How to apply for life sciences and medical science at the University of Salford: three-year BSc degrees in Biological Sciences, Biomedical Science, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Science, Zoology and more ask for 104 to 112 UCAS points, mostly with A-level Biology or Chemistry – how UK, international (including Chinese) and transfer applicants are admitted and what you need to have studied

The University of Salford is in Greater Manchester in north-west England, a few minutes from Manchester city centre. Life science degrees are taught in the School of Science, Engineering and Environment on the Peel Park campus. This guide sets out what you need to know for September 2027 entry (2027/28) based on Salford’s own pages, for UK applicants, international applicants (including students at high schools in China) and students who want to transfer in.

1. The courses and how you are admitted

In the School’s undergraduate course list, the standard biology and biomedical degrees are these (all BSc (Hons), three years full-time, four with a placement year; Biological Sciences and some others also have a six-year part-time route):

• All of these course pages say they accept international students. The same list also shows Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology, Biochemistry with Studies in the USA and an Applied Biomedical Science degree apprenticeship; those pages were not read for this guide, so check the list.
• You apply directly to a specific course. The pages used do not say whether the first year is shared or how you can change course after enrolling; ask Salford.
• Accreditation: the Biological Sciences, Marine Biology, Zoology, Wildlife Conservation, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Science pages say the courses are accredited by the Royal Society of Biology. Biomedical Science is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), and the page says that completing the IBMS registration portfolio on placement lets you apply directly for grade 5 biomedical scientist positions and HCPC registration.
• Placements and time overseas: these courses offer an optional placement year approved by a placement coordinator. Biological Sciences also offers the option to spend Year 2 at the University of Toledo in the USA: the page says you pay only a reduced Salford fee and Toledo’s tuition is waived, but you cover flights, the visa (about $340, with a visa interview in London), health insurance and roughly $10,000 of living costs (figures “as of June 2023”). Marine Biology has two residential field trips; the Biological Sciences and Biochemistry pages say field trips are funded by the school, though you may pay towards some optional overseas trips.
• Medicine (MBBS) and health courses: the School list used here shows no medicine degree and no nursing or physiotherapy; Salford also has a School of Health and Society, whose courses were not read for this guide, so check the website. Biomedical engineering is not covered here.

2. What you need to have studied

• A-levels: see the table: at least two full A-levels with at least C in the named subject; the pages set no other subject conditions. Mathematics and Physics are not listed as required.
• BTEC: mostly DMM in Applied Science or another science BTEC with Biology (or Biology or Chemistry) units; Biomedical Science asks for four good science modules from Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology. T Level: mostly Merit in Science (Biomedical Science also accepts Health or Healthcare Science).
• Scottish Highers and Irish Leaving Certificate: two Higher Level subjects including the named Biology (or Chemistry). Access to HE: a science Diploma at the stated UCAS points with Biology (or Chemistry) content.
• GCSE: English and Maths at grade C/4 or above.
• Entrance tests and interviews: not mentioned on the course pages read.
• Alternative entry: every course page describes the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (review of prior learning or a formal test).
• Foundation-year versions: for example Biological Sciences with Foundation Year (C204) and Biomedical Science with Foundation Year (B950) ask for 64 UCAS points (at least one full A-level), IB 26 points and so on, but their pages say they are not suitable for international students. International students should look at the International Foundation Year below.

3. Fees and scholarships (2027/28)

• International students: £18,600 a year full-time on all eight course pages in the table; Home students £10,050 a year. The fee shown is for the first year and later years may rise with inflation up to the UK government limit.
• Foundation-year versions (Home): £8,970 for the foundation year, then £10,050 a year.
• International scholarships: the Global Gold Excellence Scholarship and the Global Silver Excellence Scholarship are assessed automatically; there is no separate form. For undergraduates starting from September 2026, Gold is worth £3,500 a year (A-level ABB or the equivalent from your country) and Silver £3,000 a year (BBC or the equivalent), with a good academic record needed to keep it; the pages are written for entry from September 2026, so check whether the same applies to 2027 entry. IFY graduates who are self-funded are eligible if they pass with 70 or higher (Gold) or 65 to 69 (Silver). You must accept your offer and pay your deposit by the deadline. The scholarships page says you can hold only one scholarship or discount, and paying fees in full on or before enrolment gives a further 3% off.

International applicants

• How to apply: undergraduate applications go through UCAS, where you can make up to five choices (at Salford or at different universities). Enter Salford’s institution code S03, code name SALF and the course code, and leave the campus code blank. For the UCAS fee, check the UCAS website; the amount is not given on the pages used for this guide.
• English: Salford says international students from countries that are not majority English-speaking need IELTS Academic 6.0 with no element below 5.5 (course pages). Salford accepts a range of equivalents: its English requirements page lists UKVI IELTS, PTE Academic UKVI, Trinity ISE, LanguageCert Academic SELT and others (scores are in the table on that page), and says online IELTS and online PTE are not accepted. The page also says Salford stops accepting the Oxford ELLT from 9 October 2026. If your English is below the level, Salford points to the Pre-Sessional English course or the International Foundation Year.
• Grades and credentials: Salford says it accepts qualifications from around the world and sends you to the “Your country or region” pages for the full list. The amount of funds to show is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the website and the UK government Student visa pages.
• Visa: Salford says you can request a CAS and apply for the Student visa once you hold an unconditional offer.
• Decisions: Salford says it tries to decide within a few weeks, sometimes longer in busy periods; undergraduate decisions are sent through the UCAS Hub.
• Deadlines: the international deadlines page lists only the September 2026 undergraduate dates (meet your conditions by 21 August 2026, induction 7 September 2026, teaching 14 September 2026). Dates for September 2027 entry are not given on the pages used for this guide; check UCAS and Salford’s application deadlines page.
• International Foundation Year: The IFY has a Biological Sciences route (English and Study Skills 40 credits; Biological Principles, Scientific Method, Science for Health and Chemical Principles 20 credits each) for applicants with the equivalent of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including maths, a science (preferably Biology) and three other subjects; it starts in September only. The degrees listed for progression are Pharmaceutical Science, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Biochemistry with Studies in the USA, Biomedical Science, and Human Biology and Infectious Diseases. The IFY is not applied for through UCAS but through Salford’s online application form. It needs IELTS 4.5 (no band below 4.0, UKVI IELTS), costs £16,000 for full-time study in 2027/28, and Salford says you progress to the linked degree if you pass with the right grade; the grade is not given on the pages used for this guide.

• Contextual offers: the contextual offers page says these are for full-time undergraduate applicants who live in the UK, apply through UCAS and pay Home fees, and who fall in its lowest participation groups, are care experienced or are seeking sanctuary; international applicants are generally not covered.
• Timeline note: check the UCAS website for the 2027 entry deadline; the international scholarships need no separate application.

Applicants from China

• Direct undergraduate entry: the Salford and China page says applicants who have completed three full years of high school and hold a senior secondary graduation certificate with an overall grade of at least 60% will be considered for undergraduate study. This is a general statement for all undergraduate courses, not a mark for any one subject; you must also meet the subject and UCAS-points requirements on the course page, and how the two fit together is not published, so ask admissions.
• Gaokao: neither the China page nor the course pages mention gaokao scores or cut-offs. This is not published; use the contact on the China page (it names a contact for applications from China) to ask.
• International Foundation Year: applicants with a zhongzhuan graduation certificate at 60% or above, or who completed the huikao with a final grade of 60% or above, will be considered.
• Education consultants: the China page lists consultancies Salford works with; you do not have to use one.

Transfer students and changing course

• Joining Year 2: the course pages used for this guide do not describe direct entry to Year 2. The China page says only that applicants with a dazhuan qualification at 60% or above who have studied relevant modules will be considered for advanced entry on relevant undergraduate programmes; whether that applies to these courses is not published, so contact admissions.
• If you do not meet the standard requirements: every course page describes the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme, which assesses applicants who can show they will succeed, through a review of prior learning or a formal test.
• Changing course inside Salford: the changing your course page says the earlier you ask the more likely you can switch, the new course leader decides and has to have a place, you should contact askUS first and then get a transfer form from the new course administrator.

Checklist

UK applicants:

• Most courses: 104 UCAS points with at least C in A-level Biology (or Chemistry); Biomedical Science 112; GCSE English and Maths at 4/C
• Apply through UCAS with institution code S03 and the course code from the table
• Home fee £10,050 a year (2027/28); if your grades fall short, look at the foundation-year versions (64 UCAS points)

International applicants (including China):

• Apply through UCAS; IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5; check your country page, and the China page says a senior secondary certificate at 60% is the starting point
• How the gaokao is used is not published; ask admissions before you apply
• £18,600 a year; ABB or the equivalent gives £3,500 a year automatically, BBC or the equivalent £3,000
• If you cannot enter directly, use the International Foundation Year (Biological Sciences route, September start); the foundation-year degree versions do not take international students

Transfer students:

• Entry to Year 2 is not described; contact admissions first. To change course inside Salford, contact askUS and the new course leader

Sources: University of Salford, School of Science, Engineering and Environment undergraduate courses; Biological Sciences; Marine Biology; Zoology; Wildlife Conservation; Biomedical Science; Human Biology and Infectious Diseases; Biochemistry; Pharmaceutical Science; Biological Sciences with Foundation Year; Biomedical Science with Foundation Year; How to apply; International applicants; Application deadlines; English language requirements; International Foundation Year; Salford and China; International scholarships; Global Gold; Global Silver; Contextual offers; Changing course. Information is for September 2027 entry (2027/28). Check Salford and UCAS for the latest details.