Medical Genetics
Entry requirements
A level
including Biology and a second science
Access to HE Diploma
Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject: 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3, including 39 credits at Distinction (to include Chemistry and Biology units), and 6 credits at Merit + Interview
Extended Project
in a relevant EPQ + AAB at A Level including Biology and a second science
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English Language grade 4/C and Maths grade 6/B
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
with 6 in Higher Level Biology and a second science
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
including Biology and a second science
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
in Applied Science + A at A Level in either Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics or Psychology + Interview
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
(RQF) D*DD in Applied Science (including modules in Applications of Inorganic Chemistry, Applications of Organic Chemistry and Practical Chemical Analysis, and no more than one of the following: Forensic Evidence Collection and Analysis, Forensic Fire Investigation or Forensic Traffic Collision Investigation) + Interview (QCF) DD in Applied Science + A at A Level in either Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics or Psychology + Interview
Scottish Advanced Higher
+ AAAAB including Biology and a second science
Scottish Higher
+ AA at Advanced Higher in Biology and a second science
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
+ AA at A Level in Biology and a second science
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Get the best start for a career in industrial or academic research. The course spans human, plant and microbial genetics, genomics and molecular biology. You'll study the structure and expression of genes, inheritance and mutations, and learn about the latest molecular techniques for modifying genes, including CRISPR.
You’ll gain a broad understanding of genetics with an emphasis on topics of medical relevance and learn how genetic information can be used in medicine. We'll also introduce you to how modern genetics is helping us to understand and treat a range of diseases, as well as tackle global challenges like food sustainability and security.
The first three years of your course will have the same structure as the BSc, with the fourth year devoted to a major research project working in industry or in an academic lab with our world-leading academics.
From your first year, you’ll study modules that span the molecular biosciences covering genetics, biochemistry and molecular and cell biology. Alongside these modules you’ll have the freedom to explore complementary topics across the breadth of bioscience, such as microbiology, biomedicine, ecology, plant science and zoology, so you have the option to study medical genetics in greater depth, keep your interests broad or even switch to another degree programme within the biosciences.
No matter what modules you choose to study, you’ll develop the practical laboratory and transferable skills that make our graduates attractive to employers including project management, problem solving, communication skills and data analysis.
We’ll give you plenty of opportunities to apply your new skills and knowledge too. You’ll be in the lab completing in-depth practicals across molecular genetics, DNA manipulation and protein structure analysis and you’ll get the chance to use cutting-edge equipment to run your own research projects in an area such as clinical diagnostics or brewing biotechnology.
Whether you choose to focus solely on medical genetics or study a range of topics across the molecular biosciences and beyond, your personal tutor will assist you in tailoring your degree to your interests and career goals.
If you want to study this course but don't meet the entry requirements our Biosciences with a Foundation Year could be for you. After successfully completing the one year programme, you'll progress onto the first year of one of our bioscience degrees.
Advanced accredition by the Royal Society of Biology, which shows employers that you've developed the practical skills and scientific knowledge that they're looking for.
Tuition fees
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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.
How do students rate their degree experience?
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Genetics
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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Biosciences
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Only a few hundred people take genetics courses every year and graduates from these courses are amongst the most likely to go on to do a doctorate when they graduate, as that's the level of qualification you need to go into a career in research in this important and fast-moving field. Lab jobs were the most popular outcome for genetics graduates, but whilst other science and technical occupations were also common, you could also find genetics graduates in a range of other roles, particularly business and finance.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Biosciences
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£20k
£24k
£27k
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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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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