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Introduction
Why choose this course?
This course will ground you in various medical aspects of the human body. You’ll be taught by a team of dedicated teaching staff who are committed to your success.
Your course options include Evidence Based Medicine, Pathophysiology and Genomic Medicine, which are key in current areas of medical science and newly developing areas of medical science. There are also modules where you can focus some of your learning on subjects that suit your own interests. Other options include a professional skills module and an independent study module.
You’ll learn from lecturers who are at the cutting edge of medical research. Other academics are highly experienced physicians in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Your research project will enable you to use your acquired knowledge and expertise. You’ll work on a novel question, guided and supported by one of the experienced lecturers in the department. Future employers like to hear about the wide and often quite specialised skills that you’ve developed in the process of doing your own research.
Learning and teaching
Teaching and learning methods include:
 lectures
 practicals
 tutorials
 seminars
You will have the opportunity to attend seminars given by visiting speakers from around the world.
As well as delivering this course in partnership with scientists working in local hospitals, we are able to invite colleagues and collaborators who are at the forefront of research to join us in exploring the scientific themes of medical science with you. This includes work on:
 DNA repair
 disease biofilms
 clinically important immunohistochemistry tests
 deep brain stimulation for symptom relief.
Our research in these areas underpins this course.
Medical science is a practical subject and we have a very good range of equipment. This includes:
 high-performance liquid chromatography equipment
 confocal and electron microscopes
 specialised laboratories for tissue culture
 microbiology
 physiology
 microscopy.
Overview
It’s our belief that if you’re smart enough and curious enough, you should have the opportunity to study on our BSc (Hons) Medical Sciences degree. If you love solving problems and want to understand all kinds of illnesses, then Medical Sciences is for you.
This final-year entry route is designed for students with a BTEC National diploma Level 5 in Science. The diploma is equivalent to 2 years of degree study. You’ll join our department in the third year, ready to graduate with the same degree as students who came via the A-level route.
On the course, you’ll develop detailed practical and scientific knowledge. You’ll gain a good understanding of the human body in health and disease.
Through a mix of academic and practical learning, you’ll gain the skills employers look for. These include lab techniques, data handling, computing, report writing, oral presentations, and teamwork.
Modules
Compulsory modules
Research Project
A Research Project is your chance to do brand new research and find out what it’s really like to be a professional scientist – gathering, considering and evaluating data, then communicating it clearly and critically to others. This is the pinnacle of your degree, working with a supervisor (and possibly others) to collect novel scientific data about a specific topic. You are likely to use a range of theoretical, experimental and/or bioinformatics methods or you may use tools such as data mining, patient or volunteer surveys, questionnaires and other forms of investigative research.
Projects allow you to make the transition from student to professional, building on all you have learned to develop and practice a range of superior skills and abilities. Working largely independently you will gather, analyse and present your findings, and argue your conclusions to others in a clear and well-written formal report.
Optional modules
Evidence Based Medicine
Evidence Based Medicine (EBM), also known as Evidence Based Practice, refers to the deliberate, careful and thorough use of clinical research, review and appraisal to ensure patients receive the best possible clinical care. This module will explore many aspects of evidence-based medicine, introducing public health and policy, drug design, diagnostic screening and epidemiology. The module will also include the wide range of diagnostic tools which are available and used within the health system in the UK.
Genomic Medicine
The aim of this module is to reflect on the growth of genetic analysis as part of healthcare diagnostics, treatment and monitoring. As technologies advance, the ability to use whole genome data offers clinicians more information on the pathology of diseases, but at a cost of being much more complex. This module sets out to inform the key areas in this field, and how it can be used in practise in healthcare.
Independent Study in Life Sciences
This module involves an extended study (normally library-based) of a topic of the student's choosing that is relevant to their degree but not formally taught. The topic will normally focus on a specific area of interest. Students will work independently, with support given by a supervising member of staff in the form of tutorials where progress is reviewed and discussed. Much of the student's effort will typically involve library-searching, reading, reviewing, assimilation and synthesis of material for preparing an extended essay reviewing and critiquing the chosen topic.
Molecular Biology of Cancer
The module will explore our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie human cancer and explore some of the possible therapeutic targets and treatments. Understanding the molecular and cellular basis of disease is vital for dissecting the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and for designing appropriate and effective treatments.
Pathophysiology
The module explores the physiological mechanisms of disease states that disrupt the normal functioning of the respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, renal and neural systems. You will learn from lecturers who are actively engaged in cutting edge research or are highly experienced practicing physicians in the fields of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. In addition the content will include a review of dyspnoea (breathlessness) and angina (chest pain) as the cardinal symptoms of cardiopulmonary disease and recent advances in our knowledge of the neurophysiological mechanisms of these symptoms that has led to an exploration of new therapeutic approaches.
Professional Skills and Techniques
This module focuses on the development of the professional skills, personalised to your career ambitions. You will select three ‘podules’ from a selection of podules, which draw upon our research expertise and links with external partners. Podules will cover a wide range topics relevant to your degree, such as advanced microscopy, protein biochemistry, species identification, geographic information systems, entrepreneurship or science communication. Each podule consists of an introductory lecture, plenty of hands-on experience, and a seminar in which you will learn more about the application of ‘your’ skill in different contexts.
Science and Humanity
The module draws students to consider the impact that science has had on all aspects of our lives, aiming to set that influence in its social and historical context. We will address alternative views of the world, how they have been developed or replaced in the context of science and have a clear look at the strengths and weaknesses of a scientific world view. Ideas about the value of other life forms will be explored and environmental philosophy will be discussed. In this light we will discuss some of the modern contentious ideas and possibilities, such as Genetic Modification, organic farming, fracking, stem cell research, manipulation of the human genome and designer babies. The political, economic and moral context of the current environmental crisis will be discussed.
Entry Criteria
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:
 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.
English language requirements
For applicants whose first language is not English, an Academic IELTS with 6.0 overall, including 6.0 in Reading and Writing, and 5.5 in Listening and Speaking.
If English is not your first language then you will need to show that your English language skills are at a high enough level to succeed in your studies.
The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.
The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:
Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Career Opportunities
The BSc Hons Medical Sciences (final-year entry) degree will open up many wonderful doors for our graduates. Students on our similar final-year courses have gone on to work in diagnostic clinics, diagnostic labs, biomedical companies, or to complete Master’s or PhD studentships.
Popular roles include:
 biochemist
 biotechnologist
 medical research scientist
 lab technician
 forensic scientist
 clinical research associate
 microbiologist.
Entry requirements
Further offer details
Students will usually have achieved a Diploma of Higher Education with at least 55% or a Higher National Diploma with a Merit profile in a relevant discipline such as Applied Sciences (Biology) or Biomedical Science, or an equivalent relevant Level 5 qualification of 240 CATS subject to individual credit rating by Oxford Brookes University.
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