Access to Science – Medical & Health Pathway

Build the written communication skills required for degree-level study in science and health disciplines. The unit covers how to plan, structure and present analytical written work for an academic audience, applying appropriate referencing conventions, scientific register and logical argument construction to prepare for the assessments that follow across the qualification.

Develop the active reading strategies essential for engaging with scientific and medical literature at university level. You explore how language, purpose and context shape meaning across different text types, from journal abstracts to clinical guidelines, and practise systematic note-making methods that translate complex sources into usable analytical material.

Examine the cell as the fundamental biological unit from which all living tissues are constructed. The unit covers eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell structure, the organelles that carry out specialised cellular functions, and the stages and significance of the cell cycle, providing the biological grounding needed for genetics, physiology and pathology modules.

Investigate the sub-atomic structure of matter and the chemical bonding principles that determine the properties of substances. The unit covers atomic structure, ionic, covalent and metallic bonding, molecular geometry, and intermolecular forces, establishing the chemical foundations essential for understanding drug action, biological molecules and materials science.

Explore the nature of electromagnetic radiation and the properties that distinguish each region of the spectrum. You examine how UV, visible, infrared, microwave, X-ray and gamma radiation interact with matter, and analyse their specific applications in medical imaging, spectroscopy, radiotherapy and communications technology.

Study the mechanisms by which genetic information is replicated and transmitted across generations. The unit covers mitosis and meiosis, the structure and replication of DNA, Mendelian inheritance patterns, gene mutations, and the principles of modern genetics, providing the foundation for understanding hereditary disease, genetic testing and biotechnology in medical contexts.

Apply quantitative chemical reasoning to reactions and solutions of direct relevance to biological and pharmaceutical science. The unit covers the mole concept, stoichiometric calculations, balancing equations, and the behaviour of acids, bases and buffers, skills that underpin the chemistry of drug formulation, blood pH regulation and laboratory analysis.

Examine the fundamental physical principles governing biological systems and underpinning medical technology. You analyse Newton's laws of motion, conservation of energy, fluid dynamics and basic electrical circuits, situating each principle within the context of physiological processes and clinical instrumentation.

Study the integrated structure and function of the bones, joints and muscles that enable human movement. The unit examines skeletal anatomy in relation to locomotion, the molecular and physiological basis of muscle contraction, and the processes of bone growth and remodelling, essential knowledge for orthopaedics, physiotherapy, sport science and rehabilitation.

Investigate the chemical principles that explain how pharmaceutical agents interact with biological targets. The unit covers functional group chemistry, receptor binding, structure-activity relationships, and the processes of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME), providing the chemical literacy needed for pharmacology and pharmaceutical science degree programmes.

Examine the physical principles of radioactive decay and how they are exploited safely and precisely in clinical medicine. The unit covers alpha, beta and gamma emission, half-life, ionising radiation safety, and the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radioactive isotopes, including PET scanning, SPECT imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy.

Analyse how the endocrine system coordinates body functions through the secretion of hormones. The unit covers the major endocrine glands and their hormones, the mechanisms of hormonal action at the cellular level, homeostatic feedback loops, and the clinical consequences of endocrine dysfunction, from diabetes mellitus to thyroid disease.

Apply thermodynamic and kinetic principles to chemical reactions of biological and pharmaceutical significance. The unit covers reaction rates and activation energy, Gibbs free energy and spontaneity, chemical equilibrium and Le Chatelier's principle, and the quantitative treatment of acid-base equilibria, including buffer systems central to blood chemistry and drug formulation.

Explore the wave properties of light and sound and their application in medical technology and biological research. The unit examines reflection, refraction, diffraction and interference, the principles of optical instruments such as microscopes and endoscopes, and the use of ultrasound in diagnostic imaging, connecting fundamental physics to clinical and laboratory practice.

Examine the mechanisms by which pathogens cause disease and the immune responses that contain or eliminate infection. The unit covers the classification and transmission of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, the development of immunological memory through vaccination, and the principles of antibiotic action and antimicrobial resistance.