Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
Students are accepted from a wide range of educational backgrounds and each application will be considered individually.
If you have already obtained A-levels (or equivalent) in subjects inappropriate for direct admission to one of our bioscience degree courses (grades ABB or above), a good standard of GCSE or equivalent in science and mathematics will also be required.
If you have been out of education for some time, we would normally recommend that you take an Access to HE Diploma course to be considered for Year 1 entry onto one of our courses; we cannot consider applicants studying on an Access course for entry onto the Foundation Year. Please contact us for further advice before submitting an application.
Students who have taken sciences at A-level but do not achieve ABB or above will only be accepted onto the Foundation Year if there is evidence that they have underperformed due to exceptional circumstances beyond their control. Please contact us to discuss this before you apply.
We believe that practical skills in the sciences are integral to a candidate's understanding and appreciation of these subjects. Therefore we encourage all applicants to undertake any practical skills assessment if it is available in their qualification.
Typical Contextual Offer: Applicants who are eligible for a contextual offer may receive an offer one grade below the standard requirements.
We consider the National Extended Diploma with grades DDD for entry when it is taken with one A-level with grade A.
Combinations of BTEC and A-levels suitable for Biosciences year one entry will not be considered for entry into the Foundation Year. For details of year one entry requirements, please refer to the webpage of the degree programme you are interested in.
Applicants with an Access to HE Diploma will not be accepted on to the Foundation Year.
Scottish Advanced Highers/Highers are normally required in one of the following combinations, if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our Biological Sciences degree courses:
- Three Advanced Highers with grades AAA-BBB or
- Two Advanced Highers with grades AA-BB plus two additional Highers with grades AA-BB or
- Five Highers with grades AAAAA-AABBB
English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C/Intermediate 2 grade C/Standard Grade Credit level grade 3).
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact
[email protected] AS level results are not considered as part of the standard admissions process at The University of Manchester.
We consider the National Diploma with grades DD for entry when it is taken with two A-levels with a minimum of grades AB.
Combinations of BTEC and A-levels suitable for Biosciences year one entry will not be considered for entry into the Foundation Year. For details of year one entry requirements, please refer to the webpage of the degree programme you are interested in.
We consider the National Foundation Diploma with grade D for entry when it is taken with two A-levels with a minimum of grades AB.
Combinations of BTEC and A-levels suitable for Biosciences year one entry will not be considered for entry into the Foundation Year. For details of year one entry requirements, please refer to the webpage of the degree programme you are interested in.
We consider the National Extended Certificate with grade D for entry when it is taken with two A-levels with a minimum of grades AB.
Combinations of BTEC and A-levels suitable for Biosciences year one entry will not be considered for entry into the Foundation Year. For details of year one entry requirements, please refer to the webpage of the degree programme you are interested in.
Scottish Advanced Highers/Highers are normally required in one of the following combinations, if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our Biological Sciences degree courses:
- Three Advanced Highers with grades AAA-BBB or
- Two Advanced Highers with grades AA-BB plus two additional Highers with grades AA-BB or
- Five Highers with grades AAAAA-AABBB
English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C/Intermediate 2 grade C/Standard Grade Credit level grade 3).
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact
[email protected] Students are accepted from a wide range of educational backgrounds and each application will be considered individually. Please contact us for advice before submitting an application.
The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma/Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and would consider this at grade B or above when taken with two A-levels, if the A-Level subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to the first year of one of our bioscience degree courses (minimum AB required).
For further details, please contact
[email protected].
The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. Although the Extended Project will not be included in the conditions of your offer, we strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview. A number of our academic Schools may also choose to take your performance in the EPQ into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.
Students are accepted from a wide range of educational backgrounds and each application will be considered individually. Please contact us for advice before submitting an application.
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 4 or C in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.
Please note that if you hold English as a Second Language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact
[email protected] for clarification.
We consider all the Cambridge Level 3 Technicals (except the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate) with grade D or above for entry when it is taken with two A-levels (minimum AB required) if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our biological sciences degree courses.
We consider all the Cambridge Level 3 Technicals (except the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate) with grade D or above for entry when it is taken with two A-levels (minimum AB required) if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our biological sciences degree courses.
We consider all the Cambridge Level 3 Technicals (except the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate) with grade D or above for entry when it is taken with two A-levels (minimum AB required) if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our biological sciences degree courses.
We consider all the Cambridge Level 3 Technicals (except the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate) with grade D or above for entry when it is taken with two A-levels (minimum AB required) if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our biological sciences degree courses.
We consider the following T levels for the Foundation Year:
- Level 3 T Level Technical Qualification in Science (Delivered By NCFE)
- Level 3 T Level Technical Qualification in Healthcare Science (Delivered By NCFE)
- Level 3 T Level Technical Qualification in Health (Delivered By NCFE)
For the Foundation Year, we require Distinction overall in one of these T levels with a minimum of grade A in the core component and Distinction in the occupational specialism.
Applicants already studying a Foundation Year will not be accepted on to the Biosciences with a Foundation Year programme.
The University recognises a number of foundation programmes as suitable for entry to undergraduate courses in the School of Biological Sciences:
Applicants completing the INTO Manchester International Foundation Programme in partnership with The University of Manchester are required to achieve a minimum of AAB with grades AA in two sciences (preferably Biology and Chemistry), grade B in a 3rd subject (excluding EAP) and an EAP score of B in every component.
Applicants completing the NCUK International Foundation Year are required to achieve a minimum of AAB or 75% overall with grades AA or 75% in two sciences (preferably Biology and Chemistry), grade B or 65% in a 3rd subject (excluding EAP) and an EAP score of B or 65% in every component.
Applicants studying other foundation programmes should contact [email protected] to check if their qualification is recognised for entry to this programme and for specific entry requirements.
Additional entry requirements
English language requirements
Test | Grade | Additional details |
---|
IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | With no less than 6.5 in every component. |
All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is:
GCSE/iGCSE English Language Grade 4 or C/4.
An acceptable equivalent qualification.
Please note that if you hold English as a Second Language iGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your iGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student from outside the UK and the EU must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language in order to be granted a UK visa (Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. This level is often referred to as the B2 level.
Additionally, our individual Schools may ask for specific English Language proficiency levels that are necessary for their academic programmes. In most cases these requirements are likely to be higher than the B2 level.
Acceptable English Language Requirements
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/admissions/language-requirements/