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Biological Sciences (Foundation degree delivered at Belfast Metropolitan College, Titanic Quarter campus)

Entry requirements


A level

C,C

A-level Biology or Double Award Science required. A-level General Studies and Critical Thinking are normally excluded from offers. However, the grade achieved may be taken into account when results are published in August and may be used in a tie-break situation.

Access to HE Diploma must contain sufficient relevant modules in Biology and Chemistry. Contact the Admissions and Access Service ([email protected]) for advice. Successful completion of the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 60 credits is required, including 45 credits at Level 3 and 15 at Level 2.

Successful completion of IB Diploma with 26-27 points overall including 5,4,4 at Higher Level (to include Higher Level Biology)

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H3,H4,H4,H4,H4-H3,H3,H4,H4


To include Higher Level grade H3 in Biology and H4 in Chemistry. If not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade O4 in Chemistry, English and Mathematics.

Successful completion of relevant BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (180 credits) with overall grades MMP

Successful completion of relevant National Extended Diploma (1080 Level 3 GLH) with overall grades MMP National Extended Diploma must be relevant, ie Applied Science

Considered on an individual basis. Offers are normally made on the basis of a combination of Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers.

Scottish Higher

B,B,C,C-B,C,C,C,C

Higher Biology required.

UCAS Tariff

64-111

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

2years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Biological sciences

This programme aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of scientific methods of enquiry and theoretical principles of biological sciences, including, where appropriate, the application of those principles in an employment context.

Students studying the FdSci in Biological Sciences will develop understanding of:

1. the relevance of biological sciences in the current economic environment
2. the hierarchical nature of biological sciences ranging from molecular level to whole organism and species interactions
3. the need for competence and dexterity in contemporary biological practical techniques and cognate disciplines
4. a professional approach to work, study and lifelong learning

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£6,166
per year
England
£6,166
per year
EU
£13,866
per year
International
£13,866
per year
Northern Ireland
£3,155
per year
Republic of Ireland
£3,155
per year
Scotland
£6,166
per year
Wales
£6,166
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Queen's University Belfast

Department:

School of Biological Sciences

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What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

56%
Biological sciences

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Biosciences (non-specific)

Teaching and learning

56%
Staff make the subject interesting
70%
Staff are good at explaining things
81%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
67%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

65%
Library resources
78%
IT resources
77%
Course specific equipment and facilities
63%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

93%
UK students
7%
International students
44%
Male students
56%
Female students
80%
2:1 or above
5%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
B
A

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Biosciences (non-specific)

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£18,000
med
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

20%
Natural and social science professionals
16%
Other elementary services occupations
15%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers

These stats refer to the prospects of graduates from general courses in biosciences. About a quarter go into further study and for those who go into work, bioscience, teaching and finance jobs are the most common types of employment. But you can go into most careers with this kind of degree — the majority of jobs for graduates don’t ask for a particular degree subject - and you will acquire a wide range of skills valued by many employers. If you want to find out more specifically about the prospects for your chosen subject, it might be a good idea to go on open days and talk to tutors about what previous graduates from your chosen subject went on to do.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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