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What makes our Biological Sciences with Foundation Year programmes special?

We offer a range of programmes which combine a foundation year with a Biological Sciences degree over a four-year course.

These courses are perfect if you: 

  • studied non-science subjects but now want to pursue a career in science
  • are returning to education after some time away
  • don't currently meet the requirements for direct entry onto our degree courses

At Worcester our courses have a strong practical emphasis, designed to prepare you for an exciting career in the Biological Sciences - from Medical and Healthcare Sciences, to Forensics and Animal Biology.

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • A friendly supportive learning environment with an open-door policy and support from a personal academic tutor
  • Carefully designed courses to help you make sure you have the right mix of skills and knowledge to progress
  • A strong emphasis on practical and laboratory work
  • Modern laboratories, specialist equipment and an inspiring environment for you to gain practical skills and develop your interests
  • Excellent teaching staff who are committed to helping students achieve their goals
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Join us this September

It's not too late to apply for a September 2020 start. We have places available on a range of courses through clearing.

Find out more

Programmes we offer

You can choose from a range of four-year programmes within the Biological Sciences.

We offer:

  • Animal Biology (with Foundation Year)
  • Biochemistry (with Foundation Year)
  • Biology (with Foundation Year)
  • Biomedical Science (with Foundation Year)
  • Forensic & Applied Biology (with Foundation Year)
  • Human Biology (with Foundation Year)
  • Human Nutrition (with Foundation Year)
  • Pharmacology (with Foundation Year)
Entry requirements

What qualifications will you need?

Entry requirements

You should be at least 18 years old and have GCSE English Language at grade C/4 or above, or the equivalent.

We welcome mature students without the usual formal qualifications. Your application will be considered based your skills, experience and how prepared you are to complete the course.

Other information

The University will consider each application on its individual merits and will recognise a range of qualifications not currently included in the tariff, including BTEC, access courses, European Baccalaureate and pre-2002 qualification such as GNVQ. Non-standard entry via the exploratory essay route is also available.

If your qualifications are not listed, please contact the admissions office for advice on 01905 855 111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk for advice.

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Course content

What will you study?

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course. If there are insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this might not be offered, but we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative. 

Foundation Year (Year 0)

Modules

  • The Chemistry of life
  • Earth, Life and Diversity
  • Essential Skills for Scientists
  • Science in Practice

Degree level (Years 1, 2 and 3)

After successfully completing the foundation year you will progress onto modules from the specific subject you have chosen.

Biology BSc

Teaching and assessment

How will you be taught?

You will learn through a wide range of activities including:

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Workshops
  • Group projects
  • Laboratory practicals
  • Computer-based activities
  • Field trips and visits

Our highly experienced lecturers and laboratory staff will be there to help you at every step throughout the course.

For more details about teaching and assessment in years 1, 2 and 3 see the degree course pages for Animal Biology, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Science, Forensic and Applied Biology, Human Biology, Human Nutrition and Pharmacology.

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.

In person teaching from September

We intend to start the academic year as planned in September 2020.

For many years, the majority of our teaching has taken place in small group settings such as seminars, laboratory classes, tutorials, clinical simulation and other practical sessions. We are planning to continue to teach these in person, while strictly following the Government safety guidelines in place at the time.

Other sessions will be delivered through a blend of in-person and online learning. You can read more about this approach in our coronavirus FAQs.

Meet the team

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course.

Here are a few members of the department who currently teach on this course:

lorraine-weaver

Lorraine Weaver

Lorraine's interests range from the physiology and behaviour of large agricultural animals to the ecology of Bryophytes, the latter being one of her main research interests.

Lorraine also carries out research on learning and teaching. With other biology tutors, Lorraine has developed a Personal Development Planning scheme which is unique to Worcester. One aspect of this is that it recognises and records the skills which students can gain, including the practical skills.

Chris Brown is standing next to a car holding a cup of tea

Dr Chris Brown

Chris studied at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Following completion of his Honours degree, he joined the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology where he worked on their sub-Antarctic programme for several years, which included over two years carrying out research on the energetics and ecology of penguins, albatrosses and petrels on Marion Island in the sub-Antarctic.

mike wheeler

Dr Mike Wheeler

Dr Mike Wheeler joined the University of Worcester in 2010 after researching in the area of plant molecular genetics. Mike developed a strong background in the biology of cell signalling in plants, with specific research into the mechanisms of self-incompatibility in poppy and the control of polarity in pollen tubes of tobacco. He is currently investigating the function of a large family of secreted proteins likely to be involved in cell-cell communication in the model plants, Arabidopsis thaliana and Physcomitrella patens.

In addition to his research into plant molecular genetics Mike is also developing means of using molecular biology to solve problems in conservation biology which is a longstanding passion of his. In this area Mike is currently developing eDNA (environmental DNA) techniques to assess the effect of invasive and non-native species on species of conservation concern.

Mike is a member of the Sustainable Environments Research Group.










Careers

Where could it take you?

Employability

Graduates in the Biological Sciences go on to have careers in a very wide range of fields. These include:

  • working in high high-tech research laboratories in academia and the bioscience industries
  • teaching and lecturing
  • healthcare and veterinary services
  • science writing
  • medical sales
  • environmental modelling and policy making
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Costs

How much will it cost?

Full-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard tuition fee for full-time UK and EU students registering in the academic year 2020/21 is £9,250 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international (non-EU) students registering in the academic year 2020/21 is £12,700 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Part-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard tuition fees for part-time UK and EU students registering on this course in the academic year 2020/21 are £1,156 per 15-credit module, £1,542 per 20 credit module, £2,313 per 30-credit module, £3,083 per 40-credit module, £3,469 per 45-credit module and £4,625 per 60 credit module.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Additional costs

Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses.

If your course offers a placement opportunity, you may need to pay for a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience, and our welcoming student communities are great places to live and study.

We have over 1,000 rooms across our halls of residence. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Traditional Hall' at £105 per week to 'En-suite Extra' at £169 per week (2020/21 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.
How to apply

How do you apply?

Apply through UCAS

UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry onto full-time undergraduate courses in Higher Education in the UK.

You can apply for our individual programmes via UCAS:

  • Animal Biology (with Foundation Year) - D350
  • Biochemistry (with Foundation Year) - C750
  • Biology (with Foundation Year) - C150
  • Biomedical Science (with Foundation Year) - B955
  • Forensic & Applied Biology (with Foundation Year) - FC50
  • Human Biology (with Foundation Year) - B155
  • Human Nutrition (with Foundation Year) - B450
  • Pharmacology (with Foundation Year) - B250
Apply Via UCAS

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.

Admissions office

admissions@worc.ac.uk
01905 855111

Christianne Wakeham

c.wakeham@worc.ac.uk
01905 54 2374

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