How to Apply to Biology at the University of Strathclyde: One Application to Biomolecular Sciences, Then Choose Biochemistry, Immunology, Microbiology or Biomedical Science at the End of Year 2, BSc in Four Years and MSci in Five, With Requirements for Home, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

The University of Strathclyde is in Glasgow, Scotland. Its biology-related undergraduate degrees are taught by the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS) in the Faculty of Science, and the website organises them as a flexible degree: you apply once, study biochemistry, immunology, microbiology and pharmacology together in Years 1 and 2, and choose from 11 named routes at the end of Year 2. This guide covers 2027 entry for home applicants, international applicants, Chinese applicants and transfer students. Pharmacology and pharmacy (MPharm) are outside this guide; see the programme pages on the website.

1. Degrees and UCAS codes

• BSc Hons Biomolecular Sciences: UCAS code C193; four years full-time (five for the MSci routes); accredited by the Royal Society of Biology. This is the entry point: you study four disciplines in the first two years and choose a route at the end of Year 2; the page also lists an HNC pathway to join in Year 2.
• The 11 named routes listed on the pages: four MSci degrees (Biochemistry, Immunology, Microbiology, Pharmacology); six BSc Hons joint honours (Biochemistry & Immunology, Biochemistry & Microbiology, Biochemistry & Pharmacology, Immunology & Microbiology, Immunology & Pharmacology, Microbiology & Pharmacology); and BSc Hons Biomedical Science. The MSci routes are open “if eligible”; the pages do not say what the eligibility is, so ask the university.
• MSci Biochemistry: code C720, five years; MSci Microbiology: code C500; MSci Immunology: code C550. All three pages describe the same flexible degree entry and Royal Society of Biology accreditation.
• BSc Hons Biochemistry & Immunology: code CC79, four years, accredited by the Royal Society of Biology; codes for the other joint honours combinations are on their programme pages.
• BSc Hons Biomedical Science: code C192, four years, accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and the Royal Society of Biology. The page says the accreditation provides the academic requirement for HCPC registration as a Biomedical Scientist, with a workplace training portfolio completed after graduation; the degree does not include an integrated clinical placement.

2. What you study

• Year 1: cells and their molecules, organisms and disease, and bio-organic chemistry, with a practical module across both semesters; lab work starts early, with workshops on statistics, scientific writing and presentation; plus 20 credits of electives from across the university.
• Year 2: biochemistry, immunology, microbiology and pharmacology, with practical work in all four. At the end of Year 2 you confirm your route: continue to Biochemistry & Immunology, choose another joint honours combination, transfer to Biomedical Science or, if eligible, move to an integrated MSci route.
• Years 3–4: the curriculum of your chosen route; on an MSci route you study your subject in depth alongside one more discipline (for MSci Biochemistry, one of immunology, microbiology or pharmacology). The Honours research project is the centrepiece: you rank projects and are matched to one, which may be lab research, a systematic review and meta-analysis, a large-dataset analysis, or science communication. Biomedical Science covers how disease is detected, laboratory diagnostics, quality assurance and regulation.
• MSci Year 5: an extended 20-week laboratory-based research project (Biochemistry page).
• Summer research and time abroad: many students spend the summer before the final year on a full-time lab project, usually funded by a professional society or charity; you can also apply for an exchange at a university abroad or join a laboratory research exchange (partner institutions and places are not listed on the pages used for this guide).
• Extra cost: the Biochemistry page lists a lab coat and safety goggles at about £25.

3. Entry requirements (programme pages, 2027 entry)

Required subjects are in brackets.

• Biomolecular Sciences (C193), Biochemistry & Immunology (CC79) and Biomedical Science (C192):
  Highers standard requirement AABB or AAAC (Biology/Human Biology B and Chemistry B; National 5 Maths and English B); minimum requirement ABBB or AABCC. Advanced Highers for Year 2: BB (Chemistry B, Biology/Human Biology B, plus the Year 1 requirement). A-levels Year 1: BBB (two sciences, at least one of which must be Biology or Chemistry; GCSE Chemistry and Biology 6/B if not taken at A-level; GCSE Maths 6/B; GCSE English Language or Literature 6/B); Year 2: BBB (Chemistry and Biology, GCSE Maths 6/B and English 6/B). IB Year 1: 30 (Biology HL5, Chemistry HL5, Maths SL5, English SL5); Year 2: 30 (Chemistry and Biology, one at HL6 and the other at HL5, Maths SL5, English SL5).
• MSci Biochemistry (C720), Microbiology (C500) and Immunology (C550): Highers standard requirement AAAB or AABBC (Biology/Human Biology B, Chemistry B, National 5 Maths and English B); minimum requirement AABB or AABCC. Advanced Highers for Year 2: AB (Chemistry and Biology, one at A and the other at B, plus the Year 1 requirement). A-levels Year 1: BBB (Chemistry and Biology/Human Biology, GCSE Maths 6/B, GCSE English 6/B); Year 2: ABB. IB: 32 for Year 1 (Chemistry HL5, Biology HL5, Maths SL5, English SL5) and Year 2 (Chemistry and Biology, one at HL6 and the other at HL5).
• HNC/HND: for Biomolecular Sciences, Biochemistry & Immunology and Biomedical Science, Year 1 entry needs an HNC with graded unit B; Year 2 an HNC with graded unit A or an HND with graded units BB; Year 3 an HND with graded units AB. For the MSci routes, Year 1 needs an HNC with graded unit A or an HND with BB; Year 2 an HND with AB; Year 3 an HND with AA.
• Tests and interviews: the programme pages used for this guide do not list an admissions test or interview. The apply page says most courses make offers on the UCAS application, and courses needing an interview or portfolio say so in their entry requirements.
• Contextual admissions: the university says applicants in five categories are considered against its lower minimum entry requirements, including Scottish SIMD quintiles 1 and 2, target schools, care experience and caring responsibilities; applicants from England, Wales and Northern Ireland in POLAR4 quintile 1 get a one-grade concession in a non-essential A-level subject; for most courses, care-experienced applicants who meet the minimum requirements are guaranteed an offer.

4. How to apply and timing

• The university says there are two ways to apply: UCAS for UK students, and direct application or UCAS for international students (direct application may not be available for every course). The option is in the Apply tab of each programme page. The UCAS institution code is S78; for 2027 entry the application fee is £34.50 for up to five choices.
• The university says that if you apply by the January deadline it will try to give you a decision by the end of March. The deadline date is not printed on the pages used for this guide; check UCAS and the apply page for the 2027 entry date.
• Deferred entry is accepted.

5. Home applicants

• Scottish applicants mainly use Highers and applicants from England, Wales and Northern Ireland use A-levels, as in section 3.
• Tuition: Scottish fees are listed as To be confirmed (pending the Scottish Funding Council), and students domiciled in Scotland may apply to SAAS to have fees paid; the 2027/28 fee for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland is shown as To be confirmed on these pages (other pages from the same university, such as chemistry, show £9,790 for 2026/27). The site adds that fees on multi-year programmes can rise each year, by no more than 10%.
• Strathclyde Excellence Scholarship: £1,000 in each year of study for new undergraduates from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland who pay £9,790 a year in tuition and achieve AAB or above at A-level (or equivalent); eligible students are identified automatically with no separate application. The subject list includes Biochemistry, Biology & biological sciences, Biomedical science and Immunology. The scholarship is tied to the £9,790 fee while 2027/28 fees are still to be confirmed, so check the scholarship page.

6. International applicants

• Tuition: the programme pages list the international full-time fee for 2027/28 as £31,100; the Microbiology and Immunology pages also show £29,350 for 2026/27. International students may also have visa and immigration costs.
• English: the English language page says the Faculty of Science undergraduate standard is IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, and that some degrees differ, as shown on the course page. The biology-related programme pages used for this guide do not print an English requirement; check the website. The university also offers English language courses.
• International scholarships: not given on the pages used for this guide; check the university scholarships page.
• Pathway: international (non-UK/Ireland) applicants who do not meet the academic requirements can take a preparation programme at the International Study Centre. The programme pages mention an Undergraduate Foundation Programme in Business and Social Sciences, while the English language page describes a foundation for progression to the second year of a business and social sciences or engineering and sciences-related degree; ask which applies to biology.

7. Applicants from China

These are the undergraduate requirements for China on the university’s international entry requirements page. The page prints no year, so check that they apply to 2027 entry, and it does not say how the scores map to the required subjects (Biology and Chemistry); ask admissions.

• Year 1 entry (four years to an honours degree): Huikao 80% on average and at least 80% in the required subjects; in provinces without Huikao, 80% on average over six subjects including the required subjects.
• Year 2 entry (three years to an honours degree): the same Huikao requirement plus Gaokao of at least 525/750, or at least 70% where the total is not 750.
• The page does not list a Gaokao-only route to Year 1 or say how the high school graduation certificate is used. Contact the representatives named on the page.

8. Transfer students and Year 2 entry

• The Biomolecular Sciences page says you can join Year 2 through the HNC articulation college pathway; the Advanced Highers, A-level, IB and HNC/HND requirements for Year 2 and Year 3 entry are in section 3. The apply page says that depending on your qualifications you may be able to apply directly to Year 2 or even Year 3, and to speak to the named contact for the course.
• Inside the programme, you can choose among routes at the end of Year 2, including moving to Biomedical Science.
• International students can also reach second year through the International Study Centre pathway. The process and credit recognition for transferring from another university are not given on the pages used for this guide; contact ug.admissions@strath.ac.uk.

9. Checklist before you apply

• Choose your entry point: the flexible degree (C193) or MSci Biochemistry C720 / Microbiology C500 / Immunology C550, or CC79 or C192; the MSci requirements are higher.
• Required subjects: Biology (or Human Biology) and Chemistry, with National 5 Maths and English at B for Highers.
• UCAS code S78 and fee £34.50; check the deadline on UCAS.
• International tuition for 2027/28 is £31,100; Chinese applicants compare the Huikao/Gaokao requirements; confirm English on the programme page.

Sources: University of Strathclyde website: Biomolecular Sciences; Biochemistry; Microbiology; Immunology; Biochemistry & Immunology; Biomedical Science; How to apply; International entry requirements; English language requirements; Excellence Scholarship; Contextual admissions. Where a page prints a date without a year, check that it applies to 2027 entry. The university website is always the final authority.