Human Biosciences BSc (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Students wearing white coats and working in the SuperLab.

Explore the complexities of human health and disease through genomics, neurophysiology and microbiology. Gain hands-on laboratory experience and prepare for a range of careers in the bioscience and healthcare sectors.

Course option

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich
Condensed first year available

UCAS codes

C110

Start date

September 2026

The information on this page is for 2025-26 entry and should be used as guidance for 2026-27 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.


Course overview

This course explores human health and disease, from molecules to global health trends and examines how the human body responds to an ever-changing environment.

  • Tackle global health challenges: explore the science behind human health and disease, from molecules to populations, and develop the skills to address pressing global health issues.
  • Hands-on, real-world experience: master advanced lab techniques in our biosciences super-lab, model human physiology in sophisticated simulation spaces, and engage with real-world research and case studies4.
  • Prepare for a career in bioscience: gain the scientific knowledge, critical thinking skills and practical experience valued by employers to prepare for career paths in research, healthcare and industry.
A star in the centre of a rosette.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

City buildings next to a tree.

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2026

Why you should study this course

  • Practical, contemporary facilities:4 the Super-Lab provides access to advanced equipment, allowing you to master contemporary techniques like qPCR, cell culture and flow cytometry.
  • Student-centred active learning: this course will be delivered through a blend of hands-on laboratory-based sessions, interactive lectures and discursive workshops. Apply your knowledge and skills to an independent research project in the final year.
  • Common first year: collaborate and work alongside students doing similar courses to expand your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions.
  • Cutting-edge science: explore the science behind emerging threats like antimicrobial resistance, challenges of an ageing population and how genomic science is revolutionising our understanding of disease.
  • Placement opportunities:2 apply for either a one-year professional training placement, or an international experience year to enhance learning and gain a competitive advantage in the workplace after graduation.

Our award-winning green Superlab

With space for over 200 students and packed full of industry-standard equipment, the Coventry University Superlab is an amazing place to learn, experiment and discover. Find out what we’re doing in our Superlab to make it greener and reduce our waste and carbon emissions.


What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Common first year courses

  • Biomedical Science BSc (Hons)
  • Biological and Forensic Sciences BSc (Hons)
  • Human Biosciences BSc (Hons)
  • Pharmacology BSc (Hons)

In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field.

Modules

Modules

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

Modules

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

Throughout your studies, you will have the opportunity to develop a good knowledge of a range of disciplines and how they apply to human health and disease, including both theory and lab-based classes.

You will have the opportunity to undertake challenging lab and non-lab-based independent research projects, dealing with important life science research questions, which in the past have tackled, for example, the antimicrobial activity of essential oils, cinnamon and ginger against drug-resistant clinical pathogens or the effect of sleep deprivation on physiological and mental health in healthy young adults.

Teaching methods may include:

  • hands-on laboratory-based sessions
  • interactive lectures
  • interactive formats such as quizzes
  • discussions
  • presentations
  • case studies
  • self-guided and directed study.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. You will normally study one 30-credit module at a time. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary depending on your year of study and selected modules. During your first year, you can expect 12-15 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.


Assessment

Assessment methods align to transferable industry skills, providing you with practical, real-world skills designed to enhance your professional readiness and career prospects.

Assessment methods may include:

  • online tests
  • essays and critical reviews
  • pitches
  • case studies
  • proposals
  • portfolios
  • group work for presentations, lab projects and reports
  • individual presentations
  • laboratory reports
  • lab skill competency
  • posters and other information resources (e.g. videos, websites, briefing papers)
  • independent research project.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


International experience opportunities

By its very nature, the course adopts an international perspective as science knows no borders. We also typically attract students from many different countries providing a varied, multicultural and fulfilling environment in which to learn. We encourage students to mix on group work and projects.

The placement/study abroad option allows a year’s work placement or study, which can be taken abroad2. Some former students have studied at the University of Leiden in Holland, for example.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed2.


Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 120
A level BBB to include Biology. Excludes General Studies
GCSE GCSE maths, English and two sciences at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards.
BTEC DDM in the BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma in a Biological Science subject. Excludes Health and Social Care.
IB Diploma 32 points to include 5 points in Biology at Higher Level.
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma to include 30 Level 3 credits above Merit of which 15 must be at Distinction in Biology units. Plus GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 / C or above.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an international foundation course. Upon successful completion this should provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this undergraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year
Not available
EU 2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £18,300 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £18,300 per year
Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2027/28 will pay £1,500 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,800 if they are paying international fees.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Condensed course – January start date

If you choose to start this course in January please make sure you check the Fees and Finance page for more information. Although starting this course in January does not prohibit you from being eligible for student finance, the way it is paid in your first year differs from those who start their course in September.

If you start the course in January, your tuition fees will be paid in accordance with the university’s Tuition Fees, Refund and Withdrawal Terms and Conditions for January starters and for any further years of study, your fees will be paid in accordance with the terms for September starters.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

Your studies will be centred in high-specification learning environments that benefit from extensive social learning facilities, well-appointed laboratories, industry-standard equipment, lecturing facilities and classrooms, facilitating our innovative teaching methods across a diverse suite of courses.

Students in the biochemistry lab

Alison Gingell Building

The Alison Gingell Building is home to microbiology, cell culture, molecular biology/genetics, biochemistry and forensic science laboratories, allowing you to work in a replicated professional environment from day one.

Laboratory with people wearing white coats taking samples

SuperLab

Our SuperLab has facilities for cell culture and equipment for microscopy, DNA, RNA and protein analysis, and forensic testing.

 

 

Students using physiology testing equipment

Physiology suite

Separate physiology and health laboratory facilities enable the measurement of physiological parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, lung function test and neuromuscular functioning.

 

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.


Careers and opportunities

This dynamic field equips you with a unique blend of scientific knowledge, critical thinking skills, and practical experience that are highly valued in today's competitive job market. 

You could embark on a rewarding career in the thriving bioscience industry, contributing to cutting-edge research and development at leading pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, or medical research institutions. Alternatively, you could pursue a career in healthcare, working in hospitals, clinics, or public health organisations, making a direct impact on patient care.

Beyond traditional scientific roles, your strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills should also equip you for successful careers in areas such as data science and analytics, project management, and science communication and education. 

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates have gone on to careers in conducting clinical trials for drug companies, as research assistants in laboratories in universities and various roles within industry, such as marketing assistants and medical and scientific representatives for companies. Others have used their qualifications to progress into teaching careers, as well as postgraduate study to obtain MSc, MPhil and PhD qualifications. 
Our graduates have gone on to work for companies including:

  • Binding Site
  • Rosalind Franklin Laboratory
  • SciBite, Pharmaron
  • Weetabix
  • Campden BRI
  • GSK
  • Prime Global
  • AS&K communications
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific.

The graduate destinations listed above illustrate potential career paths. You may need to gain additional qualifications or practical experience, pass professional examinations, complete training, cover associated costs and meet specific visa or immigration requirements to secure employment in these fields. 

Further study

The course is an excellent foundation for further postgraduate studies leading to an MSc or PhD. We run a range or related taught MSc courses that allow our graduates to specialise in the area that they have a passion for and would like to pursue a career in.

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