
- UCAS course code
- C900
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Overview
- Degree awarded
- Foundation Course
- Duration
- 1 (as part of 4/5 yr integrated degree programme)
- Typical A-level offer
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Students are accepted from a wide range of backgrounds. Each application is considered individually.
- Typical contextual A-level offer
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This course does not participate in the contextual offer scheme.Find out more about contextual admissions.
- Refugee/care-experienced offer
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Applicants who have been in local authority care for more than three months or have refugee status may be eligible for an offer two grades below the standard requirements.Find out more about contextual admissions.
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer
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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.
- How to apply
- Apply through UCAS .
- UCAS course code
- C900
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course overview
- Prepare to study for a bioscience undergraduate degree if you do not have the right qualifications for direct entry to the full degree course.
- Take your foundation year at Xaverian College, which is located close to the University, alongside sessions on our campus.
- Become a full student member of the University with a guaranteed place in a hall of residence.
Open days
Attending an open day is a great way to find out what studying at Manchester is like. Find out about our upcoming open days .
We also operate campus tours where a student ambassador will tell you all about life at the University. You may also meet with admissions staff, subject to staff availability. These tours run on most days and are open to anybody thinking of applying for any of our bioscience courses.
To book, please contact the Admissions Office at ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2024 will be £9,250 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £32,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
- Telephone
- 0161 529 4539
- ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/biosciences/
- School/Faculty overview
-
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
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 do not achieve ABB or above 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 to undertake any practical skills assessment if it is available in their qualification.Contextual offer
AS-level
Unit grade information
The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit information where available. Like all other information provided by applicants this may be taken into consideration when assessing your application. Unit grades will not normally form part of offer conditions.
GCSE
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 GCSE/IGCSE English Language.
Please note that if you hold English as a Second Language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk for clarification.
International Baccalaureate
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.
Other international entry requirements
Scottish requirements
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
Welsh Baccalaureate
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 .
European Baccalaureate
Please contact us for advice before submitting an application.
AQA Baccalaureate
In making offers, the University will focus on the three A Levels taken within the AQA Baccalaureate. Students need to check the standard A Level requirements for their chosen course.
The units of broader study, enrichment activities and the Extended Project are considered to be valuable elements of the AQA Baccalaureate and we would therefore strongly encourage students to draw upon these experiences within their personal statement.
Foundation year
The University recognises a number of foundation programmes as suitable for entry to undergraduate courses in the School of Biological Sciences:
Applicants completing the INTO Manchester International Foundation Programme in partnership with The University of Manchester are required to achieve a minimum of AAB with grades AA in two sciences (preferably Biology and Chemistry), grade B in a 3rd subject (excluding EAP) and an EAP score of B in every component.
Applicants completing the NCUK International Foundation Year are required to achieve a minimum of AAB or 75% overall with grades AA or 75% in two sciences (preferably Biology and Chemistry), grade B or 65% in a 3rd subject (excluding EAP) and an EAP score of B or 65% in every component.
Applicants studying other foundation programmes should contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk to check if their qualification is recognised for entry to this programme and for specific entry requirements.
Pearson BTEC qualifications
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.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma
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.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma
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.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate
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
We do not consider the National Certificate for entry to this course.
Legacy BTEC qualifications
The University of Manchester welcomes applications from students who have achieved legacy BTEC qualifications (pre-2016) such as the BTEC Extended Diploma, BTEC Diploma and BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (with grade D or above) and two A-levels (minimum AB).
We do not consider the BTEC Certificate for entry to this course.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk .
OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications
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.
Cambridge Level 3 Technical Diploma (CTEC)
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.
Cambridge Level 3 Technical Foundation Diploma (CTEC)
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.
Cambridge Level 3 Technical Extended Certificate (CTEC)
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.
Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate (CTEC)
We do not accept the Cambridge Level 3 Technical Certificate (CTEC) for entry to this course.
Legacy CTEC qualifications
The University of Manchester welcomes applications from students who have achieved legacy CTEC qualifications (pre-2016) such as the CTEC Extended Diploma, CTEC Diploma and CTEC Subsidiary Diploma (with grade D or above) and two A-levels (minimum AB required) if the subjects are inappropriate for direct admission to one of our biological sciences degree courses.
We do not consider the CETC Certificate for entry to this course.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk .
Access to HE Diploma
Cambridge Pre-U
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)
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
Core Maths
The University welcomes and recognises the value of Level 3 core mathematics qualifications (e.g. AQA Certificate in Mathematical Studies).
Core Mathematics is not a compulsory element of post-16 study and as a result we will not normally include it in the conditions of any offer made to the student. However, if a student chooses to undertake a core mathematics qualification this may be taken into account when we consider their application, particularly for certain non-science courses with a distinct mathematical or statistical element.
We advise students to contact the academic School, who will clarify whether their specific portfolio of qualifications is acceptable for entry on to their chosen course.
Home-schooled applicants
Non-standard educational routes
Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences. Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest. There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.
The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates. If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to. Further information for mature students can be found here ( http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/mature-students/ )
English language
All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:
- GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade 4 or C;
- IELTS 6.5 in every component or;
- An acceptable equivalent qualification.
Please note that if you hold English as a Second Language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student from outside the UK and the EU must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language in order to be granted a UK visa (Student Route Visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. This level is often referred to as the B2 level.
Additionally, our individual Schools may ask for specific English Language proficiency levels that are necessary for their academic programmes. In most cases these requirements are likely to be higher than the B2 level.
Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found here .
English language test validity
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
How your application is considered
Deferrals
Applications for deferred entry are considered equally to other applications up to the point of confirmation. Deferred entry is granted at the discretion of admissions staff, and is normally granted for one year only and two years at the maximum. Some English Language test results, such as IELTS or TOEFL, are only valid for two years from the test date. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
Policy for applicants who resit their qualifications
Re-applications
Course details
Course description
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.Successful completion of the Foundation Year allows you direct entry onto any of our three- or four-year degree courses.
Special features
Register as a university student
As a Foundation Year student, you are a full student member of The University of Manchester and you will have a University registration card. You have full representation on the student-staff committee and a guaranteed place in a University hall of residence.
Teaching and learning
The Foundation Year of study is delivered primarily by staff on the premises of Xaverian College , Manchester. The Foundation Year runs from the middle of September to June. Regular laboratory work reinforces some of the subject material and helps develop practical skills.
View a typical foundation year timetable (PDF, 46KB).
Student support
In addition to academic tutorial support, you are allocated a personal tutor for pastoral support. Your tutor will be available for one-to-one meetings and will become well-known to you.
Additional academic support will be provided by the Foundation Year team and additional pastoral support will be available from the counselling services at Xaverian College and the University.
Coursework and assessment
Assessment consists of formal examinations (80%) in January and May and coursework and tests throughout the year.
Course unit details
Your study on the Foundation Year is credit rated, consisting of a total of 120 academic credits. You study a common core of units in biology, chemistry and mathematics.
Biology forms approximately half the core content. Lectures cover a wide range of areas including cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology, microbes and disease, ecology and physiology. Regular laboratory work reinforces the subject material and helps you to develop practical skills.
As a sound grasp of chemistry is essential for biological scientists, more than a third of the core consists of chemistry. This involves the study of atomic structure, bonding, rates of reaction, inorganic and physical chemistry, organic and medicinal chemistry.
The units in mathematics enable you to manipulate and analyse experimental data accurately and to use statistical and mathematical techniques in a biological context. Study skills support and help with core content is provided through weekly tutorials.
The units you will study are:
- Molecules Cells and Variation (XABY01)
- Microbes and Disease (XABY02)
- Energy and the Environment (XABY03)
- Physiology (XABY04)
- Fundamental Principles of Chemistry A (XA0201)
- Fundamental Principles of Chemistry B (XA0221)
- Inorganic and Organic Chemistry A (XA0212)
- Inorganic and Organic Chemistry B (XA0222)
- Mathematics (XAMA01/02)
Course units for foundation year
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Foundation Year | BIOL10900 | 0 | Mandatory |
Health & Safety online course | BIOL12000 | 0 | Mandatory |
What our students say
Facilities
In addition to the excellent study facilities at Xaverian College, you have full access to all of the University's facilities including the University library, computer and learning resource centres.
You will also be able to access the wide range of sporting and social activities available to all University students.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
Our graduates go into a range of careers, both within the biological sciences and in other sectors.
Find out about how we help our students prepare for the workplace and the careers our graduates go into within and outside the lab.