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University of Portsmouth

UCAS Code: Y100 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Entry requirements

A level

D,E,E

56 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels.

58 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma.

Cambridge Pre-U score of 32

GCSE/National 4/National 5

3 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English, Mathematics and Science/3 GCSEs at grade 4 or above to include English, Mathematics and Science.

56 Tariff points to include 2 Higher Level subjects.

56 Tariff points to include 2 Higher Level subjects

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma

MPP

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

MPP

56 Tariff points, to include 2 Advanced Highers

T Level

P

D or E in the core

UCAS Tariff

56

56 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent.

56 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 1 A level, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

About this course

This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

4years

Full-time | 2025

Other options

5 years | Sandwich | 2025

Subject

General science

**Overview**
There’s more than one route to becoming a scientist. If you don’t have the grades for our other science degrees, this BSc (Hons) Science with Foundation Year course is the best place to start. Once you’re up to speed, you can choose which science degree to move on to after your Foundation year.

You’ll study biology, chemistry, earth sciences, psychology, sport and exercise science, and health sciences. And develop skills you’ll use throughout your career, from technology to numeracy.

If you want to be a professional scientist, this science foundation degree could be your launchpad.

- Gain knowledge of many different scientific principles and practices, and build the skills and understanding to use them

- Get hands-on in our labs, assessing the physical effects of polar conditions in our extreme environments lab, working with medical manikins in our healthcare simulation suite, and monitoring ecosystems in our shoreside marine station

- Study alongside students from other scientific interests and backgrounds, and be taught by academics and guest lecturers with experience in industry and research

- Learn how to meet the demands of taking on a science degree at university – including how to conduct field work and write up your findings

**Quick guide to foundation year courses**

A foundation year course allows you to:
- Explore your options before choosing your Bachelor's degree course

- Experience university life and get a taste for the way you'll be taught

- Develop the study skills and knowledge you'll need to succeed in your chosen Bachelor's degree

**Careers and opportunities**
Do you see yourself conducting lab experiments and researching cutting-edge scientific theories? Perhaps you want to help athletes break new records, uncover new ways to protect endangered species, or fight diseases.

Whatever area of science you're interested in, there's never been a better time to become a scientist. Science and technology are key areas of the UK economy and likely to be even more important in the future as low-skilled jobs decline. There's a shortage of science graduates across various fields, and many sectors are struggling to recruit professionals.

This science foundation year, and the Bachelor's degree you move on to, will prepare you for a scientific career that makes a real difference.

You'll have the flexibility to choose what science-related degree you want to study from year 2 onwards, and you'll get ongoing careers support from our Careers and Employability Service for up to 5 years after you graduate from your full degree.

**Placement year opportunities**
Once you've completed your foundation year and moved on to your full Bachelor's degree, you'll have the chance to do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry.

Taking a placement year will give you the experience you need to increase your chances of landing your perfect role after graduation.

For example, Environmental Science students have taken placements at organisations including Mott MacDonald and Enitial, and Sport and Exercise Science students have completed placements with Portsmouth FC, England Volleyball and the Hampshire Football Association.

We'll give you all the support you need to find a placement that prepares you for your career, and we'll continue to mentor you throughout your placement.

Modules

Year 1

Core modules in this year include:

- Foundation Research Project (20 credits)
- Introduction to the Biological World (20 credits)
- Introduction to the Human World (20 credits)
- Introduction to the Natural World (20 credits)
- Numeric and It Skills for Scientists (20 credits)
- Study Skills for University (20 credits)

There are no optional modules in this year.

Years 2,3 and 4

The modules you study in years 2, 3 and 4 (and year 5 if you do a placement year or choose an integrated Master's degree) will depend on which science degree you choose at the end of year 1.

Placement year

The modules you study in years 2, 3 and 4 (and year 5 if you do a placement year or choose an integrated Master's degree) will depend on which science degree you choose at the end of year 1.

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry.

Assessment methods

You’ll be assessed through:

- coursework
- examinations
- presentations
- laboratory work
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Tuition fees

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

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£9,250
per year
International
£19,200
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni

Course location:

University of Portsmouth

Department:

Faculty of Science and Health

Read full university profile

What students say

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.

General science

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

71%
UK students
29%
International students
55%
Male students
45%
Female students
23%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

D
B
D

After graduation

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

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:

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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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