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Biomedicine with Advanced Pathways

Entry requirements


GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSEs (or equivalent) required at grade C or grade 4 in English, mathematics and double science (or two single sciences).

UCAS Tariff

120

With a majority of science-related subjects (biology, chemistry and/or mathematics or physics). A-levels in general studies and critical thinking are not accepted. Applicants with only two full A-levels will be considered on an individual basis. The UCAS tariff score is applicable to you if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a tariff calculator for you to work out what your qualification is worth within the UCAS tariff.

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Molecular biology

Deep insight into the functioning of living systems depends on a thorough knowledge of the chemical and physical principles that govern the structure and behaviour of biomolecules. Such understanding finds applications in numerous areas including basic biotechnology, diagnostics and forensics and drug discovery. This integrated Master’s course, comprising the three-year BSc Biomedicine and one year of Master’s-level study, will provide you with the knowledge, skills and hands-on research experience that will launch your career in these or other exciting areas of research science.

Learning with internationally recognised researchers, this biomedicine course will provide you with an academic grounding in the science that underpins modern medicine. You will develop a sound knowledge of scientific principles across a range of disciplines, including biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, drugs and drug discovery, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology and physiology, and will understand their applications.

A key element of this biomedicine degree is practical laboratory experience. In combination with scientific understanding, you will develop practical and analytical skills that will support an evidence-based, critical approach to scientific discovery. You will also practise creativity and team-building that drive scientific innovation. In Year 4, you will undertake a project that will allow you to develop independent, advanced research and analytic skills, and will also deepen your understanding in a choice of areas selected from biochemical analysis, microbiology or structural biology.

You will develop the technical, intellectual and social skills needed for careers in research, medicine, teaching, and the wider application of scientific knowledge in the modern workplace.

**Highlights**

- In your penultimate year of this course, you will have the opportunity to gain the skills to work independently in a lab environment when all students attend a week-long daytime, practical course as part of the project module.

- Birkbeck provides state-of-the-art, specialist laboratories and facilities for studying biological sciences in the heart of academic London.

- In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), in a joint submission with UCL, Biological Sciences at Birkbeck were ranked 11th in the UK.

- You will be taught by internationally distinguished experts who work with governments and institutions around the globe to extend the boundaries of knowledge.

- Working in close collaboration with the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, a joint institute between Birkbeck and UCL, we are recognised for the excellence and international impact of our research.

- You will receive training in practical skills and lab work, including microscopy, DNA manipulation and protein handling.

**Careers and employability**

Graduates can pursue career paths in scientific research, public health or the health sector more generally. Possible professions include:

- biomedical scientist

- healthcare scientist

- medical research scientist

- microbiologist.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment methods

Types of assessment include short-answer tests in class, computer-based tests (accessed remotely or in class), practical reports, essays, problem-solving and data analysis assignments, oral communication and poster presentations, internet surveys, and unseen, or open-book, written examinations.

Core technical laboratory skills are also assessed during lab-based modules.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

England
£9,250
per year
International
£17,620
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Birkbeck, University of London

Department:

School of Natural Sciences

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

62%
Molecular biology

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry

Teaching and learning

81%
Staff make the subject interesting
71%
Staff are good at explaining things
57%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
70%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

76%
Library resources
85%
IT resources
90%
Course specific equipment and facilities
62%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

92%
UK students
8%
International students
38%
Male students
62%
Female students
67%
2:1 or above
14%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

D
D
D

After graduation


We don't have more detailed stats to show you in relation to this subject area at this university but read about typical employment outcomes and prospects for graduates of this subject below.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£18k

£18k

£31k

£31k

£31k

£31k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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Nearby University
University of Surrey | Guildford
Biochemistry
MSci 4 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 128-152
Same University
Birkbeck, University of London | Camden
Biomedicine
MSci 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112-120

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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