Medical Sciences Undergraduate

Our Medical Sciences degree aims to provide a science programme, related to medicine, with strong professional research elements. You’ll receive a firm foundation of scientific teaching, considering human health and disease at a micro and macro level. This enables you to develop, integrate and apply your knowledge at the interface of scientific discovery and clinical practice.

As a graduate, you’ll be equipped with a broad skill set, making the course an ideal 1st choice for those interested in a Health-based career but who want to keep their options open. It is also a perfect 5th choice for those whose primary aim is Medicine or Dentistry; for high-achieving students this degree may act as a stepping stone into Medical Schools as a graduate entrant.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• We offer a vibrant atmosphere with small group teaching, meaning you’ll quickly develop a rapport with your fellow students and lecturers.
• Our staff include academics, researchers and clinicians with national and international recognition in medical education and research.
• You will have a focus on anatomical teaching in years 2 and 3 including access to a dissection room, which is rare outside of medical schools.
• For students with the necessary pre-requisite qualifications, BMedSci is a feeder stream for Graduate Entry Medicine at Cardiff University. Subject to successful interview, qualifying students can apply to study Medicine in Cardiff, or remain in Bangor for their 4 year MBBCh degree. See Medicine North Wales for more information. 

Watch our Medical Sciences students experience a hands-on laboratory practical looking at donated human tissue specimens to enhance their understanding of anatomy.

 

For more on studying degree courses see our Study at Bangor section.

On this course you will benefit from teaching and research expertise across a number of disciplines, with content delivered by Medical Sciences faculty, and pharmacists and clinicians from the local Health Board.

What will you study on this course?

During the first year you will build a broad base of relevant knowledge and proficiencies. A good understanding of molecular and cell biology, biochemistry and basic laboratory skills is enriched with introductions to microbiology, human physiology and therapeutics. Our Key Skills in Medical Science module begins your transition to becoming an accomplished academic.

Since year 1 is common for all undergraduate degrees in the School of Medical Sciences, you will have an opportunity to change to Biomedical Science (B102) or Medical Biology (B103) before the start of year 2 (subject to eligibility criteria) if your interests evolve.

Your second and third-year modules on BMedSci Medical Sciences have a focus on human physiology and anatomy in health and disease, clinical diagnostics, infectious disease and therapeutics. You will be able to describe disease processes from molecular defects, to gross anatomical changes and integrate information on their diagnosis and treatment.

An over-arching theme will be the development of transferable skills such as critical analysis, data interpretation and the ability to communicate medical science to a variety of audiences. In the third year, this culminates in a piece of self-directed research using medically related scientific literature and databases.

Welsh medium modules are also available.

Teaching takes place in lectures, small group seminars, practicals in our well-equipped laboratories (including sessions in the dissection room) and computer lab classes. 

Assessment is by a mixture of examinations, coursework in a variety of formats and group and individual presentations. You will have many opportunities to showcase your developing skills, with regular constructive and individual feedback to help you achieve your full potential.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Medical Sciences Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

Optional Costs:

Highly Recommended E member of IBMS E10:00 per year.

Welcome Week trips etc arranged by Peer Guides (approx. £20:00).

General University Costs

Home/EU Student Tuition Fees (starting in 2019–20 & 2020–21)

• Full time: £9,000 per year
• Part time: £750 per 10 credits

International Student Tuition Fees*
* Please note: the international tuition fees displayed are for the current academic year (2020-21). The fees for the next academic year (2021-22) will be confirmed soon.

When coming to University, you will have two main costs, Tuition Fees and Living Costs.

There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:

• If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
• If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for guest tickets (£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

1. Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
2. Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
3. Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

USA Requirements

International Year Zero:  HSD GPA 2.0 OR SAT 1500+ 
International Year 1:  HSD GPA 3.0 OR SAT 500+ each section OR ACTs 26+  
Undergraduate Courses:  HSD GPA 3.0 OR SAT 550+ each section OR ACTs 26+  
Postgraduate Courses:  Bachelor Degree GPA of 3.0. GRE not required 
PhD/Research Course:  Masters Degree 

Note: Some courses may require higher entry requirements. Refer Individual Course page for details. 

Applicants from USA need NOT provide additional evidence of English Language ability, if previous education was with English medium of instruction. Otherwise, an IELTS overall 6.0 with 5.5 in each component or equivalent is normally required (some courses may require a higher score).

For 2021 entry:

GCSE: Grade C/4 in English Language, Maths and Science. 

Offers are tariff based, 80 - 128 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:

• A Levels (including Biology and at least one other science from Chemistry (preferred), Medical Science, Physics or Maths)
• WJEC Medical Science Applied Diploma and Applied Certificate
• BTEC National/Extended Diploma and Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMP - DDM (Biology and Chemistry modules required)
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Including Biology and Chemistry (Preferred) at Higher Level
• Access: Only Science or Bioscience diplomas provide the necessary pre-requisite knowledge
• Welsh Baccalaureate
• Extended Project Qualification
• Key Skills and General Studies not accepted.

International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information here. 

We also welcome applications from mature applicants.

*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.

General University Requirements

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

To study a degree, diploma or certificate course you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more help and advice about being a mature student at Bangor, please visit the Study at Bangor site.

Specific entry requirements can be seen on the individual course pages.

EU and International students' entry requirements

For information and further detailed guidance on entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor  University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.

More information

Home/EU students and International UCAS applicants

E-mail for General Admissions: admissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to:

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0)1248 383717 

International students (non-UCAS applicants)

Email to International Admissions: internationaladmissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0) 1248 382028

With integrated scientific knowledge and key skills such as critical appraisal, communication and problem solving, graduates have high employability in medical science-based areas.

Many of our students are interested in careers within a clinical environment and enter postgraduate training to become Physician Associates, Radiographers, Paramedics, Physiotherapists and other allied health professionals.

You will also be ideally placed for MSc and PhD programmes and for research positions within the NHS (including the NHS Scientist Training Programme).

To give you an idea of the breadth of interests our students develop, recent BMedSci graduates have gone onto MSc courses in Cardiovascular Science, Neuroimaging, Psychology, Infectious Disease Control and Health Promotion.

Still others enter the teaching profession, the armed forces and police, and graduate management positions.

Internships and work experience are encouraged and supported during your degree, to help you gain an insight into the world of work and give you a competitive edge. We offer the opportunity to take short work placements (over a summer holiday) or year-long ‘sandwich’ placements, with all of our degree programmes.

On successful completion of the BMedSci degree, high achieving students are eligible to apply for Cardiff University’s four year Graduate Entry Medicine Programme (MBBCh). If successful, you can study Medicine on the innovative C21 curriculum in Cardiff or Bangor. More information can be found  Cardiff University's web pages here and here.

Please note to apply for this programme you will need to fulfil all of Cardiff University’s additional criteria, which include but are not limited to specific GCSE and A level achievement and successful completion of the entrance exam (GAMSAT)

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) and Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)

The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.

The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.

The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.

Internships

Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.

Internships offer valuable experience in a professional workplace and there are a range of internships you can get involved in.

Student Volunteering

Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.

The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.

TARGETconnect - Working while you Study

The Skills and Employability Service offers support to students searching for employment during and after their studies.

TARGETconnect advertises the following opportunities:

• Graduate jobs – Local, National and International
• Full-time, part time, permanent and temporary jobs
• Work experience / internships
• Voluntary opportunities

General University Application

How to apply through UCAS

Apply online via UCAS

UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. All university applications are processed through UCAS and then passed on to the universities listed.

Students may apply for a maximum of five courses. For Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary courses students are only allowed to apply for four courses.

The application form is found on the UCAS website, under ‘Apply’.

When to apply?

We advise you to apply as early as you can as we will start considering applications and making offers straight away. The initial UCAS deadline for UK and EU students is 15 January, however we welcome applications after this date. Those received between 15 January and 30 June will continue to be forwarded to universities by UCAS and will receive consideration where places are still available.

Your Personal Statement

Writing your Personal Statement is the part of the application form that requires most work. You are only allowed 47 lines or 500–550 words to explain why you wish to study the course and the skills you have that are essential for university study.

To write a successful personal statement for your UCAS application you must have a good understanding about the course and its content. Remember that you write only one personal statement for your five choices. Make sure that the courses are similar, if not the same, and make sure that you do not mention a specific course or university.

Read our advice on how to draft a winning personal statement or watch our video guide.

After you’ve applied

You should keep an eye on your application on UCAS ‘Track’. Offers from universities will appear on track and you will be able to accept or decline offers.

You can only reply when you have received all your decisions. The types of reply you can make are firm acceptance and insurance acceptance. Usually students reply in early May.

International Student?

If you are an international student, our International Student pages offer further information on applying.

As an international student applying to study one of our undergraduate programmes you can:

• apply via UCAS,
• or apply direct to Bangor through our online direct application system
• or apply with the help of one of our recruitment agents

Erasmus student?

We receive around 350 exchange students every year from all over the world. 45% of these students come from Europe and the remainder from as far as Singapore, South Korea and Australia.

The University’s International Exchanges Office is responsible for welcoming these students.

Confused about your next steps?

Take a look at our Going to University website for information and advice on getting ready for university.