Biomedical Sciences with Integrated Foundation Year

Our Integrated Foundation Year will take you through a carefully-designed course to help you to progress confidently onto your undergraduate degree.

The Biomedical Sciences Foundation Year provides progressive structures in which you are able to gain knowledge and understanding of approaches to scientific study and your chosen degree subject. Once you have completed your Foundation year, you will normally progress onto the full degree course, BSc Biomedical Sciences. There may also be flexibility to move onto a degree in another department (see end of section, below).

Biomedical Sciences develops your understanding of the biological basis of human disease and is ideal if you’re considering a career in biomedical research. You’ll learn essential elements of biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, molecular biology and genetics, centred around human function and disease. You can choose a pathway to tailor your degree to your own biomedical interests from a range of options taught by experts in their fields

You’ll develop the skills required to conduct standard laboratory procedures in Biological Sciences, including the safe handling of materials in experimental settings, taking into account their chemical properties, including any specific hazards associated with their use. You will also be able to demonstrate skills in the monitoring, by observation and/or measurement, of a variety of chemical or biological properties, events or changes, of both a quantitative and qualitative nature, together with their systematic and reliable recording and documentation, in the laboratory or the field.

On successful completion, you’ll be equipped with:

• An understanding of the theory, technology and clinical practice of human molecular genetics and molecular biology techniques

• An awareness of the applications of genetic engineering approaches to prevent disease

• The transferable skills needed to work in a wide range of sectors.

From time to time, we make changes to our courses to improve the student and learning experience, and this is particularly the case as we continue to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. If we make a significant change to your chosen course, we’ll let you know as soon as we can.

Course Modules

Core Modules

Foundation Year

• Global and Planetary Health

• Foundation Life Sciences and The Environment

• Foundation Mathematics for Life Scientists

• Environmental Science for Foundation Life Sciences

• Life Sciences II: Organ Systems

• Foundation Statistics for Life Sciences

Year 1

• Becoming a Bioscientist

• Chemistry of Life

• Fundamental Biochemistry

• Introductory Animal Physiology

• Introduction to Human Physiology

• Cell Biology and the Origin of Life

• Genetics

• Protein Biochemistry and Enzymology

Year 2

• Human Physiology in Health and Disease

• Molecular Biology

• Immunology

• Neuronal and Cellular Signalling

• Pharmacology and Toxicology

Year 3

• Individual Research Project

• Molecular Basis of Inherited Disease

Optional Modules

In addition to mandatory modules, there will be a number of optional modules available during year 2 and year 3 of your degree.

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/biological-sciences/bsc-biomedical-sciences-with-integrated-foundation-year/

In your Foundation Year, teaching methods include a mixture of lectures, practical classes and workshops, laboratory classes, individual tutorials, and supervisory sessions. Outside of the classroom you’ll undertake guided and independent practice. You will be assigned a Personal Tutor in the Department of Biological Sciences and will have regular scheduled sessions. In the Foundation Year, you’ll also be assigned a Personal Tutor in the Centre for the Development of Academic Skills (CeDAS).  Assessments are varied; practical exercises, weekly problem sheets, set exercises, written examinations, laboratory reports. In addition the Foundation Year offers a full range of skills-based training.

For your degree course, teaching methods will include a mixture of lectures, seminars, individual tutorials, and practical field and laboratory work. Outside the classroom, students will be expected to undertake study to understand the taught material, and to carry out the assessed coursework. Assessment will be through a combination of examinations, project(s) and practical work.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Royal Society of Biology