Applied Biomedical Science

• Scottish Highers: 
  Standard Entry Requirements: ABBB (114 UCAS Tariff points) including Biology or Human Biology 
  
  Minimum Entry Requirements: BBBB (108 UCAS Tariff points) including Biology or Human Biology
  
• A levels: BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points) including Biology or Human Biology 
• Irish Leaving Certificate: H1 H2 H2 H2 including Biology or Human Biology
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 24 points, 3 @ HL including Biology or Human Biology
• Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP): Access to Medical Studies or Access to Science or Access to Biological and Chemical Science or Access to Chemistry and Biology or Access to Health and Biological Science or Access to Dietetics or Access to Health and Life Sciences or Access to Radiography (BBB)

• Scottish Advanced Highers: BBC (136 UCAS Tariff points) including Biology plus SQA National 5 Chemistry (Grade C, or above), Intermediate 2 (Grade C, or above), or Standard Grade (Credit)
  
• A levels: BBC (112 UCAS Tariff points) including Biology
  
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 30 points including HL Biology, plus OL Chemistry
  
• SQA HNC / BTEC Level 4 HNC: Applied Science or Biomedical Science or Applied Biomedical Science or Industrial Biotechnology

English language requirements for most courses

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.

General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• overall score 6.0
• no sub-test less than 5.5

Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist fro some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see section below for more details).

Common equivalent English language qualifications

All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:

• CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
• CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
• Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English: ISEII with the minimum of a Pass in all sub-tests
• PTE Pearson Academic English: An overall score of 54 with no element below 51 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5). An overall score 61 with no element below 51 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0)

IELTS Score Exceptions (Research degrees, Biomedical Science degrees, Nursing & Midwifery degrees with NMC registration, Certificate of Higher Education, etc.)

For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) and our MSc Advanced Biomedical Science, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 6.5
• no sub-test less than 6.0

For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.

For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:

• overall score of 7.0
• score of at least 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and no less than 6.5 in writing

* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).

For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science and BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science programmes, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 7.0
• no sub-test less than 6.5

For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

• overall score of 5.0
• no sub-test less than 4.5

TOEFL IBT

TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:

• Reading: 17;
• Listening: 17;
• Speaking: 17;
• Writing: 17

* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.

West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE)

West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*

• C6 or above in English

*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.

Pre-sessional courses

Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:

• 10 week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.0 with no element below 4.5.
• 5 week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.5 with no element below 5.5.
• English Language for University Study - entry criteria UKVI IELTS with score of 4.0 in all elements (10 month course), or 4.5 with no score below 4.0 (7 month course).

Find out more about our English lanaguage Courses.

UWS graduates are well qualified to enter a range of related medical professions including:  

• NHS hospital laboratories 
• Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service laboratories 
• Health Protection Agency laboratories 
• research & development laboratories for the medical, pharmaceutical, veterinary and food sectors 
• primary and secondary teaching  
• nursing 

UWS Applied Biomedical Science graduates can continue their studies to MSc and PhD level. Some graduates undertake further study in related disciplines including pharmacy, medicine and dentistry.

Students on certain degrees will incur some additional costs not covered by their tuition fees. These could be for things like specialist equipment, study materials and textbooks, work placements, graduation, membership of relevant organisations or costs related to carrying out fieldwork.

For students on course with an element of fieldwork, there may also be extra costs for travel and accommodation.

Note: The library will hold some copies of the textbooks but not enough for every student. Students can purchase second hand copies when possible or use older versions if advised by the module cordinator. Students can also sell their copies after the course. This helps manage the cost.

Year 1

Laboratory equipment (Mandatory)
You will be required to purchase a Howie laboratory coat which is estimated at c.£25.

Books & printed material (Optional)
You are encouraged to use the library for all reading materials (some will be availably digitally also). You may, however, choose to purchase some or all of the recommended text books. Given the availability of library and online resources and individual preferences, costs will be variale but should be no more than £100.

Year 2

Laboratory equipment (Mandatory)
You will be required to purchase a Howie laboratory coat which is estimated at c.£25 if you have not purchased one already.

Books & printed material (Optional)
You are encouraged to use the library for all reading materials (some will be availably digitally also). You may, however, choose to purchase some or all of the recommended text books. Given the availability of library and online resources and individual preferences, costs will be variale but should be no more than £100.

Year 3

Laboratory equipment (Mandatory)
You will be required to purchase a Howie laboratory coat which is estimated at c.£25 if you have not purchased one already.

Books & printed material (Optional)
You are encouraged to use the library for all reading materials (some will be availably digitally also). You may, however, choose to purchase some or all of the recommended text books. Given the availability of library and online resources and individual preferences, costs will be variale but should be no more than £100.

Placement (Mandatory)
Practical laboratory placement is an integral part of this course. Travel costs may be incurred for compulsory placements on this course. Althogh these placements may be arranged near your home/current accommodation (where travel costs may be minimum) you should be aware that NHS placements may be anywhere in Scotland (depending upon laboratory availability). You should bear in mind that it's likely that you'll be travelling at peak times in order to reach and travel home from your placement and this can cost more if you are using public transport.

Immunisations (Mandatory)
Health clearance for NHS immunisations are now covered by UWS (nomally cost in region of £400).

PVG Health Checks (Mandatory)
Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme membership is required and this currently costs £59. This cost may change in future years. The School covers the cost of an update currently if you already have membershio but it needs to be renewed.

Graduation fees (Optional for those exiting with BSc award)
These fees are set annually by the University and are subject to review. For session 19/20 these were set at £10 Registration Fee. Academic dress and official photography (optional) for graduation ceremonies is hired and arranged respectively from an external suppliers.

Year 4

Laboratory equipment (Mandatory)
You will be required to purchase a Howie laboratory coat which is estimated at c.£25 if you have not purchased one already.

Dissertation & poster presentation (Mandatory)
Your final year dissertation is a core and mandatory piece of research undertaken in your final year of studies. However, only electronic copies are required to be submitted for assessment. You may wish to print bound copies, but this is not mandatory. Depending upon the size of the dissertation and the content it can cost anything between £15-40. Research posters are developed as part of your final year studies but these are electronic versions only and do not need to be printed for assessment.

Graduation fees (Mandatory)
These fees are set annually by the University and are subject to review. For session 19/20 these were set at £10 Registration Fee. Academic dress and official photography (optional) for graduation ceremonies is hired and arranged respectively from an external suppliers.

Tuition Fees & Additional Costs

Tuition fees are calculated based on where you are from and what you are studying. Some courses also involve additional costs, such as mandatory field trips, equipment or studying abroad.

Find out how much it will cost you to study at UWS as an undergraduate student.

Funding for Scottish Students

Scottish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.

Find out more.

Funding for English, Welsh & Northern Irish Students

English, Welsh and Northern Irish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.

Find out more.

Funding for EU Students

EU students studying at undergraduate level of UWS may be eligible for SAAS funding, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.

Find our more.

Funding for International Students

There are several scholarship and incentive schemes available to international students studying at undergraduate level at UWS, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.

Find out more.

Discretionary & Childcare Funds

UWS administer a range of discretionary and childcare funds. These are designed to support students who are experiencing financial difficulty or struggling to meet the costs of childcare.

Find out more.

Benefits & Tax Credits

Becoming a student can have an impact on your entitlement to certain benefits. It may mean you are no longer eligible to claim a benefit you have been receiving, or your new income from student funding may affect the amount you are able to receive.

Find out more.

Additional Financial Support

If there isn’t a statutory source of funding for you or your course, or you are in need of additional financial support, you may wish to consider more alternative sources of funding such as trust funds and scholarships.

Find out more.

Money & Debt Advice

Choosing to become a student can have a big impact on your budget and you may need to reassess your spending to account for a reduced income. We’ve put together some guidance to help you manage your money and make the right financial choices for you and your family.

Find out more.