Biomedical Science with Foundation Year
BSc
Undergraduate with Foundation Year
September 2025, September 2026
Overview
Get ready with a foundation year and learn the foundational skills and knowledge to complete a full Honours degree. You'll be able to embark on this qualification without meeting the level 3 entry requirements, giving you the opportunity to study at degree level through this four year course.
Discover how life works at the molecular level with our BSc (Hons) Biochemistry. From researching DNA and proteins to enzymes and metabolism, you'll gain the skills needed for careers in medical research, biotech, pharmaceuticals, or further study.
Taught by a multidisciplinary team of expert scientists in state-of-the-art labs, this degree blends biology, chemistry, and molecular biology to help you solve real-world problems, from fighting disease to innovation in sustainability. You'll also benefit from our unique links to industry through the Industry Liaison Lab at the nearby Discovery Park in Sandwich.
What you'll learn
- Explore DNA, proteins, and enzymes to understand how cells function and how diseases develop.
- Participate in active research as part of your final year dissertation and gain the skills needed for graduate roles.
- Develop practical lab skills using cutting-edge scientific equipment and technologies.
- Investigate genetic engineering, biotechnology, and personalised medicine in real-world contexts.
- Apply data analysis and scientific thinking to tackle problems in research and industry.
With a strong focus on hands-on experience, problem-solving and career-focused learning, our Biochemistry degree will prepare you for success in science and beyond. Whether you're aiming to work in the lab, the field, or further academic study, this course gives you the knowledge and confidence to lead the way in the molecular sciences.
Accredited by Royal Society of Biology
Royal Society of Biology logo
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Watch on YouTubeI really enjoy my course. The lecturers are friendly and approachable and really knowledgeable. I’ve learnt and done so much.Amy, Biochemistry student
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UCAS Tariff Points
Accepted qualifications
We accept a wide range of general qualifications that attract UCAS Tariff points either on their own or in combination with others. Below are some common examples.
| Qualification | Grades |
|---|---|
| A Levels | DDE |
| BTEC | MPP |
| Access | Pass 45 Credits |
| International Baccalaureate | TBC |
Extra information
We also welcome applications from students with few or no formal Level 3 qualifications who wish to return to education.
You may be asked to attend an interview.
More information
Contact us
Module information
Core/optional modules
How you’ll learn
In your Foundation Year, you will be introduced to higher education with a range of supportive modules that prepare you for study in higher education and familiarise you with the core knowledge and skills of your chosen subject.
From Level 4 onward, each module features a mixture of practical sessions (in the field or laboratory), lectures, workshops and seminars. The emphasis is always on practical and applied skills development, so on a typical module we will spend more than half of our time with you in practical sessions, often two thirds of the module contact time. This is complemented by additional structured and guided learning resources we provide and curate for you. In addition, you will have time allocated for independent learning.
Face-to-face teaching hours per week may vary but will typically be approximately 10-16 hours. Some modules include intensive weeks where you will have up to 24-30 contact hours in a week.
Modules feature a variety of independent learning materials that we curate and structure for you. This may include textbook chapters to read, videos to watch or research papers to review in preparation for or following on from a face-to-face session.
You might engage in online discussions, post comments or otherwise interact with fellow students or academics as well. Some of the independent learning can be accompanied by short quizzes or revision aides to help you remember the key content you have covered.
As a full-time student, you should expect a workload similar to a full-time job during the weeks of the semester (each of your two semesters is 15 weeks long). You will be studying 60 credits worth of modules each semester, which corresponds to an overall workload of 600 hours per semester.
Most of this time is set aside for your independent learning, however, you can use it flexibly around your other commitments, such as work or caring responsibilities. Your personal academic tutor and the course team will always be there to support you in engaging with your studies and meeting the learning requirements of the course.
Face-to-face sessions are typically led by academics – our focus is teaching and supporting you.
Occasionally, industry experts or guest lecturers may provide specialist sessions and share their expertise with you. In some of our laboratory and field practicals or IT workshops, you will be supported by PhD students alongside the academic leading the session.
The academics teaching you will have higher education teaching qualifications (such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, PGCAP) and may also be fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) or members of professional bodies and academic organisations.
Biochemistry is one of the fundamental disciplines that underpins all other areas of the life sciences. On this course, you will have access to all of our modern research facilities and equipment and the Industry Liaison Lab at Discovery Park in Sandwich.Cornelia WilsonReader in Cell Biology and Industry Liaison Lab Director
How you’ll be assessed
We understand that different students have different strengths and ways of learning. This is why you will be assessed in a range of ways during your degree.
In your first two years of study, you will mainly be assessed by coursework (e.g. lab or field reports) and by timed online questionnaires. In your second and third year, your coursework assessment may include poster presentations, scientific reports, portfolios and others.
Some of your modules will also include an exam, but no module will be assessed exclusively by an exam.
In your final year, you will complete a dissertation module that includes a thesis assessment in semester 2 and a presentation where you can reflect on your achievements and journey as a student.
Your future career
Graduates from predecessors of this and related courses (e.g. biomolecular science, bioscience) have gone on to successful careers as Head of Marketing (Senior Brand and Customer Manager) at MSD, Senior Associate Scientist at York Bioanalytical Solutions, Crystallisation Laboratory Technician at Pfizer or Health and Safety Advisors (at Canterbury Christ Church University), for example. Several have also gone on to postgraduate study as MSc or PhDs students.
Related courses
Fees
Tuition Fees for 2026/27 have not yet been finalised. These course web pages will be updated with Tuition Fee information once they have been agreed.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Industry links
Our Industry Liaison Lab at Discovery Park in Sandwich has facilitated research collaborations and student internships with biotechnology companies located there. You will have opportunities to visit and carry out practicals at Discovery Park during your studies and we regularly have students completing dissertation projects there in collaboration with one of our industry partners.
We also host a careers fair specifically for our life science students where you can talk to employers, find out about the exciting careers they offer and get advice on how to progress into those careers with the skills you have learned. The careers fair has features talks from major biotechnology companies such as Roche.
The Industry, Careers and Enterprise module you will take at Level 5 will allow you to tackle a client brief from one of our partners where you apply the skills you have learned to a real-life problem.
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Duration:
4 yearsUCAS code:
C724Location(s):
Canterbury*We are advertising this course as ‘subject to approval.’ When we add new courses or update existing courses, we advertise the course as ‘subject to approval’. We do this to let you know the University still needs to agree to run the course. It is rare for a course not to gain approval, but it is not guaranteed. There may be changes to course and module titles, content and assessment, but we will tell you about these if there is a change. You can still apply to study a course subject to approval. We have prepared some questions and answers to tell you more.