Human Biology with Placement

Our BSc (Hons) Human Biology degree is designed to develop your knowledge and skills for the purposes of testing, analysing and researching the fundamental aspects of what makes us human.
From covering diverse topics such as genetic makeup, disease immunity, nutrition, population trends, ageing, epidemiology, and more, you will build an in-depth understanding of this wide-ranging field.
Throughout the course, you will benefit from:
• being part of a learning community that conducts cutting edge research into areas such as cancer, genomics, microbiology, food safety, ageing and memory, and translation medicine
• access to brand-new facilities that include equipment used in modern pharmaceutical, nutritional and clinical laboratories
• option of a placement year to develop your employability and career prospects
• final year research project - allows you to focus your studies on your specific interests and career goals.
A wide array of optional modules allows you to shape your studies to match your own interests and career ambitions.

What you'll study
Human biology is a hugely important and ever-expanding branch of science that focuses on human beings and human populations, making for a richly rewarding subject area to study.
You will begin your studies by immersing yourself in the fundamentals of this biological science before, as the course progresses, having increasing flexibility to follow your own specialist interests.
As well as acquiring and fine-tuning your technical, lab, and research abilities, an emphasis on data analysis gives you the opportunity to develop programming, modelling and machine learning skills.
In particular, there will be a strong focus on the following aspects:
• the fundamentals of human biology: the structure and function of biological molecules, cells, and the whole organism
• biostatistics and experimental design
• learning how to analyse big data using bioinformatics tools
• continuous practice in the laboratory and field-based research methods
• the use of physiological, biomechanical, and psychological equipment for determining the body composition and analysing cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, and neurological indicators of health and disease
• DNA sequencing, proteomics, metabolomics, microscopy, and spectroscopy
• molecular, biochemical, genetic, cellular, embryological, histological, anatomical, and psychological analytical methods and techniques
• data analysis and modelling in R
• collecting, analysing experimental data
• visualising and communicating research in different ways and to different audiences.
Over the course of your studies, a wide and diverse range of optional modules allows you to hone in on the areas that you find of most interest.
Placement Year*
You can choose to study a placement year module to develop your employability skillset and enhance professional development and career prospects. The module requires you to undertake 45 weeks of full-time employment relevant to Biomedical Sciences. The industrial placement year aims to enhance your employment prospects by developing industry-related skills in a real work environment. It also aims to enhance and develop your personal and interpersonal skills, knowledge and practical abilities through an individually negotiated portfolio of activities.
*There is no guarantee that you will be successful in securing a placement. If you choose a course with a placement route and a placement opportunity does not arise, the University will automatically transfer you to the non-placement route. This is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree. The placement route for this course is open to UK students only.
This course includes a foundation year.