Biomedical Sciences with a Foundation Year (BSC)

During your foundation year the teaching will be interactive and varied, combining academic skill development with engaging subject-based learning in areas such as biology and chemistry. You’ll explore ideas through discussion, group work, practical activities and independent study, with opportunities to build confidence in communication, critical thinking, creativity and evidence-based analysis – all designed to help you transition confidently through university study.  

The Biomedical Sciences programme is taught by internationally recognised academics who are experts within the field. Our teaching approach is informed by the latest research and is aligned with current industry practices, ensuring that the curriculum is both academically rigorous and relevant to professional demands. Faculty members integrate their research and industry experience into the curriculum, offering first-hand insights into the latest in human physiology, human anatomy, disease processes and treatments, cancer biology, stem cells, tissue engineering, musculoskeletal biology, gene therapy and neurodegenerative diseases.  

The Biomedical Sciences curriculum combines theoretical knowledge with practical application. Lectures, supported by practical sessions, give you a strong foundation in both theory and practice, while seminars, workshops, and tutorials help you apply what you’ve learned. These interactive formats support hands-on projects and in-depth discussions, so that you can tackle real-world challenges and enhance your professional readiness.

Research integration is a key component. You’ll engage with up-to-date data, relevant case studies, and the newest research findings, connecting academic theory with practical health and medical science issues. On occasion, guest lecturers and industry experts will bring practical perspectives to your learning experience.

Hands-on learning is a focal point of the programme, giving you the chance to develop practical skills in realistic contexts. Through team-based projects and individual research, you’ll apply sophisticated data science techniques to complex global analytical challenges.

How will I be assessed?

The assessments in the foundation year will support you in the transition from prior learning through to university level study, featuring examples of the types of assessment you will complete throughout your academic career, such as written coursework, group assignments, class tests, exams, and other forms of assessment.

Following the foundation year, your assessments will vary by module and include coursework, portfolio projects, written assessments, class tests, oral and poster presentations, and practical projects. Each module employs specific types of assessments to evaluate effectively both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Assessments are used throughout the programme to enhance learning to ensure your grasp of foundational concepts. Assessments will support independent and lifelong learning and are designed to put students at the heart of the learning process and to help students take ownership for their own learning. Students will be supported in their assessments by members of module teams and personal tutors.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will achieve by the end of your programme at Cardiff University and identify the knowledge and skills that you will develop. They will also help you to understand what is expected of you.

On successful completion of your Programme you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Apply core principles, and an understanding and knowledge of biomedical systems and situations to new or existing biomedical challenges.
• Critically evaluate the scientific principles underlying diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring strategies used in clinical and laboratory practice.
• Explain the cellular and molecular processes leading to human disease development.
• Explain the structure and function of human body systems relating to homeostasis and the processes leading to human disease development.
• Apply knowledge of biomedical sciences to current challenges.
• Integrate disciplinary knowledge and understand how One Health approaches can identify future solutions to biomedical challenges.

Intellectual Skills:

• Critically interpret clinical, molecular, and laboratory data in biomedical sciences.
• Collate and evaluate competing biomedical scientific theories and evidence to apply to challenges within a range of scientific context.
• Formulate hypotheses and propose experimental or investigative approaches to address biomedical questions.
• Reflect critically on ethical, legal, and societal implications of biomedical research and clinical practice.
• Explore and make informed conclusion and predictions on biomedical procedures leading to applicable solutions.

Professional Practical Skills:

• Apply core laboratory techniques safely, ethically, accurately, and reproducibly.
• Operate and troubleshoot standard biomedical instrumentation.
• Demonstrate individual practical skills in diagnostic and research-based investigations.
• Apply quantitative and qualitative methods to generate, process, and critically evaluate experimental data.
• Integrate theoretical knowledge related to biomedical sciences with practical application.
• Understand the requirements and importance of complying with ethical, legal, and professional frameworks governing biomedical practice.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Communication and summarisation of scientific concepts and ideas, and experimental findings effectively.
• Retrieve, evaluate, synthesise and acknowledge information from a range of sources.
• Apply problem-solving, and evaluation and critical thinking skills to scientific challenges.
• Demonstrate proficiency in numerical analysis and data management.
• Use digital and information technology systems competently.
• Work effectively and professionally both independently and collaboratively within a team, developing critical thinking, and self-management skills.
• Exhibit autonomy, self-management, and reflective practice.