Course summary

Foundation courses A foundation year can develop your skills and make it easier to get started at university. It is an extra year of study at the start of your course that leads in to a full degree programme. It’s a great option if: You don’t have the grades for a full degree course You have non-traditional qualifications or experience You’re starting university after some time away from education You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study. Life as a foundation year student During a foundation year you’ll learn about your chosen subject, develop your study skills and get used to university life. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree course. As a foundation year student, you’ll be a full student of the University and part of our community. You’ll have access to all our campus facilities and support. Why choose this course • Select modules tailored to your interests, including advanced technologies in gene expression, neuroscience, pharmacology and toxicology. • Access our £12.5 million Innovation for Health Learning Laboratory to use equipment found in the NHS and research labs across the world. • Gain industry experience through our Professional Training placements and work with one of our partners who offer roles exclusively to students aspiring to become biomedical scientists. • Complete an integrated masters, which incorporates an additional research-focused year of study, to prepare you for a technical research career in industry or academia. What you will study In your first year, you’ll study topics that are fundamental to biomedical science, including bacteriology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, human physiology, microbiology and physiology, ensuring you have a solid foundation upon which to build the rest of your degree. During your second year, you will build on what you have learnt in your first year, and explore topics with a greater clinical focus, such as pathology, molecular biology, clinical biochemistry, and pharmacology. In your third year, you’ll select modules that explore topics such as advanced pharmacology, circadian rhythms, immunology, systems biology and toxicology. You’ll study these alongside compulsory modules investigating cancer pathogenesis and treatment, the epidemiology of infectious diseases, our immune system and immunohaematological diseases. You’ll also get the opportunity to work alongside a supervisor to conduct your own scientific research project, performing experiments and critically evaluating data and literature. If you have chosen to do an integrated masters, you will complete an additional research-focused year of study that includes an advanced research project and training in scientific management and analytical skills. This will prepare you for a technical research career in industry or academia.