Find the right course for you
The foundation year is a year before you start year one of your course. If you don't quite have the necessary qualifications or want to build your confidence in the subject this year prepares you for degree-level study, developing your knowledge of medical sciences together with essential academic, research, and laboratory skills.
What's the difference between 'Medical' and 'Biomedical' Science?
In both the Medical Sciences and Biomedical Science programmes, you鈥檒l benefit from a common first year that builds a strong foundation in human biology, physiology, and the principles of disease. This common year ensures all students gain essential scientific knowledge and lab skills before progressing into more specialised areas of study. This also provides flexibility with students having the ability to transfer across programmes if they wish. Take a look below to see how these degrees differ and the different opportunities they could lead to.
Medical Sciences
Medical Sciences focuses on understanding human health and disease from both a clinical and scientific perspective. It鈥檚 ideal for students interested in the biological basis of disease and those considering a future in medicine or healthcare. The course is mapped to a pre-medical curriculum and explores the structure and function of the body鈥檚 major systems, as well as the abnormalities that lead to conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and liver disease.
Graduates of Medical Sciences are well-prepared for a variety of scientific and medical careers. The degree offers a strong foundation for postgraduate study in Medicine, Dentistry, or Veterinary Science. High-achieving students may also progress to 91色情片鈥檚 Graduate Entry Medicine programme in North Wales. The course is an excellent stepping stone to our MSc in Physician Associate Studies, among other clinical pathways or allied health roles.
The Medical Sciences degree is clinically focused and constantly updated to reflect the latest developments in healthcare and research. Students gain a deep understanding of disease mechanisms and clinical case studies, with teaching that bridges the gap between science and medicine.
After the common first year, from the second year onwards, Medical Sciences students explore topics aligned with a pre-medical curriculum. You鈥檒l study clinical case-based modules and gain insight into the structure and function of major body systems, as well as the mechanisms of disease. Teaching includes lectures, small-group tutorials, and digital anatomy sessions using the Anatomage table 鈥 a cutting-edge tool for virtual dissection and clinical simulation. The course is designed to bridge the gap between science and the theory of clinical practice, preparing you for further study in medicine or healthcare.
Biomedical Science
Biomedical Science, delves into the scientific investigation of health and disease at a cellular and molecular level. It covers a broad range of key disciplines outlined by the Institute of Biomedical Science, with subjects including genetics, microbiology, cell pathology, immunology, and blood sciences. This course is designed for students who are passionate about laboratory science and want to contribute to medical advances through research and innovation.
Biomedical Science graduates are equipped with the skills needed for careers in the NHS, pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and biotechnology firms. Many go on to work in clinical laboratories, medical research, or science communication. The course also opens doors to the NHS Scientist Training Programme and other specialist roles in healthcare and diagnostics.
In Biomedical Science, students explore the biology of disease through a strong laboratory-based curriculum. The course includes an optional Applied Biomedical Science route, which provides practical experience aligned with NHS training standards. This hands-on approach ensures graduates are ready for both research and clinical environments.
In Biomedical Science, you鈥檒l dive deeper into the molecular and cellular basis of disease. The course places a strong emphasis on laboratory-based learning, with modules in genetics, microbiology, immunology, and diagnostics. You鈥檒l develop hands-on skills in modern biomedical techniques and have the opportunity to undertake research projects. Students on the Applied Biomedical Science route also gain practical experience aligned with NHS laboratory training, enhancing employability in clinical and diagnostic settings.
360 Medical Sciences Virtual Tour
360 Medical Sciences Virtual Tour Transcript
Welcome to Fron Heulog one of the buildings used for Medical sciences, this first image is of Fron Heulog building taken outside on a warm sunny day.
From this colourful reception you can navigate your way through to finding different rooms such as the VR room and the skills Ward.
Welcome to the Skills Lab at Fron Heulog. This is where our students will learn and practice the important skills that they鈥檒l need on placement in real healthcare settings. This simulated ward area is set up as a hospital bay with 4 beds. It can be used for teaching a range of skills from wound care and dressing to cannulation using specialist equipment and mannequins.
This is our 鈥淗i Fidelity鈥 suite in which we use more advanced Hi Fidelity mannequins to run even more realistic scenarios. The mannequins simulate breathing; have realistic heart, lung and bowel sounds which can be heard with a stethoscope; can have blood taken or fluids and drugs given intravenously. The technician can speak through the mannequin so the students can talk with their patient.
The patient鈥檚 vital signs and other parameters are displayed on a simulated patient monitor. We have a whole family of mannequins: adult male, adult female, pregnant female who can give birth, a child and a new-born baby.
The scenarios are recorded by a Scotia Medical Observation and Training System camera system and can be played back for debriefing. Practicing scenarios like this in a simulated environment means students will feel much more confident and know what to expect when they鈥檙e on placement in a real clinical setting.
It鈥檚 important that students experience a wide range of settings where they will be using their skills.
This room is set up as a flat to simulate what it鈥檚 like to care for a patient in their own home when working in the community.
Within Fron Heulog students have access to university computers. As healthcare becomes more tech-savvy, students need to be skilled in using computers to manage patient data. Computers are also needed for doing assignments, accessing online resources, and virtual simulations.
As part of our technology enabled learning toolkit, we have recently installed a VR room for student in the school of medical and health sciences. Using VR is another way that we can create a safe simulation for students to practice their clinical skills and increase their confidence before they go out on placement.
This is one of the large teaching rooms in Fron Heulog used by courses across our health sciences programmes. For example Student physiotherapists can practice skills here and we have a library of equipment for student nurses and midwives that can be brought in and used for teaching and practical skills from taking blood for to delivering a baby.
Welcome to the Brigantia building, home to two subject areas in the College of Human Sciences, Psychology and Medical Sciences.
As a student, this is where you may come to attend seminars, practicals and meet with your lecturers.
Here鈥檚 Room 342 in Brigantia, used for small lectures.
In the first year, all of our programmes follow a common year format meaning you will get the same foundational knowledge across our degrees.
We also offer a foundation year for students who don鈥檛 currently have the necessary scientific background to enter the first year. This year gives students a grounding in a variety of topics that underpin degrees in this field.
91色情片 cohorts are generally smaller than some larger universities, meaning you鈥檙e more than just a number. You鈥檒l be able to feel truly part of a community and receive more support.
Every student is given a personal tutor at the start of their course. Staff aim to meet with students at least 3 times a year either in person in the offices, some of which you can see here, or online.
These meetings are focussed on pastoral care and checking on students鈥 wellbeing. It鈥檚 important to us that students are thriving in their university experience, not just academically but personally and socially. It鈥檚 also a chance for us to give advice on professional development and employability and signpost students to services in the university who can give them advice.
Welcome to the Medical Sciences department.
In one corner of this space, you can see some research posters created by our students.
Posters like these are commonly presented at research conferences worldwide by academics and researchers.
In order to develop students鈥 practical skills in this area in 3rd year medical and biomedical sciences students will create a poster to present their own research findings.
Welcome to the Anatomy suite. This room is used by students on the Medical Sciences programme as well as those on the Physicians Associate Studies course, and Medical students.
For an anatomy session, students usually follow workbooks and activities created by anatomy lecturers, moving around different stations looking at anatomy models, medical images and the Anatomage table.
Head over to the Anatomage table to find out more about our technology enabled learning.
This is the Anatomage table our virtual dissection table used for anatomy teaching.
Loaded into the table are 4 cadavers which have been reconstructed based on real human data sets.
Students can use the table to virtually dissect the cadavers and analyse the human anatomy in detail. We can split the screen to view different anatomical planes and view the different systems of the body.
The table also has hundreds of practice clinical cases that include patient information, data and scans associated with pathology that students can use to learn from.
The Anatomage table is just one tool in our technology enabled learning toolkit. We also have VR rooms and a 3D screen to visualise medical images.
Do you have a question about life as a 91色情片 student? Our ambassadors will be happy to help you find the answer.
They can tell you more about studying here, about the amazing Clubs and Societies we have, and how they made friends and settled into life at university as a Medical Sciences student.
If you have any questions about the course, our lecturers are on hand to help. Below are some examples of frequently asked questions. Can you think of any more?
- What are the qualities of a successful Medical Sciences student at 91色情片?
- How can I prepare myself to study Medical Sciences at 91色情片?
- How will I know that Medical Sciences at 91色情片 is the right choice for me?
Our Research in Medical Sciences
Within the North Wales Medical School our research employs state-of-the-art approaches to address basic questions in medicine and/or develop applications to overcome serious unmet clinical needs. We have an overarching aim of improving the patient pathway, either by contributing new insight to fill an important gap in medical knowledge or developing applications which directly contribute to improving health and well-being.
We have a strong focus on cancer research (North West Cancer Research Institute) where our research teams are exploring the complex processes which result in the development, progression and therapeutic resistance of cancers. We鈥檙e also developing the basis for new therapies and patient monitoring technologies. This cutting-edge research feeds directly into our teaching and you鈥檒l encounter elements both within your taught modules and especially during your research project in the third year making our degrees some of the most dynamic and up-to-date you can experience.