How to Apply to Biology at Coventry University: Human Biosciences, Biological and Forensic Sciences and Biotechnology, A-Level Biology Required and a Shared First Year; Entry for Home, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The Coventry University information used for this guide shows no stand-alone undergraduate degree called Biology. Biology-type study is spread across three BSc (Hons) courses on the Coventry campus: Human Biosciences, Biological and Forensic Sciences and Biotechnology. The course pages describe learning in the SuperLab (space for over 200 students) with techniques such as cell culture, flow cytometry and qPCR. The information below follows the 2027-28 course pages for Home applicants, international applicants (including from China) and transfer students. Medicine, nursing, pharmacy (including Pharmaceutical Science), pharmacology, biomedical science and similar health or pharmacy courses are outside this guide; see the course pages on Coventry's website.

1. The courses

• Human Biosciences BSc (Hons): UCAS code C110. The page describes human health and disease from molecules to populations, with genomics, neurophysiology and microbiology, and an independent research project in the final year.
• Biological and Forensic Sciences BSc (Hons): UCAS code CF94. It combines biology with forensic science; the page mentions DNA profiling, blood spatter analysis and fingerprinting, plus bioinformatics and data analysis, and a final-year research project in a specialism of your choice.
• Biotechnology MSci/BSc (Hons): UCAS codes B947 / B948 (the page lists both). It covers biotechnology in health, agriculture and the environment; the BSc is three years full-time or four with a placement year, the MSci four years or five with a placement year. The integrated MSci year is subject to progression requirements and specialisms are molecular biology, industrial and environmental biotechnology, or vaccinology and immunotherapy; the progression requirements are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website.
• Human Biosciences and Biological and Forensic Sciences are three years full-time or four years with a placement year (sandwich). All three pages list start dates of September 2027, November 2027, January 2028, March 2028, May 2028 and July 2028. All three pages also show a "with a foundation year" option; its entry requirements are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the foundation option on the course page.
• Biomedical Science and Pharmacology share the first year with Human Biosciences and Biotechnology; these two, Pharmaceutical Science, Medicine and nursing are outside this guide, so see the course pages.

2. What the courses look like

• Common first year: the Human Biosciences and Biotechnology pages say the first year is shared with related courses (listed as Biomedical Science, Biotechnology, Human Biosciences and Pharmacology); Biological and Forensic Sciences shares its first year with Forensic Sciences. Coventry says that if you find a stronger interest in a related subject you may be able to transfer to a related course at the end of the first year, subject to progression requirements; the detailed requirements are not given on the pages used.
• Human Biosciences, year by year (30 credits each, compulsory): year 1 - Introduction to Biomolecules and Biochemistry; Cells to Systems; Microbiology and Immunology; Genetics and Molecular Biology. Year 2 - The Gut Brain Axis; Human Genetic Diversity; Neurophysiology: Development and Disorders; Human Physiology and Modern Living. Optional placement year (non-credit-bearing). Final year - Personalised Genomics: Disease, Ageing and Therapy; Non-Communicable Disease; Microbial Threats to Global Health; and a Research Project (conference-style poster and defence).
• Biological and Forensic Sciences: year 1 - Introduction to Biomolecules and Biochemistry; Cells to Systems; Genetics and Molecular Biology; Foundations of Forensic Science. Year 2 - The Gut Brain Axis; Human Genetic Diversity; Crime Scene Examination; Digital Forensic Science. Final year - Crime Scene to Courtroom; Research Project; Cancer Genomics and Personalised Therapy; Forensic Futures - Contemporary and Global Issues.
• Biotechnology: year 1 as in the shared first year above; year 2 - Bioengineering and Industrial Biotechnology; Agro-environmental Biotechnology; Biotech Breakthroughs: From Science to Success; Computational Biology; final year - Healthcare Biotechnology; Frontiers in Biotechnology; Innovating Biotech: Entrepreneurship and Product Development; Research Project. In the MSci year you take two compulsory modules (Theoretical Principles for Laboratory Scientists; Laboratory and Data Analysis Skills) plus the modules of one of three specialist areas: industrial and environmental biotechnology, molecular biology, or vaccinology and immunotherapy.
• Teaching and assessment: the pages say about 12-15 teaching hours a week in year 1, which may reduce later; 120 credits a year, with a 30-credit module needing about 300 hours of study. Methods include lab sessions, interactive lectures, discussion, case studies and presentations; assessment varies by module and may include online tests, essays, case studies, group work, lab reports, lab skill competency, posters and the independent research project.
• Placement year: optional, between years 2 and 3, typically at least 26 weeks, non-credit-bearing but recorded on your degree certificate if completed; an international work or study placement is also possible. Coventry says it cannot guarantee any placement or overseas opportunity and costs may apply. The page states a placement-year tuition fee for placements starting in 2029/30 of £1,615 (UK fee status) or £1,950 (international fee status).
• Accreditation: the course pages do not state professional-body accreditation; not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the website.
• Additional costs: optional overseas field trips or visits cost from £400 per trip; travel, accommodation, equipment and visa costs for placements are extra.

3. Entry requirements (as typically stated on the course pages)

• Human Biosciences (C110) and Biotechnology (B947/B948): UCAS 120 points; A-Level BBB including Biology (General Studies excluded); BTEC Extended Diploma in a biological science DDM (Health and Social Care excluded); IB 32 points including 5 at Higher Level Biology; Access to HE Diploma with 30 Level 3 credits above Merit, 15 at Distinction in Biology units; GCSE Maths, English and two sciences at grade 4/C or equivalent.
• Biological and Forensic Sciences (CF94): UCAS 112 points; A-Level BBC including Biology; BTEC DMM (biological science, Health and Social Care excluded); IB 30 points including at least 5 at Higher Level Biology; same GCSE requirement.
• Other qualifications: Coventry recognises a breadth of qualifications; if yours differ, contact the Admissions Team.
• Fair Access Offer: eligible UK applicants can automatically receive an offer 16 UCAS points lower than the standard requirement (for example BBB to BCC); it is assessed through UCAS with no separate application, applies to UK undergraduate applicants and does not guarantee admission.
• Interview or tests: the three course pages do not mention an interview or admissions test; Coventry's UK entry page says interviews or portfolio showcases are mandatory for only a small number of courses. Whether these courses are among them is not given on the pages used; check with Admissions.
• English: all three pages state IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each component; applicants who do not meet it can take a pre-sessional English programme.

4. Application process and timeline

• How to apply: UK applicants use UCAS (institution code C85, course codes on the course pages); international applicants can apply directly through Coventry's application portal, through UCAS, or through a Coventry agent. Check UCAS steps on the UCAS site.
• What international applicants submit: 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.
• Deadlines: the international application page lists final application deadlines for starts from November 2026 to July 2027 (for example, final deadline 1 December 2026 for January 2027 and 25 May 2027 for July 2027). Deadlines for a September 2027 start are not in the table on the page used, so check Coventry's website. Coventry advises allowing for visa processing times.
• After you apply: Coventry assesses your qualifications and English, usually giving an initial decision within about a week (sometimes longer). A CAS is issued only once all offer conditions are met and the tuition deposit is paid; you then apply for the student visa. Stated CAS deposits: European Union and Sub-Saharan and Northern Africa (excluding Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya) £4,000; Pakistan, Bangladesh and parts of India - full first-year tuition; all other countries (including Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya) £8,000. China is not named separately; the exact amount is on your offer letter.

Home applicants (UK)

• Fees: the course pages list £10,050 a year for UK (including Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man) fee status, full-time. Coventry reviews fees each year and, if Parliament allows an increase, later years may rise, expected in line with RPI. The table does not state the academic year; check the website for the 2027 figure.
• Qualifications (UK entry page): nearly all courses need at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above (C if gained before 2017 or in Wales) including English and Maths, and sometimes Science; Functional Skills Level 2 is accepted. A-Levels count by the UCAS points on the course page from three A2 levels (AS may be considered, but two AS do not replace one A-Level); BTEC, OCR Cambridge Technicals, the IB and T-Levels (Merit or Distinction) have their own rules; Scottish qualifications need at least three Advanced Highers or two Advanced Highers plus two Highers, with any required subject at Advanced Higher; the Irish Leaving Certificate needs a pass with at least four Higher Level subjects; the Access to HE Diploma needs 45 Level 3 and 15 Level 2 credits.
• Mature applicants: over-21s with relevant experience can submit an Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) form with their application.
• Contextual offers: see the Fair Access Offer above; criteria include disability, care leavers, age over 21 at the start, refugees or asylum seekers, estrangement from parents, long-term caring responsibilities, and home postcodes in areas with lower progression to higher education.
• Regional admissions data: not published on the pages used.

International applicants

• Qualifications: listed country by country on regional entry-requirement pages (for example East Asia). If you follow another country's curriculum, contact Admissions.
• Tuition: the course pages list £19,680 a year for international fee status (full-time); EU students without the EU Support Bursary pay the same. The table does not state the academic year; check the website for the 2027 figure. Coventry says international fees may rise each year by no more than 5% above inflation, and deferring or extending your studies may mean paying the fees in force at that time.
• English: course pages state IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each component). The English requirements page says the Home Office requires CEFR B2 for degree-level study but Coventry requires a higher level for most courses, and that the level should normally be shown through a Secure English Language Test (SELT), with other reputable tests possibly considered; the offer letter states the exact requirement.
• Scholarship: the Coventry University Group Scholarship gives self-funded international students (excluding EU and UK) starting in 2026/27 or 2027/28 £2,000 off tuition for each full year, £6,000 over a three-year bachelor's degree. There is no application: you must clear the full CAS deposit by the date in your offer letter and enrol. The amount is deducted from the first year's tuition, scholarships apply after enrolment, awards are at Coventry's discretion and cannot be combined with other scholarships (including the alumni discount); Coventry also states that all scholarships depend on availability, visa requirements and competitive application.

Applicants from China

• Qualifications (East Asia page, China entry, undergraduate): three years of high school with an overall grade of 80% or above, with the graduation certificate and transcript submitted; first year of a four-year university degree with 70% or above; three-year college diploma with 70% or above; or the China International Foundation programme with a Pass or an average of 75% or above.
• Gaokao: the China entry does not mention Gaokao scores, only overall high-school grades. How Gaokao results are used is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask Admissions.
• Subject requirement: the course pages ask for A-Level Biology or 5 at IB Higher Level Biology; how Chinese high-school courses map to this is not stated, so ask Admissions. No course-specific interview for Chinese applicants is listed.
• English: the China entry states IELTS at least 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each component, or TOEFL iBT 79 with a minimum component score of 18, or the new-scale TOEFL iBT 4.0 overall with a minimum component score of 4.0.
• Foundation programmes: besides the China International Foundation programme above, Coventry offers each of these degrees with an integrated foundation year; its entry requirements are not given on the pages used, so check the course page.
• Transcripts and school-leaving records: the application page asks for all academic transcripts; Chinese school-leaving (huikao) records are not listed separately, so ask Admissions.

Transfer students

• The course pages mention only switching to a related course at the end of the shared first year (within Coventry), and the UK entry page mentions APL for mature applicants. Direct entry to year two from another university and how credit is recognised are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask Admissions.
• The China entry also lists applicants who have completed the first year of a four-year university degree with 70% or above, but whether they enter year two or how credit is treated is not stated.

Checklist

Home applicants:

• Human Biosciences / Biotechnology: UCAS 120 points, A-Level BBB with Biology; Biological and Forensic Sciences: 112 points, BBC with Biology; or IB 32 (30) with HL Biology 5
• GCSE Maths, English and two sciences at grade 4; £10,050 a year on the course pages; eligible applicants automatically get the Fair Access Offer (16 points lower)

International applicants:

• Transcripts, reference, personal statement, certificates, English score and passport; IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each component)
• £19,680 a year; CAS deposit as above; £2,000-a-year Group Scholarship for self-funded students (no application)

Applicants from China:

• Three-year high-school grade of 80% or above, with graduation certificate and transcript; IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each component)
• How Gaokao results are used and how Chinese courses map to the Biology requirement are not stated; ask Admissions

Transfer students:

• Switching to a related course after the shared first year; transfers from other universities are not described, so ask Admissions

Sources: Coventry University: Human Biosciences course page; Biological and Forensic Sciences course page; Biotechnology course page; Entry requirements for UK students; Fair Access Offer; Entry requirements: East Asia; International applications and deadlines; English language requirements; International fees and funding; International scholarships; Coventry University Group Scholarship. Course information follows the 2027-28 course pages; the fee tables do not state the academic year and the deadline table covers starts from November 2026 to July 2027. Check Coventry for the latest details.