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Unit information: Foundations of Biomedical Sciences in 2025/26

Please note: Programme and unit information may change as the relevant academic field develops. We may also make changes to the structure of programmes and assessments to improve the student experience.

Unit name Foundations of Biomedical Sciences
Unit code LANG00047
Credit points 20
Level of study QCA-3
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director Dr. Andersen
Open unit status Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)

IELTS: minimum 5.5 overall; minimum 5.0 in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing components, or equivalent.

Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)

Not applicable

Units you may not take alongside this one

Not applicable

School/department Centre for Academic Language and Development
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

This unit will provide an introduction to selected topics in biomedical sciences. Through focusing on specific topics, you will also be introduced to skills required for scientific research, including data acquisition, handling and scientific reporting, as well as gaining practical laboratory experience. The unit may include topics such as cell biology, biological molecules, respiratory system, circulatory system, nervous system, digestive system, immune system and disease.

How does this unit fit into your programme of study?

This unit prepares you for a wide range of degree programmes, such as Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biology, Neuroscience, Psychology, Pharmacology, Physiological Science and Veterinary Sciences.

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

In the unit you will learn about basic physiological, biochemical and disease mechanisms governing the function of mammalian body systems. Also, you will be exposed to a range of activities thereby developing the attitudes and skills desirable for further study. In addition, you will improve your ability to analyse data from experiments.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

In the context of the content covered and the laboratory experience on the unit, you will learn how to develop effective strategies for understanding new knowledge, carry out research and how to communicate when expressing ideas working individually and with others. You will learn to think critically and be able to summarise and discuss new knowledge. You will also learn how to apply knowledge to describe key scientific principles, analyse data and solve problems as well as communicating this in written form.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:

  1. Describe fundamental principles of cell biology and biological molecules.
  2. Describe concepts underpinning major topics covered in the unit.
  3. Analyse and interpret data from experiments.
  4. Describe scientific method in experimental design.

How you will learn

Teaching will be delivered through weekly workshop sessions. The teaching will be a mixture of teacher-led input, group discussions and active learning activities, self-directed exercises, and laboratory skills activities. Learning materials will be available through the unit Blackboard site.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

  • Regular exam practice questions and progress tests with formative feedback (0%, not required for credit).
  • Activities in class to discuss and use methods relevant to the laboratory report with formative feedback (0%, not required for credit).

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

  • Written examination (20%) [ILO 1]
  • eBiolabs pre- and post-practical quizzes (10%) [ILOs 3, 4]
  • Laboratory report, 1,000 words (20%) [ILOs 3, 4]
  • Written examination (50%) [ILO 2]

When assessment does not go to plan

Any student registered on the International Foundation Programme will be offered a conditional place on an undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol. Students must meet the entry requirements to be admitted onto an undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol. Different degree programmes may have different entry requirements. The IFP Board will review the mark profiles of all students who are close to attaining the entry requirements but are outside the previously agreed near miss criteria and may agree to admit them to a degree programme. If not admitted, students may be offered a further opportunity (i.e., two attempts in total) to meet the entry requirements for their intended degree programme at the University of Bristol by re-taking a relevant assessment. Marks are not capped for this purpose. If a student is absent or their performance in assessment is significantly affected due to exceptional circumstances, they may re-take the relevant assessment at the next appropriate time, without penalty.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. LANG00047).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

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