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Human Biosciences with a Foundation Year
- BSc (Hons)
- 4 Years
- Full-time
- 09/2026
- Undergraduate
- City South Campus, Edgbaston
Course summary
Human Biosciences is an exciting branch of modern science, involving many disciplines and cutting-edge technologies. It is focused on human biology and health, providing a perfect springboard for a variety of careers within the growing life sciences sector.
Our degree is practice-led and designed to support you to develop a range of practical and analytical skills that are sought after by employers.
Why choose a foundation year course?
The BSc (Hons) Human Biosciences with a Foundation Year course has been specifically designed to support your transition to degree-level study in Life Sciences. As a student, you will undertake a foundation year of level 3 study, which has been designed as an introduction to your chosen degree course, providing opportunities for you to develop your knowledge, skills, and understanding. Your learning journey through your foundation year will provide a secure platform on which you can build throughout your academic career in higher education.
As part of the foundation year, you will explore and develop several essential academic, interpersonal and professional skills that will help you succeed in your future degree level studies.
On successful completion of your foundation year, you are guaranteed to progress on to the first year of the BSc (Hons) Human Biosciences degree. If you are interested in progressing on to one of our other Life Sciences degrees, this will be subject to space available on those courses and meeting the relevant entry requirements.
What's covered in this course?
Our Human Biosciences course encompasses several disciplines, including human anatomy and physiology, human nutrition and metabolism, human molecular genetics, infection and immunity, pharmacology and toxicology and science communication. These subjects play a huge role in healthcare provision and medical research, as well as underpinning the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. With input from industry and healthcare science, this course has been designed to help you develop important practical and scientific skills sought after by employers.
To further support your employability, you will have the opportunity to complete a professional placement year in an industrial or research setting between years two and three of the course, subject to availability. In the final year you will also undertake an independent research project under the guidance of one of our expert academic staff.
During year one, you will learn alongside students on our BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science course. During years two and three you will study a Human Biosciences-specific curriculum, covering a greater variety of subjects with more optional modules in your final year compared with the IBMS-accredited BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science. These include human nutrition and metabolism, communicating science, biomaterials and tissue engineering, proteomics, and pharmacology and toxicology.
This gives you the opportunity to explore subjects which you may wish to build upon in your career, in roles in drug development and clinical trials, sales and marketing, or research, or through postgraduate level study for example in Sport and Exercise Nutrition, Dietetics, or Medical Engineering.
Ways to study this course
Campuses
- City South Campus, Edgbaston
Study options
- BSc (Hons) • Full-time • 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:
- 1268
- Institution code:
- B25
- Campus name:
- City South Campus, Edgbaston
- Campus Code:
- E
- Points of Entry:
- Foundation
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Birmingham City University 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:
- 1268
- Institution code:
- B25
- Campus name:
- City South Campus, Edgbaston
- Campus Code:
- E
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Foundation
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 80 points
A level - CDD
80 UCAS Tariff points from three A Levels. Required subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Environmental Sciences at grade C or above. Excluded subjects: General Studies; Critical Thinking; Extended Project
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
80 UCAS tariff points. Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science. National Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science, in combination with one other A Level/Level 3 equivalent. A diploma in any other subject will only be considered in combination with an A Level in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Environmental Science, or a level 3 equivalent. Extended Certificate - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science, in combination with two other A Level/Level 3 equivalents. A certificate in any other subject will only be considered in combination with an A Level in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Environmental Science, or a level 3 equivalent. Excluded subjects: Psychology and Health and Social Care are not accepted as a Science qualification for the purpose of meeting our entry requirements.
Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3
Scottish Higher
80 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (DDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (DD)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
80 UCAS tariff points. Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science. National Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science, in combination with one other A Level/Level 3 equivalent. A diploma in any other subject will only be considered in combination with an A Level in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Environmental Science, or a level 3 equivalent. Extended Certificate - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science, in combination with two other A Level/Level 3 equivalents. A certificate in any other subject will only be considered in combination with an A Level in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Environmental Science, or a level 3 equivalent. Excluded subjects: Psychology and Health and Social Care are not accepted as a Science qualification for the purpose of meeting our entry requirements.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
80 UCAS tariff points. Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science. National Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science, in combination with one other A Level/Level 3 equivalent. A diploma in any other subject will only be considered in combination with an A Level in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Environmental Science, or a level 3 equivalent. Extended Certificate - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science, in combination with two other A Level/Level 3 equivalents. A certificate in any other subject will only be considered in combination with an A Level in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Environmental Science, or a level 3 equivalent. Excluded subjects: Psychology and Health and Social Care are not accepted as a Science qualification for the purpose of meeting our entry requirements.
Scottish Advanced Higher
80 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (DDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (DD)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points
Obtain a minimum of 24 points overall
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects
GCSE/National 4/National 5
This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications.
T Level
Pass overall (C or above on the core). All subjects considered
Welsh Baccalaureate: 80 UCAS tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 80 UCAS tariff points
NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS tariff points
WJEC Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s)
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.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| EU | £18570 | Year 1 |
| International | £18570 | Year 1 |
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
*The Government is proposing to apply an inflationary increase to regulated tuition fees for 2026/27 and the University is planning on increasing fees to that maximum level once confirmed.
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