Access To Higher Education | Diploma in Biomedical Sciences | Level 3

You will study biology and chemistry; you will also have the opportunity to choose a topic for study to produce an Independent Research Project.

The Access course also prepares you for Higher Education by increasing self confidence in your learning ability as well as developing the necessary academic skills such as essay writing and research skills.

This course will enable you to apply to a variety of life science degree courses such as Pharmacy, Dietetics, Nutrition, Biomedical Sciences, Genetics, Biochemistry and Veterinary medicine.

The course consists of 60 credits, 45 are graded and 15 are ungraded. All units are at level 3.

Course content

Biomedical scientists learn skills and gain qualifications that can be transferred all over the UK and recognised worldwide. Biomedical science represents an opportunity to put scientific knowledge into practical use and perform a key role within medical healthcare. For example, when you have visited hospital and had a sample taken from you by a doctor or nurse these would have been analysed by a biomedical scientist, without whom it would not be possible to diagnose illness and evaluate the effectiveness of the necessary treatment.

Course units

• Cells

• Genes

• Body Movement

• Biochemical Pathways

• Microbiology and Immunology

• Fundamental Chemistry

• Amounts of Matter

• Organic Molecules

• Equilibrium

• Biochemistry

• Chemistry for Biology

• Scientific Investigative Skills

• Extended Independent Academic Study (Science)

• Mathematics for the Natural Sciences

• Communication and Presentation Skills

• Essay Skills

• Reviewing and Planning for the Future

• Using ICT For Study

To study for this LASER Access course you must have GCSE English grade C or level 4 (or equivalent qualification recognised by HE) and GCSE Maths grade C or level 4 (or equivalent qualification recognised by HE).

It is essential that you do some reading in preparation for your course so a starting point would be to look at GCSE and/or AS level science text books.

You should also be listening to and reading about current 'science' news stories.

It is also essential to research courses and universities prior to starting the course to help with your university application which takes place in the first term.