Course summary

Our BSc (Honours) Human Genetics degree is designed to provide you with a firm grounding in this ever-evolving subject which is central to human health, medicine, and pharmacology. Recent advances in biology have led to a better understanding of how genetic variations affect genome function, influence traits. This, in turn, has led to increased job opportunities for graduates with skills in human genetics. Throughout the course, you will acquire the knowledge, skills and behaviours to successfully compete in research, industry and academia. The foundation year course is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to continue onto your Honours degree. You will study a range of subjects that will underpin your future study and also gain valuable experience of university life, with full access to campus facilities. Successful completion of the year allows you to progress straight onto Level 4 of this course. Overall, the course aims to enable you to develop critical understanding of the connections between human genes, the human body and hereditary variations. It enables you to develop clinical, industrial and research knowledge and skills in genetics; examine its transfusion process into new developments and techniques to solve modern-day problems such as human disease and threats to population health. Year One: At the start of the course, you will study molecular biology and explore the fundamentals of evolution and its impact on genetic differences, medical microbiology, biochemistry and genetics of diseases. These will give you a detailed knowledge and a broad foundation in the scientific underpinnings of the genetic causes of diseases. Years Two and Three: This will be followed in the second and third years by developing specialist knowledge and skills in human genetics where you will explore in detail genome biology, developmental biology, the chemistry of biomolecules and proteins, the chromosomal basis of human disease and cancer genetics. Throughout the course, you will also develop speciality skills for designing and conducting human genetic research.