Bachelor of Science (BSc)

BSc Biomedical Sciences with a Modern Language

Develop your language skills while you study the biomedical sciences to enhance your employability.
  • Duration: 48 Months. [Full-Time]
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: B9R9 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Study abroad
  • Study with a language
  • Accredited course

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Meet us

Discover if Manchester is right for you with an online or in-person meeting.

Learn more

Manchester experience

We offer world-class teaching and exciting opportunities to shape your future.

Discover

Discover more about Biosciences at Manchester

Discover

Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £34,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

Tuition fees are considerably lower for your placement year. Please see the fees page for full details.

Additional expenses

Tuition fees are considerably lower for your placement year. Please see the fees pages for full details.

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).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Students participating in placements outside the UK may be able to apply for funding from the UK's Turing scheme depending on eligibility. Priority will be given to students from low income households.

Course unit details:
Cardiovascular Systems (E)

Course unit fact file
Unit code BIOL31582
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

You will study  the normal physiology of the cardiovascular system and the mechanisms underlying its major pathologies such as heart failure, hypertension and stroke.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Cell Membrane Structure & Function BIOL21141 Co-Requisite Compulsory
Body Systems 2 BIOL21272 Pre-Requisite Recommended
Membrane Excitability: Ion Channels & Transporters in Action BIOL21321 Co-Requisite Compulsory
BIOL31582 Pre-requisites are EITHER BIOL21141 OR BIOL21321

EITHER

  • BIOL21141 Cell Membrane Structure and Function - Pre-Requisite Compulsory OR
  • BIOL21321 Membrane Excitability: Ion Channels & Transporters in Action - Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

To provide an understanding of the normal physiology of the cardiovascular system and the mechanisms underlying its major pathologies.

Learning outcomes

•       describe the ionic basis of the resting membrane and action potentials in the heart and the steps involved in coupling electrical activity to the development of active force.

•       describe the intracellular mechanisms by which it may be possible to alter the contractile state of the heart and the changes in ion channel function that occur in various heart diseases.

•       describe neural, endothelial and pharmacological mediation of excitation-contraction coupling in vascular smooth muscle.

•       describe the risk factors for hypertension and the mechanisms underlying the development of primary and secondary hypertension.

•       describe the causes and consequences of stroke and current limitations in stroke therapy.

 

Syllabus

•       Introduction to Unit: Overview of cardiovascular system

•       Electrophysiology of the heart: Cardiac action potential; excitation-contraction coupling; Cardiac inotropy; heart failure, ageing and arrhythmias

•       Blood vessels: Regulation of blood vessel tone; Specialised circulations - inc. skeletal muscle, coronary, cerebral & pulmonary

•       Hypertension: Epidemiology and risk factors for hypertension; Secondary hypertension - renal and adrenal mechanisms; Primary hypertension - vascular and renal mechanisms.

•       Stroke: Cerebrovascular disease: role of inflammation; treatment & future perspectives

e-Learning Activity

Online, summative self-assessment tests (x3) designed to test both factual recall and deeper understanding of more complex concepts.

Employability skills

Analytical skills
Online assessments designed to test understanding of complex concepts and may require students to think analytically about a topic.
Research
Students will be recommended review and primary research papers to read for particular lectures and should read appropriate textbooks for background material.
Written communication
Written essays in the exam require students to demonstrate their knowledge of a topic by structuring answers in a clear and logical manner.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written exam 95%
Set exercise 5%

Feedback methods

Individual feedback will be provided through online self-assessment tests to help students identify strengths and weaknesses in their understanding.

Recommended reading

Review and primary research papers will be recommended by individual lectures. The following textbooks will provide helpful background material.

Recommended Reading

  1. Cheriyan, J., McEniery, C.M & Wilkinson I.B, Hypertension, Oxford University Press, 2010, Recommended
  2. Katz, AM, Physiology of the Heart, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010, Recommended

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Assessment written exam 2
Lectures 18
Independent study hours
Independent study 80

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Nick Ashton Unit coordinator

Additional notes

The co-requisite notes both BIOL21141 & BIOL21321 as compulsory but this is AN EITHER OR CONDITION

Return to course details