BSc (Hons) — 2026 entry Biological Sciences

This module is designed  to introduce the structure and function of the nervous system in animals and humans - with a focus on providing information across different levels of explanation, including single molecules, cellular, neuronal networks and complex behaviours. The students will develop a more in-depth understanding of some aspects linked to the nervous system and brain function introduced in BMS2038. Students will develop their skills in understanding, writing and synthesis of scientific data by presenting published neuroscientific results in a poster or essay format.  

This module is designed to develop an understanding of concepts of bacteriology, protozoology mycology, and virology, with a particular emphasis on pathogenic microbes. Each lecture or group of lectures studies a particular group of microbes. These pathogens are chosen as representative on the basis of their biological characteristics, and also from a global perspective. The module also includes tutorial discussions and laboratory practical classes to further develop deeper understanding and broader application of the topics included in this module. Laboratory sessions will aid your understanding of the theory and enable development of practical and employability skills.

The Module will cover a range of topics that will address analytical techniques in research and clinical laboratories, as well as addressing data analysis and statistics.

The purpose of this module is to provide a conceptual understanding of the key principles of human immunology, including the immune response to infection and foreign antigens. Such an understanding is crucial in many other parts of the programme, including the pathogenicity of infectious disease, oncology and pharmacology. It is a prerequisite for modules at FHEQ level 6 including BMS3054 (Clinical Immunology and Immunohaematology), BMS3102 (Advanced Topics in Cellular and Molecular Immunology) and BMS3104 (Applied Immunology).

This module addresses the essential need for students to understand the concepts of the pathogenesis of major human diseases and provides students with important background knowledge to understand clinical (or analytical) medicine.  The contents of this module bridge basic science with the pathology of human disease and medical science including the understanding of the principles of major organ diseases in the human body.

The purpose of the module is to introduce the subject of Pharmacology.  They will apply their knowledge of Biochemistry and Physiology to understand the mechanism of action of key current drugs.  With a particular focus on the following systems: cardiovascular, neurological, anti-inflammatory, -infectives and -cancer.  Students will also consider how the body deals with drugs, namely absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME).   

This module considers the place of both plants and animals in the environment, looking at the dynamics of organisms within an ecosystem and role that disturbance and succession play in the evolution of ecosystems. It then develops the basic theoretical and practical skills required for their sampling, monitoring and reporting.

This module will address four broad topics, namely Integration of Metabolism, Nuclear Receptors, Bioenergetics and Cell Signaling.

The purpose of this module is for students to propose potential pharmacotherapeutic targets for conditions of their choice.  Here the academic staff introduce a signaling pathway, group of receptors, channels, enzymes, they also provide some case studies of areas of targeting.  Students then take this knowledge and build on it and through their own research propose a target.

The module provides a description and demonstration of how the application of the principles of microbial and biochemical sciences, studied elsewhere in the programme, can be used in the discovery, production, and manufacture of commercially important products for the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries, with examples and case studies and an intensive experimental section. The principles of genetic and physiological deregulation and overexpression of metabolic products that are discussed in the module build upon the analysis of metabolic pathways (studied in L4 and L5 Biochemistry modules) and the study of microbial diversity, metabolism and function (studied in L4 and L5 Microbiology modules), and complement concepts covered in the Level 6 modules BMS3092 Advanced Technologies in Gene Expression and BMS3070 Systems Biology: Genes in Action. The principles of biomedical and bioveterinary microbial product discovery, over-production and applications are       compared to those of other microbial products (food, bioenergy, and (bio)chemical industries).  

This module builds on your knowledge gained in the first year in relation to the evolutionary mechanism of adaptation (BMS1040) and in the second year about animal’s anatomy and physiology (BMS2062) and their role in the ecosystems (BMS2070). Using an evolutionary approach, this module provides an in-depth overview of the different taxa from sponges to mammals within the animal kingdom, focusing on their classification, morphological diversity, and adaptation to their specific habitats. It is designed for the needs and interests of Biological Sciences students but is open as an option to all students who are interested in gaining a greater understanding of animal

This module builds on your knowledge gained in year 2 of the immune system (BMS2045) to explore a series of interlinked themes in molecular and cellular immunology providing in-depth knowledge of fundamental immune processes and covering the most current topics and state-of-the-art technology. The themes will be lead and delivered by experts in each area and therefore will provide a sense of the frontier of immunology research. Tutorials and course work will aid your understanding of the theory, and enable development of employability skills including communication, critical appraisal and analytic skills.

This module considers the negative impacts of humans on the environment and ways to mitigate these for a sustainable future.

Systems Biology is widely accepted as a major future direction of biological research. The ethos of Systems Biology is to generate, analyse, and integrate multiple data sets for understanding and modelling a biological system. We want to know the components (molecules) of the system, how they work/interact together, and, ideally, have some quantitation: the abundance of a particular component and/or the rates of action/interaction. Due to technological advances within molecular biology, we are now able to obtain quantitative information about molecules within a biological system on both small and large scales. The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the basic concepts of Systems Biology for health and disease. The module includes subjects relevant to prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems and is thus suitable for all bioscience students. Learning methods include: lectures, seminars, computer practical sessions, article discussion, workshops, and research and problem solving during both lectures and computer-based investigations.

Students will integrate what they have learnt in the previous modules, using their knowledge on Microbiology (BMS1026), Practical and Biomedical Bacteriology (BMS1035) and Medical Microbiology (BMS2085) The study of microbiology often involves learning about the properties of single species, but in nature microbes rarely exist in isolation and are instead part of a rich and diverse ecosystem. Together with their ability to communicate via chemical signalling, the world of microbes reveals interesting complexities with relevance to health and disease, and biotechnology.

Gives the student a broad understanding of cancer as an umbrella term for a complex set of different diseases unified by common cellular mechanisms.  Students will examine the biological processes underlying cancer and have an appreciation of a range of clinically relevant diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The emphasis is on human studies and clinical data, with animal studies and cancer-relevant pre-clinical models also presented. This module fits well within a biomedical sciences program.

The Neuroscience module is following the Neuroscience FHEQ Level 5 which provided the bases in Neuroscience. This second module will run over one semester and will provide students with a comprehensive research-led overview of several current hot topics in Neuroscience built around 4 intricate topics: neuroendocrinology, sleep, neuroplasticity and brain disorders. Emphasis will be placed on integration of knowledge from the different areas presented in the lectures. In addition, evaluation of skills for understanding, synthesis/analysis and interpretation of scientific data will be addressed throughout all research-led lectures and assessments.

The Biological Rhythms module is designed to provide students with a comprehensive, research-led overview of current topics in Biological Rhythms, with an emphasis on mammalian Chronobiology. The module builds on critical evaluation skills developed in previous modules, including appraisal and interpretation of scientific literature and evaluating current gaps in our knowledge. The module is delivered as a mix of lectures, online content, and several tutorials in which knowledge is integrated and evaluated. The summative assessment of this module consists of two pieces of course work, in which students apply skills in digital literature searches, resourcefulness in evaluating literature and interpreting current knowledge to develop forward-looking views that apply and validate research insights in real world conditions.

Microbes can be categorised and studied according to a number of characteristics such as their physiology; pathogenicity, and cellular interaction with hosts. This module builds on those themes already covered on the bioscience programmes in dealing with the spread of microbes through populations, and features of host and vector populations that influence this spread.

The purpose of this module is to give students a clear view of how and where genetics is used in the ‘real world’. This module will build on the basics of molecular biology and genetics taught in Levels 4 and 5, and will expect students to utilise this prior knowledge and content given in lectures and in the problem-based learning assessments.  This module requires application of understanding and problem solving skills.

Have you ever wondered why animals behave in the way they do? In this module we will be introduced to some of the most peculiar animal behaviours, and we will learn how to analyse them under the lens of natural selection. The study of animal behaviour give us a great insight on how animals shape their environment and are shaped by it, and we will learn how important it is for an animal to choose the right strategy whenever foraging, escaping a predator, communicating with others or mating.

Pharmacokinetics and Toxicology is the science of safety: It is the study of how exogenous chemicals enter and are disposed of by the body, and the effects that they can have on the organ systems of the body. Toxicology is designed to minimise the risk of harm to humans from exposure to any of the thousands of chemicals that we use every day. In this module, we will look at the basic mechanisms of how chemicals may cause harm to living organisms. We will look at a number of examples of target organ toxicity with reference to how drugs/xenobiotics are processed by the body. We will examine the mathematical patterns of drug administration and excretion and learn to explain these and determine their meaning, these concepts will be brought together through a series of case study workshops where mathematical data will be handled and examined.

This module will explore advanced themes of virology research in the 21st century. Grounded in the specialties of our research-active virologists, this module will equip the students with the knowledge required to understand virus:host interactions at the cellular, host and systems level and the skills to critically evaluate virology research findings. This will build on and enhance the knowledge acquired at level 4 and 5 on general microbiology and virology and complement the global overview of human pathogens explored within the Immunology and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases modules at level 6.

This module is designed  to introduce the structure and function of the nervous system in animals and humans - with a focus on providing information across different levels of explanation, including single molecules, cellular, neuronal networks and complex behaviours. The students will develop a more in-depth understanding of some aspects linked to the nervous system and brain function introduced in BMS2038. Students will develop their skills in understanding, writing and synthesis of scientific data by presenting published neuroscientific results in a poster or essay format.  

This module is designed to develop an understanding of concepts of bacteriology, protozoology mycology, and virology, with a particular emphasis on pathogenic microbes. Each lecture or group of lectures studies a particular group of microbes. These pathogens are chosen as representative on the basis of their biological characteristics, and also from a global perspective. The module also includes tutorial discussions and laboratory practical classes to further develop deeper understanding and broader application of the topics included in this module. Laboratory sessions will aid your understanding of the theory and enable development of practical and employability skills.

The Module will cover a range of topics that will address analytical techniques in research and clinical laboratories, as well as addressing data analysis and statistics.

The purpose of this module is to provide a conceptual understanding of the key principles of human immunology, including the immune response to infection and foreign antigens. Such an understanding is crucial in many other parts of the programme, including the pathogenicity of infectious disease, oncology and pharmacology. It is a prerequisite for modules at FHEQ level 6 including BMS3054 (Clinical Immunology and Immunohaematology), BMS3102 (Advanced Topics in Cellular and Molecular Immunology) and BMS3104 (Applied Immunology).

This module addresses the essential need for students to understand the concepts of the pathogenesis of major human diseases and provides students with important background knowledge to understand clinical (or analytical) medicine.  The contents of this module bridge basic science with the pathology of human disease and medical science including the understanding of the principles of major organ diseases in the human body.

The purpose of the module is to introduce the subject of Pharmacology.  They will apply their knowledge of Biochemistry and Physiology to understand the mechanism of action of key current drugs.  With a particular focus on the following systems: cardiovascular, neurological, anti-inflammatory, -infectives and -cancer.  Students will also consider how the body deals with drugs, namely absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME).   

This module considers the place of both plants and animals in the environment, looking at the dynamics of organisms within an ecosystem and role that disturbance and succession play in the evolution of ecosystems. It then develops the basic theoretical and practical skills required for their sampling, monitoring and reporting.

This module will address four broad topics, namely Integration of Metabolism, Nuclear Receptors, Bioenergetics and Cell Signaling.

The purpose of this module is for students to propose potential pharmacotherapeutic targets for conditions of their choice.  Here the academic staff introduce a signaling pathway, group of receptors, channels, enzymes, they also provide some case studies of areas of targeting.  Students then take this knowledge and build on it and through their own research propose a target.

The module provides a description and demonstration of how the application of the principles of microbial and biochemical sciences, studied elsewhere in the programme, can be used in the discovery, production, and manufacture of commercially important products for the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries, with examples and case studies and an intensive experimental section. The principles of genetic and physiological deregulation and overexpression of metabolic products that are discussed in the module build upon the analysis of metabolic pathways (studied in L4 and L5 Biochemistry modules) and the study of microbial diversity, metabolism and function (studied in L4 and L5 Microbiology modules), and complement concepts covered in the Level 6 modules BMS3092 Advanced Technologies in Gene Expression and BMS3070 Systems Biology: Genes in Action. The principles of biomedical and bioveterinary microbial product discovery, over-production and applications are       compared to those of other microbial products (food, bioenergy, and (bio)chemical industries).  

This module builds on your knowledge gained in the first year in relation to the evolutionary mechanism of adaptation (BMS1040) and in the second year about animal’s anatomy and physiology (BMS2062) and their role in the ecosystems (BMS2070). Using an evolutionary approach, this module provides an in-depth overview of the different taxa from sponges to mammals within the animal kingdom, focusing on their classification, morphological diversity, and adaptation to their specific habitats. It is designed for the needs and interests of Biological Sciences students but is open as an option to all students who are interested in gaining a greater understanding of animal

This module builds on your knowledge gained in year 2 of the immune system (BMS2045) to explore a series of interlinked themes in molecular and cellular immunology providing in-depth knowledge of fundamental immune processes and covering the most current topics and state-of-the-art technology. The themes will be lead and delivered by experts in each area and therefore will provide a sense of the frontier of immunology research. Tutorials and course work will aid your understanding of the theory, and enable development of employability skills including communication, critical appraisal and analytic skills.

This module considers the negative impacts of humans on the environment and ways to mitigate these for a sustainable future.

Systems Biology is widely accepted as a major future direction of biological research. The ethos of Systems Biology is to generate, analyse, and integrate multiple data sets for understanding and modelling a biological system. We want to know the components (molecules) of the system, how they work/interact together, and, ideally, have some quantitation: the abundance of a particular component and/or the rates of action/interaction. Due to technological advances within molecular biology, we are now able to obtain quantitative information about molecules within a biological system on both small and large scales. The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the basic concepts of Systems Biology for health and disease. The module includes subjects relevant to prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems and is thus suitable for all bioscience students. Learning methods include: lectures, seminars, computer practical sessions, article discussion, workshops, and research and problem solving during both lectures and computer-based investigations.

Students will integrate what they have learnt in the previous modules, using their knowledge on Microbiology (BMS1026), Practical and Biomedical Bacteriology (BMS1035) and Medical Microbiology (BMS2085) The study of microbiology often involves learning about the properties of single species, but in nature microbes rarely exist in isolation and are instead part of a rich and diverse ecosystem. Together with their ability to communicate via chemical signalling, the world of microbes reveals interesting complexities with relevance to health and disease, and biotechnology.

Gives the student a broad understanding of cancer as an umbrella term for a complex set of different diseases unified by common cellular mechanisms.  Students will examine the biological processes underlying cancer and have an appreciation of a range of clinically relevant diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The emphasis is on human studies and clinical data, with animal studies and cancer-relevant pre-clinical models also presented. This module fits well within a biomedical sciences program.

The Neuroscience module is following the Neuroscience FHEQ Level 5 which provided the bases in Neuroscience. This second module will run over one semester and will provide students with a comprehensive research-led overview of several current hot topics in Neuroscience built around 4 intricate topics: neuroendocrinology, sleep, neuroplasticity and brain disorders. Emphasis will be placed on integration of knowledge from the different areas presented in the lectures. In addition, evaluation of skills for understanding, synthesis/analysis and interpretation of scientific data will be addressed throughout all research-led lectures and assessments.

The Biological Rhythms module is designed to provide students with a comprehensive, research-led overview of current topics in Biological Rhythms, with an emphasis on mammalian Chronobiology. The module builds on critical evaluation skills developed in previous modules, including appraisal and interpretation of scientific literature and evaluating current gaps in our knowledge. The module is delivered as a mix of lectures, online content, and several tutorials in which knowledge is integrated and evaluated. The summative assessment of this module consists of two pieces of course work, in which students apply skills in digital literature searches, resourcefulness in evaluating literature and interpreting current knowledge to develop forward-looking views that apply and validate research insights in real world conditions.

Microbes can be categorised and studied according to a number of characteristics such as their physiology; pathogenicity, and cellular interaction with hosts. This module builds on those themes already covered on the bioscience programmes in dealing with the spread of microbes through populations, and features of host and vector populations that influence this spread.

The purpose of this module is to give students a clear view of how and where genetics is used in the ‘real world’. This module will build on the basics of molecular biology and genetics taught in Levels 4 and 5, and will expect students to utilise this prior knowledge and content given in lectures and in the problem-based learning assessments.  This module requires application of understanding and problem solving skills.

Have you ever wondered why animals behave in the way they do? In this module we will be introduced to some of the most peculiar animal behaviours, and we will learn how to analyse them under the lens of natural selection. The study of animal behaviour give us a great insight on how animals shape their environment and are shaped by it, and we will learn how important it is for an animal to choose the right strategy whenever foraging, escaping a predator, communicating with others or mating.

Pharmacokinetics and Toxicology is the science of safety: It is the study of how exogenous chemicals enter and are disposed of by the body, and the effects that they can have on the organ systems of the body. Toxicology is designed to minimise the risk of harm to humans from exposure to any of the thousands of chemicals that we use every day. In this module, we will look at the basic mechanisms of how chemicals may cause harm to living organisms. We will look at a number of examples of target organ toxicity with reference to how drugs/xenobiotics are processed by the body. We will examine the mathematical patterns of drug administration and excretion and learn to explain these and determine their meaning, these concepts will be brought together through a series of case study workshops where mathematical data will be handled and examined.

This module will explore advanced themes of virology research in the 21st century. Grounded in the specialties of our research-active virologists, this module will equip the students with the knowledge required to understand virus:host interactions at the cellular, host and systems level and the skills to critically evaluate virology research findings. This will build on and enhance the knowledge acquired at level 4 and 5 on general microbiology and virology and complement the global overview of human pathogens explored within the Immunology and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases modules at level 6.