How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medical-Related Degrees at the University of Surrey: Direct Entry by UCAS Code to Biomedical Science, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences and Nutrition, Typical Offer ABB–BBB at A-level With Biology or Chemistry, an Optional Placement Year, With Requirements for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Life sciences degrees at the University of Surrey are taught on the Stag Hill campus in Guildford by the School of Biosciences. The undergraduate courses on the subject page are Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Science, Food Science and Nutrition, Medical Sciences (Gateway to Graduate Medicine), Nutrition, Nutrition and Dietetics, Sport and Exercise Science, Veterinary Biosciences and a Life Sciences International Foundation Year. This article concentrates on Biomedical Science, Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, with shorter coverage of Nutrition, Nutrition and Dietetics, Veterinary Biosciences and Medical Sciences; Food Science and Nutrition, Sport and Exercise Science and the health sciences and nursing courses are not developed on the pages used for this guide, so check the website. It follows Surrey’s course, application, fee, China and scholarship pages for September 2027 entry, for UK applicants, international applicants, applicants studying in China and students hoping to enter the second year.

1. Life sciences and medical-related degrees

• Biomedical Science (BSc / MSci): BSc B900 (3 years), with placement B902, with foundation year B903, foundation year and placement B904; MSci B905 (4 years), with placement B906 (5 years). Accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) for both BSc and MSci. Year one covers bacteriology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, human physiology and microbiology; year two is more clinical (pathology, molecular biology, clinical biochemistry, pharmacology); year three has options and a research project. Surrey says a significant part of year one is laboratory practicals, about a quarter of contact time in year two. It also says placements in IBMS-approved laboratories allow you to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a biomedical scientist after the placement.
• Biochemistry (BSc / MSci): BSc C700, with placement C702, with foundation year C705, foundation year and placement C706; MSci C703, with placement C704. Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology as meeting in part the academic and experience requirement for Chartered Biologist (CBiol). The MSci adds a research-focused year.
• Biological Sciences (BSc): 7C53, with placement 7C54, with foundation year 7C55, foundation year and placement 7C56; also accredited by the Royal Society of Biology. In year two you can focus on animal biology and ecology, cellular and molecular sciences, or infection and immunity, with on-campus and off-site fieldwork for the animal biology and ecology route.
• Nutrition BSc: B400 (3 years), with placement B402, with foundation year B404, foundation year and placement B405. Nutrition and Dietetics BSc: B401 (4 years) and with foundation year B403 (5 years); approved by the HCPC for eligibility to register as a dietitian, with a first NHS clinical placement at the end of year one and two more of up to 12 weeks in year three; entry is subject to occupational health screening and an enhanced DBS check, criminal convictions must be declared at application, selection includes an online multiple mini interview of pre-recorded questions, and deferred entry is not accepted. Whether international students face extra restrictions on NHS placements and registration is not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask Admissions.
• Veterinary Biosciences BSc: D300, with placement D301, with foundation year D302, foundation year and placement D304; this is a biosciences degree, not a veterinary degree. Veterinary Medicine and Science BVMSci and Graduate Entry Medicine BMBS are separate programmes: the FAQ says UCAS applications for them, international applicants included, are due by 15 October, and that BMBS interview shortlisting needs a valid GAMSAT (UCAT in some cases); they are not covered here, so see the website.
• Medical Sciences (Gateway to Graduate Medicine) BSc: B100, 2 years. Surrey describes it as a two-year degree for widening participation students: you must have UK home fee status, be ordinarily resident in the UK and have attended a state school for GCSEs and post-16 study, and meet two of these criteria: care experience, free school meals, living in a POLAR4 or IMD quintile 1 area, estrangement from family, or being a young carer. International applicants are therefore outside its target group. Typical offer BBB (Biology or Chemistry at B) and IB 32; multiple mini interviews; graduates with a 2:1 or above can progress to Graduate Entry Medicine BMBS; deferral is not accepted.
• Placement year: students usually go between years 2 and 3, are generally not placed by the University, and use its support and vacancy site. Biomedical Science students have worked at AstraZeneca, GSK, Sanofi, Syngenta, the UK Health Security Agency and NHS pathology services, among others. Placement-year fees are in section 8.

2. Prerequisites and entry requirements for 2027

• A-levels: the Biomedical Science, Biochemistry and Biological Sciences BSc are all ABB–BBB with Biology or Chemistry plus a second science or Maths required; the Biomedical Science and Biochemistry MSci are AAB; the foundation-year route is CCC with a science subject. Nutrition BSc is ABB–BBB with Biology plus one of Chemistry, Physics, Sport Studies, Physical Education, Mathematics, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Science, Food Technology, Home Economics or Nutrition and Food Science. Nutrition and Dietetics BSc is ABB with Biology plus one of Applied Science, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology, Nutrition and Food Science, Physical Education or Geography. Veterinary Biosciences is ABB–BBB with Biology plus a second science or Maths. GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade 4 (C). General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted, and applicants with a science A-level and the Science Practical Endorsement are expected to pass it.
• IB: the Biomedical Science, Biochemistry and Biological Sciences BSc 33–32 (Biology or Chemistry HL5/SL6 plus a second science or Maths HL5/SL6); MSci 34; foundation year 29 (a science at HL4/SL6); at GCSE level, IB English A HL4/SL4 or English B HL5/SL6 and Mathematics (either course) HL2/SL2. Nutrition and Dietetics is 33 (Biology HL5/SL6 plus a second science or Maths).
• Other qualifications (from the Biomedical Science page; other course pages may differ slightly): European Baccalaureate 78%–75% (Biology or Chemistry 7.5 plus a second science or Maths 7.5) for the BSc and 82% for the MSci; Scottish Highers AABBB–ABBBB for the BSc, AAABB for the MSci and BBBCC for the foundation year; BTEC Applied Science DDD–DDM for the BSc, DDD for the MSci and MMM for the foundation year; Welsh Baccalaureate ABB–BBB with two A-levels for the BSc; science T-levels at Distinction with C in the Core Component for the BSc (not accepted for the MSci); Access to HE Diplomas in relevant subjects.
• Admissions tests and interviews: apart from Nutrition and Dietetics and Medical Sciences, the “Selection process” sections say only that offers are made in grades, and no admissions test or interview is listed; Veterinary Biosciences also accepts BTECs in Animal Management. Other test requirements are not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask Admissions.
• English: see section 4.

3. UK applicants

• Accepted qualifications: A-levels, BTECs, the IB, the European Baccalaureate, Access to HE Diplomas, Scottish Highers, the Welsh Baccalaureate (combined with two A-levels) and some T-levels; the grades for each course are in the previous section. Surrey’s FAQ says the only A-levels it cannot consider are General Studies and Critical Thinking, that Mathematics and Further Mathematics count as two separate A-levels, and that applicants with a science A-level and the Science Practical Endorsement are expected to pass the practical. Offers are made in grades, not UCAS tariff points.
• BTECs and mixed combinations: the alternative qualifications page has a guide table, for example AAB corresponds to AA+D, A+DD or DDD (Surrey says it is only a guideline and not every combination is accepted); for mixed combinations contact Admissions with the course you want.
• Contextual offers: for UK-domiciled applicants, decided automatically from UCAS data without extra paperwork. The criteria include living in a POLAR4 quintile 1 or IMD quintile 1 area, care experience, free school meals during secondary school and estrangement from parents. The page says the offer is typically two A-level grades (or one BTEC grade) lower than the published offer, subject requirements are not reduced, and contextual offers are for home students only. The separate In2Surrey scheme gives a reduction of one grade to state-school applicants who meet its criteria (for example eligibility for a 16-19 bursary, mature students aged 21 or over, carers, or a disability or long-term health condition); you can qualify for both but receive at most one reduction. Contextual offer holders are invited to the In2Surrey Transition Programme (June to October) and can apply for travel support to offer-holder events and interviews.
• EPQ: the Biomedical Science, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences and Nutrition pages say that with an A in the EPQ you receive the standard A-level offer plus an alternate offer one A-level grade lower; the reduction does not apply to required subjects, can be used only once, and cannot be combined with contextual or In2Surrey reductions. Check each course page for whether it lists the EPQ.
• Tuition: the course page shows UK fees of £10,050 a year (2027–28). Surrey says the Student Loans Company pays tuition fee loans according to its own schedule, and that Surrey may raise UK fees in line with the government cap. The course page says only “UK fees” and does not separate England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, so check Surrey’s fee-status guidance and UKCISA.
• Support: the Starting at Surrey Bursary is a cash payment for new undergraduates identified as eligible for free school meals on their UCAS application, with no application needed (foundation-year students are not eligible); the site also lists a £3,000 Care Leaver and Estranged Student Bursary.

4. International applicants (including Chinese applicants): English, qualifications and funding

• English: the Biomedical Science, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Veterinary Biosciences and Medical Sciences pages require IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in each other element; Nutrition requires 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component; Nutrition and Dietetics requires 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each component. Surrey accepts IELTS Academic (including IELTS Online, with One Skill Retake results), TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic (not the online version), the Duolingo English Test (results must be shared with Surrey), LanguageCert Academic (not the online test), Cambridge CAE/CPE, the Oxford ELLT, and qualifications such as GCSE English Language grade 4 or IB English. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo results must be within two years, CAE/CPE/LanguageCert and similar within five years, and the ELLT within 18 months. Examples from the page: IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in writing and 5.5 elsewhere equals PTE 67 overall (59 in listening, speaking and reading, 64 in writing), old-scale TOEFL iBT 88 overall (reading 18, listening 17, speaking 20, writing 19) and Duolingo 120 overall (110 in writing, 100 elsewhere); IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each element equals PTE 64 (59 each), old-scale TOEFL iBT 80 and Duolingo 110 (100 each). The test-exemption list on the English page is for postgraduate applicants; exemptions for undergraduates are not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask Admissions. Surrey also says you do not need a Secure English Language Test for degree-level study.
• If you just miss the English level: Surrey runs 11-week and 8-week pre-sessional English courses, and also accepts the British Council UK pre-sessional course, the KL Excellence certificate from KL Communications and the Oxford International Education Group online pre-sessional course.
• Qualifications by country: each course page has a “select your country” lookup that loads dynamically; its contents are not given on the pages used for this guide, so pick your country on the course page. The country overview page lists mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and many others; for countries not listed Surrey says to contact Admissions.
• International Foundation Year: international students who do not meet the direct-entry requirements, or whose school qualification is not accepted, can take a foundation year at the Surrey International Study Centre (SISC) and then progress to the related degree. The undergraduate application page lists three routes: Business, Economics, Law and Social Sciences; Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences; and Life Sciences. The undergraduate application page and the biosciences subject page both list a “Life Sciences International Foundation Year” at the Study Centre, so the name is consistent; which degrees it leads to is not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask Admissions or the Study Centre. The biosciences degrees also have their own foundation-year version (the Biosciences Foundation Year, with A-level CCC including a science); Surrey’s fee page shows an overseas-fee rate for that year, and the FAQ says that for such foundation-year routes you still need qualifications equivalent to three A-levels. Entry requirements and applications for the foundation year are handled on the Study Centre’s own website, which is not covered here; check it directly. Surrey’s FAQ adds that it may consider an International Foundation Year or similar course already taken elsewhere, and asks you to send the course and school-qualification details to Admissions.
• Visa and ATAS: applicants who need a student visa complete the CAS request through CAS Shield after accepting an offer (those who do not need one must still confirm this). Some nationalities studying some subject areas need an ATAS certificate; check the CAH3 code on your offer letter against the government list. Per-course ATAS information is not given on the pages used for this guide, so follow the offer letter and Surrey’s instructions. Surrey warns that changing course while on a student visa could affect immigration status.
• Tuition and payment: see section 8. Surrey says there is no tuition deposit (you are invoiced after registration), though students applying for a visa may pay some or all of the first year in advance.
• Scholarships for international students: see section 8.

5. Applicants from China

• Is the gaokao used? Surrey’s China page says it accepts the Chinese National University Entrance Examination (gaokao) for direct entry to Year 1 and gives equivalences with A-level offers: AAA = 80%, AAB = 78%, ABB = 73%, BBB = 70%, BBC = 68%, BCC = 65%, CCC = 63%. It adds that where a subject is required you need the same percentage in that subject (its example: if Maths is required for a BBB course, 70% in Maths). The Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate and IELTS are required. This table sits on the China page; the course pages do not convert it into a gaokao score for each course, so for this specific course the exact requirement is not given on the pages used for this guide and you should confirm with Admissions.
• International Foundation Year: if you do not meet the direct-entry requirements you can take the Study Centre’s International Foundation Year (routes in the previous section); the China page also mentions a Chinese-language site for the Study Centre.
• English: the same course-level requirement as above. The English page also lists a Certificate of Excellence from KL Communications in China as a top-up to the IELTS, valid if obtained within one year before the course starts.
• Chinese-language resources: the China page mentions a dedicated Chinese website, a regional manager for East Asia and authorised representatives. Interviews, credential-verification bodies and similar course-specific points for Chinese applicants are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the China page and the Chinese website.
• Scholarships: the Vice-Chancellor’s Future Leaders Award (£7,500) is limited to students domiciled in listed countries and China is not on the list; the International Excellence Award (£5,000) is open to self-funded international students regardless of nationality (section 8).

6. Route and timeline for September 2027 entry

• Apply only through UCAS; Surrey does not accept direct applications. Surrey’s UCAS institution code is S85 and the course codes are in section 1. A UCAS application has up to five choices and you can use as many as you like at Surrey; universities do not see your other choices until you have replied to your offers. Check the UCAS website for its own fees and rules.
• Dates for 2027 entry (from Surrey’s “How to apply through UCAS” page): UCAS sends applications to universities from September; 13 January 2027, 18:00 is the equal-consideration deadline for most courses, with later applications considered first come, first served; UCAS Extra opens on 25 February; 30 June 2027 is Surrey’s final application date, after which applications go to Clearing; the deadline to meet offer conditions is 27 August 2027 (TBC) for some courses (including GSA courses and some in Health and Medical Sciences) and 3 September 2027 (TBC) for most others; the start date is 20 September 2027 and enrolment is due by 8 October 2027 (TBC) for most courses. The early deadline of 15 October (2026) applies only to Veterinary Medicine and Science BVMSci and UK-resident applicants to Graduate Entry Medicine BMBS,.
• The FAQ says you can start a UCAS application from the end of May and Surrey usually starts reviewing from October. Some courses cannot be deferred (see the course pages); otherwise ask Admissions for a deferral by 3 September 2027.
• Personal statement: one statement goes to every choice, so avoid naming universities; for very different subject areas, some courses may consider an additional statement sent directly to Admissions. The reference should ideally come from your most recent education provider.
• Admissions tests or written tests are not listed on the course pages used for this guide; ask Admissions.

7. How Surrey assesses applications

• After UCAS sends your application, Surrey emails you (the timeline page says within 24 hours; the “After you apply” page says to expect the confirmation within five days and to check junk mail if it does not arrive) with your University Number and a Surrey Self-Service link, which is where you upload documents, book events and see your offer letter.
• Initial screening against the published criteria, plus the personal statement and reference, aims to finish within two weeks; an academic referral can add up to a week; some courses invite applicants to a selection event (see the course page). Surrey normally decides by the end of March; the UCAS final deadline for universities to decide is in early May.
• Offers are unconditional or conditional; conditions usually include achieving grades, providing certificates and meeting the English requirement. UCAS passes on results for qualifications on its list; others must be uploaded to Surrey Self-Service. Conditions are normally due by 3 September (earlier for some courses); to be guaranteed campus accommodation you must meet them earlier, as the accommodation pages explain.
• If you miss the conditions Surrey looks at all results and for some courses may accept slightly lower grades, so upload everything. The FAQ also says Surrey considers applicants who narrowly miss the required or predicted grades. The Biochemistry, Biomedical Science and Veterinary Biosciences pages say suitable applicants “may be” invited to an offer-holder event, the Nutrition page says “will be”, and the Biological Sciences page says only that offers are made in grades. Nutrition and Dietetics adds an online pre-recorded multiple mini interview, described in section 1.

8. Fees and scholarships

• Tuition (2027–28): for Biomedical Science, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Nutrition, Nutrition and Dietetics and Veterinary Biosciences, UK fees are £10,050 a year and overseas fees £28,100 a year (the foundation year and MSci at the same rate), with a placement year at £2,010. The BSc is 3 years (4 with a placement or a foundation year, 5 with both), the MSci 4 years (5 with a placement) and Nutrition and Dietetics 4 years (5 with a foundation year). The Biochemistry and Biological Sciences pages also list a £24 equipment pack (laboratory coat, glasses, books, pen and bag). The fee table for Medical Sciences (Gateway) shows only a UK fee of £15,075 for its two years and no overseas fee.
• Increases: Surrey says overseas undergraduate fees rise by 4% for each subsequent year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100, and UK fees may rise with the government cap. For courses with a placement year the placement-year fee is about 20% of the UK full-time fee (both the course pages and the fee page show £2,010, for UK and overseas students alike). Foundation-year fees are on each course page.
• Payment: students without a tuition fee loan pay in full at the start or in two instalments: 50% ten days after the invoice date (expected October to November) and 50% in January.
• International Excellence Award: £5,000 off tuition, first year only, for self-funded overseas-fee students of any nationality. You must hold an offer for full-time first-year undergraduate entry, make Surrey your firm choice on UCAS (Clearing applicants can also apply), have applied through UCAS by 30 June 2027, and apply before a CAS is issued. Applications are reviewed monthly on a first-come, first-served basis and, for September 2027, close on 24 August 2027; the panel assesses previous results, predicted grades and the personal statement. It cannot be combined with other Surrey scholarships, the alumni discount or the early-payment discount, cannot be deferred, and is not open to Study Centre students; Clearing applicants need at least ABB or equivalent. It is application-based, not automatic.
• Vice-Chancellor’s Future Leaders Award: £7,500 off tuition for self-funded international students domiciled in a list of countries (including Algeria, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, South Africa and Vietnam); China is not listed. It also has to be applied for before a CAS is issued, with a 24 August 2027 deadline for September 2027.
• Other awards, such as the International Students Travel Placement Grant, are on Surrey’s scholarships page; check the conditions there. UK-student support is in section 3.

9. Transfer and second-year entry

• Surrey says it considers second-year entry applications for many undergraduate programmes; the FAQ says “a number of our courses” in one place (and asks you to check first) and “many” in another, so contact Admissions to confirm (these course pages do not say course by course whether they take second-year entrants; compare your modules with the first-year compulsory modules and contact the School of Biosciences and Admissions). For Nutrition and Dietetics, which includes NHS clinical placements and professional registration, the possibility of second-year entry is not given on the pages used for this guide.
• Conditions: at least a 2:1 in your current studies; comparable modules to the target course (compare the module list on the course page); and, for non-native English speakers, normally IELTS or an equivalent. You must submit a complete UCAS application so Surrey can assess it.
• Applicants who need a student visa: the FAQ says Surrey “may not be able to consider” them, so contact Admissions first.
• Recognition of prior learning: formal, certified or experiential learning is normally expected to be less than five years old when you apply; Surrey has a Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning guide (PDF).
• Moving between courses inside Surrey depends on places, academic approval and meeting the entry requirements of the new course; for students on a student visa a course change could affect immigration status.

Checklist

UK applicants:

• Apply through UCAS (S85) by course code; typical A-level offer ABB–BBB (Biology or Chemistry plus a second science or Maths); equal-consideration deadline 13 January 2027, 18:00
• UK fee £10,050 a year; contextual offers (two A-level grades lower) or In2Surrey (one grade lower) if eligible; Medical Sciences (Gateway) is limited to UK residents who meet its widening participation criteria

International applicants (including China):

• IB 33–32 or A-levels; Chinese applicants may use the gaokao (equivalence table on the China page) with the graduation certificate and IELTS, or the Life Sciences International Foundation Year
• IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in writing (Nutrition 6.5 with 6.0 in each; Nutrition and Dietetics 7.0 with 6.5); tuition £28,100 a year; International Excellence Award £5,000, apply before a CAS is issued, closing 24 August 2027

Transfer applicants:

• At least a 2:1 so far and comparable modules; apply through UCAS, and contact Admissions first if you need a student visa

Sources: University of Surrey, Biosciences subject page; Biomedical Science; Biochemistry; Biological Sciences; Nutrition; Nutrition and Dietetics; Veterinary Biosciences; Medical Sciences (Gateway to Graduate Medicine); Undergraduate applicants; Application timeline; How to apply through UCAS; After you apply; Your offer; FAQs; Contextual offers; Alternative qualifications; Student transfers; English language requirements; Undergraduate fees 2027 entry; China page; China entry requirements; International Excellence Award; Vice-Chancellor’s Future Leaders Award; Starting at Surrey Bursary. Information is for September 2027 entry (the FAQ page says its policies and dates relate to the 2026 UCAS cycle); check Surrey for the latest details.