Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology

Biology: Each application is treated on its merits, but as a guide we would expect a student to pass the Access to HE Diploma (in Science or Science and Engineering), with at least 33 credits achieved from units awarded at Distinction and 6 credits achieved from units awarded at Merit or above.  This must include at least 30 credits achieved at Distinction from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) units, of which at least 12 credits must be from biology units. Applicants must also achieve GCSE equivalences in English and maths, if equivalent qualifications have not already been achieved.

Biochemistry: Each application is treated on its merits, but as a guide we would expect a student to pass the Access to HE Diploma (in Science or Science and Engineering), with at least 33 credits achieved from units awarded at Distinction and 6 credits achieved from units awarded at Merit or above.  This must include at least 30 credits achieved at Distinction from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) units, of whichat least 12 credits must be from chemistry units. Applicants must also achieve GCSE equivalences in English and maths, if equivalent qualifications have not already been achieved.

Molecular & Cellular Biology: Each application is treated on its merits, but as a guide we would expect a student to pass the Access to HE Diploma (in Science or Science and Engineering), with at least 33 credits achieved from units awarded at Distinction and 6 credits achieved from units awarded at Merit or above.  This must include at least 30 credits achieved at Distinction from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) units, of whichat least 9 credits must be from biology units and at least 9 credits from chemistry units. Applicants must also achieve GCSE equivalences in English and maths, if equivalent qualifications have not already been achieved.

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate a high academic standard and may be invited to attend an interview.

Typical offer: BTEC Extended Diploma DDD

See below for extended diplomas which provide an appropriate preparation and the required units for each one.

BTEC Diploma and Subsidiary Diploma are generally acceptable, with Distinction grades, in combination with other qualifications such as A levels.

BIOLOGY

BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science

Specific requirements are normally:

• Distinction in Core units 1,3 and 6
• Distinction in all other Core units
• Distinction in units 7 and 21
• Distinction in units 11, 12 and 13
• At least two further Specialist units from 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 27 and 28 with Distinction in each

BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science (Medical Science)

Specific requirements are normally:

• Distinction in Core units 1,3 and 6
• Distinction in all other Core units
• Distinction in units 7 and 21
• Distinction in units 11, 12 and 13
• At least two further Specialist units with Distinction from 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19

BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care (Health Studies)

Specific requirements are normally:

• Distinction in Core units 5 and 13
• The five Specialist units must be 15, 31, 34, 35 and 37, with Distinction in all of these

BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care (Health Sciences)

Specific requirements are normally:

• Distinction in Core units 5, 13 and 15
• The Specialist units must include 31, 34, 35 and 37, with Distinction in all 3 of these

BTEC Extended Diploma in Animal Management

Specific requirements are normally:

• Distinction in Core units 2 and 3
• The Specialist units must include at least five from 12, 13, 15, 18, 23, 27, 28 and 29, with Distinction in all of these

BIOCHEMISTRY

BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science

Specific requirements are normally:

• Distinction in Core units 1,3 and 6
• Distinction in all other Core units
• Distinction in Specialist unit 7
• Distinction in at least five Specialist units from 13, 16, 19, 22, 26, 27 and 28

MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY

BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science 

Specific requirements are normally:

• Distinction in Core units 1,3 and 6
• Distinction in all other Core units
• Distinction in Specialist units 7 and 21
• Take Specialist units 11, 12, 13 and 18 and obtain Distinctionall of these
• At least two further Specialist units from 14, 15, 16, 19, 27 and 28 with Distinction in each

BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science (Medical Science)

Specific requirements are normally:

• Distinction in Core units 1,3 and 6
• Distinction in all other Core units
• Distinction in Specialist units 7 and 21
• Take Specialist units 11, 12, 13 and 18 and obtain Distinction all  of these
• At least two further Specialist units from 14, 15, 16 and 19 with Distinction in each. 

Biology Typical offer: 

D3,D3,M2, including Biology and one other science or mathematics subject.

Biochemistry Typical Offer:

D3,D3,M2, including Chemistry and one other science or mathematics subject.

Molecular and Cellular Biology Typical Offer: 

D3,D3,M2, including Biology and Chemistry

See A Level section for a list of subjects acceptable as a second science for Biology and Biochemistry.

Obtain 19 overall in the Apolytirion and a GCE A Level Grade A in :

• Biology for Biology
• Chemistry for Biochemistry
• Chemistry for Molecular and Cellular Biology

(plus IELTS 6.5 with no mark less than 6.0 in any components or equivalent)

Typical Offer:
Biology: 77% overall required, with 80% in Biology.
Biochemistry: 77% overall required, with 80% in Chemistry.
Molecular and Cellular Biology: 77% overall required with 80% in Chemistry AND Biology

All B&B degrees:
Obtain a minimum of 14 in the French Baccalaureate (or OIB), including 14 in Physics/Chemistry and 14 in Biology.

Require at least 1.7 overall. Must include:

• For Biology 13 in Biology
• For Biochemistry 13 in Chemistry
• For Molecular and Cellular Biology 13 in both Biology AND Chemistry

Where at least 11 out of 15, or 2 out of 6 is achieved in the English Language component this is regarded as fine to cover English language requirements.

Biology
CBSE XII standard - 80% overall with at least 80% in either Biology or Biotechnology and at least 80% in one other subjects to include at either Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Geography, Agriculture, Computer Science or Psychology.

Biochemistry
CBSE XII standard - 80% overall with at least 80% in Chemistry and at least 80% in one subject to include either Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Biotechnology, Geography, Agriculture, Computer Science or Psychology.

Molecular & Cellular Biology
CBSE XII standard - 80% overall with at least  80% in Chemistry or Biology


No other English qualification is required if 75% in English is achieved (alternatively see English language requirements below).

Biology typical offer: 35 points. There are specific subjects required at Higher Level and no subject (HL or SL) should be graded less than 5.

Required Higher Level subject:

• Biology at grade 6

Acceptable 2nd Higher Level subjects at Grade 6 or higher

• Chemistry
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Geography
• Psychology

Molecular and Cellular Biology typical offer: 35 points. There are specific subjects required at Higher Level and no subject (HL or SL) should be graded less than 5.

Required Higher Level subject:

• Biology AND Chemistry at grade 6

Biochemistry typical offer: 35 points. There are specific subjects required at Higher Level and no subject (HL or SL) should be graded less than 5.

Required Higher Level subject:

•  Chemistry at grade 6

Acceptable 2nd Higher Level subjects at Grade 6 or higher

• Biology
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Geography
• Psychology  

We accept a wide range of non-UK qualifications as entry either to our Foundation Year or directly on to the first year of our undergraduate programmes.  For further information please visit our International Office web page.

English Language Qualifications:

We normally require all applicants whose first language is not English to provide evidence of English language proficiency and we may ask you to take an English language test.
The minimum requirement for Bioscience programmes is: IELTS 6.5 with no mark less than 6.0 in any of the elements. Applicants should submit their results by 31st July. For a list of other English language qualifications we accept please go to the English Language Entry Requirements web page.

Typical offers for:

Biology: AAABBB at Higher level which must include As in Biology and one other science or Mathematics

Biochemistry: AAABBB at Higher level which must include As in Chemistry and one other science or Mathematics.

Molecular and Cellular Biology: AAABBB at Higher level, which must include As in Biology AND Chemistry and one other science or Mathematics.

All B&B degrees:

S104 Exploring science: Obtain minimum of pass at 60% overall
Plus GCSE maths or S154 (Science Starts Here)as an alternative.

Typical Offers: 

Biology: AAAAA - AAABB at Higher level and two Advanced Highers at grades AB.

Required 1st AH subject:

• Biology OR Human Biology

Molecular and Cellular Biology: AAAAA - AAABB at Higher level and two Advanced Highers at grades AB.

Required 1st AH subject:

• Chemistry AND Biology (or Human Biology) 

Biochemistry: AAAAA - AAABB at Higher level and two Advanced Highers at grades AB.

Required 1st AH subject:

• Chemistry

Acceptable 2nd AH subjects for all programmes:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Geography
• Psychology
• Further Mathematics

All B&B degrees:
An ACT score of at least 28 out of 36
OR
650 in the Writing and Maths Papers in the SAT Reasoning Test
AND
Grades 5,5,4 in three appropriate subjects in the Advanced Placement
(AP) Test
OR
Three or four appropriate subjects in SAT 2 Tests with at least 625 in each
 

We welcome applicants offering the Welsh Baccalaureate Core alongside A levels; we are aware of the range of skills and qualities which it develops and of the additional work which it demands.  Please see the A level entry for subject combination details.