Biomedical Science

Course detail Description

The Biomedical Science BSc interdisciplinary degree is the most popular of our Bioscience courses, with an entry of approximately 230 students per year. It offers you great flexibility for your second and third years at university, including options to study abroad or undertake a work placement. Offering high-quality teaching throughout, the course will allow you to follow a degree programme that reflects your individual scientific strengths and interests.

This course forms part of the suite of ‘Common Year 1’ courses within the School of Bioscience Education. These comprise Anatomy, Developmental & Human Biology; Biochemistry; Biomedical Science; Medical Physiology; Molecular Genetics; Neuroscience; Pharmacology; Pharmacology & Molecular Genetics.

You can also apply to transfer to one of our four-year MSci courses: Biochemistry MSci; Molecular Genetics MSci; Neuroscience MSci.

In Year 2 you may also choose to study abroad at one of our partner institutions, or apply to undertake an extra-mural or work placement, usually at a leading biomedicine employer (to be taken between the second and third years).

Teaching

The course of study is delivered through lectures, seminars and practical laboratory work. The rest of your time will be spent on self-study, including reading, research and writing assignments.

Course stage

Percentage of time in scheduled learning & teaching activities

Percentage of time in guided independent study

Percentage of time on placements

Year 1

25%

75%

-

Year 2

19%

81%

-

Year 3

22%

78%

-

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a combination of coursework, examinations and practical observation. (Percentages may vary depending on module choices made).

Course stage

Percentage of assessment by written exams

Percentage of assessment by practical exams

Percentage of assessment by coursework

Year 1

78%

5%

17%

Year 2

78%

13%

9%

Year 3

68%

8%

24%

Study Abroad

You will also have the opportunity to study abroad for your second year at one of our partner universities, which currently include:

• The University of Melbourne, Australia

• National University of Singapore

• University of Skövde, Sweden

• The University of California

• The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

You may be required to fulfil additional entry requirements for this option.

Extra-mural Year

Alternatively, you may apply for an extra-mural year, to be taken between the second and third years if selected. Students apply directly to placement providers through a process facilitated by the university. Placements, either in the UK or overseas, may be in a pharmaceutical company, a government research establishment or academic research institute. Placement companies and establishments in the past have included:

• CIB (Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas), Madrid

• Eli Lilly & Company Ltd

• GlaxoSmithKline Co. Durham/Stevenage/Uxbridge

• NUS Singapore

• OSI Prosidion Limited

• Pfizer

• Pneumolabs UK Limited, Stevenage

• St George’s, University of London

• UCB

• William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary’s University London

• Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases (CARD), King’s College London

Regulating body

King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

Location

This course is primarily taught at the King’s College Guy’s and Waterloo Campuses, both on the South Bank of the Thames, putting you at the heart of everything London has to offer in terms of academic resources and also close to its social and entertainment attractions.

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Structure

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 360 credits.

There are options to switch to any other course in the Bioscience suite or to a four-year MSci after year one. You can also choose to study abroad during year two or take an extra-mural year between years two and three.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

You are required to take:

• Biochemistry (15 credits)

• Chemistry for the Biosciences (15 credits)

• Genetics & Molecular Biology (15 credits)

• Cell Biology & Neuroscience (15 credits)

• Fundamentals of Physiology & Anatomy (30 credits)

• Fundamentals of Pharmacology (15 credits)

• Skills for the Biosciences (15 credits)

After successful completion of Year 1 there are no required modules for this course, but students are advised to follow one of our suggested themes of study dependent upon their developing interest. These academically coherent themes currently include: Infectious Disease and Immunology; Cell and Molecular Biology; Developmental Biology; Neuropharmacology; Endocrinology and Nutrition; Biology of Systems; Biomedical Sciences.

There are no optional modules for this course in Year 1.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Year 2

You will have the opportunity to study abroad for your second year at one of our partner universities. Alternatively, you may apply for an extra-mural year, to be taken between the second and third years if selected. See the course description for more information.

There are no required modules for this course in Year 2.

Take sufficient credits to bring your total for the year to 120, from a range of optional modules, which may typically include:

• Animal Models of Disease & Injury (15 credits)

• Cell Biology A (15 credits)

• Comparative Physiology (15 credits)

• Drug Discovery & Development (15 credits)

• Drugs & Disease A (15 credits) or Drugs & Disease B (30 credits)

• Emergence of Vertebrate Form & Function (15 credits)

• Endocrinology & Reproduction (15 credits)

• Essentials of Embryology (15 credits)

• Experimental Biochemistry (15 credits)

• Gene Cloning & Expression A and B (15 credits each)

• Human & Molecular Genetics A (15 credits) or Human & Molecular Genetics A/B (30 credits)

• Human Nutrition (15 credits)

• Immune System in Health & Disease (15 credits)

• Introduction to Stem Cells (15 credits)

• Medical Microbiology (15 credits)

• Metabolism (15 credits)

• Neuroscience (30 credits)

• Neuroscience & the Mind (15 credits)

• Physiological Control; Exercise & Environment (15 credits)

• Physiology & Pharmacology of the Central Nervous System (15 credits)

• Principles of Bioinformatics (15 credits)

• Protein Structure & Function (15 credits)

• Psychology (15 credits)

• Report on a Physiological Topic (15 credits)

• Research Skills in Pharmacology (30 credits)

• Structural Basis of Human Function (30 credits)

• Social Impact of the Biosciences (15 credits)

• Tissue Pathology (15 credits)

• Philosophy of Science (15 credits)

• Research Skills in Immunology (15 credits)

• A modern language (15 credits)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Year 3 Required Modules

Students who have picked a theme of study would be expected to continue with it. All students must select either a Laboratory Research or Literature Project.

Take sufficient credits to bring your total for the year to 120, from a range of optional modules, which may typically include:

• Advanced Molecular Genetics (15 credits)

• Behavioural Science (15 credits)

• Biology of Cancer (30 credits)

• Biomedical Diagnostics (15 credits)

• Cardiovascular & Respiratory Control (30 credits)

• Cellular Basis of Drug Dependence (30 credits)

• Cellular Basis of Disease (15 credits)

• Cellular & Systems Neuroscience (30 credits)

• Cell & Molecular Pharmacology (30 credits)

• Cardiovascular Pharmacology (15 credits)

• Cell Physiology (15 credits)

• Developmental Neurobiology (30 credits)

• Endocrinology of Diabetes (15 credits)

• Experimental Physiology (15 credits)

• Extreme Physiology (30 credits)

• Laboratory Research Project in the areas of: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Developmental and Human Biology, Genetics, Infection and Immunity, Molecular Science, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Physiology (45 credits)

• Literature Research Project in the areas of: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Developmental and Human Biology, Genetics, Infection and Immunity, Molecular Science, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Physiology (15 credits)

• Immunology of Human Disease (15 credits)

• Mechanisms of Development (30 credits)

• Medical Genetics (15 credits)

• Molecular Immunology (15 credits)

• Molecular Genetics of Model Organisms (15 credits)

• Muscle (15 credits)

• Neuroendocrinology (15 credits)

• Nutrition & Genetics (15 credits)

• Oxidative Stress in Experimental Pathology A (15 credits)

• Perspectives on Pain & Nervous System Disorders (30 credits)

• Pharmacology of Neurological & Psychiatric Disorders (15 credits)

• Principles of Neurobiological Research (15 credits)

• Project Design in: Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Physiology (30 credits)

• Protein Structure & Design (15 credits)

• Reproductive Physiology (15 credits)

• Social Impact of the Biosciences Project (15 credits)

• Vascular Physiology (30 credits)

• Viruses & Diseases (15 credits)

• A modern language (15 credits)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant courses of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.