How to Apply to Biology at Aston University: BSc Biochemistry (3 Years or 4 with a Placement Year, Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology) and BSc Neuroscience, for Home, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Aston University is in the centre of Birmingham, England. Of the science degrees under Biosciences on the website, this guide covers the BSc Biochemistry and the BSc Neuroscience. The website also lists biomedical science, biomedicine, pharmacy, medicine and other health and medical degrees, which are outside this guide; check the website for them. The guide covers entry in September 2027 for home applicants (A-Levels, BTEC and so on), international applicants (with a separate section for applicants from China) and transfer applicants.

1. Degrees and UCAS codes

• Biochemistry BSc (Hons), UCAS code C700: full time, 3 or 4 years (the 4-year route includes a placement year), at the Birmingham campus, September 2027 start. The website states accreditation by the Royal Society of Biology. The content covers biomolecules, cells, genetics, microbiology and metabolism, plus bioinformatics, computational modelling and synthetic biology.
• Neuroscience BSc (Hons), UCAS code B140: full time, 3 or 4 years (with an optional placement year), at the Birmingham campus, September 2027 start. The website describes it as a self-contained course whose first two years are taught alongside pharmacology students before the paths diverge. No accreditation is shown on the page.
• The website's English-language requirements page also mentions a "BSc Biology", but no programme page for it was found on the pages used for this guide; check the website.

2. Do you apply to the subject directly? How the courses are organised

You apply through UCAS to the specific degree (use the codes above). You can choose up to five courses and they need not be ranked. From the 2027 course pages:

• Biochemistry: year-one core modules (30 credits each) are Biomolecules, Cells to Systems, Microbiology and Genetics, and Molecular Metabolism; year two is Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Mechanisms of Pathology, Cell Membranes, and Protein Structure and Function; the third year of the 4-year route is a 120-credit placement year (Biosciences placement); the final year has Research Project Preparation, an independent Research Project and Professional Development for Biochemists, plus three optional modules from Advanced Cell Membranes, Advanced Molecular Biology, Applied Microbiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Trends in Molecular Biosciences. The website calls the placement year optional but highly recommended and says most Biochemistry students choose the 4-year route; the 3-year course has the same academic structure without the placement year.
• Neuroscience: year-one core modules are Receptor Theory and Toxins, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Cellular Neurobiology and Immunobiology (15 credits each), Systems Biology and Key Skills 1 (30 each); year two includes Peripheral Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology, Personalised Medicine and Molecular Neurobiology (15 each), Advanced Systems Neurobiology and Key Skills 2 (30 each); the final year has Neurological Disorders (30 credits) and the Final Year Research Project (45 credits), plus three optional modules such as Advanced and Applied Synaptic Plasticity, Abnormal Neuronal Networks and Hacking the Brain. The website says final-year project options are lab research, systematic reviews or grant writing.
• The Neuroscience page contradicts itself: the overview and course description say the placement year is optional, but the description of the third-year placement module says the Aston placement year "is compulsory for all home students". Ask admissions whether it is required.

Biochemistry lists interactive lectures, lab sessions, computational workshops, problem-based learning, group projects and independent research, assessed by exams, lab reports, data analysis tasks, research project reports, oral presentations and posters, and group projects. The Neuroscience page says learning is organised in intensive topic-based blocks with practical classes aligned to the current topic.

3. Prerequisites (2027 entry)

• Biochemistry C700: A-Levels BBC in three subjects, which must include Biology or Chemistry; or BCC including Biology or Chemistry plus a B in the EPQ. IB: 29 points with 5, 5, 4 at Higher Level including Biology or Chemistry, plus Standard Level 5 in Mathematics and in English Language. BTEC examples: the National Extended Diploma (RQF) in Applied Science at DDD; an Extended Diploma in any subject at DDD plus an A-Level at B in Biology or Chemistry; further combinations are listed.
• Neuroscience B140: A-Levels BBB in three subjects including at least one of Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics; or BBC plus a B in the EPQ. IB: 31 points with 5, 5, 5 at HL including one of Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics, plus Standard Level 5 in Mathematics and English. BTEC: the National Extended Diploma (RQF) in Applied Science at DDD as the standard offer (other combinations are listed).
• Common to both: two GCSEs at C/4 or above including Mathematics and English Language or English Literature (Key Skills and Functional Skills are not accepted in place). The Access to HE Diploma must be 45 credits at Level 3 with at least 15 Distinctions and 30 Merits; English and Maths components are not accepted so the GCSE requirement must be met separately, and the Biochemistry page says Health and Social Care Access diplomas are not accepted. T Levels are stated as not accepted on both pages.
• Age of qualifications: eligible qualifications should normally have been achieved within the last three years; older ones are considered case by case. The website also says it may consider applicants predicted CCC or higher who meet the subject requirements, though any offer will carry the listed grades, and will review applicants who already hold CCC or above case by case.

4. Home applicants

• Aston Ready contextual offers: the website says these can lower an offer by one or two grades. Biochemistry goes from BBC to CCC and Neuroscience from BBB to BCC; in the IB, Biochemistry goes to 28 points (4, 4, 4 at HL) and Neuroscience to 28 points (5, 4, 4 at HL). You must have attended a state school, be assessed as a Home student, and meet one criterion, for example free school meals eligibility, living in a low-participation neighbourhood (POLAR 4 quintile 1 or 2), a declared disability, an Aston Pathways programme, attending a listed partner school, local-authority care experience or refugee status. The page is headed "2026 Aston Contextual Offer", so check the 2027 terms.
• Resits: the website welcomes resit applicants; only the highest grades are considered and resit applications are treated like any other.
• Fees: both pages list "UK students (Home Undergraduate)" first-year tuition for 2027/28 as £10,050 (subject to parliamentary approval, rising each year with inflation) and a placement-year fee of £1,250, but note that the placement fee shown is for September 2026 entry and that the 2027 figure was due to be updated on the page by 31 July 2026; check it.
• Funding: the undergraduate funding page, labelled for 2026/27 entry, lists the Aston Support Scholarship (£1,250 a year for UK students who are care leavers, young carers, estranged students, from military families or refugees), the Aston Forward Scholarship (application required; UK students with household income under £25,000), the Aston Placement Scholarship (£1,250) and the Aston Aspirational Scholarship (£500; household income up to £42,875). Check whether they continue for 2027 entry.

5. International applicants

• Academic grades: match your qualifications to section 3; the website points to a "Qualifications in your country" page for country-specific equivalents. Applicants who do not meet direct entry can consider the foundation courses of the partner ONCAMPUS Aston; their details are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website.
• English: the English-language requirements page asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each band for "Health and Life Sciences: Biomedicine, Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Psychology, all programmes"; a footnote says Biochemistry and Neuroscience will accept one band at 5.5 with the others at 6.0 or above. The website also accepts IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT (the Home edition is not accepted), Oxford ELLT, PTE Academic, Kaplan, Cambridge CAE/CPE, Duolingo and others, with scores in the page tables; multi-part tests must be taken in one sitting and within two years of the course start. The university reserves the right to ask for an English qualification or an interview.
• Fees: both pages list international (Overseas Undergraduate) first-year tuition for 2027/28 of £22,575 and a placement-year fee of £2,500 (again the September 2026 figure); the website says the total tuition fee will never rise by more than 6% year on year.
• Scholarships: the international scholarships page lists, for September 2027, the undergraduate International Community Scholarship (a competitive, application-based award worth £9,000 in total as tuition discounts of £3,000 in each of three taught years, continuing automatically in years two and three; placement and repeated years are excluded). The application link is emailed only to eligible international offer-holders and is not public, and the rounds and deadlines are shown as "TBC". The Sir Adrian Cadbury Chancellor's Scholarship is a £10,000 tuition reduction for self-funded international undergraduate offer-holders, requiring a form and a 500-word statement, with the deadline shown as "TBC". Scholarships cannot be combined; you get the highest one. You need an offer first.
• Deposit: the funding page says all international students must pay a deposit, which is deducted from first-year tuition; details are in the offer letter.

6. Applicants from China

The China country page says that for undergraduate study you will be considered with a complete A-Level result between BCC and BBB, or equivalent IB (31 points with 5, 5, 5 at HL; 29 with 5, 5, 4; 28 with 5, 4, 4) or NCUK results. It does not say how the Gaokao is used and has no statement specific to Biochemistry or Neuroscience; the two courses' own requirements are in section 3 and should also be met. For those who do not meet direct entry, the page says an average of 60% in the Senior High School Leaving Certificate may be considered for the international foundation at ONCAMPUS Aston, leading to undergraduate study. English requirements are as in section 5; the foundation course content and progression requirements are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website. The China page also describes an English waiver for ACCA holders, which is not relevant to undergraduate applications.

7. Transfer applicants

• Both course pages say that only transfer into Year 1 is considered: applications for Year 2, Year 3 or Final entry are not accepted under any circumstances, because the course includes integrated placements beginning in Year 1 and is accredited as a complete programme. For Biochemistry, Year 1 transfer needs two GCSEs at C/4 including Maths and English, CCC at A-Level including Biology, no previous attempt at the second year of the same degree, a UCAS application (no direct applications), an academic reference, and an explanation of any gaps; a typical offer is 60% overall with 120 credits passed and no failed or retaken units. For Neuroscience the A-Level requirement is CCC in one of Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics. Requirements may be adjusted case by case.
• External foundation programmes: applicants completing a related foundation programme at another recognised university may be considered for Year 1; Biochemistry asks for BCC in any subjects or CCC including Biology, Neuroscience for BCC or CCC including one of the science subjects, with a typical offer of 60% overall and 120 credits passed. International foundation programmes are assessed case by case and may differ from the UK benchmark.
• Applicants currently studying a post-16 qualification or foundation programme are only considered if a complete UCAS application with verified predicted grades is submitted by the deadline; this applies to UK and international applicants alike.

8. Timeline for September 2027 entry

• Apply through UCAS; Aston's institution code is A80. The deadline for September 2027 is 13 January 2027 (15 October 2026 for Medicine). The application guide says results are published in August, and if you miss your firm and insurance choices you may still be accepted or offered an alternative; applicants without offers can use UCAS Clearing.
• Some Aston courses require an interview; the Biochemistry and Neuroscience pages do not say, so ask admissions.
• International applicants who join a foundation programme in January must meet the same requirements and the UCAS January equal consideration date.
• Term dates (Welcome Week, teaching start) are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the website.

9. Accreditation, careers and placements

The Biochemistry page lists destinations including pharmaceutical and biotechnology R&D, computational biology and bioinformatics, clinical biochemistry (for example NHS labs), synthetic biology, science communication, forensic science, patent law (with further qualification), sales and management in scientific industries, environmental monitoring, and food science and nutrition; graduates can also go on to MSc or PhD study or graduate-entry medicine, dentistry or law. It says the placement year can be in a research institute, hospital lab, pharmaceutical company or biotech start-up, or in non-lab roles such as science communication or policy. The Neuroscience page lists clinical neurophysiology, big data, artificial intelligence and medical writing, with placements in academia, industry or through overseas study schemes.

Application checklist

1. Choose between C700 and B140, and check the A-Level subject requirement (Biology or Chemistry; or one of Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics) against your qualifications.
2. Check your English score (IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each band, or the listed exception) and your fee status.
3. Apply through UCAS by 13 January 2027 using the course code; international applicants should watch for the scholarship link and the deposit after an offer.
4. Decide whether to choose the 4-year route with a placement year.

Sources from the university website: Biochemistry BSc; Neuroscience BSc; how to apply; Aston Ready contextual offers; undergraduate funding; English language requirements; China country page; international applicants; international scholarships. This is for September 2027 entry; where a page prints no year, check it applies to 2027 entry. The university website is the final authority.