How to apply for life sciences and health at Coventry University: BSc degrees in Biomedical Science, Human Biosciences, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Science and Biotechnology, a common first year, BBB including Biology at A-Level, admission and prerequisites for UK, international (including China) and transfer applicants

Coventry University's life science and health-related degrees are based on the Coventry campus and are lab-heavy: the course pages describe the SuperLab (capacity over 200 students) for techniques such as cell culture, flow cytometry and real-time PCR. This guide follows the 2027-28 entry pages for UK applicants, international applicants (including China) and transfer applicants.

1. Degrees covered

Five BSc (Hons) courses are covered:

• Biomedical Science: UCAS code B940, international code EESU053; the page lists September 2027 and January 2028 starts. It centres on clinical laboratory specialisms such as medical microbiology, clinical biochemistry, pathology, and haematology and transfusion science.
• Human Biosciences: C110, EESU057. Human health and disease from molecules to populations, including genomics, neurophysiology and microbiology.
• Pharmacology: BB92, EESU058. How drugs act on the body and how new medicines are discovered, developed and tested.
• Pharmaceutical Science (MSci/BSc): the page lists UCAS codes BB11 / BB12 and international codes EESU076 (BSc) and EESU075 (MSci); BSc is three years full-time or four sandwich, MSci four years full-time or five sandwich.
• Biotechnology (MSci/BSc): the page lists UCAS codes B947 / B948 and international codes EESU056 (BSc) and EESU055 (MSci); same durations as Pharmaceutical Science.

• Apart from the MSci routes, the courses are three years full-time or four years sandwich (a placement year between the second and final years, typically at least 26 weeks, non-credit-bearing; placements and exchanges are not guaranteed). Apart from Biomedical Science, the course pages list start dates in September and November 2027 and January, March, May and July 2028.
• The MSci routes in Pharmaceutical Science and Biotechnology are "subject to meeting progression requirements"; the requirements are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website.
• The undergraduate list also has Nutrition and Health, Public Health, Forensic Science, Sport and Exercise Science, several nursing degrees (adult, children and young people's, mental health, learning disabilities) and Paramedic Science, which are not covered here; see the course finder. The list has no medicine (MBBS) degree.

2. The common first year and moving between courses

• The Biomedical Science, Biotechnology (BSc), Human Biosciences and Pharmacology pages describe a common first year of four compulsory 30-credit modules: Introduction to Biomolecules and Biochemistry, Cells to Systems, Microbiology and Immunology, and Genetics and Molecular Biology. The Pharmaceutical Science first year includes Fundamental Pharmaceutical Science alongside some of the same modules.
• The pages say that if you find a stronger interest in a related subject area you may have the opportunity to transfer to a related course at the end of the first year, subject to meeting progression requirements; those requirements are not given on the pages used for this guide.
• Later years: Biomedical Science includes Cellular Pathobiology and Disease Mechanisms, Haematology, Immunology and Transfusion Science, Clinical Biochemistry and Endocrine Disorders, Medical Microbiology and Virology and Integrated Pathophysiology, and a 60-credit Research Project in Biomedical Science; Human Biosciences includes The Gut Brain Axis, Human Genetic Diversity, Neurophysiology, Personalised Genomics and Microbial Threats to Global Health; Biotechnology includes Bioengineering and Industrial Biotechnology, Healthcare Biotechnology and Computational Biology; Pharmaceutical Science includes Drug Analysis, Development and Formulation, Pharmaceutical Technology and The Regulatory Landscape. Each has a final-year research project.
• The Biomedical Science page adds that after the degree without a training placement you could be eligible to apply for Trainee Biomedical Scientist posts, usually followed by one to two years of training to gain the IBMS certificate of competence needed to apply for HCPC registration (the HCPC protects the title); additional fees and eligibility criteria may apply. The pages do not say whether the degree is IBMS-accredited; ask the university.

3. Prerequisites and entry requirements (course pages, "UK" tab)

Degree	UCAS points	A-Level	IB	BTEC
Biomedical Science	120	BBB including Biology	32 with 5 in Biology HL	DDM in a biological science subject (excludes Health and Social Care)
Human Biosciences	120	BBB including Biology	32 with 5 in Biology HL	DDM in a biological science subject (excludes Health and Social Care)
Pharmacology	120	BBB including Biology	32 with 5 in Biology HL	DDM in a biological science related subject
Biotechnology	120	BBB including Biology	32 with 5 in Biology HL	DDM in a biological science subject (excludes Health and Social Care)
Pharmaceutical Science	120	BBB including Biology or Chemistry	32 with 5 in Biology and/or Chemistry HL	DDM in a biological and/or chemistry science subject (excludes Health and Social Care)

• General Studies is excluded at A-Level. GCSE: maths, English and two sciences at grade 4 / C (or Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent); Pharmaceutical Science asks for maths, English, Chemistry and Biology at grade 4.
• Access to HE: for Biomedical Science, Human Biosciences, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, 30 Level 3 credits above Merit of which 15 must be at Distinction in Biology units, plus GCSE English and maths at grade 4. For Pharmaceutical Science the Distinction credits may be in Biology and/or Chemistry units.
• Integrated foundation year: the Biomedical Science foundation version (UCAS code B9DF) asks for 64 UCAS tariff points and GCSE maths and English at grade 4; its international fee cell reads "Not currently available"; ask international admissions.
• Admissions tests and interviews: none are mentioned on the five course pages.
• English: IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (all five pages).
• Clinical placements and checks: the course pages describe no clinical placement or background checks; see above for the Biomedical Science training route. Any restrictions on international students are not given on the pages used for this guide.

Applying and timing

• International applicants can apply directly through the university's online application portal, through UCAS (institution code C85; course codes are on each course page), or through an overseas agent. Check UCAS itself for its deadlines and process.
• Documents: all academic transcripts, one academic reference, a personal statement, copies of degree or diploma certificates (or a work reference if employed), an English test score and a passport copy. The university aims to give an initial decision within a week, though it can take longer at certain times of year.
• The "final application deadline" table on the international page currently runs only to the July 2027 start (for example 1 December 2026 for January 2027 and 25 May 2027 for July 2027). No deadline for a September 2027 start is listed; watch for updates and confirm with international admissions (ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk). Start months differ by course; see below.
• Once you meet your conditions, a tuition deposit releases the CAS used for the student visa. The page lists £4,000 for the EU and parts of Africa, the full first-year fee for parts of Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, and £8,000 for "all other countries"; China is not named separately, so ask admissions which applies.

UK applicants

• Apply through UCAS. The "UK" tab on each course page gives A-Level, BTEC, IB and Access to HE requirements (above), plus GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C (or Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent). The pages do not break requirements down by England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland, and say nothing specific about Scottish Highers; ask admissions.
• Fair Access Offer: eligible UK undergraduate applicants may automatically receive an offer up to 16 UCAS tariff points lower (two A-Level grades), assessed through UCAS with no separate application. Criteria include disability, care leavers, applicants over 21 at the start of the course, refugees or asylum seekers, estrangement from parents, long-term caring responsibilities, and may also take account of the home postcode's progression rate (see the official page).
• The course pages list £10,050 a year for UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students; the pages do not label the academic year, so check (see Fees).

International applicants

• The "International" tab on each course page does not list grades; it sends you to a region page. The A-Level / IB table on the course page sits under the "UK" tab.
• English: each course page gives its IELTS requirement (above). The Home Office minimum for the student visa is a Secure English Language Test at CEFR B2; the university says most courses require more, so follow the course page and your offer letter. If you fall short you can take the pre-sessional English programme first.
• Integrated foundation year: the course pages offer a version with an integrated foundation year. On the foundation versions used for this guide (mathematics and biomedical science) the international fee cell reads "Not currently available"; for other subjects this is not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask international admissions whether international students can apply.

Applicants from China

• The East Asia entry requirements page lists, for China at undergraduate level: three years of high school with an overall grade of 80% or above (graduation certificate and transcript required at application); or the first year of a four-year university degree at 70% or above; or a three-year college diploma at 70% or above; or the China International Foundation programme with a pass or an average of 75% or above.
• English on that page: IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component, or TOEFL iBT 79 with at least 18 in each component, or TOEFL iBT (new scoring) 4.0 overall and 4.0 in each component.
• The page does not say how the gaokao is used, whether Huikao materials are needed, or how the 80% is calculated. It also does not say whether the course-level subject requirements (Biology or Chemistry) apply on top of this threshold. This is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask international admissions before you apply.

Transfers and direct entry

• The course pages do not give the rules for joining the second year from another university or for credit transfer; this is not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask admissions.
• The country page also lists "top-up" routes into a final year (for example a 2–3 year or 5-year college diploma at 75%, or three years of a four-year degree at 70%, for China). The top-up courses in the undergraduate list are in areas such as accounting and finance and international finance and banking, not the subjects in this guide.

Fees and scholarships

• International tuition listed on the course pages: Biomedical Science, Human Biosciences, Pharmacology and Biotechnology £19,680 a year; Pharmaceutical Science £21,300 a year. UK students £10,050 a year; EU students with the EU Support Bursary pay the UK rate. The pages do not say which academic year these fees are for, so confirm the final 2027 entry fee with the university. International fees may rise each year by no more than 5% above inflation.
• Placement-year fee for placements starting in 2029/30: £1,615 for UK fees and £1,950 for international fees.
• Extra costs include optional overseas field trips (£400+ per trip) and travel, accommodation, equipment and visa costs for placements.
• Coventry University Group Scholarship: self-funded international (non-UK, non-EU) full-time undergraduates and postgraduates starting in 2026/27 or 2027/28 get £2,000 off tuition for each full year of study, deducted from first-year fees. There is no application: you must clear the full CAS deposit by the date in your offer letter and enrol.

Checklists

UK applicants:

• Aim for A-Level BBB including Biology (Biology or Chemistry for Pharmaceutical Science); apply through UCAS and check UCAS for deadlines
• Check you have two science GCSEs at grade 4; the Biomedical Science foundation version (B9DF) has lower entry

International applicants (including China):

• Chinese applicants: prepare 80%+ over three years of high school, graduation certificate and transcript, and IELTS 6.0 (5.5 per component); whether Biology or Chemistry grades are also needed is not given, so ask admissions first
• Biomedical Science lists only September 2027 and January 2028 starts, and no September 2027 deadline is listed yet; apply early

Transfer applicants:

• Second-year entry rules and credit transfer are not given; contact admissions. Within the university, the common first year allows a move between related courses subject to progression requirements

Sources: Coventry University, Undergraduate course finder; Biomedical Science; Biomedical Science with foundation year; Human Biosciences; Pharmacology; Pharmaceutical Science; Biotechnology; Entry requirements: East Asia; International applications and deadlines; English language requirements; International fees and funding; Coventry University Group Scholarship; Fair Access Offer. Course details follow the 2027-28 pages; the fee tables do not label the academic year. Check Coventry for the latest details.