Course summary

Foundation Year courses have been designed for students who do not have the necessary academic qualifications needed to enter directly into the first year of a degree but who have the ability and commitment to do so. Once the Foundation Year has been completed successfully, you can then go on to complete your degree. Biomedical and clinical scientists are essential to modern healthcare, and aid in diagnosis of disease, evaluate effectiveness of treatment, and carry out research into the causes and potential cures for diseases. This course is for you if you have an interest in how we diagnose disease, wish to study the genetic and cellular basis for disease, want to understand how we can treat disease, and want to understand the principles of drug design. You will study the effect of environment and genes on our health in the birthplace of Charles Darwin and be a part of the exciting developments in the future of healthcare. You will gain knowledge and practical experience of the important disciplines of a pathology laboratory, together with other professions allied to medicine, which will help to widen your career options when you graduate. During this course, you will gain an understanding of human health and the causes, prevention and treatment of disease. You will develop fundamental scientific and experimental skills, preparing you for a career as a practical scientist in biomedical research and practice. The curriculum is focused across a broad range of topics, including human genetics and genomics, physiology, cancer biology, pathology, anatomy, immunology, molecular and cellular biology, and biochemistry.