Access to Science – Biomedical Pathway

Build the university-level writing skills that every graded unit in this programme will demand. You develop the ability to plan and structure a written response, translate that plan into a coherent and well-evidenced argument, and present your work in a style appropriate to a scientific academic audience.

Develop the active reading techniques that distinguish university study from passive consumption of text. You explore a range of reading strategies, analyse how language, context and purpose shape meaning in academic and scientific sources, and master note-making methods that turn dense material into usable, well-organised knowledge.

Examine the cell as the fundamental unit of biological life, exploring the organisation of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic structures and the organelles that carry out specialised functions. You analyse the key processes that drive cellular activity and trace the stages of the cell cycle, from interphase through division and back to growth.

Investigate the atomic and molecular foundations of chemistry, from the arrangement of subatomic particles through to the nature of ionic, covalent and metallic bonding and the structures they produce. You analyse the intermolecular forces – hydrogen bonding, van der Waals and dipole–dipole interactions – that govern the physical properties of substances central to biomedical science.

Explore the mechanisms by which cells reproduce and genetic information is transmitted within and between generations. You examine mitosis as the basis of growth and repair, meiosis as the source of genetic variation in sexual reproduction, and the molecular and chromosomal processes that underpin the inheritance patterns studied in biomedical contexts.

Develop the quantitative chemistry skills that support laboratory work and clinical applications in biomedical science. You perform mole-related calculations, interpret and balance chemical formulae and equations, and examine the behaviour of acids and bases – including pH and neutralisation – which are central to understanding biochemical reactions and physiological buffering.

Investigate the relationship between diet, digestion and human health, examining what constitutes a balanced diet and how different nutrients are processed by the body. You assess dietary requirements and the factors that affect digestive efficiency, and explore the anatomy and physiology of the digestive system from ingestion to absorption.

Analyse the principles of oxidation and reduction and apply them to reactions relevant to biochemistry, pharmacology and environmental science. You examine trends in periodicity across the periodic table and investigate the distinctive chemistry of Group 2 elements, compounds and halogens, developing a more systematic understanding of chemical behaviour.

Study the structure and function of the skeleton and skeletal muscle, exploring how the human body generates and transmits force during movement. You examine the anatomy of bone, the physiology of muscle contraction at a cellular level, and the developmental processes through which bone tissue forms and is remodelled throughout life.

Investigate the molecular principles that govern how drugs are designed, detected and act within the body. You examine key concepts in medicinal chemistry – including pharmacophore structure, receptor binding and the significance of isomerism in drug action – and analyse the analytical techniques used for drug detection and the processes involved in bringing a new medicine to market.

Explore the organisation and function of the nervous system, from the central and peripheral divisions through to the cellular mechanisms that underpin communication between neurones. You examine the nature of nerve impulses, the electrochemical basis of action potentials, and the principles of synaptic transmission that allow signals to cross between cells.

Examine how human activity introduces harmful chemical species into the atmosphere, oceans and freshwater systems. You evaluate the causes and effects of atmospheric pollutants – including ozone depletion and smog formation – investigate the impact of rising CO₂ on ocean chemistry, and assess how trace-metal contamination of soils and waterways poses risks to ecosystems and public health.

Investigate how the endocrine system uses hormones to regulate the body's internal environment over longer timescales than the nervous system. You explore the structure and role of key endocrine glands, analyse the feedback mechanisms that maintain homeostasis, and examine how hormonal signalling pathways govern processes from metabolism to reproduction.

Develop a rigorous understanding of the thermodynamic and kinetic principles that govern chemical reactions. You examine rate laws and activation energy, apply enthalpy and entropy concepts to assess feasibility, analyse reversible reactions using equilibrium principles, and explore acid-base equilibria – including buffer systems with direct relevance to physiological chemistry.

Investigate how the human immune system recognises and responds to infection, examining both the non-specific defences and the highly targeted adaptive immune response. You explore the transmission and pathogenicity of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, analyse the immunological basis of vaccination, and examine the mechanisms by which antibiotics inhibit bacterial growth.

Examine the range of factors – genetic, lifestyle, environmental and infectious – that give rise to human disease, and the strategies used to monitor and control it at a population level. You explore the epidemiology of a named disease in depth, analysing incidence, distribution and risk factors, and evaluate the public health measures and screening programmes used to reduce its burden.