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Human Biosciences
- BSc (Hons)
- 3 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 technology. 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, valued by employers. Through the course, you will gain an insight into human life processes, both in health and disease.
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. You would be responsible for securing your placement with support from our dedicated placements tutor, however a placement cannot be guaranteed. 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.
Professional Placement Year
This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.
If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.
Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.
Ways to study this course
Campuses
- City South Campus, Edgbaston
Study options
- BSc (Hons) • Full-time • 3 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:
- 1262
- Institution code:
- B25
- Campus name:
- City South Campus, Edgbaston
- Campus Code:
- E
- Points of Entry:
- Year 1
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:
- 1262
- Institution code:
- B25
- Campus name:
- City South Campus, Edgbaston
- Campus Code:
- E
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 104 points
A level - BCC
104 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)
104 UCAS tariff points. Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science. National Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science at grade DM overall, 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 or Chemistry at grade C or above, or a Level 3 equivalent. Extended Certificate - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science. The Certificate must be combined with two A Levels, at least one of which must be in Biology or Chemistry, or with Level 3 equivalent qualifications in an accepted Science subject. 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. Accepted subjects: Bioscience-related pathway
Scottish Higher
104 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (CC). Required subjects: Biology or Chemistry at Higher level or above.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
104 UCAS tariff points. Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science. National Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science at grade DM overall, 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 or Chemistry at grade B or above, or a Level 3 equivalent. Extended Certificate - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science. The Certificate must be combined with two A Levels, at least one of which must be in Biology or Chemistry, or with Level 3 equivalent qualifications in an accepted Science subject. 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)
104 UCAS tariff points. Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science. National Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science at grade DM overall, 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 or Chemistry at grade B or above, or a Level 3 equivalent. Extended Certificate - accepted subjects: Applied Science or Biomedical Science. The Certificate must be combined with two A Levels, at least one of which must be in Biology or Chemistry, or with Level 3 equivalent qualifications in an accepted Science subject. 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
104 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (CC). Required subjects: Biology or Chemistry at Higher level or above.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 28 points
Obtain a minimum of 28 points overall. Required subjects: Either Biology, or Chemistry at Higher level. For students who do not already hold a GCSE in Mathematics at grade C/4 or above, grade 5 in Maths (Standard level) from the IB Diploma will be accepted. For students who do not already hold a GCSE in English Language at grade C/4 or above, English Language (Standard level) from the IB Diploma will be accepted. For English A, this must be grade 4 or above; for English B, this must be grade 5
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Minimum of 104 UCAS tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects. Required subjects: Biology or Chemistry at Higher level.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications.
T Level - M
Merit overall. Accepted subjects: Science.
Welsh Baccalaureate: 104 UCAS tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Required subjects: Either this qualification or an accompanying A Level / level 3 equivalent must be Biology or Chemistry.
OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 104 UCAS tariff points. Extended Diploma - accepted subjects: Applied Science Diploma - accepted subjects: Either this qualification or the accompanying A Level / level 3 equivalent must be in Applied Science, Biology or Chemistry.
Applicants must normally have evidence of formal study within the last five years. However, we are sometimes able to waive this requirement if a candidate has a significant amount of professional experience in a relevant field, for example Biosciences.
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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