How to Apply to Biology Degrees at the University of Birmingham: Biochemistry, Medical Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, All Stated as Royal Society of Biology Accredited, Typical Offer AAB for Three-Year Degrees and AAA for Four-Year MSci, International Year and Professional Placement Routes, for UK, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

All University of Birmingham undergraduate applications go through UCAS. This guide follows the course pages, application pages, international entry requirements, the China country and Gaokao pages, and the scholarship pages for September 2027 entry to biology-related degrees, for UK, international (including Chinese), and transfer applicants.

1. Biology-related degrees

• Biochemistry: BSc three years (UCAS C700); MSci four years (C703); BSc with an International Year, four years (C007); Biochemistry with Professional Placement MSci, four years (C702). The course page says Year 1 has Chemistry for Biochemists I and Physical Biochemistry, Year 2 core includes Chemistry for Biochemists II and Membranes, Energy and Metabolism, and the final-year project can be a practical project, a literature review, or an Introduction to Teaching Biosciences in Schools project. Degree labels are available in Microbiology and Infection and Genetics. Birmingham states that the degree is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.
• Medical Biochemistry: BSc three years (C720), stated as accredited by the Royal Society of Biology, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of disease and therapeutic routes.
• Biological Sciences: BSc three years (C100); MSci four years (C105); with an International Year (C001); with Professional Placement MSci (C102). Year 1 core modules include Cell Biology & Physiology, Genetics I and Molecular Biosciences and Microbiology; Year 2 options are organised into six specialisms (Zoology, Genetics, Conservation Biology, Food Security & Sustainability, Human Health & Disease, Microbiology and Infection); the page lists field courses such as glaciers in Norway and aquatic environments in Pembrokeshire. It is also stated as accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.
• International Year and Professional Placement: offered in both Biochemistry and Biological Sciences. In the International Year, Year 3 is spent at an overseas partner institution (the page mentions France, Spain, Germany and 300+ destinations); in the Professional Placement, Year 3 is spent in industry, a research lab or the field with an academic mentor and placement supervisor, ending with an assessed report and seminar.
• The pages also mention a year in AI and Computer Science at the Dubai campus, available by internal transfer.
• Chemistry: the pages used for this guide contain no link to a chemistry degree page; check Birmingham's undergraduate course list for chemistry degrees. The Biochemistry degrees above include chemistry modules.
• Medicine (MBChB), dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and biomedical science are outside this guide; check the website for their requirements.

2. Prerequisites and entry requirements for 2027

• Biochemistry BSc / Medical Biochemistry: typical A-level offer AAB including chemistry plus one of maths, further maths, statistics, biology or physics. IB: 6,6,5 at Higher Level including the required subjects, with at least 32 points overall.
• Biochemistry MSci / International Year / Professional Placement MSci: AAA with the same subjects; IB 6,6,6 with at least 32 points.
• Biological Sciences BSc: AAB including biology or human biology plus one of maths, further maths, statistics, chemistry or physics; or AAB with an A in biology/human biology and any other two subjects. IB 6,6,5 including biology/human biology plus one listed subject, or 6,6,5 with a 6 in biology/human biology.
• Biological Sciences MSci / Professional Placement MSci: AAA including biology/human biology plus one listed subject; IB 6,6,6. Biological Sciences with an International Year: AAA including biology/human biology; IB 6,6,6 including biology/human biology.
• Three A-levels are required. Birmingham does not accept General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies, Applied Science, Communication and Culture, Critical Studies, Global Perspectives, Science in Society or World Development.
• BTEC: Applied Science BTEC National Extended Diploma is welcomed with a typical offer of DDD and specific modules required; BTEC and A-level combinations are accepted, so contact admissions.
• Additional-achievement offers (from the website): applicants with an EPQ, or Core Maths (not alongside A-level maths), get the typical offer plus an alternative one grade lower with a B in the EPQ or Core Maths; grade 8 music performance and county-level sport earn a one-grade reduction. These are not stackable.
• Contextual offers are usually one grade lower and are assessed at application without a separate form. Pathways to Birmingham participants typically get an alternative offer two grades lower (Biochemistry BBB including chemistry plus one subject; Biological Sciences BBB including a B in biology).
• The website says offers are made on grades rather than UCAS points. The course pages used do not mention an admissions test; the application page says some courses require an interview or audition and applicants will be contacted. Ask admissions if in doubt.

3. UK applicants

• All undergraduate courses use UCAS. The course pages show a deadline of 13 January 2027 (18:00 GMT) for September 2027 entry. The application page still shows the 2026-entry date for the equal-consideration deadline, so check the exact 2027 dates with UCAS and Birmingham.
• From 2026 entry the personal statement is three questions, up to 4,000 characters in total, with at least 350 characters in each section (stated on the application page).
• Accepted UK qualifications listed by Birmingham: A-levels, the IB Diploma, SQA Highers and Advanced Highers (many programmes accept Highers without Advanced Highers), the Irish Leaving Certificate, and the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (combined with two A-levels).
• Fees: £10,050 a year for UK/Ireland students in 2027/28. UK students can apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans. The fees page says Home students spending a whole year abroad pay 15% of the agreed fee for that year, and those on a whole-year placement pay 20% (that page carries no year label; check the website).
• Access to Birmingham: for first-generation students in the West Midlands, with a £1,500-per-year scholarship and an alternative offer.

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

• Birmingham welcomes A-levels or equivalent overseas qualifications, including the IB or a recognised foundation programme. The grade equivalents for your country appear when you select your country in the dropdown on each course page; the static text does not list them.
• English (Biosciences is in Group A in Birmingham's English requirements table): IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5; TOEFL 80 (19/19/21/19) for tests before January 2026 or 4.5 overall with no skill below 4 from January 2026; PTE 64 (no skill below 59); Cambridge C1 Advanced 169 (no component below 162); LanguageCert Academic 60 in all skills. For 2027 entry the website also accepts TOEFL iBT Home Edition and IELTS Academic Online. Tests normally need to be within two years of the start date.
• If you do not meet the English requirement, the Presessional English course can replace a retake; classes have at most 18 students.
• International tuition: the course pages state only the UK/Ireland fee; the international fee appears after you select your country on the course page and is not given in the static pages used for this guide. The tuition page says an international student's first-year fee stays constant for the whole course (except the International Foundation Programme and clinical courses), and that international students spending a whole year abroad or on placement pay 50% of the agreed fee for that year.
• International students are not eligible for UK student finance and fund their own tuition; the page notes that students from the USA or Canada may be eligible for support from their own governments.

5. Applicants from China

• Birmingham's Gaokao page says: a Gaokao overall average of at least 80%, and 80% in mathematics where mathematics is required at A-level; or a Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate with 85% overall (Years 11 and 12), with 85% in relevant subjects where required at A-level; plus the standard English requirement.
• The page gives a province table: for most provinces 600 out of 750 and 120 out of 150 in mathematics; Hainan is out of 900 including 150 for Huikao; Yunnan's extra 22 points are not counted. The page presents the table for 2025 Gaokao results; check the page for your province.
• The page does not say how the Gaokao maps to chemistry or biology subject requirements for each degree; contact admissions (china@contacts.bham.ac.uk).
• Applicants who do not meet the Gaokao requirement can take the one-year foundation pathway or the four-year integrated foundation programme at the Birmingham International Academy; Birmingham says successful completion gives guaranteed progression to many undergraduate programmes subject to academic and English requirements. Kaplan International Pathways helps with the foundation application process.
• Scholarship: the High Fliers Undergraduate Scholarship for China page is the September 2026 version: £5,000 towards first-year tuition, expecting AAA, IB 6,6,6 at Higher Level, three APs at 5, or Gaokao 80% overall with 85% in Years 11 and 12; Chinese nationals or residents; not available for medicine or dentistry. The page shows applications as closed; check the website for 2027 rounds.
• The China page gives the china@contacts.bham.ac.uk email and lists several agents in China.

6. Fees and scholarships

• UK/Ireland tuition: £10,050 a year for 2027/28 (course pages).
• International scholarships: the website lists scholarships by region and has an undergraduate funding database to search. The pages quote different totals (the China page says more than £10.5 million, the international fees page more than £7.5 million), so use the latest on the website.

7. Transfer and second-year entry

• The pages used for this guide do not state conditions, deadlines or process for transferring into Year 2 or for credit recognition; ask admissions.
• The course pages say Biochemistry and Biological Sciences students can apply for the AI and Computer Science year in Dubai by internal transfer; for other internal transfers ask the school.

Checklist

• Choose the route: Biochemistry (needs chemistry), Medical Biochemistry, or Biological Sciences (needs biology); AAB for three-year degrees, AAA for four-year MSci, International Year and Placement routes.
• Chinese applicants: check the Gaokao province table and the 80% requirement, or the foundation route.
• Prepare English evidence (IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5 for Group A courses), or plan a Presessional English course.
• Apply through UCAS; the course pages show 13 January 2027.
• Select your country on the course page to see international fees and scholarship information.

Sources: University of Birmingham website, Biochemistry BSc; Biochemistry MSci; Biochemistry with an International Year; Biochemistry with Professional Placement MSci; Medical Biochemistry; Biological Sciences BSc; Biological Sciences MSci; Biological Sciences with an International Year; Biological Sciences with Professional Placement MSci; undergraduate application; entry requirements; international entry and English requirements; how offers are made; China country page; Gaokao entry requirements; High Fliers Undergraduate Scholarships for China; international scholarships; international fees; undergraduate tuition; International Foundation Pathways. Check the website again before you apply; dates, fees and entry requirements can change.