How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medicine-Related Undergraduate Degrees at the University of York (UK): Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience as BSc or Four-Year Integrated Masters, Royal Society of Biology Accredited, with Biology Plus a Second Science, and Entry Routes and Prerequisites for Home, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The University of York is in the north of England, and its life sciences undergraduate degrees are mainly taught by the Department of Biology. In the UK you apply to a specific course through UCAS; York’s institution code is Y50 (Hull York Medical School is H75). This guide sets out what York’s website says for September 2027 entry, for UK (home) applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students.

1. The courses

• The department’s undergraduate page says its courses span biology, biochemistry and biomedical sciences, as three-year BSc degrees and four-year integrated Masters; all undergraduate courses are accredited or hold interim accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology, and every course is available with an optional year in industry or year abroad.
• Biology courses: Biology (BSc C100 / MBiol C105), Biotechnology, Genetics (BSc C400 / MBiol), Molecular Cell Biology, Ecology and Conservation Biology (BSc / MSci) and Neuroscience (BSc B140 / MSci).
• Biochemistry: Biochemistry (BSc C700 / MBiochem), run with the Department of Chemistry.
• Biomedical sciences: Biomedical Sciences (BSc C900 / MBiomedSci) and Immunology and Infectious Disease (BSc / MSci).
• Neuroscience is run with the Department of Psychology; its course page says the Neuroscience programmes hold interim accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology.
• BSc degrees take three years and integrated Masters four. For courses not read here (Biotechnology, Molecular Cell Biology, Ecology, Immunology), check the course pages for codes and requirements.
• Medicine (MBBS): York’s medicine degree is taught by Hull York Medical School (HYMS), UCAS code H75; York’s application page gives the main UCAS deadline for Medicine as 15 October 2026. HYMS entry requirements and its policy for international applicants are on hyms.ac.uk and are not given on the pages used for this guide; check that website.
• Nursing, health sciences, pharmacy and similar degrees in other departments are outside the pages used here; biomedical engineering sits in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology and is mentioned only in passing.

2. How admission and the course structure work

• You apply directly to a course by its UCAS code. The department says that if you apply for an integrated Masters and miss the requirements, you will be considered for the BSc on a competitive basis if places are available, with no need to apply for both.
• Year 1 core modules (Biology BSc as an example): Becoming a Bioscientist: Core Skills, Life on Earth, Genetics, Becoming a Bioscientist: Grand Challenges, Cells to Organisms and Molecules of Life, plus an online Academic Integrity module; Neuroscience adds Brain and Behaviour 1, and Biochemistry includes Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry for Biochemists 1.
• Year in industry and year abroad: you do not decide when you apply; the department asks you to decide towards the end of the first year, after coordinators explain the options. All students can take a year in industry, an additional year abroad, or a replacement year overseas through the Worldwide Exchange. Reduced fees apply to that year (see below).
• From BSc to integrated Masters: the FAQ says applicants who firm-accept a BSc offer and exceed it on results day (AAA or above in three A-Levels) can email to switch to the integrated Masters before enrolment, with a place guaranteed; others have a second chance at the end of Year 2, subject to the university’s Year 2 progression criteria, an assessment average of 55% at the end of Year 2 and available space (the department says capacity is about 140 integrated Masters places, and most years there is room).
• Interviews and admissions tests: the department FAQ says it does not interview, and for Biomedical Sciences it does not ask for BMAT, UCAT or any other admissions test, only the typical A-Level (or equivalent) requirements. It also says it does not specify GCSE English and Maths grades.
• Foundation year: the FAQ says the department does not offer a foundation year with any of its degree courses; it considers foundation programmes from elsewhere, but usually cannot say whether they meet the requirements until the point of application.
• Equal consideration: applications received before the equal consideration deadline are treated equally, with no disadvantage to applying closer to it; applicants who match or exceed the typical offer are likely to receive an unconditional offer.

3. Prerequisites and grades (typical offers on the course pages)

• Biology BSc (C100): A-Level AAB including Biology and a second science (accepted second sciences: Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Further Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology or Statistics). IB 35 points including 5 in Higher Level Biology plus 5 in another Higher Level science or mathematics subject, or 5 in two Standard Level science or mathematics subjects. European Baccalaureate 80% overall with 8.5 in Biology and 8 in a second science or mathematics subject. Scotland: Advanced Highers BB in Biology and a second science or Mathematics plus Highers BB.
• Biology MBiol (C105): A-Level AAA with the same subjects; IB 36 points, again with 5 in HL Biology.
• Biochemistry (C700): A-Level AAB including grade A in Chemistry, plus a second science (Biology, Further Mathematics, Geology, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics or Statistics); IB 35 points including 6 in HL Chemistry plus 5 in another HL science or mathematics subject, or 5 in two SL subjects.
• Biomedical Sciences (C900): A-Level AAB including Biology and a second science (Chemistry, Computer Science, Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology or Statistics); IB 35 points including 5 in HL Biology.
• Neuroscience (B140) and Genetics (C400): A-Level AAB including Biology and a second science; IB 35 points including 5 in HL Biology.
• Other qualifications: BTEC DDD (Biology accepts the Applied Science Extended Diploma, 2016 syllabus, with all seven mandatory units); T Level in Science (Laboratory Sciences) with Distinction overall and an A in the Core; Access to HE Diploma with Level 3 modules in Biology and a second science.
• Foundation: the Foundation Certificate from York’s International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative.
• Contextual offer: BSc courses generally BBB including Biology (Neuroscience: Biology or Environmental Science) and a second science; MBiol ABB. The department FAQ says around a third of its current students held contextual offers. Widening participation route: BBC.
• Alternative offers up to one grade lower (as listed on the Biology BSc page): EPQ at B or higher; OCR Level 3 Certificate in Sustainability at Distinction or higher; Core Maths at B or higher; completing York’s online course “Bugs, brains and beasts”.
• Score requirements for other systems such as the Gaokao or AP are not given on the course pages used; ask biol-admissions@york.ac.uk.

UK (home) applicants

• York lists UK (home) and international fees separately: for 2027/28 the UK (home) fee is £10,050 a year, which may rise within the government fee cap in later years. The course pages do not give separate fees for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland; use York’s fee status page to confirm which category you fall in.
• Qualifications: A-Level, BTEC, European Baccalaureate, IB and Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers requirements are on each course page; T Level acceptance varies by course. Course pages also list alternative offers, such as an EPQ that may lower the offer by one grade.
• Funding for UK students listed on York’s pages includes the York Bursary (based on residual household income), the Care Leavers and Estranged Students Bursary, the Commuter Award (£250) and the Sanctuary Bursary, plus UK government loans, which open in early 2027; see the website for amounts and conditions.
• Contextual offers: each course page gives the reduced requirement; see the course sections below.

International applicants

• International qualifications: the course pages link to country-by-country entry requirements; the department FAQ says international applications are welcome and that it generally looks for evidence of advanced study in the essential subjects.
• Tuition: for 2027/28 the international fee is £33,500 a year for Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, Genetics and Biology MBiol, against £10,050 for UK students.
• Proof of funds and credential evaluation details are not given on the pages used for this guide; check York’s visa and immigration pages or ask the International Team (international@york.ac.uk).

Students from China

• Gaokao: York’s China page says that students studying the Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate who take the Gaokao are accepted with a minimum 75% overall average for Year 1 entry to courses with no other essential subject requirements, and should also complete the Senior High School Graduation Certificate. The life sciences courses require Biology (or Chemistry) plus a second science, so they are not courses with no other essential subject requirements; whether Gaokao applicants can apply directly, and the science subjects and scores needed, are not given on the pages used for this guide; email biol-admissions@york.ac.uk.
• Foundation: the China page and the course pages say the Foundation Certificate or International Year One at York’s International Pathway College can help you meet entry requirements, and the course pages also accept an appropriate alternative foundation programme.
• CSCSE-SQA Advanced Diploma: York accepts these students through its official partnership with the High Achiever Programme (HAP), which the page calls the only approved application route for that diploma (hapadmission@achieve-international.com).
• Chinese university degrees: degrees from Ecctis-recognised institutions are considered case by case, with 75% to 85% overall required (this concerns applicants who already hold or are studying a degree).
• A-Level or IB: use the typical offers on each course page.
• The China page lists York’s agent partners for China and gives contact details for the Regional Manager (China) and two China representatives (marissa.cao, shawn.gu and janet.chai @york.ac.uk); using an agent is optional.
• Whether interviews, accreditation bodies or Chinese high school transcripts and exam certificates are required beyond this is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the China page or ask the admissions team.

English language

• The course page sets the minimum IELTS (Academic) at 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, Genetics, MBiol).
• York’s undergraduate English page lists accepted tests including IELTS (Academic and Online), PTE Academic (not the online version), TOEFL iBT (MyBest scores not accepted), Trinity ISE, Cambridge B2 First and C1 Advanced, Duolingo, LanguageCert and the Kaplan Test of English. Scores cannot be combined across attempts or test types, and results must be dated within two years of the course start. See York’s IELTS equivalencies page for exact scores.
• Some school-leaving certificates are accepted if you reach the required grade in an English language subject and completed them within seven years of the start; the International Baccalaureate Diploma is among them.
• You may not need to show English evidence if you are a UK national, a national of a majority-English-speaking country as specified by UK Visas and Immigration, have completed a degree in the UK, Ireland or a listed country (except Canada) or a degree taught in English (within seven years, with official confirmation), or have completed or are completing A-Levels or another Level 3 qualification in the UK over two years (within seven years).
• If you fall short, York’s pre-sessional English courses are an option; the length depends on how far you need to improve.

Transfer students

• York’s entry page says it is sometimes possible to transfer from another university directly into 2nd Year, but not into 3rd or 4th Year.
• The Department of Biology FAQ is more specific: it only considers transfers into the 2nd year of its three-year courses, not the 3rd year. The conditions: your A-Level results should match the typical offer in both grades and subjects; the modules taken in your first year should be broadly similar to York’s first-year syllabus; your overall first-year results should be (or be predicted to be) at least 50%; and you should have reasonable grounds for requesting the transfer, with evidence. If you meet them, apply through UCAS (you need an active UCAS profile for the year). Contact biol-admissions@york.ac.uk.

International fees and scholarships

• Tuition: for 2027/28 entry the life sciences course pages show £33,500 a year for international students and £10,050 for UK students. International fees rise in later years in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), up to a maximum of 10%; the fee in your offer letter is normally for one year. A full year abroad is charged at 15% of the full-time fee and a year in industry or placement year at 20% (15% under the Turing Scheme).
• York International Undergraduate Scholarship: £5,000 for each year of study in 2027/28, open to students from countries including China, the USA, Canada, India, Japan and Singapore; eligible students receive it automatically with no application. Conditions: a conditional or unconditional offer by 1 July 2027, overseas fee status, and a full-time on-campus undergraduate course starting in September 2027. Not eligible: holders of a 100% tuition scholarship or full sponsorship, students on York’s International Pathway College and certain other pathways, students not joining in Year 1, and courses with the same Home and International fee. You must accept the award via the link in your offer email by the deadline given there; deferring forfeits it. The page also says that 2027-entry scholarships are “opening shortly”, so check the page for the current status.
• International Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship: up to £10,000 (first year only), considered automatically for eligible international offer holders with no application; a panel of senior staff selects awardees. Eligibility includes predicted or achieved A-Level ABB, IB 34 points or equivalent. The page says awards will begin “shortly”.
• Combining awards: the York International Undergraduate Scholarship page says it may be combined with other University of York scholarships and external funding, and the Achievement Scholarship page says it may be combined with departmental scholarships and external funding, in each case up to 100% of tuition fees. Whether the two can be held together is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the International Team (international@york.ac.uk).
• Departmental opportunities are listed below.

• Department of Biology funding page: it lists the two international undergraduate scholarships above and awards for UK students, with no separate department-specific scholarship for international students.

Timeline (September 2027 entry)

• Applications go through UCAS. York’s application page says you can start your UCAS application from 12 May 2026 and submit it from 1 September 2026. York’s institution code is Y50; you can apply to up to five courses, and you need the course code, grades achieved or predicted, a teacher’s reference and a personal statement.
• 13 January 2027 is the main UCAS deadline for all courses except Medicine (15 October 2026). Applications by that date are treated equally; you can apply until 30 June 2027, but the course may have filled its places.
• For applications by the main deadline York says to expect a decision by 12 May 2027; some courses add extra steps, such as an interview invitation.
• UCAS Extra opens on 25 February 2027; A-Level and BTEC results come out on 12 August 2027; international applicants need a visa in place by September 2027.
• The UCAS website and portal are not used for this guide: check the deadlines and course codes on the UCAS website.

Checklist

UK (home) applicants:

• BSc: A-Level AAB including Biology and a second science (Biochemistry needs an A in Chemistry); MBiol: AAA; Scottish Advanced Highers BB in Biology and a second science or Mathematics plus Highers BB; contextual offer BBB
• Submit via UCAS by 13 January 2027 (15 October 2026 for Medicine); UK fee £10,050

International applicants:

• IB 35 points (36 for MBiol) with 5 in HL Biology and 5 in another science or mathematics subject (Biochemistry needs 6 in HL Chemistry); IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each component); fee £33,500 a year
• Look at the York International Undergraduate Scholarship (£5,000 a year, automatic) and the Achievement Scholarship (up to £10,000)

Applicants from China:

• Gaokao applicants should first confirm by email whether life sciences courses can be applied for directly and the science subject requirements; the International Pathway College is another route (the department itself offers no foundation year)

Transfer students:

• Entry is possible only into second year, with matching grades and subjects, a similar first year and at least 50% in it; email the Department of Biology

Sources: University of York, How to apply; Entry requirements and transfers; English language requirements; Information for students from China; International tuition fees; International undergraduate scholarships; York International Undergraduate Scholarship; International Undergraduate Achievement Scholarship; Department of Biology undergraduate page; Department of Biology FAQs; Biology BSc; Biology MBiol; Biochemistry BSc; Biomedical Sciences BSc; Neuroscience BSc; Genetics BSc; Department of Biology funding. Information is for September 2027 entry; check York and the UCAS website for the latest dates and course codes.