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Biological Sciences (with Foundation Year)

  • BSc (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time including foundation year
  • 21 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
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Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

If you would love to study Biological Sciences here at Leicester, but your A-level subjects don’t match our entry criteria, or you don’t quite have the entry requirements to get in, this degree is your bridge to making it happen.

Course description
This Foundation Year programme is aimed at students who wish to study Biological Sciences or Medical Sciences in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Leicester, whose A-level subjects don’t match our entry criteria or who don’t have the necessary entry requirements

Completion of the integrated Foundation Year at the level required will enable you to progress onto the first year of the BSc in Biological Sciences, from where you will be able to transfer, if you wish, onto one of our other, more specialised Biological Sciences or Medical Sciences degrees.

You will be taught by expert academic staff from across a number of departments in the College of Life Sciences, studying alongside other students in the School of Biological Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Psychology.

The course strongly emphasises the development of the study skills that will be necessary for success in your undergraduate studies and beyond. These study skills will be integrated within the course material and take advantage of innovative learning technologies.

During your Foundation Year you will join our student community and be able to enjoy all aspects of the University of Leicester student experience. You will be able to join the Students’ Union, use our academic and leisure facilities, live in our accommodation and access all of our support services.

You will have a personal tutor to support you, and our excellent staff/student ratio means that you will get all the help you need throughout your studies.

Modules

For more information on this course and a full list of modules, visit the course information page on our website

Assessment method

For more information on the methods of assessment on this course, visit the course information page on our website

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BSc (Hons) • Full-time including foundation year • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 21 September 2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
C199
Institution code:
L34
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Foundation

University of Leicester has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
C199
Institution code:
L34
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

Entry requirements

A level CCC

including one science subject from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) DDM

Plus five GCSEs at 55544 / BBBCC including two relevant science subjects at 5/B. Core science accepted. Healthcare related subjects considered on a case-by-case basis.

Access to HE Diploma D: 15 credits M: 15 credits

Core science accepted. Healthcare related subjects considered on a case-by case basis.

Scottish Higher

Reviewed on a case-by-case basis

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme 26 points

Pass Diploma with 26 points to include grade 4 in at least two relevant HL science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics or Psychology. Must include a minimum of grade 4 in SL Maths or 3 at HL and grade 4 in English A or 5 in English B if minimum of grade 4/C not held in English Language and Maths at GCSE.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Accepted in place of a third A-level, subject to review of rest of your overall academic portfolio and application.

Extended Project Not accepted

GCSE/National 4/National 5

English Language and Maths to be held at a minimum grade 4/C.

T Level M

Science (with an Occupational Specialism in Laboratory technician)

When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the programme of study and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous examination results.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 or equivalent is required. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.

For further details of our English Language requirements please see our website https://le.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-language-requirements

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria.

Learn more on the University of Leicester website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

This information will be updated as soon as the tuition fees for the academic year 2026/7 have been confirmed.

For further information about fees and funding please see the following page of the University website: https://le.ac.uk/student-life/undergraduates/fees-funding

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