Applied Medical Sciences, BSc (Hons) / MSci (Hons)

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Course Overview

BSc Applied Medical Sciences – UCAS Code B100

BSc Applied Medical Sciences with a Placement Year – UCAS Code B10P

BSc Applied Medical Sciences with a Year Abroad - UCAS Code B10A

MSci Applied Medical Sciences – UCAS Code B1MO

You might also be interested in BSc Applied Medical Sciences with a Foundation Year - UCAS Code B146

Gain a thorough grounding in the science underpinning medicine with a degree in Applied Medical Sciences

You will study a comprehensive range of topics, including human anatomy and physiology, cell biology, genetics, pharmacology, and neuroscience, together with their clinical and applied relevance.

You will develop an in-depth understanding of how the human body works, what happens when it goes wrong, how we currently treat disorders, and the potential for novel therapeutics.

A degree in Applied Medical Science provides a comprehensive grounding relevant to careers in laboratory research, medicine and commercial enterprise in the life sciences.  We have three employability strands to choose from in your second year (subject to eligibility): Medical Science in Practice, Enterprise and Innovation, and Medical Science in Research. These have been specially designed with experts to provide you with an insight into potential career options.

Why Applied Medical Sciences at Swansea?

A combination of compulsory and optional modules gives you the scope to tailor your studies to your particular interests, career aspirations, or plans for post-graduate study.

You will benefit from access to the Medical School's state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities, including the anatomy suite and research laboratories. Swansea University’s BSc in Applied Medical Sciences is one of the only undergraduate programmes of its kind in the UK that offers Year 1 students experience of cadaver-based anatomy. You will also join the Medical School’s dynamic research community when completing your final year research project. 

Our 3-year BSc degree is part of our ‘Medical Science in Practice’ Pathway to Medicine programme. Provided you meet the minimum entry requirements for Graduate Entry Medicine, and have successfully completed the Pathway, you will be guaranteed an interview for our flagship Graduate Entry Medicine MBBCh course, which is consistently ranked top 5 in the UK.

Your Applied Medical Sciences Experience

You can choose to study Applied Medical Sciences as a:

  • 3-year BSc,
  • 4-year BSc with a year in industry in the form of a placement year,
  • 4-year BSc with a year abroad, or a
  • 4-year MSci with an integrated master’s level qualification

Studying the 3-year BSc, you will undertake a mix of compulsory and optional modules, giving you the flexibility to tailor your degree to your particular interests, career ambitions, or plans for further study.

The 4-year programme with a year in industry offers an additional placement year between the second and final year, giving you the opportunity to experience work in industry, and allowing you to build confidence and gain real-world experience.

Adding a year abroad, as part of the 4year BSc option, allows you to add invaluable international experience to your CV while building intercultural communication skills that will improve your ability to interact with people from a variety of backgrounds.

Our 4-year MSci is an advanced undergraduate degree including an integrated master’s qualification, with the extra year spent undertaking a research project, allowing you to develop your skills and knowledge.

 

Applied Medical Sciences Employment Opportunities

With a strong entrepreneurial and innovation slant, our BSc in Applied Medical Sciences is ideal if you are interested in a career in emerging science, product development, pharmaceuticals, or biotechnology.

It also provides an excellent base for graduate entry into more clinically focused studies, including medicine, post-graduate research or Physician Associate Studies.

Examples of careers that graduates in this area have progressed to are included below:

  • Biomedical/NHS/clinical scientist (with further study/training)
  • Biotechnologist
  • Clinical data analyst/epidemiologist
  • Forensic scientist (with further study)
  • Medical doctor (with further study of a Graduate Entry Medicine degree)
  • Microbiologist
  • Pharmacologist/drug development roles
  • Physician Associate (with further study)
  • Product development or quality assurance in industry
  • Research scientist (may require further study such as a MSc or PhD)
  • Roles in industry, academia, or government laboratories such as Senior Scientist or Technical Expert
  • Science writer
  • Secondary school teacher (with further study)
  • Toxicologist

You can find more information on our Applied Medical Science degrees by visiting our Biomedical Sciences Quick Guide.

Modules

The 3-Year BSc structure is as follows:

Your first year is made up of compulsory modules covering the essential foundations of biochemistry, including human physiology, chemistry, molecular genetics, and microbiology.

In Year 2, you will choose from one of three Employability Strands (subject to eligibility): 

  • Medical Science in Practice - Are you interested in the contemporary practice of medicine in the UK? Do you want to learn more about the day-to-day role of a doctor? Led by one of Wales’ leading clinical educators, this strand provides students with an insight into these topics. If you meet the criteria, this option can help you to secure an interview for our Graduate Entry Medicine programme.
  • Medical Science in Research - Are you keen to answer the unanswered questions of the medical sciences and contribute knowledge to the scientific community? Through this pathway, you will learn how to perform, communicate, and critique research to fill important knowledge gaps. Many of our BSc students have progressed to postgraduate research programmes at MSc or PhD level, at Swansea University, or other UK or international institutions.
  • Enterprise and Innovation - If you would prefer to focus on translating ideas into real-world benefits, this option teaches you how to apply your knowledge to creatively develop new products and services. Students on this pathway may have the opportunity to complete summer placements in industry. You will also study specialised topics including infectious diseases, human immunology, neuroscience, and genetics.

In your third year, you will complete an independent research project under the guidance of a professional research scientist. Students have conducted projects in a broad range of areas, from novel treatments for leukaemia to giant viruses, to analysis of hospital data and applying virtual reality in healthcare. You will also study modules in areas such as reproductive biology, nanotoxicology, diabetes, and cancer pharmacology.

If you choose to undertake a year in industry or year abroad, this will take place between the second and third years of study listed above. If you choose to study the MSci equivalent, you will study the three years above, followed by an additional year at master’s level, consisting of an independent research project.

Applied Medical Sciences, BSc (Hons)

Applied Medical Sciences, MSci (Hons)

Applied Medical Sciences with a Placement Year, BSc (Hons)

Applied Medical Sciences with a Year Abroad, BSc (Hons)