How to apply for life sciences and medical sciences at Oxford Brookes University: Biological Sciences, Biomedical Science, Medical Science and Nutrition as three-year degrees with an optional placement year, a standard offer of 112 UCAS points (BBC) with one science subject, a Life Sciences Foundation Year, and what home, international (including China) and transfer applicants need

Life sciences and medical sciences degrees at Oxford Brookes University are mostly run by the School of Biological and Medical Sciences; Nutrition is in the School of Sport, Nutrition and Allied Health Professions. All are on the Headington campus. This guide sets out what the university's own website says for 2027 entry, for home (UK) students, international students (including applicants from China) and transfer students. The university has no undergraduate medicine (MBBS) degree, so none is covered; nursing and other health professions were not read for this guide and should be checked on the website.

1. Courses

These are the life sciences and medical sciences degrees we found (UCAS codes in brackets; the pages list September 2026 and September 2027 starts):

• Biological Sciences: BSc (Hons) (C900), three years or four with a placement; and an integrated master's MBiol (C110), four years or five with a placement. Three pathways are also listed: Genetics and Genomics (BSc C400, MBiol C140), Human Biosciences (BSc C1C9, MBiol C190) and Zoology (BSc C300, MBiol C130).
• Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) (B900): three years, plus an optional year-long placement; accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS).
• Medical Science BSc (Hons) (B190): three years, or four with a placement year.
• Nutrition BSc (Hons) (B401): three years, or four with a placement; accredited by the Association for Nutrition.
• Life Sciences Foundation Year (C201): one year, leading to direct entry to Year 1 of many three-year science degrees. Biological Sciences and its pathways, Biomedical Science, Medical Science and Nutrition all have foundation-year versions.
• The biosciences subject page also lists Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation and Equine Science, and Medical Sciences has a final-year-entry version; these were not read for this guide. Biomedical engineering is not covered here and should be checked on the website.

2. How the courses are organised

• Biological Sciences: Year 1 builds a foundation in being a bioscientist, with an optional residential field course; Year 2 deepens molecular biology, cell biology and genomes and adds computational skills; in the final year (Year 4 with a placement) you specialise, with options from the molecular biology of cancer to wildlife conservation, and a final project that can involve university research teams, companies or overseas sites (the page mentions Bali and Madagascar in recent years). The MBiol final year is a major research project. Skills include molecular techniques, bioinformatics, advanced light and electron microscopy and field methods.
• Biomedical Science: Year 1 covers cell biology and genetics, biochemistry and human structure and function; Year 2 covers molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, cellular pathology, blood and transfusion science and microbiology; then an optional placement year; the final year has clinical specialisms in biochemistry, infection and immunity, human disease and genetics, plus an independent research project. The page says IBMS accreditation can help lead to work under the protected title of Biomedical Scientist.
• Medical Science: Year 1 covers cell biology and genetics, biochemistry and human structure and function; Year 2 has the compulsory Integrated Physiology module plus Biochemistry of Cell Function, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Research Methods and blood and transfusion science; the final year is an independent research project and dissertation. The page says the degree provides a foundation for applying to graduate-entry Medicine and Physician Associate courses; it does not promise entry.
• Nutrition: the curriculum follows the Association for Nutrition competencies (the scientific basis of nutrition, the food chain, social and behavioural context, and professional conduct); the final year is a research project.
• All have laboratory practicals; equipment named on the course pages includes tissue culture, microbiology (including a Category 2 containment laboratory), physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology laboratories, and electron microscopes.
• The pages say you may be able to take an international study exchange, mostly in the second year, which you organise and fund yourself.

3. Entry requirements (UK qualifications on the university's pages)

Biological Sciences (all pathways):

• BSc: standard offer 112 UCAS Tariff points, A Level BBC (or A*CD), IB 28, BTEC DMM; contextual offer 88 points (CCD), IB 27, BTEC MMM
• MBiol: standard offer 120 points, A Level BBB (or A*CC), IB 32, BTEC DDM; contextual offer 96 points (CCC or ACE), IB 28, BTEC MMM
• Specific requirement: one A Level or comparable Level 3 qualification in a science subject. The Biological Sciences page gives Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Maths, PE, Physics and Psychology as examples; the Human Biosciences page adds Applied Human Biology; the Zoology page also lists accepted BTEC subjects (such as Animal Management, Countryside Management, Applied Science, Forensic Science, Health and Social Care, and Sport) and IB higher-level science subjects

Biomedical Science (B900), Medical Science (B190), Nutrition (B401):

• Standard offer: 112 points, A Level BBC, IB 27, BTEC DMM; contextual offer 88 points (CCD), IB 24, BTEC MMM
• Specific requirement: one A Level or comparable Level 3 qualification in a science subject. Biomedical Science and Medical Science give Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics as examples; Nutrition gives Physical Education, Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics and Psychology, and says Food Science is accepted in place of a science subject

Life Sciences Foundation Year (C201): standard offer 32 UCAS points, BTEC PP; A Level and IB are shown as N/A.

Notes:

• The university says it makes conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff wherever possible; the A Level grades shown are only one way of reaching the points.
• The course pages do not require Biology or Chemistry specifically, only one science subject, and do not mention an admissions test or interview. Anything beyond that is not given on the pages used for this guide; check with admissions (admissions@brookes.ac.uk).
• The pages give A Level, IB and BTEC figures only. How Scottish Highers or similar qualifications map is not given on these pages; contact admissions.
• If you have no science background, the course pages suggest the Life Sciences Foundation Year; completing it allows direct entry into Year 1 of many life sciences-related BSc degrees.

4. How to apply, and when

• Full-time UK applicants apply through UCAS; part-time study is applied for directly to the university.
• International applicants can apply directly to the university or through UCAS for September entry; January entry and international foundation courses are applied for directly.
• The 2027 UCAS deadline and the university's direct-application deadline are not on the pages used for this guide; check the UCAS website and the university website. The university recommends applying as early as possible.
• Applicants who need a student visa must also meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum English language requirements.

5. International students

• English: the undergraduate standard is IELTS 6.0 overall, 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking (the "all other undergraduate courses" row); BSc Nutrition asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component. The Life Sciences Foundation Year asks for 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in listening and speaking. The pre-sessional English course can meet the requirement without a further external test.
• Other qualifications: the course pages welcome European and international qualifications and recognised foundation courses; use the university's country pages or contact admissions.
• International foundation: the international foundation courses listed (such as International Foundation Business and Technology) lead to degrees in other subject areas; for life sciences, look at the Life Sciences Foundation Year attached to the course.
• Funding evidence and credential verification: not given on the pages used for this guide; check the university's international student pages.

6. Applicants from China

The university's China page lists three minimum routes for undergraduate study: the Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate plus a recognised foundation course; the certificate plus the Gaokao (NCEE); or one year of university in China with at least 75% overall. It says certificate plus Gaokao results may be considered case by case, and that the Aptitude Scholastic Test (AST) is also accepted. The relevant rows of its equivalence table are:

• 112 points (the standard offer for the BSc Biological Sciences, Biomedical Science, Medical Science and Nutrition): certificate 85% overall plus Gaokao 70%
• 120 points (the MBiol standard offer): certificate 80% plus Gaokao 75%
• 96 points (the MBiol contextual offer) and 88 points (the BSc contextual offer): certificate 75% plus Gaokao 70%
• 32 points: pass Year 3 of the certificate with 65%, or Year 2 with 70% (Gaokao not required)

The table notes say a student with one year of university in China at 75% or above may be considered for direct entry to undergraduate programmes (the percentage reflects performance equivalent to a 2:2). The China page gives the English requirement as IELTS 6.0–7.0 (6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking) or the pre-sessional English course (Nutrition's IELTS level is higher, see above). It names a country adviser and a WeChat account (search 牛津布鲁克斯大学). How a science subject is recognised on a Chinese high school record is not given on the China page or the course pages; ask admissions.

7. Fees and scholarships

• The Biological Sciences (all pathways), Biomedical Science, Medical Science and Nutrition pages list 2027/28 full-time international fees of £19,300 a year (2026/27: £18,250) and home full-time fees of £10,050 (2026/27: £9,790). The pages do not separate England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Life Sciences Foundation Year: £18,500 international for 2027/28 (2026/27: £17,250); £10,050 home.
• For the optional placement year the fee is £2,010 for both home and international students (2026/27: £1,905).
• The university says international fees may rise in later years, and home fees may rise by an inflationary amount set by government. The fee for the fourth MBiol year was not shown separately on the pages we read; check the course page fee box.
• £2,000 International Student Scholarship: for international students who pay a deposit by set dates and fund their studies privately (direct payment, or a loan they are personally responsible for repaying); it is not available where home and overseas fees are the same. Biological Sciences and its pathways (including foundation-year versions), Biomedical Science, Medical Science, Nutrition and the Life Sciences Foundation Year are on the eligible list. The page currently covers September 2026 entry: offers received on or before 31 March 2026, deposit by 13 May 2026; between 1 April and 4 June 2026, by 7 July 2026; between 5 June and 31 July 2026, by 7 August 2026. Watch for the 2027 dates.
• The funding box on the course pages also lists other items (for example the Oxford Brookes Bursary for students starting 2025/26 or later, and a 20% Alumni Discount Scheme); their eligibility rules are not covered here, so check the funding pages.

8. Transfers and part-way entry

• The credit transfer page says most courses consider applicants who join part-way through with credit from previous learning or relevant experience. Credit can come from part-completed UK degrees, HND, Foundation Degree, CertHE, Open University courses and a university degree from another country. Credit can also be assessed through Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) or Assessment of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL); discuss these with admissions.
• International students apply through the direct application form, listing every module studied or in progress; more information and transcripts are asked for after submission.
• Which year of the life sciences and medical sciences courses you can join, and which modules must be in your record, are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask admissions.

9. Checklist by background

Home students:

• Most courses ask for 112 points (BBC) and one science qualification; the MBiol asks for 120 points (BBB)
• Apply through UCAS; check whether you qualify for a contextual offer (up to three grades lower) on the university's contextual admissions page

International students:

• Check that your qualifications map to the points and include a science subject; IELTS 6.0 (6.0 reading and writing, 5.5 listening and speaking), 6.5 for Nutrition
• Apply directly or through UCAS; September entry; watch the deposit dates for the scholarship

Applicants from China:

• 112 points corresponds to certificate 85% plus Gaokao 70%; the MBiol's 120 points to 80% plus Gaokao 75%
• If you lack a science background or the scores, consider the Life Sciences Foundation Year (the 32-point row: Year 3 at 65% or Year 2 at 70%)

Transfer students:

• Prepare transcripts and module descriptions, apply directly and ask admissions to check the credit

Sources: Oxford Brookes University, Biosciences subject area; Nutrition, Sport and Physical Activity subject area; Biological Sciences; Biological Sciences (Genetics and Genomics); Biological Sciences (Human Biosciences); Biological Sciences (Zoology); Biomedical Science; Medical Science; Nutrition; Life Sciences Foundation Year; Entry requirements for China; English language requirements; International foundation courses; Applying directly; Credit transfer; Contextual admissions; £2,000 International Student Scholarship. Fees are the 2027/28 figures on the course pages; the scholarship page currently covers September 2026 entry only. Check UCAS and the university for the latest dates and rules.