How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medicine at the University of Birmingham: Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences BScs Mostly at AAB with Subject Requirements, with Separate Rules for MBChB and MPharm, and Entry Routes for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The University of Birmingham is in Birmingham, the UK’s second city, and its life science courses sit mainly in the School of Biosciences, the School of Psychology and the College of Medicine and Health. You apply directly to a named course through UCAS. This article sets out the main points for September 2027 entry for UK applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and students who want to join year two. Biomedical engineering belongs to the engineering school and is outside this article.

1. Degrees and variants

• Biosciences BScs (three years): Biological Sciences BSc (C100), Biochemistry BSc (C700), Biotechnology BSc (J700), Human Sciences BSc (BCL0) and its MSci (BCL1). The first page of the Biosciences course list also shows MScis with a professional placement (Biological Sciences C102, Biochemistry C702, Biotechnology with a Placement Year J703) and BScs with an International Year or Study in Continental Europe (C001, C101, C007, C701). That list has three pages and only the first was read, so check the website for the rest.
• Neuroscience: Human Neuroscience BSc (B140, three years), listed under Psychology and Neuroscience.
• Biomedical Sciences: Biomedical Sciences BSc (B900, three years) and MSci (B902, four years), listed under Medicine and Health. The course page mentions industry and clinical experience through placement partnerships and accreditation by the Royal Society of Biology.
• Pharmacy: Pharmacy MPharm (B230, four years), accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council, with clinical placements in all four years.
• Medicine: Medicine and Surgery MBChB (A100, five years).
• Nursing and midwifery: the Medicine and Health list includes Nursing BNurs (adult, child, mental health: B703, B702, B704) and Midwifery BSc (B710); the China page says the BNurs and MNurs nursing courses are only available to home/EU students, so they are not covered for international applicants here.
• Accreditation: the Biological Sciences and Biochemistry pages state accreditation by the Royal Society of Biology; no accreditation statement was read on the Biotechnology and Human Sciences pages, so check the website.
• Dentistry (BDS), physiotherapy and sport sciences have their own course lists and are outside this article.

2. Entry requirements and prerequisites

• Biological Sciences BSc (C100): three A levels, typical offer AAB including Biology or Human Biology plus one of Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Chemistry or Physics; or AAB including an A in Biology or Human Biology (the other two A levels can then be any subject). IB 6,6,5 with the same subject conditions. BTEC Applied Science National Extended Diploma typical offer is DDD with specific modules.
• Biochemistry BSc (C700): AAB including Chemistry plus one of Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Biology or Physics; IB 665 with the same subjects.
• Biotechnology BSc (J700): AAB including two from Chemistry, Biology or Human Biology, Physics, Maths, Further Maths and Statistics, at least one being Chemistry or Biology; or AAB including an A in Chemistry or Biology.
• Human Sciences BSc (BCL0): AAB including one science subject from Biology or Human Biology, Geography, Geology, Psychology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Economics or PE/Sports Studies.
• Human Neuroscience BSc (B140): AAA including Biology or Human Biology; IB 6,6,6 at Higher Level with at least 32 points.
• Biomedical Sciences BSc and MSci (B900, B902): AAB including two science A levels, one of Biology or Chemistry plus another from Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics or Psychology; IB 6,6,5 with at least two sciences; the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate can be considered with two science A levels.
• Common notes: General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies, Applied Science and similar subjects are not accepted; the EPQ alternative offer (one grade lower plus a B in the EPQ) applies; the offers page excludes Biomedical Sciences (B900, B902), nursing and pharmacy from the music and sport reductions.
• Contextual and Pathways offers: Biological Sciences contextual ABB and Pathways BBB; Biochemistry contextual ABB and Pathways BBB; Human Neuroscience contextual AAB and Pathways ABB; Biomedical Sciences contextual ABB and Pathways BBB (each with the course page’s subject conditions).
• Admissions tests and interviews: none of these BSc course pages list an admissions test or interview.
• Direct to a named course: you choose C100, C700, B900 and so on directly on UCAS; the course pages do not describe choosing a specialism after arrival.
• Structure of the biosciences degrees: Biological Sciences BSc year one builds a broad foundation in modern biological sciences; year two adds four specialist modules (for example Genetics or Conservation Biology) alongside core modules; year three can include a laboratory research project for most of the year, or ecological fieldwork. The Biomedical Sciences module table shown is for 2026/27, so check the course page for 2027 entry modules.
• Placements and years abroad: the first page of the Biosciences list shows MScis with a professional placement and BScs with an international year; when and how to apply for them is not stated in the pages read. Fees for such years are explained below.

3. Pharmacy and Medicine

• Pharmacy MPharm (B230): A level AAB including Chemistry and at least one further science from Biology, Mathematics or Physics; IB 6,6,5 at Higher Level including Chemistry plus Biology, Physics or Maths and three Standard Level subjects, 32 points; BTEC considered; the page states a mandatory clinical placement, so applicants must be 18 by 1 October of the year of entry; there are pharmacy interviews; the UCAS deadline is 13 January 2027.
• Medicine MBChB (A100): the standard A level offer is AAA with predicted AAB including Chemistry and a second science from Biology or Human Biology, Physics or Maths; IB Higher Level 666 including Chemistry plus Biology, Physics or Maths, minimum 32 points; GCSEs must include English, Maths, Biology and Chemistry (or dual award science) at grade 6 or above. Every applicant must sit the UCAT and attend interview if invited; there is no minimum UCAT score. The UCAS deadline for 2027 entry was 15 October 2026, which has passed at the time of writing.
• Medicine and international applicants: the medicine entry page states up to 28 places for applicants assessed as international fee payers. International applicants need a strong personal statement, acceptable qualifications, the UCAT and an interview, with IELTS 7.0 (no less than 7.0 in any band), TOEFL 95 (no less than 23 in any band), PTE 67 or Cambridge 185. The list of national qualifications covers the UK, Europe, Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, the United States and others but does not list mainland China; Birmingham says other qualifications may be considered but you must email the admissions tutor. Medicine does not accept transfers from other degree programmes and does not consider applicants currently studying medicine; graduates can apply but there is no dedicated graduate-entry course.
• Dentistry (BDS) has the same 15 October deadline and is not covered here.

4. UK applicants

• Qualifications: the university-wide entry page lists three A levels, the IB Diploma, SQA Highers and Advanced Highers (many programmes accept Highers without Advanced Highers), the Irish Leaving Certificate at Higher Level, and the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (combined with two A levels). BTEC, T Levels and Access to HE are decided course by course. Course pages give detailed requirements only for A level and IB, so the exact Scottish grades are not in the pages read for this article; check “Full requirements” on the course page or ask admissions. The pages read do not set out separate requirements for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Baseline: GCSE English and Mathematics (including IGCSE) at grade 4 or above, higher for some courses; applicants must normally be 17 by 1 October of the year of entry, or 18 for programmes with a mandatory clinical placement.
• Home fee: Birmingham states it expects the first-year fee for 2027 entry (2027/28) to be £10,050, with later years possibly changing if Parliament agrees an increase; UK students can apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans. Students from Ireland keep Home fee status and Islands students are charged the Home rate. The fees page does not list separate prices for the four UK nations.
• Contextual offers: applicants who received Free School Meals in the last six years or spent time in local authority care typically receive an offer one grade lower; it is assessed automatically with no separate application, and applies only if Birmingham is the firm choice.
• Additional achievements: an EPQ (alternative offer of one grade lower plus a B in the EPQ), Core Maths (not for courses that require A level Maths), Grade 8 music performance and county-level sport can bring a one-grade-lower alternative offer; reductions do not stack. The offers page lists excluded programmes; the course page is the final word for each course.
• Pathways to Birmingham and Access to Birmingham: students who complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme receive an alternative offer typically two grades below the standard offer, and course pages list that offer; Birmingham also runs Access to Birmingham for first-generation students in the West Midlands (a £1,500-per-year scholarship plus an alternative offer).
• Life sciences note: pharmacy, biomedical sciences and medicine are excluded from some reductions, and medicine and dentistry also exclude the EPQ and Core Maths; check the offers page and course pages.

5. International applicants

• Qualifications: country equivalencies sit in a “select a country” menu on each course page that only shows after you choose a country, so those figures were not in the pages read for this article. The international entry requirements page says A level requirements are on the course page and other national qualifications are shown by country; select your country on the course page to check.
• General principle: Birmingham welcomes applicants with A levels or equivalent overseas qualifications, including the IB and a recognised foundation programme, who must achieve appropriate grades.
• English: English requirements are grouped by course on the international entry requirements page and course pages. Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Human Sciences are Group A: IELTS Academic 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any band), TOEFL iBT 80 (19 reading, 19 listening, 21 speaking, 19 writing) before January 2026 or 4.5 with no less than 4 in each skill from January 2026, PTE 64 (59 in each skill). Biomedical Sciences and Human Neuroscience are Group B: IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any band), TOEFL 88 (21, 20, 22, 21) before January 2026 or 4.5 with 4.5 in two skills and 4 in two skills from January 2026, PTE 67 (64 in each skill). Pharmacy is Group C: IELTS 7.0 (no less than 6.5), TOEFL 95 (no less than 22 in any band) before January 2026 or 5 with no less than 4.5 in each skill from January 2026, PTE 76 (67 in each skill). Medicine is Group D: IELTS 7.0 with no less than 7.0 in each band.
• English route: offer holders with an English condition can take a Presessional English course instead of retaking IELTS or a similar test; English tests normally need to have been taken within two years of the start date, only the most recent score is accepted, and IELTS One Skill Retakes are accepted.
• Fees and funding: international fees are shown by country on the course page and stated in the offer letter; the pages read for this article do not give the figure, so check the course page. Birmingham states the first-year international fee stays constant for the duration of the course (except the International Foundation Programme and clinical courses). International students cannot use UK student finance. Proof-of-funds and visa document requirements are not set out in the pages read; check Birmingham’s international pages and the UK government visa pages.
• International foundation: applicants who cannot enter directly can take Birmingham International Academy’s one-year or four-year integrated foundation; the page states guaranteed progression onto a wide range of degrees if academic and English requirements are met, and Kaplan International Pathways helps run applications. Check the foundation page for which degrees each pathway leads to.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: Birmingham has a dedicated Gaokao page and accepts the Gaokao for undergraduate entry: 80% overall (converted to a percentage), including 80% in mathematics where A level Mathematics is required; or the Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate with 85% overall in years 11 and 12, including 85% in relevant subjects where required; plus the standard English requirement for international students.
• Province table: the page lists each province’s maximum and 80% mark. Most provinces use 750 and 600, with mathematics 150 and 120; Shanghai is 660 and 528; Hainan is 900 (720 at 80%) when the 150-point Huikao is included; Yunnan’s additional 22 points are not counted. The page says the table is for students who sat the Gaokao in 2025 or earlier, so check whether it has been updated for 2027 entry.
• Limit of the published rule: the Gaokao page gives one 80%/85% rule and does not say how it maps to a course’s A level grade band (AAA, A*AA and so on) or whether it rises for particular subjects. That is not published; email china@contacts.bham.ac.uk (the address on the page) or contact admissions.
• Other Chinese qualifications: the China page says holders of the Chinese High School Certificate with a suitable foundation programme, or two/three-year diplomas with a good performance (80% average or above), are considered. It also accepts the Aptitude Scholastic Test (AST) at A*=250, A=210, B=170, with the Chinese High School Certificate at 70% overall and the English requirement (excluding some clinical programmes). Students with A levels or the IB follow the course page.
• Other notes on the China page: Birmingham lists recognised agents in China and a China team email. Certification of Chinese transcripts and certificates, and translation or notarisation, are not set out in the pages read, so check Birmingham’s website. No standard interview requirement for Chinese applicants is published.
• Foundation: applicants below the Gaokao requirement can take the on-campus one-year foundation or four-year integrated foundation.
• High Fliers Undergraduate Scholarships for China: £5,000 towards first-year tuition for Chinese nationals or students domiciled in China holding an offer for September 2026; expected AAA at A level, 666 at IB Higher Level, 5 in three APs, or Gaokao 80% with 85% in years 11 and 12. MBChB and BDS are not eligible. The page shows the application as closed; whether it reopens for 2027 entry is not stated in the pages read, so check Birmingham’s website.

7. Transfer into year two (direct entry)

• The undergraduate application page, the entry requirements page and the course pages read for this article do not set out transfer or second-year entry criteria, credit recognition or deadlines. This is not published; contact Birmingham’s admissions team directly using the “Speak to our admissions team” link on the course page.
• The entry requirements page says applicants who have been out of education and may not meet standard requirements are encouraged to contact the relevant admissions tutor first.
• The medicine entry page states that transfers from other degree programmes are not accepted and applicants currently studying medicine are not considered.

8. Fees and scholarships

• UK students (including Ireland): £10,050 expected for the first year of 2027 entry. On courses with a placement or year abroad, Home-fee students pay 15% of the agreed fee for a whole year at a partner institution and 20% for a whole year on an industrial placement.
• International students: shown by country on the course page and stated in the offer letter; the figure is not in the pages read. International students spending an entire year at a partner institution or on placement pay 50% of the agreed fee for that year.
• International scholarships: the international scholarships page says more than £10 million is available (the China page says more than £10.5 million and the international fees page says more than £7.5 million, so the figures disagree; use the latest on the website). You can search the undergraduate funding database; the scholarship for students from China is described in the section above. Whether most scholarships are assessed automatically is not stated in one place; check each scholarship page.

9. Application rounds and timeline (September 2027 entry)

• Route: all undergraduate courses are applied for through UCAS, and Birmingham’s UCAS campus code is B32. Check course codes and process on the UCAS website.
• Deadline: Birmingham states that the deadline for most courses for September 2027 entry is Wednesday 13 January 2027, 18:00 GMT, and course pages repeat it. The application page also still contains an older sentence about 13 January 2026 as the equal consideration date for 2026 entry; use the 2027 date. The deadline for Medicine and Dentistry is 15 October 2026, which has passed at the time of writing.
• Personal statement: from 2026 entry the statement answers three questions (why this course, how your studies prepared you, what else you have done), up to 4,000 characters in total with at least 350 characters in each section.
• References and fees: references are added through UCAS by your school or college (the school receives a link code); the UCAS fee amount is not stated in the pages read, so check UCAS. The course pages list no supplementary essay requirement.
• Other dates: 2027 June is the reply deadline for firm and insurance choices; the first-year accommodation guarantee deadline is usually 30 June for UK and Ireland students and 31 July for international students; Confirmation and Clearing follow A level results. Birmingham is neutral on gap years and you can apply in advance for deferred entry.

Checklist

UK applicants:

• Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Human Sciences, Biomedical Sciences: A level AAB with the subject conditions, or IB Higher Level 665; Human Neuroscience: AAA including Biology
• Pharmacy AAB including Chemistry; Medicine AAA (predicted at least AAB) including Chemistry, with the UCAT; the 15 October 2026 deadline has passed
• Other courses: submit through UCAS by 18:00 GMT on 13 January 2027

International applicants:

• Select your country on the course page to check qualification requirements and fees
• English by course group: IELTS 6.0, 6.5 or 7.0; Birmingham states up to 28 medicine places for international fee payers

Applicants from China:

• Gaokao 80% overall (80% in mathematics where A level Mathematics is required), or the graduation certificate with 85% in years 11 and 12; or A levels or the IB
• How the Gaokao maps to Biology or Chemistry subject conditions is not published; email china@contacts.bham.ac.uk to confirm, and for medicine read the medicine entry page and contact the admissions tutor

Transfer applicants:

• Transfer criteria for most courses are not published and medicine does not accept transfers; contact admissions before applying

Sources: University of Birmingham, Biosciences courses; Biological Sciences BSc; Biochemistry BSc; Biotechnology BSc; Human Sciences BSc; Human Sciences courses; Human Neuroscience BSc; Medicine and Health courses; Biomedical Sciences BSc; Medicine and Surgery MBChB; Medicine entry requirements (five-year); Pharmacy MPharm; How to apply; Undergraduate entry requirements; International entry requirements; How we make offers; Tuition fees; International fees; International scholarships; High Fliers Scholarships for China; Students from China; Gaokao entry requirements; Foundation pathways. Information is for September 2027 entry and the 2027/28 academic year. Check Birmingham for the latest details.