Foundation Year in Life Sciences CertHE

University of Dundee

If you don’t have the grades needed to apply to our Life Sciences degrees, this course gives you the opportunity to study life sciences for one year full-time or two years part-time and then enter our core curriculum at Level 2. You’ll then be able to choose which of our biological or biomedical sciences courses you’d like to graduate in.

You'll learn the core skills in chemistry and numeracy that you’ll need to succeed throughout your degree.

Once you’ve completed this course, you’ll move into our life sciences curriculum where you’ll continue to develop the core skills and knowledge to understand the field as a whole. You’ll cover topics like genetics, cell biology, biological organisation, molecular mechanisms and processes. You’ll further develop practical skills, including laboratory skills, data analysis, and how to design and run experiments. This will prepare you for carrying out projects later in your course.

In Levels 3 and 4, you can pick modules that interest you, and transfer to a different life sciences course if you find your interests change, as long as you’ve chosen the relevant modules.

The work of our researchers shapes our curriculum from Level 1 onwards so you’ll learn the latest theories, and gain a great understanding of the wider field. Laboratory sessions will help integrate your knowledge and practical skills, and develop strong transferable skills, both in and out of the lab.