Program Overview

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Human Biology BSc (Hons) degree

The Human Biology BSc (Hons) degree at Loughborough University is a 4-year full-time program with a placement year or a 3-year full-time program. The typical offer for this course is AAB, including Biology or Human Biology, with Chemistry, Physics, Geography, or Environmental Science considered on a case-by-case basis if A Level Biology has not been previously studied.

Course Description

Human Biology is the study of the structure and function of the human body, looking at how the human species evolved, how we change over the lifespan, adapt to life stressors, and how our human biology and culture influence disease risk. The course is unique in its consideration of the human from molecular to population level and in its international perspective. It is also modular, allowing choice and increasing specialization in each year of study.

Course Structure

The course includes a range of modules, such as:

• Biochemistry and Cell Biology
• Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Human Evolution and Adaptation
• Laboratory Skills 1
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Academic Skills and Data Description
• Human Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
• Research Methods: Data Analysis
• Genomics
• Growth Development and Ageing
• Physiology of Exercise and Training
• Interdisciplinary Science
• Laboratory Skills II
• Psychology and Health
• Cellular Signalling and Transport
• Project
• Body Composition and Physiological Measurement
• Physiology of Exercise and Health
• Sport and Exercise Nutrition
• Applied Physiology of Sport Performance
• Public and Global Health
• Human Performance at Environmental Extremes
• Cellular Adaptation and Degeneration
• Applied Genomics
• Infectious Diseases in Humans
• Cancer Biology

Entry Requirements

To be considered for the Human Biology BSc (Hons) degree, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Typical A Level offer: AAB, including Biology or Human Biology
• Typical IB offer: 35 (6,6,5 HL) with 5 in Biology at HL
• Typical BTEC offer: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science or Forensic Science: DDD
• GCSE: Maths and English Language grade 4/C
• Reduced contextual offer: Meeting specific eligibility criteria guarantees that if you are made an offer, it will be reduced by up to two grades.

International Entry Requirements

The university accepts a range of international qualifications, including:

• Australia: ATAR score between 85.00 and 94.00
• Austria: Reifeprüfung (Matura) average score between 2.2 and 1.2
• Bahrain: Tawjihiyah/Thanawiya amma (General Secondary Education Certificate) with a suitable Foundation Year
• Bangladesh: Higher Secondary Certificate with a suitable Foundation Year
• Belgium: Certificat d’Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur (CESS) and Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs (DSO) with an overall score ranging from 75% to 85%
• Brazil: Brazilian High School Certificate with a suitable Foundation Year
• Brunei: A Level or IB qualifications will be considered for direct entry to undergraduate degree courses
• Bulgaria: Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie with an overall score ranging from 5.3 to 6.0
• Canada: Grade 12 with an average score between 80% and 93%
• China: Senior Middle Examinations with a suitable Foundation Year
• Croatia: Matura (Svjedodžba o Maturi) with an average score between 4.0 and 5.0
• Cyprus: Apolytirion with a score of 19.5 in the Apolytirion alongside an ‘A’ at A Level or 18.0 in the Apolytirion alongside ‘AB’ at A Level
• Czech Republic: Maturita (Vysvědčení o Maturitní Zkoušce) with an average ranging from 2.00 to 1.00
• Denmark: Bevis for Studentereksamen (STX) with a score between 8.0 and 10.5
• Egypt: Thanaweya A’ama (Certificate of General Secondary Education) with a suitable Foundation Year
• Estonia: Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with the Riigieksamitunnistus with a high average grade between 4.3 and 4.8
• European Baccalaureate: Overall average mark between 78% and 88% with specific subject marks (normally 8.0 or higher from a 4 or 5 period subject) required for some courses
• Faroe Islands: Studentsprógv with a score between 8.0 and 10.5
• Finland: Ylioppilastutkinto / Studentexamen with achievement in best 4 subjects
• France: French Baccalauréat Général (assessed from 2021 onwards) with an overall result between 13.0 and 15.5
• Germany: Abitur with an overall score ranging from 1.3 to 2.0
• Ghana: WASSCE with a suitable Foundation Year
• Greece: Greek Apolyterion are normally required to also take the Panhellenic Exams with a General Access Grade in the Panhellenics and range from 16.5 to 19.0
• Hong Kong: Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education with grades ranging from 5, 4, 4 to 5*, 5, 5
• Hungary: Hungarian Matura (Érettségi Bizonyítvány) with an average ranging from 70% to 83%
• Iceland: Stúdentspróf with an overall grade between 8.0 and 9.3
• India: Standard XII school leaving qualifications with results in the region of 78% - 88% average performance from best 4 subjects
• Indonesia: Ijazah: Sekolah Menengah Atas/Madrasah Aliyah (SMA/MA) with a suitable Foundation Year
• Ireland: Leaving Certificate under the new grading system (post 2016) with 5 higher level passes with grades ranging from H2 H2 H3 H3 H3 to H1 H1 H2 H2 H2
• Israel: Bagrut with a score between 78% and 92% depending on the course
• Italy: Diploma di Esamo di Stato with an overall score ranging from 85% to 98%
• Japan: Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho (Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate) with a suitable Foundation Year
• Jordan: Tawjihiyah/Thanawiya amma (General Secondary Education Certificate) with a suitable Foundation Year
• Kazakhstan: Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) Grade 12 Certificate with a score between AAA and BBB from Advanced level subjects
• Kenya: Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education with a suitable Foundation Year
• Kuwait: Tawjihiyah/Thanawiya amma (General Secondary Education Certificate) with a suitable Foundation Year
• Latvia: Atestāts par Vispārējo Vidējo Izglītību with a high average grade between 9.2 and 10.0
• Lebanon: Baccalauréat Général with a suitable Foundation Year
• Lithuania: Brandos Atestatas with an overall total score of between 22 and 30
• Malaysia: Matrikulasi (Matriculation Certificate) or the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysian (STPM) with grades ranging from AAA-BBB from best 3 (core) subjects
• Malta: Advanced Matriculation Exam with achievement in 2 advanced level subjects (typically between BB and AA) and 3 intermediate level subjects
• Netherlands: Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) with an average score ranging from 6.6 to 7.4
• New Zealand: National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3 with overall achievement in the NCEA plus a required number of credits achieved at the next level up
• Nigeria: WASSCE with a suitable Foundation Year
• Norway: Vitnemål for Videregående Opplæring with an average score from 2500 credits with an ‘A’ counting as 20 points
• Oman: Tawjihiyah/Thanawiya amma (General Secondary Education Certificate) with a suitable Foundation Year
• Pakistan: Intermediate/Higher Secondary School Certificate with a suitable Foundation Year
• Poland: New Matura with an average achievement from 3 extended level exams and offers normally ranging from 75% to 85%
• Portugal: Diploma de Ensino Secundário with an overall score of 16 to 18
• Qatar: Shahadat Al-Thanawaya Al-Aama (Senior School Certificate) with a suitable Foundation Year
• Romania: Diploma de Bacalaureat with an overall total score of between 8.6 and 9.4
• Russia: Certificate of Unified State Examination with a suitable Foundation Year
• Saudi Arabia: Tawjihiyah (General Secondary Education Certificate) with a suitable Foundation Year
• Singapore: Singapore A Levels with grades ranging from BBC to AAA from three H2 Level subjects
• Slovakia: Slovakian Matura (Vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške) with an average score ranging from 2.00 to 1.00
• Slovenia: Maturitetno Spričevalo with an overall total score of between 22 and 30
• South Africa: National Senior Certificate (NSC) with grades ranging from 6,6,6,6,6 to 7,7,7,7,7
• South Korea: High School Diploma with a suitable Foundation Year
• Spain: Titulo de Bachillerato with an overall score of 7.50 to 9.50
• Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan A Levels are considered comparable to the typical A Level requirements
• Sweden: Avgångsbetyg / Slutbetyg från Gymnasieskola with an average score from 2500 credits with an ‘A’ counting as 20 points
• Switzerland: Certificat de Maturité, Attestato di Maturità, or Eidgenössisch Anerkanntes Maturitätszeugnis with an overall score ranging from 4.8 to 5.5
• Taiwan: Senior High School Diploma with a suitable Foundation Year
• Tanzania: Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE) with grades equivalent to the typical A Level offer requirements
• Thailand: Certificate of Secondary Education/Maw 6 with a suitable Foundation Year
• The Caribbean: Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) with grades ranging from 2, 2, 2 to 1, 1, 1
• The Gulf: Tawjihiyah/Thanawiya amma (General Secondary Education Certificate) with a suitable Foundation Year
• Turkey: Anadolu Lisesi (Anatolian High School Diploma) or Fen Lisesi (Science High School Diploma) with a pass mark of higher than 80%
• Uganda: Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) with grades equivalent to the typical A Level offer requirements
• Ukraine: Atestat pro Povnu Zagal'nu Sersdniu Osvitu/Certificate of Complete General Secondary Education with a suitable Foundation Year
• United Arab Emirates: Tawjihiyah/Thanawiya amma (General Secondary Education Certificate) with a suitable Foundation Year
• United States of America: High School Graduation Diploma with a GPA of 3.2/4.0, in addition to a combination of any three of the following: Advanced Placement (AP) Exam, IB Higher Levels, College level class credit, or Honors classes
• Vietnam: Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Phổ Thông Trung Học with a suitable Foundation Year
• Zambia: General Certificate of Education with a suitable Foundation Year
• Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe A Levels are considered comparable to the typical A Level requirements

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for the Human Biology BSc (Hons) degree are:

• UK fees: £9,535 per annum for full-time courses, with a placement year fee of approximately 20% of the full-time fee
• International fees: £30,700 per annum for full-time courses, with a placement year fee of approximately 20% of the full-time fee

Career Opportunities

Human Biology graduates have gone on to pursue a wide variety of careers in areas ranging from DNA analysis to epidemiology. Some of the areas of employment and/or further training include:

• Postgraduate medicine and allied subjects, such as clinical science or physiotherapy
• Health promotion
• Scientific and medical research in universities, research institutes, and the private sector
• Diagnostic lab work
• Teaching or technical support in schools or colleges
• Coordinating clinical trials
• Scientific or clinical information, marketing, or sales
• General graduate training schemes, for instance in finance or retail management
• Postgraduate study

Companies Students Have Worked For

Human Biology graduates have gone on to work for companies such as:

• Alzheimer's Society
• Anthony Nolan
• Ashfield Healthcare
• Birmingham Women’s Hospital
• British Triathalon
• Cellmark Forensics
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Illumina
• Ministry of Defence
• NHS
• Papworth Hospital Foundation Trust
• Pricewaterhouse Cooper
• Teach First

Course Statistics

According to Discover Uni, the course statistics for the Human Biology BSc (Hons) degree are:

• 86% of students say staff value students' views and opinions about the course
• 89% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well
• 90% of students are in work or doing further study 15 months after the course

Additional Costs

While the cost of tuition covers lots of things, it doesn’t cover everything. For instance, this course doesn’t cover the cost of any stationery, printing, books, or re-assessments which you might need.