Heriot-Watt University

The course

UCAS code
CB99
Duration
4 years
Location
Edinburgh
Delivery type
Full-time
Find out how to apply More about this subject area

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Overview

This course comprises a core of biology with an additional emphasis on the study of topics central to human health and wellbeing, such as nutrition, exercise science and physiology, and psychology. These themes are developed together throughout the course, with some flexibility in course structure and design, according to your interests or career aspirations.

Detailed course information

Course content

Detailed course guide

Year 1

Introduces Biology largely as Human Biology with accompanying courses in Applied and Environmental Biology. Additional subjects include Mathematics for Scientists and Chemistry, as required for an understanding of future courses in Biochemistry and Physiology.

Year 2

Considers broad topics in Biology, including: Cell and Molecular Biology; Microbiology; Human Anatomy and Physiology; and Nutrition and Health.

Year 3

Provides increased specialisation in aspects of: Cell and Molecular Biology; Nutrition and Human Health; and Cardiovascular and Exercise Biology. There is also the possibility to study Medical Microbiology or aspects of Biotechnology or Business.

Year 4

Students will study advanced-level courses in the areas of Biology and Exercise Science, covering topics such as: Molecular Toxicology; Molecular Nutrition; Immunology; Microbial Pathology; and Health, Lifestyle and Disease. A research project provides the practical component of the final year of study.

Employability

Work and study

This is what our BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Human Health) students are doing six months after graduating:

  • 43% are working
  • 38% are studying
  • 0% are working and studying.

Managerial/professional position

  • 65% of those working are in a professional/managerial position six months after graduating.

Salary

  • The average salary of students six months after graduating: £22000
  • The average UK salary of students six months after graduating from a similar course: £19000

Jobs

These are the most common jobs students go into six months after graduating:

  • Science, engineering and technology associate professionals
  • Business and public service associate professionals
  • Administrative occupations
  • Skilled trades occupations
  • Sales occupations

Entry requirements

Year 1

Standard entry requirements
  • Highers AABB/ABBBB (including a science subject)
  • A-Levels BBC (including a science subject)
  • Int. Baccalaureate 27 points to include a science subject at Higher Level 5
  • BTEC DMM (in relevant subject)
  • HNC C in graded unit (in relevant HNC)

Minimum entry requirements*

  • Highers BBBC (including a science subject at B)
  • A-Levels BCC (including a science subject)

Additional information
Suitable science subjects are Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Human Biology, Mathematics and Physics.

* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for Scottish students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:

  • live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20), or
  • are care experienced.

We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements

Year 2

  • Advanced Highers BB (including Biology or Human Biology plus Highers AABB/ABBBB)
  • A-Levels ABB (including Biology or Human Biology)
  • Int. Baccalaureate 32 points (with Biology at Higher Level 6)
  • HNC B in graded unit (in relevant HNC)
  • HND BB in graded units (in relevant HND)
  • BTEC DDM (in relevant subject)

Year 3

  • HND AB in graded units (in relevant HND)

Additional information

Fees

Tuition fees for 2019 entry (by residency status)
Status* Scotland / EU** England / Northern Ireland / Wales*** International
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,250 £18,480

* Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course. Find out more about tuition fees.

** European Union countries (not including England, Northern Ireland or Wales).

*** 'Rest of the UK' (RUK) students entering at Level 1 receive a fee waiver of one year's tuition fee. Normally this will be the final year, or a year during which students study abroad (either at a partnership institution, or at one of Heriot-Watt's overseas campuses).

Additional costs

You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.

Scholarships and bursaries

Featured scholarships

Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales starting undergraduate degree courses in 2020

In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:

Merit Awards for international students starting undergraduate degree courses in 2019

If you are an international fee-paying, self-funded applicant and have achieved, or are on course to achieve, the minimum entry requirements for the programme you wish to study you may be eligible for:

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.