Medical Sciences

(Biomedical Sciences)

In this one-year intercalated BSc (Hons) research-focused degree, you will gain expertise in the processes underpinning health and disease at the cellular and molecular level, covering themes such as cancer biology, infectious disease, immunology, and neuroscience.

Course length 1 year full-time

Start date September 2025

Location University of York

Course overview
Teaching and assessment
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
Applying

Introduction

About the programme

This intercalated degree programme provides medical students the opportunity to gain expertise in, and a greater understanding of, the fundamental processes underpinning health and disease.

This programme offers insight into advances made in basic science which provide the basis for the development of novel and improved methods of diagnosis and treatment of disease. These exciting developments will be beneficial to those wishing to apply for clinical training fellowships, as well as future doctors who want to understand the basis of medical conditions that they will treat and advise patients on.

This degree has been designed to enable you to personally tailor a programme to meet your specific interests. We offer modules that teach cellular and molecular processes in study themes such as cancer biology, infectious disease, immunology, and neuroscience.

You will also carry out a piece of original and independent research for the whole academic year, which will give you an opportunity to undertake scientific research within a working research laboratory or group. This will give you hands-on experience of designing and conducting controlled scientific experiments.

With contributions to the programme from four departments with outstanding biomedical research activity; the Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, the Department of Health Sciences, and the Department of Psychology, the programme continues to develop to ensure you have the latest understanding of the most important topics in human biology and disease, infection and immunity, epidemiology, and neuroscience.

Students will study alongside final-year BSc (Hons) students in Biomedical Sciences, Biology, and Biochemistry in the Department of Biology at the University of York. Hull York Medical School researchers from the Experimental Medicine and Biomedicine group contribute significantly to the teaching you will receive within the department.

On successfully completing the programme, you will graduate with a BSc (Hons). All our degrees at Hull York Medical School are awarded by both our parent universities – the University of Hull and the University of York.

Apply now

CONTACT US

pgtadmissions@hyms.ac.uk +44 (0)1904 321690

Researcher using a microscope in the Daisy Laboratories at Castle Hill Hospital

University of York

About the Department of Biology

The Department of Biology at York is active in both research and teaching. Biomedical Sciences undergraduates are taught in a new purpose-built teaching building that houses high-tech teaching laboratories and a 120-seat computer room, along with break- out rooms for self-directed and group learning.

Teaching in the Department is highly regarded by students. The Department was ranked 2nd in two categories for learning resources and also for academic support in Biology in the Russell Group by students in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2024. The department of Biology is ranked 7th in the UK for Biosciences by the Guardian University Guide 2023, 6th for Biological Sciences by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023 and is currently 8th for Biological Sciences in the Complete University Guide 2024.

Researchers within the department of Biology, along with Hull York Medical School’s Experimental Medicine and Biomedicine researchers, are active within the recently established York Biomedical Research Institute (YBRI).

Research within YBRI is aligned with the three main themes of the institute; Immunology, Haematology and Infection, Neuroscience and Molecular and Cellular Medicine. Several independent research units with biomedical interests are also based in the Department, including YCR Cancer Research Unit and the Jack Birch Unit for Molecular Carcinogenesis, Hull York Medical School's Skin Research Centre and the Centre for Blood Research at York. Further information about the Department is available via the department’s webpages.

Modules

This programme enables students to gain a broad understanding of current biomedicine themes via taught modules of their choosing in addition to undertaking practical learning in their chosen theme through the compulsory research project.

Students must undertake 120 credits of study. 40 credits will be obtained via the compulsory research project. The remaining 80 credits must be selected from the optional taught modules listed below. A maximum of 20 credits may be selected at level 5. 60 credits of learning must be undertaken within each semester.

The Department of Biology at the University of York continually reviews the modules it offers to students. The modules detailed below may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of staff. We will endeavour to keep you updated with respect to any changes that may affect these intercalated programmes.

Module	Core/Optional	Level	Credits
Research project	Core	6	40
Cell biology	Optional	5	20
Mechanisms of disease	Optional	5	20
Molecular Microbiology	Optional	5	20
The immune system	Optional	5	20
Neuroscience	Optional	5	20
Pharmacology	Optional	6	20
Advanced topics in neuroscience	Optional	6	20
Ageing and regenerative medicine	Optional	6	20
Pathogens	Optional	6	20
Cancer cell and molecular biology	Optional	6	20
Mechanisms to therapies	Optional	6	20
Haematology and immunology in health and disease*	Optional	6	20
Human genetics	Optional	6	20

Research project

Projects are available within several subject areas including cancer biology, immunology and infection, molecular aspects of disease/cell biology or neuroscience.

The research project is the opportunity for students to gain first-hand experience of medical research. Projects are designed by tutors and represent current research challenges. As such students will gain experience of current research methodologies and approaches.

The projects offered are diverse in nature and will appeal to all students through enabling students to develop a range of skills of their choosing including science communication, data projects and also laboratory-based projects.

The research project is worth 40 credits and will take place over both academic semesters. As part of this research experience you will be immersed in the laboratory or group of your project supervisor potentially working alongside post-doctoral research fellows, technicians, PhD and Masters students.

Many supervisors will also host Biomedical Sciences, Biology, and Biochemistry undergraduates during their final-year research project. Combined, you will find plenty of expertise and help available during your research project. The research project will be assessed by a written report and an oral presentation.

Teaching and assessment

How is the programme taught and assessed?

Teaching within the department is delivered in thematic modules via a mix of lectures and workshops. Laboratory practicals also provide a basis for learning for modules at Level 5. You will also be expected to undertake self-directed learning to consolidate your learning.

Learning for each module will be assessed by at least one assessment, which will vary between modules. Examples of assessment include essay/coursework, closed examinations and open assessments designed to test your skills in data analysis, experimental design, synthesis, evaluation or application. The research project is assessed by a dissertation and an oral assessment.

Entry

Entry requirements

You can intercalate after successfully passing your second year of your MB BS Medicine or equivalent degree.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

The tuition fees for 2025 entry are:

UK (Home): £9,250
International (including EU): £31,100

Applying

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

The application form requires details of two referees. Once you have submitted your application form, reference forms are automatically sent to the referees you indicate in your application.

The closing date for applications is 30 June.