Skip navigation
You are viewing our beta course page.

Biological Sciences with Foundation Year

  • BSc (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time including foundation year
  • 09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Stag Hill
More about University of Surrey

Course options

2026-2027
Apply

Course summary

Foundation courses
A foundation year can develop your skills and make it easier to get started at university. It is an extra year of study at the start of your course that leads in to a full degree programme. It’s a great option if:

You don’t have the grades for a full degree course
You have non-traditional qualifications or experience
You’re starting university after some time away from education
You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study.

Life as a foundation year student
During a foundation year you’ll learn about your chosen subject, develop your study skills and get used to university life. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree course.

As a foundation year student, you’ll be a full student of the University and part of our community. You’ll have access to all our campus facilities and support.

Why choose this course

  • Select modules tailored to your interests, with the option to specialise in animal biology and ecology, cellular and molecular sciences or infection and immunity.

  • Take the opportunity to get industry-ready with our award-winning Professional Training placements, where you can work in one of our partner laboratories across the world.

  • Access our £12.5 million Innovation for Health Learning Laboratory to acquire practical experience that is essential for a research career and valued by employers.

  • Conduct fieldwork on campus and further afield, with the opportunity to practise your scientific skills in a non-controlled environment.

What you will study
In the first year of our Biological Sciences course, you’ll study topics that are fundamental to biosciences, ensuring you have a solid foundation upon which to build the rest of your degree.

During your second year, you’ll have the option to specialise in either animal biology and ecology, cellular and molecular sciences, or infection and immunity.

Alternatively, you can choose from a variety of broader modules including analytical biochemistry, cellular microbiology and neuroscience.

In your third year, you’ll further your knowledge of your chosen specialism or broader study by exploring topics such as advanced pharmacology, genetics, and the impact of humans on the environment. You’ll also complete a research project, bringing together all the practical, analytical and presentation skills you’ve developed.

Modules

To see the full range of modules for this course please visit our website – the link is under the Course contact details. You will also find full details of the programme, including programme structure, assessment methods, contact hours and Graduate prospects.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Stag Hill

Study options

  • BSc (Hons) • Full-time including foundation year • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
7C55
Institution code:
S85
Campus name:
Stag Hill
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Foundation

University of Surrey has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
7C55
Institution code:
S85
Campus name:
Stag Hill
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

International applicants

We are proud to be one of the most culturally diverse universities in the UK, with more than 140 nationalities playing a role in university life. Our International Recruitment team are here to help you throughout the application process – from advising on choosing the right course to applying for a visa and preparing for your first few weeks at Surrey. You can contact them via international@surrey.ac.uk

Applicants who require a Student Visa to study in the UK:
To apply for a Student Visa, you must have a Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) for the University you wish to study at. This is a unique number which will enable you to apply for your visa. The University is under no legal obligation to sponsor any individual and exercises caution with respect to issuing a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to avoid risking its status as a Student sponsor. Confirmation of Acceptance to Study (CAS) will be issued in accordance with the Student Route and CAS Issuing Policy, available at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/apply/policies

Chat to student ambassadors

Discover what it's like to study Biological Sciences with Foundation Year at University of Surrey: insights on the course, making friends, personal statement tips, uni prep, and recommended books, podcasts, and videos.

POWERED BY Unibuddy

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - CCC

Overall: CCC We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking in our offers. Required subjects: A science subject. Applicants taking the Science Practical Endorsement are expected to pass.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MMM

Overall: MMM in Applied Science Required subjects: Please contact us to discuss suitability.

Access to HE Diploma - D: 21 credits M: 3 credits P: 21 credits

Overall: QAA recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall including 21 at Distinction, 3 at Merit and and 21 at Pass Required subjects: modules must be in relevant subjects. GCSE or Equivalent: Inclusion of GCSE English and Mathematics equivalent within Access programme

Scottish Higher - BBBCC

Overall: BBBCC Required subjects: A science subject. GCSE or Equivalent: Scottish National 5: English Language and Mathematics grade C. Applicants must have achieved the Scottish national grades at the time of making their application.

Scottish Advanced Higher - CCC

Overall: CCC Required subjects: A science subject. GCSE or Equivalent: Scottish National 5: English Language and Mathematics grade C. Applicants must have achieved the Scottish national grades at the time of making their application.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 29 points

Overall: 29 Required subjects: a science subject HL4/SL6. GCSE or Equivalent: English A HL4/SL4 or English B HL5/SL6 and Mathematics (either course) HL4/SL4. Applicants must have achieved these grades at the time of making their application.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

Overall: Pass overall with CCC from a combination of the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales and two A-levels. Required subjects: an A-level in a science subject. A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking are not accepted. Applicants taking the Science Practical Endorsement are expected to pass. GCSE or equivalent: English Language and Mathematics at grade 4 (C). Applicants must have achieved these GCSE grades at the time of making their application.

Extended Project - A

Applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) will receive our standard A-level offer for this programme, plus an alternate offer of one A-level grade lower, subject to achieving an A grade in the EPQ. The one grade reduction will not apply to any required subjects. Applicants can only receive one grade reduction from the published grades, an EPQ grade reduction can’t be applied in addition to other grade reductions made through other schemes such as Contextual Admissions or In2Surrey.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

English and Mathematics grade C (4) (or equivalents may be considered). Applicants must have achieved these GCSE grades at the time of making their application.

T Level - P

Overall: Pass overall, with minimum D in the Core Component. Required subjects: Science. GCSE or equivalent: English Language and Mathematics at grade 4 (C). Applicants must have achieved these GCSE grades at the time of making their application.

Applications are considered on an individual basis, taking into account qualifications achieved, predicted grades, personal statement and academic reference. Conditional offers are specified in terms of required grades; we do not make offers in terms of overall UCAS tariff.

We understand that predicted grades are an estimate and will consider applicants who have predicted grades that are a little lower than our published requirement. Any offers we make will align with the grades shown above unless a grade reduction can be offered under our Contextual Admissions policy or our In2Surrey scheme. Details can be found here: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/schools-colleges/contextual-admissions-policy

Applicants with a mixed qualification profile (e.g. those taking A-levels and BTEC qualifications) are encouraged to contact admissions@surrey.ac.uk for guidance on the grades accepted.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.56.5 overall with 6.0 in Writing and 5.5 in each other element

View the other English language qualifications that we accept: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/apply/international/english-language-requirements

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Subject Spotlights

Subject Spotlights give you the chance to try a higher education course before you apply. Delivered by the lecturers themselves you will gain insight into what it's like to study the course and give your personal statement a boost.

POWERED BY Springpod

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Please see our website for up-to-date information on our fees for 2026/27:

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/undergraduate-2026-entry

Sponsorship information

The University of Surrey offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to support our students, please visit https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/scholarships-and-bursaries for more details.

Related courses

At University of Surrey

Like this page