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology of the Gene
- Physiology
- Concepts of Disease
- Practical Anatomy
- Brain and Behaviour
- Fundamental Neuroscience
Year Three: Sandwich Year
Core Modules
- Sandwich Year
Year Four
Core Modules
- Biosciences Final Year Project
Optional Modules
- Plants for the Future: Frontiers in Plant Science
- Ecosystems, Sustainability and Global Change
- Evolution and Adaptation
- Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
- Infection Biology and Epidemiology
- Systems Biology and Modelling
- The 'omics Revolution (Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics)
- Advanced Cell Biology and Imaging
- Genes to Genomes
- Synthetic Biology and Protein Engineering
- Current Topics in Development, Stem Cells and Repair
- Contemporary Topics in Disease
- Cancer: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics
- Advanced Musculoskeletal Biology and Tissue Engineering
- Advances in Physiology and Pathophysiology
- Neurobiology of Brain Disorders
- Systems Neuroscience
Scholarships & funding
For more information about scholarships, please visit the university website.
Tuition fees
- Tuition fees for UK and Ireland Students: £9,000 per year.
- Tuition fees for International Students: £23,450 per year.
For more information about tuition fee, please visit the university website.
Qualification
What skills will I practise and develop?
Throughout the course, you will develop scientific competencies as well as key transferable skills that will be invaluable whatever your future career choice. These include:
- Independent learning and self-directed study;
- Collating, organising and analysing information to create logical and persuasive arguments;
- Analytical thinking and problem solving;
- Communicating complex ideas in a clear, effective way (using all media);
- Working effectively in a team and as an individual;
- IT competency, including presentation, graphics and statistics packages;
- Performing and interpreting statistical analyses of data;
- Effective time management and organisational skills.
As a result of engaging fully with this course, you should be able to:
- Critically analyse, synthesise and summarise information from a variety of sources;
- Discuss the relationships between structure/formation and function/regulation of molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organisms and populations;
- Effectively communicate scientific, and other, information to a variety of audiences, including the general public, using a range of formats and approaches;
- Discuss current issues of research, investigation and/or debate;
- Synthesise an argument or point of view, based on solid data and evidence;
- Determine the validity and rigour of statistical outcomes;
- Build on knowledge and understanding of the role and impact of intellectual property (IP) within a research environment;
- Work effectively within a group-based environment, both as a leader and a member of a team;
- Demonstrate the skills necessary for independent lifelong learning (for example working independently, time management, organisational, enterprise and knowledge transfer skills);
- Identify, and work towards, targets for personal, academic, professional and career development;
- Demonstrate leadership and planning skills for setting, and meeting, achievable goals within the workplace.
Continuing studies
Many also choose to further their studies by pursuing a master’s degree or PhD.
Career opportunities
Career Prospects
Our Biomedical Sciences degree offers strong training for research scientists and a significant proportion of our graduates go on to study PhD or master’s degrees. Many others have successful careers in science-related fields such as
- Medical and scientific research
- Biological industries
- Healthcare
- Toxicology
- Medical or scientific publishing, and pathological science, amongst many others.
Our BSc Biomedical Sciences degree is also one of the recognised ‘feeder’ degrees for Cardiff University’s Graduate Entry to Medicine programme.
Our graduates have many transferable skills that are also attractive to a wide range of employers in more general areas of industry, commerce, public service, administration and management. Furthermore, a degree in the Biomedical Sciences can act as a stepping stone to further training in professional areas including
- Teaching
- Dentistry
- Nursing
- Veterinary science and accounting.
In 2016/17, 93% of the School’s graduates who were available for work reported that they were in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating. Experience has shown that students who have completed a Professional Training Year are particularly well-placed to obtain degree-related employment at the end of their studies.
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About this institute
Cardiff University
Founded in 1883, Cardiff University combines a prestigious heritage with impressive modern facilities, on one of the most beautiful campuses in the UK. As part of the Russell Group, our students benefit from our outstanding research quality and reputation, while...
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Cardiff University
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