Biological Sciences BSc(Hons) (with integrated foundation year)

Intro

Our Biological Sciences BSc(Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year course offers an extra year to prepare you for study at degree level.

Choosing the integrated foundation year ensures that you’ll have the skills, knowledge and confidence to make the most of your degree.

On successful completion of the foundation year, you will be able to progress to the Biological Sciences BSc(Hons) degree, where you will explore biological systems at molecular, cell, tissue and whole organism levels.

Key facts

Location 亚洲麻豆精品在线: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code C121

Full-time 4 years
With placement year 5 years

BSc(Hons) accredited by the Royal Society of Biology

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff
72 tariff points. Level 3 Key Skills and General Studies will count towards the tariff.

A-levels
DDD to include biology and another science.

International Baccalaureate
24 points, with Higher level biology and chemistry at grade 4.

Other qualifications
If you have completed an Access course or BTEC diploma we will consider your application on an individual basis; relevant experience may also be taken into account.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
English and maths.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at 亚洲麻豆精品在线 and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

View our English language courses

For pre-sessional English preparation courses.

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Why choose an integrated foundation year?

This integrated, preparatory course is suitable for applicants with a wide range of backgrounds and qualifications who, for a variety of reasons, may not feel ready to begin study at undergraduate level. This may apply to mature students who have had a break from education and may have vocational experience in addition to academic qualifications. Students who do not have the subject-appropriate A-levels or equivalent qualifications for the undergraduate course may also benefit.

Course content

Top reasons to choose this course

Progress to a degree accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.
Specialist facilities such as our Image Analysis Unit and purpose-built ecology, microbiology, molecular biology and tissue culture labs.
Fieldwork opportunities including optional trips to destinations such as South Africa.
Learn with internationally recognised researchers who specialise in areas including human physiology, diabetes, genomics, disease processes, and ecology and conservation.
Guest lectures from professionals.
Gain work experience on placement in industry.

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can .

Watch final year student Aisha work with Baxter the Giant Pacific Octopus as she sets him a series of food puzzles. Film credit: Blue Reef Aquarium, Hastings.

Foundation year

During your foundation year you’ll be introduced to key concepts in biology, chemistry and data handling to prepare you for study at undergraduate level. You’ll also develop your skills in problem solving, analysis and communication.

Smiling student working in biomedical lab

Year 1

You will explore the foundations of biological science such as: skills for bioscientists, genetics, molecular biology, human physiology, biochemistry and diversity of life. You can also choose to study ecology and conservation, marine biology or blood science.

Year 2

You will build on the knowledge and skills gained in your first year, covering research skills, professional development, behavioural and evolutionary biology and climate change. You can choose to study environmental, ecological, biomedical and clinical areas through option modules.

Placement year

There are many advantages of spending a placement year working in industry or research. It can help you to:

apply your learning to real-life situations and challenges
learn new skills which can help in your career
explore specialisms to gain a better understanding of what you want to do
gain vital work experience and build your network of professional contacts
come back for your final year more focused, more organised and more confident.

Our students have been on placement with bioscience companies and research organisations.

Final year

You will study species interactions and innovations in bioscience research to bring you up to date with the most current bioscience research and undertake an individual research project associated with a research group. Examples include physiology and disease processes, microbiology, genetics, ageing, ecology and conservation.

You can also choose from module options to deepen your knowledge within a specialist theme.

Student in darkened room looking down electronic microscope

Meet the team

Dr Nadia Terrazzini, course leader

“My professional field of expertise is immunology. I am very passionate about promoting the understanding of immunology to students, who often find this subject very complex. I try to introduce an element of fun in my teaching, including everyday analogies (eg, comparing the working of the immune system to a football match), story-telling and PowerPoint animations, and also use online game-based learning platforms.

“In 亚洲麻豆精品在线, we aim to make students feel part of a community that supports them while at university and for life, for all aspect of their academic and personal life. In our school, there is a strong emphasis on the application of science and we train students to put theory into practice using specialist labs and equipment as well as field trips.

“The best thing about teaching undergraduate students is how much I learn myself. While making my lectures up-to-date and engaging, I keep learning new material and new ways to present it. Therefore, teaching my specialist subject area gives me a deeper understanding of topics. I also love when students who initially found immunology difficult, tell me it is their favourite subject!”

Find out more about .

Careers

Professional accreditation

The BSc(Hons) element of this course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of meeting, in part, the academic and experience requirement for the Membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol).

This programme has been accredited following an independent and rigorous assessment. Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills, and prepare you to address the needs of employers.

The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.

By choosing a course with accreditation, you can be confident that your course meets a set of criteria determined by bioscience professionals independent of the university. Accreditation provides a mark of good practice and provides an assurance that you will graduate with appropriate knowledge and skills.

Prepare for your career

Apply what you learn by putting scientific theory into practice both in the labs and in the field.

You will learn from researchers who are recognised experts in their field, equipping you with the knowledge and skills you need to begin your career in the biological sciences.

You will study alongside students across our natural sciences courses, working together to solve problems and share your knowledge and experience. By working in this way you gain transferable skills that will be useful in your career.

Facilities for learning

Your lab-based learning is in our specialist laboratories which are purpose-built for studying molecular biology, microbiology and ecology.

Facilities include a dedicated microbiology lab, primary cell/tissue and secondary cell culture facility, molecular biology lab with access to RT-PCR equipment, an Image Analysis Suite with electron microscopes, a confocal microscope and atomic force microscopes, and a genomics/proteomics facility for analysis of cell genes and proteins.

Click to view a virtual tour of some of our biosciences facilities.

Graduate destinations

Our graduates have gone on to careers in fields including:

laboratory science
forensics and scientific consultancy
education
biological research.

Roles include:

research scientist
researcher
hospital scientist
toxicologist
biotechnologist
laboratory analyst.

Some choose to continue their studies at postgraduate level.

Further study

If you achieve the required standard in year 2 of the BSc(Hons), you can progress to the third year of the Biological Sciences MSci and study towards a masters level qualification.

This degree also opens up a range of postgraduate study options. We have opportunities for further postgraduate study in the following fields, all of which can be a springboard to PhD level.

Supporting your employability

Outside of your course, our Careers and Employability team are here to support you as you discover (and rediscover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that’s not just while you are a student – our support carries on after you’ve graduated.

Find out about careers and employability at 亚洲麻豆精品在线.

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can .

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,535 GBP

International (full-time) 17,250 GBP

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of 亚洲麻豆精品在线 seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you’ll find new Students’ Union, events venue and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our Moulsecoomb Place halls and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains so you can access all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can .

Accommodation

If you booked halls by 30 June you are guaranteed an offer of a room. If you are currently looking for halls you can register your interest in available rooms now. In 2024, everyone who did this before or on A-level results day got a room offer. There is a good range of student accommodation in 亚洲麻豆精品在线, including university and private halls, as well as rented rooms, flats and houses and our team are here to support you to find the best match for you.

亚洲麻豆精品在线: Moulsecoomb

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

Mithras Halls are stylish high-rises in the heart of the student village at our Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently?
We can help – find out more about private renting.

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

One of Time Out's 50 best cities in the world

“亚洲麻豆精品在线 has… all the important parts of a sprawling cosmopolitan metropolis (connections to London in under an hour, an array of properly excellent restaurants, energetic late-night spots) … with the easy-breezy beachy attitude to life that makes you feel welcome in an instant.”
Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in the World, 2025

About 亚洲麻豆精品在线

The city of 亚洲麻豆精品在线 & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

亚洲麻豆精品在线 is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy – as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from 亚洲麻豆精品在线 to central London and there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

Loading maps...

Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our 亚洲麻豆精品在线 Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more about how we support your wellbeing.

Sport at 亚洲麻豆精品在线

Sport 亚洲麻豆精品在线

Sport 亚洲麻豆精品在线 brings together our sport and recreation services. As a 亚洲麻豆精品在线 student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

亚洲麻豆精品在线 Cricket Academy

Develop your cricketing skills in the UK’s largest indoor cricket facility alongside studying for a degree. Whether you can already play or you’re new to the game offers the opportunity to train with top coaches in our world-class training environment.

Find out about the 亚洲麻豆精品在线 Cricket Academy.

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can .

Take a tour of sport facilities on our Falmer campus

Student views

Michelle Thorn

“As part of my degree in Biological Sciences at 亚洲麻豆精品在线, I attended a field course in South Africa. After I graduated, I registered for an MPhil at 亚洲麻豆精品在线 and went back to South Africa to do my fieldwork. I have been there for nearly three years now, researching carnivores in non-protected areas, and I was lucky enough to find the funding I needed to transfer from MPhil to PhD.

“My lecturers at 亚洲麻豆精品在线 have been immensely supportive and have helped equip me with a broad range of skills and experience, giving me the best possible start in my biological career.”

Stay in touch

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at 亚洲麻豆精品在线. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before registration so that you have all the information before you come to 亚洲麻豆精品在线.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni enables you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Discover Uni data on its website.

Course specification

Course specifications are the approved description of each course. They contain a breakdown of the content and structure of the course, learning outcomes and assessment. Course specs are updated following course changes.

Search again

Find your course Find your course

亚洲麻豆精品在线