Biosciences with a Foundation Year BSc

Course Overview - Biosciences with a Foundation Year BSc

Our BSc Biosciences with a Foundation Year course enables all of our bioscience undergraduate courses to be studied with a foundation year if you do not have a science background or the appropriate entry qualifications.

Taught by Xaverian College close to the University campus, the foundation year provides the necessary academic background in biology, chemistry and mathematics to prepare you for study on any one of our biosciences courses .

There is also a complementary programme of tutorials, seminars and laboratory practicals at the main University campus.Success...

2 options available

Some courses vary and have tailored teaching options, select a course option below.

Course Information

Study Mode

Full-time

Duration

4 Years

Start Date

09/2025

Campus

Main Site

Course Address
University Recruitment And Adm
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL

Application Details

Course Code

C900

Institution Code

M20

Points of Entry

Year 1

Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff

Not Accepted

Scottish Higher

Scottish Advanced Highers/Highers are normally required in one of the following combinations, if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our Biological Sciences degree courses: - Three Advanced Highers with grades AAA-BBB or - Two Advanced Highers with grades AA-BB plus two additional Highers with grades AA-BB or - Five Highers with grades AAAAA-AABBB English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C/Intermediate 2 grade C/Standard Grade Credit level grade 3). If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk

Access to HE Diploma

Applicants with an Access to HE Diploma will not be accepted on to the Foundation Year.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Students are accepted from a wide range of educational backgrounds and each application will be considered individually. Please contact us for advice before submitting an application.

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

DDD

We consider the National Extended Diploma with grades DDD for entry when it is taken with one A-level with grade A. Combinations of BTEC and A-levels suitable for Biosciences year one entry will not be considered for entry into the Foundation Year. For details of year one entry requirements, please refer to the webpage of the degree programme you are interested in.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 4 or C in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of G

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

DD

We consider the National Diploma with grades DD for entry when it is taken with two A-levels with a minimum of grades AB. Combinations of BTEC and A-levels suitable for Biosciences year one entry will not be considered for entry into the Foundation Year. For details of year one entry requirements, please refer to the webpage of the degree programme you are interested in.

AS

AS level results are not considered as part of the standard admissions process at The University of Manchester.

OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma

We consider all the Cambridge Level 3 Technicals (except the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate) with grade D or above for entry when it is taken with two A-levels (minimum AB required) if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our biological sciences degree courses.

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma

We consider all the Cambridge Level 3 Technicals (except the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate) with grade D or above for entry when it is taken with two A-levels (minimum AB required) if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our biological sciences degree courses.

Scottish Advanced Higher

Scottish Advanced Highers/Highers are normally required in one of the following combinations, if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our Biological Sciences degree courses: - Three Advanced Highers with grades AAA-BBB or - Two Advanced Highers with grades AA-BB plus two additional Highers with grades AA-BB or - Five Highers with grades AAAAA-AABBB English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C/Intermediate 2 grade C/Standard Grade Credit level grade 3). If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Students are accepted from a wide range of educational backgrounds and each application will be considered individually. Please contact us for advice before submitting an application.

Extended Project

The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. Although the Extended Project will not be included in the conditions of your offer, we strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview. A number of our academic Schools may also choose to take your performance in the EPQ into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma/Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and would consider this at grade B or above when taken with two A-levels, if the A-Level subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to the first year of one of our bioscience degree courses (minimum AB required). For further details, please contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk.

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

D

We consider the National Extended Certificate with grade D for entry when it is taken with two A-levels with a minimum of grades AB. Combinations of BTEC and A-levels suitable for Biosciences year one entry will not be considered for entry into the Foundation Year. For details of year one entry requirements, please refer to the webpage of the degree programme you are interested in.

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

Not Accepted

OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate

Not Accepted

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

D

We consider the National Foundation Diploma with grade D for entry when it is taken with two A-levels with a minimum of grades AB. Combinations of BTEC and A-levels suitable for Biosciences year one entry will not be considered for entry into the Foundation Year. For details of year one entry requirements, please refer to the webpage of the degree programme you are interested in.

OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma

We consider all the Cambridge Level 3 Technicals (except the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate) with grade D or above for entry when it is taken with two A-levels (minimum AB required) if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our biological sciences degree courses.

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate

We consider all the Cambridge Level 3 Technicals (except the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate) with grade D or above for entry when it is taken with two A-levels (minimum AB required) if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our biological sciences degree courses.

A level

Students are accepted from a wide range of educational backgrounds and each application will be considered individually. If you have already obtained A-levels (or equivalent) in subjects inappropriate for direct admission to one of our bioscience degree courses (grades ABB or above), a good standard of GCSE or equivalent in science and mathematics will also be required. If you have been out of education for some time, we would normally recommend that you take an Access to HE Diploma course to be considered for Year 1 entry onto one of our courses; we cannot consider applicants studying on an Access course for entry onto the Foundation Year. Please contact us for further advice before submitting an application. Students who have taken sciences at A-level but not achieved AAB may still be considered if they receive a widening participation contextual flag . Other cases will only be accepted onto the Foundation Year if there is evidence that they have underperformed due to exceptional circumstances beyond their control. Please contact us to discuss this before you apply. We believe that practical skills in the sciences are integral to a candidate's understanding and appreciation of these subjects. Therefore we encourage all applicants

T Level

We consider the following T levels for the Foundation Year: - Level 3 T Level Technical Qualification in Science (Delivered By NCFE) - Level 3 T Level Technical Qualification in Healthcare Science (Delivered By NCFE) - Level 3 T Level Technical Qualification in Health (Delivered By NCFE) For the Foundation Year, we require Distinction overall in one of these T levels with a minimum of grade A in the core component and Distinction in the occupational specialism.

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