Medical Science with Foundation BSc (Hons)
University of Reading
Key Course Facts
Course Description
Train to work at the forefront of modern medicine with our BSc Medical Science with Foundation course.
This four-year programme includes a foundation year that leads directly into the three-year course, providing an excellent route into a degree in medical science if you do not have the typical entry requirements.
Focus on the science that underpins medicine, and how medical science can lead to new ways of diagnosing and treating disease. This course covers topics such as biomedical laboratory research and frontline clinical care in order to improve patients’ lives.
Led by the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, your learning is enhanced by:
- industry-specific training. Designed in partnership with our local NHS partners to respond to career needs within the NHS, our course offers you the most relevant, practical content.
- teaching from medical experts. You will be taught by academics whose research is aimed at understanding disease mechanisms, improving diagnoses, developing new therapies and advancing clinical practice. Everyone who teaches you has on-the-ground experience.
- practical experience. Options to complete multiple small placements in primary and secondary healthcare settings, or healthcare industry, are built into your degree timetable.
Graduate well prepared to work in the NHS or a variety of other healthcare settings.
Your learning structure
The aim of the foundation year is to prepare you for your medical science degree. As you progress, each stage builds on your prior learning.
- Foundation year: gain a thorough grounding in study at degree level. Core modules will develop key scientific and general skills to support your learning.
Following the foundation year, tailored pathway options allow you to specialise in topical, cutting edge areas of medical science:
- Diseases pathway: explore the genetic and physiological basis of major diseases and disorders and study how gene-environment interaction underpins disease. Example modules: Clinical Psychology, Bacteriology & Virology, infectious diseases.
- Medical Devices pathway: learn how modern technology is used to address previously insurmountable medical challenges. Example modules: Introduction to programming, Sensors and Transducers for Biomedical Engineering.
- Clinical and Medical Sciences pathway: investigate the complex causes of major diseases and global epidemics, and study the multidisciplinary approach to their containment, treatment and prevention. Example modules: Public Health and Nutrition, Medicines in Healthcare, Drug Targets.
Clinical placements with BSc Medical Science with Foundation
You can gain hands-on experience during multiple short placements in clinical settings, depending on your chosen pathway.
Our well-established network of clinical partners includes the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, and others in the region.
These placements offer you excellent opportunities to gain practical experience, from the very first year of your degree.
Recognised by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of associate membership.
Entry Requirements / Admissions
UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course
This particular course
English language requirements
| test | Grade | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | We require a minimum score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 88 | We require a minimum score of 88 overall with no less than 17 in Listening and Writing, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking. |
| Cambridge English Advanced | We require a grade B or a score of 176 overall with no element less than 162. |
|
| Cambridge English Proficiency | We require a grade C or a score of 176 overall with no element less than 162. |
|
| PTE Academic | 69 | We require a minimum score of 69 overall with at least 59 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). |
| Institution's Own Test | Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP). We require a minimum score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each element of the test (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). |
|
| Trinity ISE | We require a Merit in each element from ISE II. If you take ISE III or ISE IV, we require a Pass in each element. |
Costs
Tuition Fees Medical Science with Foundation BSc (Hons)
| England UK | £9250 | year 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9250 | year 1 |
| Ireland | £9250 | year 1 |
| EU | £27650 | year 1 |
| International | £27650 | year 1 |
Average student cost of living in the UK
| Rent | £518 |
| Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
| Supermarket shopping | £81 |
| Clothing | £35 |
| Eating out | £33 |
| Alcohol | £27 |
| Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
| Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
| Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
| Transport within city | £17 |
| Self-care / sports | £20 |
| Stationary / books | £13 |
| Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
| Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
| Insurance | £51 |
| Other | £95 |
| Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
How to apply
Application deadline:
January 1, 2025
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Possible Entry Points:
- Foundation
University Rankings
Positions of University of Reading in top UK and global rankings.
See all 29 university rankings of University of Reading
About University of Reading
The University of Reading is a publicly funded university in Reading, Berkshire, England. Reading has four major campuses; London Road and Whiteknights campus which are located in Reading itself, with Greenlands campus being found on the banks of the River Thames. The fourth campus is known as Iskandar Puteri, in Malaysia.
List of 375 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Reading - Course Catalogue
Student composition of University of Reading
-
Total number of students enrolled at University of Reading by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 11905
- postgraduates:
- 3995
- Total:
- 15900
Where is this programme taught
Show on map
Similar courses
| Program | University | Student satisfaction | Unemployed | Dropout | Tuition (UK) | Tuition (International) |  UCAS Tariff |
City | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Biomedical Science with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | The University of Sheffield | - | - | - | £9250 | £29110 | - | Sheffield | On campus Full-time |
|
Biomedical Science (with foundation year) BSc (Hons) | University of Hull | - | - | - | £9250 | £18300 £19500 | - | Hull | On campus Full-time |
|
Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) | University of the West of Scotland | - | - | - | £9250 | £15250 | - | Paisley | On campus Full-time |
|
Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) | Staffordshire University | - | - | - | £9250 | £16750 | - | Stoke-on-Trent | On campus Full-time |
|
|
Biomedical Sciences BSc (Hons) | University of Reading | - | - | - | £9250 | £27650 | - | Reading | On campus Full-time |
|
Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) | Middlesex University | - | - | - | £9250 | £15100 | - | London | On campus Full-time |
|
Nutrition and Medical Sciences BSc (Hons) | University College London | - | - | - | £9250 | £32100 | - | London | On campus Full-time |
|
Biomedical Sciences (Immunology) with Placement BSc (Hons) | Brunel University | - | - | - | £9250 | £21470 £23615 | - | Uxbridge | On campus Full-time |
|
|
Biomedical Sciences (Genetics) with Placement BSc (Hons) | Brunel University | - | - | - | £9250 | £21470 £23615 | - | Uxbridge | On campus Full-time |
|
Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) | University of Gloucestershire | 91% | 5% | 26% | £9250 | £15000 £15450 | 117 | Cheltenham | On campus Full-time |
