Undergraduate

BSc (Hons) in

Medical Sciences

(Biomedical Sciences)

In this one-year intercalated BSc (Hons) research-focused degree, you will gain expertise in the processes underpinning health and disease at the cellular and molecular level, covering themes such as cancer biology, infectious disease, immunology, and neuroscience.

Course length 1 year full-time

Start date September 2027

Location University of York

Course overview
Teaching and assessment
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
Applying

Introduction

About the programme

Take your medical training beyond the clinic and explore the science that underpins health, disease and the development of new treatments.

This one-year intercalated BSc (Hons) in Medical Sciences (Biomedical Sciences) gives you the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive human disease, while gaining first-hand experience of how biomedical research translates into better diagnosis, treatment and patient care.

You will gain insight into advances made in basic science, which provide the basis for the development of novel and improved methods of diagnosis and treatment of disease. These exciting developments will benefit those wishing to apply for clinical training fellowships, as well as future doctors who want to understand the basis of medical conditions that they will treat and advise patients on.

This degree has been designed to enable you to personally tailor a programme to meet your specific interests. We offer modules that include cellular and molecular processes in study themes such as cancer biology, infectious disease, immunology, and neuroscience.

You will also carry out a piece of original and independent research for the whole academic year, gaining hands-on experience of designing and conducting controlled scientific experiments within a working research laboratory or group.

With contributions to the programme from four departments with outstanding biomedical research activity: the Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, the Department of Health Sciences, and the Department of Psychology, the programme continues to develop to ensure you have the latest understanding of the most important topics in human biology and disease, infection and immunity, epidemiology, and neuroscience.

You will study alongside final-year BSc (Hons) students in Biomedical Sciences, Biology, and Biochemistry in the Department of Biology at the University of York. Hull York Medical School researchers from the Experimental Medicine and Biomedicine group contribute significantly to the teaching you will receive within the department.

On successfully completing the programme, you will graduate with a BSc (Hons). All our degrees at Hull York Medical School are awarded by both our parent universities – the University of Hull and the University of York.

Apply now

CONTACT US

pgtadmissions@hyms.ac.uk +44 (0)1904 321690

Researcher using a microscope in the Daisy Laboratories at Castle Hill Hospital

University of York

About the Department of Biology

The Department of Biology at York is active in both research and teaching. Biomedical Sciences undergraduates are taught in a new purpose-built teaching building that houses high-tech teaching laboratories and a 120-seat computer room, along with breakout rooms for self-directed and group learning.

The department was ranked 1st for learning opportunities and second for academic support in Biosciences by students in the National Student Survey 2025, 7th in the UK for Biosciences (Guardian University Guide 2023), 12th for Biological Sciences (Good University Guide 2025), and is currently 7th for Biological Sciences in the Complete University Guide 2026.

Researchers within the department of Biology, along with Hull York Medical School’s Experimental Medicine and Biomedicine researchers, are active within the recently established York Biomedical Research Institute (YBRI).

Research within YBRI is aligned with the three main themes of the institute: Immunology, Haematology and Infection, Neuroscience and Molecular and Cellular Medicine. Several independent research units with biomedical interests are also based in the Department, including the YCR Cancer Research Unit and the Jack Birch Unit for Molecular Carcinogenesis, Hull York Medical School's Skin Research Centre and the Centre for Blood Research at York.

Find out more about the Department of Biology at the University of York.

Modules

You will undertake 120 credits of study in total. 40 credits will be awarded through the independent research project, and the remaining 80 credits will be from the wide selection of modules offered, which you can select to make your own tailor-made programme.

Up to 20 credits will be earned from a Level 5 (second year) module, and the remaining 100 credits must be achieved through Level 6 (final year) modules.

Module	Core/Optional	Level	Credits
Research Project	Core	6	40
Cell Biology	Optional	5	20
Mechanisms of Disease	Optional	5	20
Molecular Microbiology	Optional	5	20
The Immune System	Optional	5	20
Neuroscience	Optional	5	20
Pharmacology	Optional	5	20
Advanced Topics in Neuroscience	Optional	6	20
Ageing and Regenerative Medicine	Optional	6	20
Pathogens	Optional	6	20
Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology	Optional	6	20
Mechanisms to Therapies	Optional	6	20
Haematology and Immunology in Health and Disease*	Optional	6	20
Human Genetics	Optional	6	20

All modules are subject to availability, and this list may change at any time.

Research project

The research project is the opportunity for you to gain first-hand experience of medical research. Projects are designed by tutors and represent current research challenges.

The diverse project offering enables you to develop a range of skills of your choosing, including science communication, data projects and laboratory-based projects.

The research project themes to choose from in this intercalated degree are:

Neuroscience
Genetic influences in neurological defects including neurofibromatosis, MND/ALS or frontotemporal dementia
Infection
Immune recognition of pathogens, development of vaccines
Haematology and Immunology
Understanding mechanisms of blood cancer, data mining – determining changes between healthy and disease states
Cancer/Skin/Pathology
Exploring the genetic basis of skin conditions, molecular pathology of muscle disorders, cellular signalling pathways in human disease, data analysis – cancer cell transcriptomics and genomics
Science Communication
Education in biomedical sciences, developing an educational resource for communicating science, public understanding of science, public understanding of the ethics of research

The research project is worth 40 credits and will take place over both academic semesters. As part of this research experience, you will be immersed in the laboratory or group of your project supervisor, potentially working alongside post-doctoral research fellows, technicians, PhD and Masters students.

Many supervisors will also host Biomedical Sciences, Biology, and Biochemistry undergraduates during their final-year research project. Combined, you will find plenty of expertise and help available during your research project. The research project will be assessed by a written report and an oral presentation.

Teaching and assessment

How is the programme taught and assessed?

Teaching within the department is delivered in thematic modules via a mix of lectures and workshops. Laboratory practicals also provide a basis for learning for modules at Level 5. You will also be expected to undertake self-directed learning to consolidate your learning.

Learning for each module will be assessed by at least one assessment, which will vary between modules. Examples of assessment include essay/coursework, closed examinations and open assessments designed to test your skills in data analysis, experimental design, synthesis, evaluation or application. The research project is assessed by a dissertation and an oral assessment.

Entry

Entry requirements

You must have successfully completed year 2 of your MBBS Medicine or equivalent programme.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Tuition fees for 2027 are yet to be confirmed. The fees for 2026 entry were:

UK (Home): £9,790
International (including EU): £32,350

Applying

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

The application form requires details of two referees. Once you have submitted your application form, reference forms are automatically sent to the referees you indicate in your application.

The closing date for applications is 30 June.